A TERRIBLE THIRST

A TERRIBLE THIRST

Big Paddy's second album has a rougher, wilder, unpolished sound -- and the few tracks that reappear from the first album are entirely new recordings. And of course, there are the traditional Irish tunes and rowdy pub songs, as well as the covers we know and love. This album was recorded between December 2004 to April 2005. We had some issues with the funding for this album, but we finally got things sorted out; our good friend Monte Dixon loaned us the money to finish the album, and we released it in July 2005. The album was recorded on Pro-Tools. It was recorded at Flabby Road Studio in Boulder, Colorado, whose owner and engineer was Sandy Ficca. Sandy has been the drummer for the hit band Firefall for 15 years or so. Sandy's wife kept our bellies very happy during our sessions -- they are awesome people. Anyway, we've run somewhere over 500 copies of the album since then.

Guitars, Mandolin, Tenor Banjo, Bass Bodhran: Jon Sherman
Vocals & Percussion: Sean Michael Kayo Gaughan
Drum Kit on "Matty Groves": Sandy Ficca
Release Date: July 2005
Recorded At: Flabby Road Studio
Sound Engineer: Sandy Ficca
Photos: Joy Anderson
Album Notes: We would like to thank our families and loved ones who believe in what we do. Thank you: Sandy & Sam Ficca, Monte Dixon, everyone at Jack Quinn's and at the Celtic House Pub... The Stockwells, Jamie, Isaac, & Sophie... Miss Joy, the Steeles and the Thomsons, Brody & Kayla, Ma & Pa... and the two we didn't have to sue. Thanks to Swan Ink, Zo Print, and Skid Row. A toast to all the great people we have met over the years!

Songlist:

Come Out Ye Black & Tans (by Dominic Behan)
A Man You Don't Meet Every Day (traditional)
The Foggy Dew (traditional)
A Black Waterside (traditional)
New-Rigged Ship / Kitchen Girl (traditional)
Matty Groves (traditional)
Whiskey In The Jar (traditional)
Sam Hall (traditional)
Sean South (traditional)
Nancy Whiskey (traditional)

1. COME OUT YE BLACK & TANS - originally by Dominic Behan

I was born on a Dublin street, where the Royal drums do beat
And the loving English feet, they stomped all over us
And each and every night, me father'd come home, and tight -
He'd invite the neighbors outside with this chorus:

Come out you black and tans,
Come out and fight me like a man!
Show the wife the medals that you won in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away,
From the green and lovely lanes in Killashandra!

Come let me hear you tell
How you slammed the great Pernell,
When you fought them well and truly persecuted
Where are the smears and jeers
That you bravely let us hear
When our heroes of sixteen were executed?

Come out you black and tans,
Come out and fight me like a man!
Show the wife the medals that you won in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away,
From the green and lovely lanes in Killashandra!

Come tell us how you slew
Those brave Arabs two by two,
Like the Zulus had their spears and bows and arrows
How you bravely slew each one
With your sixteen pounder gun,
And you frightened them poor natives to their marrow.

Come out you black and tans,
Come out and fight me like a man!
Show the wife the medals that you won in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away,
From the green and lovely lanes in Killashandra!

Well, the day is coming fast,
And the time here at last
When each yeoman step aside before us,
And if there be a need
Sure my kids will sing, "Godspeed!"
And sing a verse of Stephen Behan's chorus:

Come out you black and tans,
Come out and fight me like a man!
Show the wife the medals that you won in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away,
From the green and lovely lanes in Killashandra!

Come out you black and tans,
Come out and fight me like a man!
Show the wife the medals that you won in Flanders
Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away,
From the green and lovely lanes in Killashandra!

History: The "Black and Tans" was the nickname for the Royal Irish Constabulary Reserve Force, who were distinguished by the black and tan uniforms they wore. Due to the ferocity of the Tan's behaviour in Ireland and the atrocities which they committed, feelings continue to run high regarding their actions; "Black and Tans" or "Tans" remains a pejorative term for Englishmen in Ireland.

Dominic Behan was was an Irish songwriter, short story writer, novelist and playwright, whose uncle wrote the Irish National Anthem, and whose mother was a political activist and a personal friend of Michael Collins. Dominic's brother Brendan was also a writer and playwright, but was known for poetry rather than songwriting. Another brother, Brian, was a radical political activist and public speaker, as well as an actor, author, and playwright. Dominic wrote this song about their father Stephen. Stephen Behan initially trained as a Jesuit priest in order to teach, but shortly before taking vows was found in a compromising position with a young woman and was thus required to leave the Jesuit order. He later became one of Michael Collins' "Twelve Apostles", who were responsible for assassinating British Army officers during the Anglo-Irish War. However, Stephen Behan refused to take an oath of loyalty to the Irish Free State, which resulted in his exclusion from the teaching profession for which he'd trained, and ultimately led to a life of comparative hardship.

