Among my favourites, a group, Van McCoy, in that song “Do the Hustle”, I for a time they were saying: “two and half!”. I used to call the song, “two and a half”. I’m sure there are a legion of songs, they’d get radio play and between background noise and what whatever, some errant line got picked up by our ears.
Greetings John.
Christy,
on the subject of misheard lyrics, even at my ripe old age I still can’t listern to Happiness by Ken Dodd without sniggering like a naughty school boy ????
Christy's reply
six in the bed
down the old pier head
and its Liverpool Town
for me
Thanks Christy for the dedication in UL.Delighted to meet some of the 4711ers.Even without sound Lisdoon could be heard loud and clear.Your voice is so strong.Thank you sincerely for taking the time to sign my Guild.Looking forward to seeing you with the Ma in Kilashee.She loves ‘The Crack was 90’ and of course ‘Nancy Spain’.I’ll pass on your best regards to all the folks in Brandon on Easter Sunday night when I play in Murphy’s on the Pier.St Brendan has been the National anthem there for 40 years.Míle Buiochas for all that you do.Paddy.
Christy's reply
Twas a simple twist of fate that brought Tom McCarthy and myself to Murphy’s that overcast morning….we were both a touch hungover from the previous nights fun …it was quiet and peaceful in Brandon until a man from High Germany began to sing….
Hello Christy,
I’ve always found your lyrics very clear. Beautiful Irish vowels with precisely placed consonants like pegs on a washing line. Contrariously (the real word escapes me…) if you’d worked less hard on the words the American woman might have had less complaints…
Here’s a treasure from Lancashire exploring the other side of the question https://youtu.be/7my5baoCVv8?si=rmb-ozGB1ieTCB0b
Rebecca
Christy's reply
hooked again….Peter Kay catches me every time…I’ve seen these clips numerous times yet the humour and novelty never recedes…thank you for sharing….caught Peter a few times here in Dublin….wish him well….himself, his mam & nan, all his care…..
Some comments over misheard lyrics here…
My brother Tony ( anniversary of his passing today (gud luv ‘I’m) believed Herman’s Hermits “She’s a must to avoid” was “He’s a muscular boy”
As far as offending any audience member/s…songs written and sung from the heart are songs of passion & opinion – not surprising some get their knickers in a knot
I’m sure you Christy gave ‘em a respectful & considered farewell ..ahem
I will be on your shores May with me girl & our grandson …can’t wait
Keep safe & crazy
Danny Harris
Like yourself Pat! Innocent confusion over lyrics.! Since meself and the fellow plageriser 1st heard Nancy in the 70’s we still sing it as we thought we first heard it, “”The wind”” “the birds I’ll sing a song”
De brudder went from loving a song to hating it when he discovered it was “Fields of Barley” and not “Fields of Bali” I still think Gordon introduced a modicum of Rhotacism on it to confuse listeners! There’s loads more isn’t there?
Evening Christy,
Mick Blake does it again.
His new piece ‘Shame’ is poignant, chilling, honest.
He is, as always, right.
Rory
Ps no need for anyone to post a link here thanks, i deliberately did not, those who want to find out can search Mick and his incredible body of work
Christy's reply
I’ll second that Rory…
Mick has written, recorded, filmed and edited a powerful body of work…all in his spare time
They said the previous week in Life magazine, that you wrote Ride On, The Voyage and Ordinary Man. Correction published on page 4.
Christy's reply
I’m privileged to say that the authors, JImmy MacCarthy, Johnny Duhan and Peter Hames each shared those songs with me…… Peter, no longer with us, handed me a cassette of “Ordinary Man” after a gig in The Winter Gardens in Cleethorpes almost 40 years ago… Jimmy Sang “Ride On” in The Meeting Place Dublin in the late 70s and shared it with me some years later in Lombard Studio in Dublin…. After I recorded his song “El Salvador” Johnny Duhan visited us in Rialto and sang “Voyage “to me…as I write this I realise that these three songs brought titles to three successive albums in the 1980s……my repertoire has developed from three strands….songs from the Tradition, from other writers and the ones I’ve managed to write myself
and it all started for me with The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem
Disagreement over song texts! Would you ever imagine it! I was in me element singing along at a gig, ‘the violets are scenting the woods Maggie…’
begobs didn’t the fella behind me take the chats altogether ‘its NORA NORA NORA! F off you bloody Thatcherite’ he deafened my left ear….’
Yes Christy, Driving Madeline was a grand film. I also enjoyed A Whole Life recently, and I would be interested in your opinion on The Colour Purple if you get a chance to see it…a very interesting piece altogether
Christy's reply
got booed once by Militant Feminists in Canberra.. cant remember why but they painted a slogan on the wall outside “dead men don’t rape”
got verbally attacked by a Fascist Yank in Virginia for singin “Hey Ronnie Reagan I’m Black and I’m Pagan, I’m Gay and I’m left and I’m free….
got slagged in Manchester in the 70s for singin “Ponchartrain” which an audient claimed was racist….
