"The Lakes of Pontchartrain," despite its Irish folk music associations, actually originated in America during the mid-19th century. The song tells the story of an Irish immigrant or traveler who finds himself stranded near the Lakes of Pontchartrain in Louisiana, where he falls in love with a Creole or Cajun...
Erin Go Bragh – Irish Song Lyrics
"Erin Go Bragh," a patriotic Irish anthem whose title translates to "Ireland Forever," emerged during the tumultuous period of Irish nationalism in the late 18th and early 19th centuries. The phrase itself became a rallying cry for Irish independence movements, particularly associated with the United Irishmen rebellion of 1798. The...
Down by the Salley Gardens – Irish Song Lyrics
"Down by the Salley Gardens" is a beloved Irish poem-turned-song with rich historical roots. It was published by William Butler Yeats in 1889 in "The Wanderings of Oisin and Other Poems," where he noted it was an "attempt to reconstruct an old song from three lines imperfectly remembered by an...
The Rakes of Mallow – Irish Song Lyrics
"The Rakes of Mallow" is a traditional Irish jig that originated in the 18th century, celebrating the wild and carefree young gentlemen from the town of Mallow in County Cork. These "rakes" were notorious for their extravagant lifestyles, drinking, gambling, and general revelry. The tune first appeared in print in...
Roddy McCorley – Irish Song Lyrics
"Roddy McCorley" is a famous Irish ballad that commemorates the execution of a young Irish rebel during the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The song tells the story of Roddy McCorley, who was hanged at the Bridge of Toome in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. Although historical records about the real McCorley...