2. A MAN YOU DON'T MEET EVERY DAY - traditional

Oh, my name is Jock Stewart,
I'm a canny gaun man,
And a roving young fellow I've been.
So be easy and free,
When you're drinking with me,
I'm a man you don't meet every day.

I have acres of land,
I have men at command,
I have always a shilling to spare.
So be easy and free,
When you're drinking with me,
I'm a man you don't meet every day.

So come fill up your glasses
With brandy and wine,
What ever it costs, I will pay.
So be easy and free,
When you're drinking with me,
I'm a man you don't meet every day.

Oh, I took up my dog,
And him I did shoot,
All down in the County Kildare.
So be easy and free,
When you're drinking with me,
I'm a man you don't meet every day.

I'm a roving young blade
I'm a piper by trade
And there's many the tunes I can play.
So be easy and free
when you're drinking with me
I'm a man you don't meet every day.

History: The singer, James ("Jock") Stewart, bears the name of a Scottish king, and jokingly boasts of his lands, the many men at his beck and call, and his great wealth. He bids his listeners fill their glasses with "brandy and wine" -- heavily-taxed, expensive, fancy French liquor, rather than the whisky and porter that was the drink of the common man -- and hang the expense, for they're drinking with "A Man You Don't Meet Everyday!" This song probably came over to Ireland with the Scottish settlers. It's been played and recorded by many, including Jeannie Robertson, Archie Fisher, The Dubliners, The McCalmans, The Tannahill Weavers and The Pogues. The song is also sometimes known simply as "Jock Stewart".

3. THE FOGGY DEW - a traditional Irish song about the Battle of 1916

An’ t’was down the glen one Easter morn,
to a city fair rode I
That’s when Ireland’s lines of marching men
in squadrons passed me by
No pipes did hum, nor battle drum
did sound it's dread tattoo
But the Angels bells o'er the Liffey swells
rang out through the foggy dew...

Right proudly high over Dublin Town
they hung out the flag of war
'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky
than at Sulva or Sud El Bar
And from the plains of Royal Meath
strong men came hurrying through
While Britannia's Sons, and their long range guns,
sailed in through the foggy dew...

It was England bade our Wild Geese go
that small nations might be free
Their lonely graves are by Sulva's waves,
or the fringe of the Great North Sea
Oh, but had they died by Pearse's side,
or fought with valor and truth
Their grave we’d will keep where the fenians sleep,
'neath the shroud of the foggy dew

But the bravest fell, and the solemn bell,
it rang mournfully and clear
For those who died that Eastertide,
in the springing of the year
And the world did gaze, in deep amaze,
at those fearless men, and true
Who bore the fight that freedom's light
might shine through the foggy dew – hey!

Ah, back to the glen I rode again,
my heart with grief was sore
For I parted then with valiant men
I’d never see no more
But to and fro in my dreams I go,
and I'd kneel and I’ll pray for you
For our slaveries fled, O you rebels dead,
when you fell in the foggy dew.

History: A commemoration of the Easter Rising of 1916, in Dublin. The Easter Rising (Irish: Éirí Amach na Cásca) was a rebellion staged in Ireland against British rule on Easter Monday, April 24, in 1916; despite its military failure, it can be judged as being a significant stepping-stone in the eventual creation of the Irish Republic. It was an attempt by militant Irish Republicanists to violently force independence from the United Kingdom. The Irish Republican revolutionary attempt occurred from April 24 to April 30, 1916, in which the Irish Republican Brotherhood led by school teacher and barrister Pádraig Pearse, joined by a part of the Irish Volunteers and the smaller Irish Citizen Army of James Connolly, seized key locations in Dublin and proclaimed an Irish Republic independent of Britain. The Rising was suppressed and its leaders executed. (Read more about it here.)

4. A BLACK WATERSIDE - a traditional

One evening fair, I took the air
Down by Black Waterside
And I was gazing all around me there,
At this lovely Irish girl that I spied.

All through the burnished, powdered night
We did lie ...
And this young lass rose, and gathered all her clothes
Saying "Fare thee well today."

That's not the promise you gave to me,
When you first laid on my chest
You could make me believe with your lyin' tongue
That the sun would rise in the west.

Go home, go home to your father's ...
Go home and weep your fill
And think of how you wrote this fortune
That you bought with your want and your will.

There's not a man in this whole town
As easily led as I,
And when the sky does fall and the seas run dry,
Why it's then that you'll marry I.

One evening fair, I took the air
Down by Black Waterside
And I was gazing all around me there,
At this lovely Irish girl that I spied...

And it's then that you'll marry I...

