Gaelic Storm's "Kiss Me I'm Irish" is a celebration of Irish identity, humor, and heritage. Released on their 2004 album How Are We Getting Home?, the song cleverly weaves references to classic Irish folk songs like “Wild Rover” and "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling." It acknowledges the stereotype of Irish drinking with "I'm seldom sober" and “only drink on the day of the week that ends with a Y.”

The lyrics highlight the importance of oral tradition ("Old songs and old stories / they keep us alive") and the…

Today marks half a century since the massive freighter SS Edmund Fitzgerald, along with its entire crew of 29 men, vanished beneath the frigid, churning waters of Lake Superior.

For many around the world, the story of the "Mighty Fitz" would have faded into history, a regional maritime tragedy. But thanks to Gordon Lightfoot's "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald", the memory of that fateful journey lives on.

Less than a year after the sinking, Canadian singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot released his…

“Pass Me a Pint” by husband-and-wife duo Johnnyswim, is a lighthearted Christmas song that blends humor with holiday cheer. The singer is a grump not in the holiday mood but hoping a pint of beer and affection from his love might change his spirits. 

As O’McPub Band plays in a lot of places where pints are being passed around this has become a band and fan favorite around the holidays.

"All of the Hard Day's Are Gone" is a song by Kevin McKrell from Upstate New York. He is best known as the founder of the Celtic folk band The McKrells, which became popular for their energetic performances and unique blend of traditional Irish music with contemporary folk elements. The McKrells have toured extensively, performing at major folk and Celtic festivals across the U.S. and abroad.

The song is a celebration of overcoming life's challenges and looking forward to better times. It carries a message…

"Body of an American" by The Pogues is a tune that blends traditional Irish folk music with punk rock elements. The song celebrates the life of a deceased Irish-American man, viewed through the eyes of one of his mourning relatives. 

It begins with a Cadillac, the symbol of American wealth, being driven down the streets of Ireland and coveted by local tinkers. It goes on to describe the funeral of Big Jim Dwyer, an old boxer whose coffin is brought back to the shores of his ancestors. The music starts soft…

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…

"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…

"Moonshiner" is a folk ballad steeped in the lore of Appalachia and the struggles of rural America. Originating in the early 20th century, this traditional song captures the essence of moonshining culture and the human condition. From its humble beginnings as an oral tradition to its recorded iterations, "Moonshiner" has woven itself into the fabric of American music. Bob Dylan's rendition in the 1960s catapulted the song into wider recognition, imbuing it with new layers of meaning and emotion. Through its…

"House of the Rising Sun" is a classic folk song that has been interpreted by various artists over the years. The song's origins are somewhat obscure, but it's believed to have roots in traditional English folk music and was popularized in the United States during the early 20th century. The lyrics tell the story of a person who has fallen into a life of vice and despair in the titular "House of the Rising Sun," often interpreted as a brothel or gambling den. The song's haunting melody and melancholic…