I love my work and those who come to hear the songs…..
a visiting Yank took severe exception when I sang Morrissey’s ” America You are not the world”in the TF Theatre Castlebar….. I still remember her last words..”I’m gonna write to Time magazine Mr Moore, you’ll never be allowed into America again”….. as she walked away she turned back and said “and who is this Allende guy we’re supposed to have killed”
the prop wantd to give her her money back ..I objected as she only complained about two songs and I had sung 27…I offered her two euro
we knock some sport as we traverse the by roads and the boreens….
“O The Crack was 90 in The Isle of Man”…( Barney Rush)
ps. I joined a singing session a few weeks back in Spain and the first song that I sang was The Contender. I sang the line “I could have lived my life without Casandra’s call”, as I usually do. I got into fierce trouble as one of the singers was from Cobh. There followed some good natured (kinda) quarrelling which was cleared up after a bit of googling! I might sing it again there and go with your line for the crack🤣
Christy's reply
I’ve heard stories about song writers becoming apoplectic when their words were misconstrued,altered,misinterpreted (as is their right and entitlement)…it can happen..sometimes accidentally , sometimes with purpose….the folk process continues to derive, deride, describe, decant, declare and detonate verses ..sometimes when the name of the composer is long forgotten…surely the sign of a great song….when its still being sung centuries after its composer has faded into anonymity….
in the world of folk-song it seldom goes beyond discussion,argument, shouting,rancour and abuse (with occasional punch-ups, usually in lock -in situations when other resentments can lead to the boil-over point…I’ve witnessed some torrid affairs, drink and blood spilt, friendships sundered, bands breaking up allover a misunderstood lyric)
in other genres it can become legal and expensive
some years ago I witnessed a terribly violent scene brought about by a harmless discussion over the qualities of different types of potatoes
( see youtube The Great Potato Feud Pat Quinn Craiceann )
Don’t know if you saw that the Sunday Independent issued a correction this morning re yourself and song compositions. They should do their homework first! Hope you’re keeping well.
Christy's reply
never saw a bit of it..what was it all about
my granny used to say ” paper never refuses ink”
there he is, the first grandson of Andy, Nancy, Stephen and Alice, I remember his arrival…I was hanging out in Halifax when Davóg was born to Anne & Davoc in far off County Clare…..he is returning soon to sing in Dublin
Good evening Christy,congratulations on the championship,well deserved,The Dragon has lost its fire for now,we will return and rise up again,George North has retired,He has been a strong part of the team for so long,I see by the Gig page that you are very busy this year,Keep it going Christy,The fish are starting to wake up so Rods and fly to the ready,Shine on Christy.
Christy's reply
I took a wrong turn while writing my reply….it led me to Declan Welsh reading his poem “I am a white man in Palestine”
Good to hear from you my Fisherman Friend.
I hope your XV will soon regain their rightful place ….I miss the harmonies that reverberate around the valleys when Wales Rugby is in full flow
Hi Christy,
Hope you are well.
My tribute duo to you, ‘More Christy’ played a 2 hour set on St Patrick’s Day in The Bell & Crown over here in Salisbury, Wiltshire. As a result the manager has granted us a residency guaranteeing us 2 gigs a month !
Christy's reply
Ride On to The Bell & Crown in Salisbury…..keep up the good work Dave
Hello Christy.Thanks very much for a wonderful night of music and song in Limerick. Great to hear the marquee song away from home.Tony and myself sang our hearts out in the wonderful venue.Roll on Derry next month. Next stop Monk’s Lane for my usual Sunday .Thanks again Christy.
Christy's reply
Thanks for that vital prompt Dave…between yourself and Hilary you helped to steer me between the ditches and make it thru
apart from the momentary loss of power it was a good one for me….the PA going down led to The Scariff Martyrs, murdered on The Bridge of Killaloe….I last sang that in Glór,Ennis, maybe 15 years ago….
while working in The National Bank, Tulla, County Clare ,I used visit Mrs Murphy ..her Son Teddy ran a pub at the top of The Windswept Hill….the lady sang that song to me and described being at the Funeral of those four martyrs in Scariff
my abiding memory of that gig will be the young lad coming up to recieve the set list
Thank you so much Christy for an incredible concert this evening, and especially for singing Spancill Hill, in the best version we have heard! Lasting memories for us and sincerely appreciate you. With love & appreciation from Scilly Isles & Las Vegas, back to Clare and Limerick tonight.
Siobain, Shirley & Duncan.
Good evening
I checked out that Jim Page song a couple of days ago, it is powerful .
I sent it from bandcamp to one of my kids as a gift, a strange gift i guess she thought.
