Phil Lynott | Through the Shattered Lens

Even though it’s a day late I should still include as the latest “Song of the Day” an epic song from the greatest rock band to come out of the Emerald Isle.

The band is Thin Lizzy. The song is “Róisín Dubh (Black Rose)”.

I would’ve added this song somewhere down in the future even if it didn’t have an awesome guitar solo that segues into dueling guitars during the middle section. Why you ask would I have added it well it’s because it’s Thin Lizzy and was a great marriage of traditional Celtic music with that very American folksy blues rock that was huge during the 1970’s.

Phil Lynott (R.I.P.) does an amazing job on bass and with the vocals (one of the best there ever was on the mic). Yet, the song soars once Gary Moore and Scott Gorham start battling it out in the middle section with an opening guitar solo and then both going at it.

So, yes it is a great addition to our ongoing “Greatest Guitar Solos” series within the “Song of the Day” feature.

Róisín Dubh

Tell me the legends of long ago
When the kings and queens would dance in the realm of the Black Rose
Play me their melodies I want to know
So I can teach my children, oh

Pray tell me the story of young Cuchulainn
How his eyes were dark his expression sullen
And how he’d fight and always won
And how they cried when he was fallen

Oh tell me the story of the Queen of this land
And how her sons died at her own hand
And how fools obey commands
Oh tell me the legends of long ago

Where the mountains of Mourne come down to the sea
Will she no come back to me
Will she no come back to me

Oh Shenandoah I hear you calling
Far away you rolling river
All down the mountain side
All around the green heather
go lassie go

(dueling guitar solos)

Oh Tell me the legends of long ago
When the kings and queens would dance in the realms of the Black Rose
Play me their melodies so I might know
So I can tell my children, oh

My Roisin Dubh is my one and only true love
It was a joy that Joyce brought to me
While William Butler waits
And Oscar, he’s going Wilde

Ah sure, Brendan where have you Behan?
Looking for a girl with green eyes
My dark Rosaleen is my only colleen
That Georgie knows Best

But Van is the man
Starvation once again
Drinking whiskey in the jar-o
Synge’s Playboy of the Western World

As Shaw, Sean I was born and reared there
Where the Mountains of Mourne come down to the sea
It’s such a long, long way from Tipperary

Great Guitar Solos Series

For our latest song of the day we go old school rock. We go to a popular little tune from the rock band who call the Land of Eire their home. I am talking about Thin Lizzy’s “Whiskey in the Jar”.

This song is a traditional Irish ballad which some have dated its origin as the 17th-century. Though the song has been sung and covered by many bands through the last hundred years many today are more familiar of the cover done by Thin Lizzy and it’s legend bass guitarist/lead vocalist Phil Lynott. They released their cover of “Whiskey in the Jar” in 1972. The song became a major hit for the band and has remained one of the most beloved rock songs of the past 30 or so years.

The interesting thing about this song is the fact that Thin Lizzy were quite angry that the song was released as a single since they thought the song didn’t really show the band’s true image and sound. They have seen accepted it one of their many songs which would be a strong legacy for the band long after it’s long gone.

Whiskey in the Jar

As I was goin’ over the Cork and Kerry mountains
I saw captain Farrell and his money he was countin’
I first produced my pistol and then produced my rapier
I said stand o’er and deliver or the devil he may take ya

Musha ring dum a do dum a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There’s whiskey in the jar-o

I took all of his money and it was a pretty penny
I took all of his money and I brought it home to Molly
She swore that she’d love me, never would she leave me
But the devil take that woman for you know she tricked me easy

Musha ring dum a do dum a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There’s whiskey in the jar-o

Being drunk and weary I went to Molly’s chamber
Takin’ my money with me and I never knew the danger
For about six or maybe seven in walked captain Farrell
I jumped up, fired off my pistols and I shot him with both barrels

Musha ring dum a do dum a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There’s whiskey in the jar-o

Now some men like the fishin’ and some men like the fowlin’
And some men like to hear a cannon ball a roarin’
Me, I like sleepin’ specially in my Molly’s chamber
But here I am in prison, here I am with a ball and chain, yeah

Musha ring dum a do dum a da
Whack for my daddy-o
Whack for my daddy-o
There’s whiskey in the jar-o

And I got drunk on whiskey-o
And I love, I love, I love, I love, I love, I love my Molly-o….