"Charlie on the MTA" was written by Jacqueline Steiner and Bess Lomax Hawes in 1949 as a campaign song for Walter A. O’Brien, a Progressive Party candidate for Boston mayor. O’Brien campaigned against a controversial "exit fare" policy imposed by…
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The Orange and the Green, written by Anthony Murphy, uses humor and wit to mask a deeper commentary on the complexities of Irish identity, especially within families that straddled the historic divide between Catholicism and Protestantism. The song is sung…
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“Wild” Rover is often requested at O'McPub Band shows as "No, nay, never" or "that song where we clap". Out of all the songs we perform, “Wild Rover” is one most deeply associated with Irish pub culture and traditional music…
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“All For Me Grog” is a classic Irish drinking song that captures the humor, melancholy, and resilience often found in traditional Irish folk music. Believed to have originated in the 19th century, this raucous tune tells the tale of a…
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“Auld Lang Syne” has its roots in Scotland, where it was first popularized by the 18th-century poet Robert Burns. Burns claimed to have transcribed the song in 1788 from an older Scottish folk tune, saying it was "an old song,…
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"Drinking in the Day" by The Tossers is a vivid narrative that explores themes of youthful rebellion and the consequences of chasing fleeting pleasures. Set against the backdrop of Dublin, the lyrics delve into a man's encounter with a young…
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"Whiskey You're The Devil" reflects the historical nexus between war and whiskey and is deeply rooted in the cultural tapestry of the American frontier and Irish tradition. Originating from a broadside ballad titled John and Moll in Ireland around 1790,…
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“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…
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