For the record, O'McPub Band was covering Dolly Parton before Beyonce! 

Jolene was released in 1973 as the title track of her album of the same name. The song tells the story of a person pleading with Jolene not to take their lover away, expressing insecurities and fears of losing them to Jolene's beauty and allure. 

Both Irish music and "Jolene" belong to musical traditions that prioritize storytelling with themes of love, hardship, jealousy and resilience. 

Maybe we'll have to update our version with the Queen Bey's lyrics and melody someday.

Jolene

O’McPub Band had been looking for a song they could perform which would demonstrate Ireland’s connection with the rain. Ireland is known for its abundant rainfall and temperate climate.  Ireland is also associated with the color green, which comes in part from the rain that supports the growth of vibrant green vegetation throughout the year. The Emerald Isle is a popular poetic and literary nickname for Ireland, and the term "emerald" itself evokes images of beauty and richness, much like the landscapes of Ireland.

We were having trouble finding the right Irish tune about rain so we started looking elsewhere and eventually came to "Purple Rain" by the American musician Prince. The song is renowned for its emotional depth, soaring guitar solos, and evocative lyrics. It's considered one of Prince's signature songs and a masterpiece of pop-rock music.

So, we decided to change one word and tada!  It is transformed into the Irish pub hit “Emerald Rain”

Emerald Rain

“Fiddler's Green” is a concept well known to seamen of all types. While the interpretation of what Fiddler’s Green is has varied overtime, most see it as representing a paradise reserved for seasoned sailors who had devoted their life to the sea. This mythical realm promised perpetual mirth, with a fiddle that never ceased playing and dancers who never wearied. One of the earliest known mentions of Fiddler’s Green can be found in Edward Rose’s 1811 book “The Sea-Devil” and since has made its way into music, art, literature and even military culture. The Calvarymen’s Poem is one of the most prominent examples, becoming associated over time with the 1st Calvary Division of the US Army. 

The song "Fiddler's Green" was penned by John Conolly in 1966 and quickly became a staple among nautical and Irish traditional circles. It's been recorded by various artists, including The Dubliners and The Irish Rovers.

Fiddler's Green

"Leave Her Johnny, Leave Her" is a traditional sea shanty that originated among sailors during the age of sailing ships, particularly during the 19th century. It is one of the most well-known and enduring sea shanties, often sung as a work song by sailors while performing tasks aboard sailing vessels.

The song is typically sung in a call-and-response format, with one sailor (the shantyman) leading the song and the rest of the crew responding with the chorus. The phrase "Leave her" refers to leaving the ship, and "Johnny" is a common placeholder name that could refer to any sailor or crew member. The song expresses the mixed feelings of sailors as they bid farewell to the ship that has been their home and workplace, acknowledging the hardships and challenges they've faced while also looking forward to returning to shore.

Leave Her Johnny

Our version of "Mary Mack" is a variation of a traditional Scottish folk song which is characterized by its playful and humorous depiction of courtship and marriage arrangements. It has been performed by many leading Irish bands such as The Clancy Brothers and Hair of The Dog. 

The narrator of the tune expresses his intention to marry Mary Mack despite the interference of other suitors and the expectations of her mother. The song humorously describes Mary Mack's qualities and the expectations surrounding their impending marriage, including the involvement of her mother and the grandeur of the wedding ceremony.

Throughout the song, there's a sense of joviality and light-heartedness, with the chorus repeating the theme of Mary Mack's mother arranging her marriage to the narrator. The verses playfully highlight the narrator's determination to marry Mary Mack and the amusing situations surrounding their courtship and impending nuptials.

Mary Mack

"Haul Away Joe" is a traditional sea shanty with origins dating back to the 19th century, likely originating among sailors and maritime workers. The song's lyrics typically revolve around the toils of life at sea, with a repetitive and rhythmic structure that made it suitable for coordinating tasks such as hoisting sails or raising anchor. "Haul Away Joe" served as both a means of entertainment and a practical tool for synchronization during strenuous labor aboard sailing vessels.

Haul Away Joe

"Katy Daly" was written by Eamon O'Shea about real life Katherine Rose Daly and is deeply intertwined with the Wild West and Prohibition-era America. Katy's father, Bill Daly, a native of Roscrea, Co. Tipperary, Ireland, was running an illegal alcohol operation in Oakland, California where Katy was born in 1872. At some point the Daly family relocated to Tombstone, Arizona, to evade authorities. 

After Bill's demise in a shootout with Wyatt Earp, Katy continued the family business eventually finding herself in Chicago manufacturing moonshine during Prohibition. Moving operations to San Francisco, Daly's involvement in a failed cross-border bootlegging scheme led her to receive 15 years in prison. Some believe she was the first and only female prisoner to be incarcerated at Alcatraz, where she reportedly succumbed to the rigors of prison life before her sentence was completed. We have not found any evidence to support that theory but it might have influenced the words in the last verse.

Mary Mack

O'McPub Band

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