History: The story of a romantic encounter on the Black Water, the river that runs through County Cork in Ireland. The song has been recorded by many artists over the years, including Sandy Denny, and Linda Thompson, Liam Clancy, Bert Jansch, and John Renbourn (the Renbourn version is sung by Jacqui McShee and takes the female point of view, as you might imagine). Led Zeppelin also recorded this song instrumentally, under the title "Black Mountainside".

5. NEW-RIGGED SHIP / KITCHEN GIRL - a traditional

instrumental

History: Coming soon

6. MATTY GROVES - a traditional

A holiday, a holiday, and the first one of the year;
Lord Arnold's wife came into church, the gospel for to hear.

And when the meeting it was done, she cast her eyes about,
And there she saw little Matty Groves, walking in the crowd.

"Come home with me, little Matty Groves, come home with me tonight.
Come home with me, little Matty Groves, and sleep with me tonight."

"Oh, I can't come home, I won't come home and sleep with you tonight --
By the rings on your fingers I can tell you are Lord Arnold's wife."

"What if I am Lord Arnold's wife? Lord Darnell's not at home;
For he is out in the far cornfields, bringing the yearlings home."

And a servant who was standing by and hearing what was said,
He swore Lord Arnold he would know before the sun would set.

And in his hurry to carry the news, he bent his breast and ran,
And when he came to the broad mill stream, he took off his shoes and swam.

Little Matty Groves, he lay down and took a sleep;
When he awoke, Lord Arnold was standing at his feet.

Saying "How do you like my feather bed? And how do you like my sheets?
How do you like my lady gay who lies in your arms asleep?"

"Oh, well I like your feather bed, and well I like your sheets,
But better I like your lady gay who lies in my arms asleep."

"Well, get up, get up," Lord Arnold cried, "get up as quick as you can!
For they'll never say in fair England that I slew a naked man."

"Oh, I can't get up, I won't get up, I can't get up for my life,
For you have two long beaten swords and I've got a pocket-knife."

"Well it's true I have two beaten swords, and they cost me deep in my purse,
But you will have the best of them, and I will use the worse."

"And you will strike the very first blow, and strike it like a man.
I will strike the very next blow, and I'll kill you if I can."

So Matty struck the very first blow, and he hurt Lord Arnold sore;
Lord Darnell struck the very next blow, and Matty struck no more.

And then Lord Arnold he took his wife and he sat her on his knee,
Saying, "Who do you like the best of us, dead Matty Groves or me?"

And then up spoke his own dear wife, never heard to speak so free:
"I'd rather a kiss from dead Matty's lips than you and your finery."

Lord Arnold he jumped up and loudly he did bawl,
He struck his wife right through the heart and pinned her against the wall.

"A grave, a grave!'' Lord Arnold cried, "to put these lovers in,
But bury my lady at the top for she was from noble kin."

Come home with me, little Matty Groves, come home with me tonight
Come home with me, little Matty Groves, and sleep with me tonight...

History: A Seventeenth Century English Folk ballad, in which a lord (Arlen or Daniel in some versions) has a wife who entices a servant of her husband, named Matty Groves, into an adulterous affair. The lord receives word of the betrayal and returns home to murder her lover (and sometimes her, as well, as in our version). The song was catalogued by Francis James Child, and the earliest published version appeared in 1658. The song has also been recorded by artists such as Fairport Convention, Joan Baez, and Norman Blake.

7. WHISKEY IN THE JAR - a traditional

As I was going over the far-famed Kerry mountains
I met with Captain Farrell, and his money he was counting.
I first produced my pistol, and I then produced my rapier.
Sayin' Stand and deliver, for you are a bold deceiver.

Musha ring dum durrim da
whack for the daddy 'ol
whack for the daddy 'ol
there's whiskey in the jar.

I counted out his money, and it made a pretty penny.
I put it in me pocket and I took it home to Jenny.
She sighed and she swore that she never would deceive me,
but the Devil take the women, for they never can be easy.

I went into my chamber, all for to take a slumber,
I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure it was no wonder.
But Jenny drew me charges and she filled them up with water,
Then sent for Captain Farrell to be ready for the slaughter.

T'was early in the morning, just before I rose to travel,
Up comes a band of footmen and likewise Captain Farrell.
I first produced me pistol, for she'd stolen away me rapier,
But I couldn't shoot the water so a prisoner I was taken.

Now there's some take delight in the carriages a-rollin',
And others take delight in the hurley and the bowlin'.
But I take delight in the juice of the barley,
And courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early.

If anyone can aid me, t'is my brother in the army,
If I can find his station in Cork or in Killarney.
And if he'll go with me, we'll go roving in Kilkenny,
And I'm sure he'll treat me better than me darling sportling Jenny.

Musha ring dum durrim da
whack for the daddy 'ol
whack for the daddy 'ol
there's whiskey in the jar.

History: A famous Irish traditional song about a Robin Hood-like Irish highwayman (usually in the Kerry mountains), who is betrayed by his wife or lover. It is one of the most widely performed traditional Irish songs, and has been recorded by groups such as the Dubliners, The Pogues, Peter, Paul and Mary, the Poxy Boggards and The Limeliters. It was also given a rock veneer by Irish rock band Thin Lizzy, with iconic lead singer Phil Lynott in 1973. Thin Lizzy's version has since been covered by Pulp (1997), Ernies, Smokie, Metallica (1998) and Belle & Sebastian (2006). Jerry Garcia (of the Grateful Dead) and David Grisman recorded a bluegrass cover of this song together. The folk of seventeenth century Britain liked and admired their local highwaymen; and in Ireland (or Scotland) where the "gentlemen of the roads" robbed occupying English landlords, they were regarded as national patriots.

8. SAM HALL - a traditional song (also performed by Johnny Cash)

Well, my name is Sam Hall, chimneysweep, chimneysweep
Yes, my name is Sam Hall, chimneysweep
My name is Sam Hall, and I’ve robbed ‘em great and small
And my neck’ll pay fer it all, when I die, when I die
And I hate you one and all, s’ damn your eyes!

See, it all went like this:

They said I killed a man they said, so they said, so they said
I killed a man they said, so they said
Well I killed a man they said, said I bashed his bloody head
With a great big lump of lead, damn their eyes, damn their eyes
With a great big lump of lead, damn their eyes!

So they put me in the quad, in the quad, in the quad
They put me in the quad, in the quad
Beat iron bars with iron rods
And they left me there to die, damn their eyes, damn their eyes
And they left me there to die, damn their eyes!

Well the parson he did come, he did come, he did come
The parson he did come, he did come
Well the parson he did come, and he looked so fuckin’ glum
And he talked ‘til Kingdom Come, damn his eyes, damn his eyes
And he can kiss my fuckin’ bum, damn his eyes!

So I went to Palden Hill, in a cart, in a cart
I went to Palden Hill, in a cart
Well, I went to Palden Hill and I said “God, I’ve had my fill!”
And I tied the rope right well, damn their eyes, damn their eyes
On top of Palden Hill, damn their eyes!

Well, the sheriff, he came too, he came too, he came too
The sheriff, he came too, he came too
Well, the sheriff he came too, with all his bloody boys in blue
And all his fuckin’ crew, damn their eyes, damn their eyes
They said, “Sam we’ll see you through, damn your eyes!”

I saw Molly in the crowd, in the crowd, in the crowd
I saw Molly in the crowd, in the crowd
I saw Molly in the crowd, and I shouted right out loud
I said, "Now Molly, aren't you proud? Damn your eyes, damn your eyes!"
I said, "Now Molly, aren't you proud? Damn your eyes!"

But up this ladder I did go, it’s no joke, it’s no joke
Up this ladder I did go, it’s no joke
Up this ladder I did go, and the hangman pulled the rope
And these little words I spoke, tumbling down, tumbling down
And these little words I spoke, tumbling down:

Well, my name is Sam Hall, chimneysweep, chimneysweep
Yes, my name is Sam Hall, chimneysweep
My name is Sam Hall, and I’ve robbed ‘em great and small
And my neck’ll pay fer it all, when I die, when I die
And I hate you one and all, s’ damn your eyes!

And my name is Sam Hall, damn your eyes...

History: "Sam Hall" was adapted from an earlier song called 'Jack Hall', about a British chimney sweep who was hanged for burglary in 1701. The song has been recorded many times, with many variations in the lyrics.

9. SEAN SOUTH - a traditional Irish resistance song from the 1960s

It was on a dreary New Year's day, when the shade of night came down
And a lorry load of volunteers approached the border town

There were men from Dublin and from Cork, Fermanagh and Tyrone
But the leader was a Limerick man, Sean South of Garryowen

And as they moved along the street up to the barracks door
They scorned the danger the would meet, the fate that lay in store

They were fighting for old Ireland, to make their very own
And the foremost of this gallant band was South of Garryowen

But the sergeant spoiled their daring plans, he spied them through the door
And with sten guns and with rifle, a hail of death did pour

But before that awful night was past, two men lay cold as stone
There was one from near the border, and one from Garryowen

No more he'll hear the seagull cry o'er the murmuring Shannon tide
For he fell beneath a northern sky, brave O'Hanlon by his side

He has gone to join that gallant band of Plunkett, Pearse, and Tone
Another martyr for old Ireland, Sean South of garryowen.

History: Coming soon

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