It came to mind earlier today as i carved my 81st email to my mp to ask for a ceasefire, having watched a 12yo recount finding her 18m old brother’s severed head.
So well raised Moeke, well sung Christy.
….eventually they came for me but there was no one left to speak.
Rory
Christy's reply
Jim has been singing and playing all his life…a front line man
Now it.s over, I can no longer look on Instagram for a while,the images keep getting worse and worse. It’s already so intense to see the rubble, knowing that there are dead people underneath, to imagine what it smells like there, the ongoing starvation, babies who no longer have the energy to cry, traumatized children, the despair of fathers and mothers! And my powerlessnes to change anything.
I wish I were a singer or a poet or a writer to shout it out. But I am just a simple houswife, who may have a talent for drawing but a lack of creativity.
I know, This is not the place and I am really sorry that I’m doing it anyway. But I thought maybe you could shout for me.
I am really looking forward to your upcoming album. Your voice makes the world a more beautiful one,
Dear greetings from a worried moeke.
Christy's reply
Thank you for sharing…There is very little any of us can do in the face of Israeli, American and Hamas violence… but we can do small things…raise our voices, draw pictures, talk about it, share like you did here…let us all remember that silence is acquiesence
tonight in Limerick I will sing a song sent me by Jim Page from Seattle, the opening verse is;
Let me tell you a story,I’ll be as quick as I can
terrible news form the Holy Land
pictures of Children etched in my mind
buried in the rubble along the firing line
the Jews and the Arabs lived one and the same
for a thousand years before the Zionists came
came like a river came like a flood
Al Nakba written on the wall in blood
Among my favourites, a group, Van McCoy, in that song “Do the Hustle”, I for a time they were saying: “two and half!”. I used to call the song, “two and a half”. I’m sure there are a legion of songs, they’d get radio play and between background noise and what whatever, some errant line got picked up by our ears.
Greetings John.
thats about the size of it
Christy,
on the subject of misheard lyrics, even at my ripe old age I still can’t listern to Happiness by Ken Dodd without sniggering like a naughty school boy ????
six in the bed
down the old pier head
and its Liverpool Town
for me
Thanks Christy for the dedication in UL.Delighted to meet some of the 4711ers.Even without sound Lisdoon could be heard loud and clear.Your voice is so strong.Thank you sincerely for taking the time to sign my Guild.Looking forward to seeing you with the Ma in Kilashee.She loves ‘The Crack was 90’ and of course ‘Nancy Spain’.I’ll pass on your best regards to all the folks in Brandon on Easter Sunday night when I play in Murphy’s on the Pier.St Brendan has been the National anthem there for 40 years.Míle Buiochas for all that you do.Paddy.
Twas a simple twist of fate that brought Tom McCarthy and myself to Murphy’s that overcast morning….we were both a touch hungover from the previous nights fun …it was quiet and peaceful in Brandon until a man from High Germany began to sing….
Hello Christy,
I’ve always found your lyrics very clear. Beautiful Irish vowels with precisely placed consonants like pegs on a washing line. Contrariously (the real word escapes me…) if you’d worked less hard on the words the American woman might have had less complaints…
Here’s a treasure from Lancashire exploring the other side of the question
https://youtu.be/7my5baoCVv8?si=rmb-ozGB1ieTCB0b
Rebecca
hooked again….Peter Kay catches me every time…I’ve seen these clips numerous times yet the humour and novelty never recedes…thank you for sharing….caught Peter a few times here in Dublin….wish him well….himself, his mam & nan, all his care…..
Some comments over misheard lyrics here…
My brother Tony ( anniversary of his passing today (gud luv ‘I’m) believed Herman’s Hermits “She’s a must to avoid” was “He’s a muscular boy”
As far as offending any audience member/s…songs written and sung from the heart are songs of passion & opinion – not surprising some get their knickers in a knot
I’m sure you Christy gave ‘em a respectful & considered farewell ..ahem
I will be on your shores May with me girl & our grandson …can’t wait
Keep safe & crazy
Danny Harris
Like yourself Pat! Innocent confusion over lyrics.! Since meself and the fellow plageriser 1st heard Nancy in the 70’s we still sing it as we thought we first heard it, “”The wind”” “the birds I’ll sing a song”
De brudder went from loving a song to hating it when he discovered it was “Fields of Barley” and not “Fields of Bali” I still think Gordon introduced a modicum of Rhotacism on it to confuse listeners! There’s loads more isn’t there?
Evening Christy,
Mick Blake does it again.
His new piece ‘Shame’ is poignant, chilling, honest.
He is, as always, right.
Rory
Ps no need for anyone to post a link here thanks, i deliberately did not, those who want to find out can search Mick and his incredible body of work
I’ll second that Rory…
Mick has written, recorded, filmed and edited a powerful body of work…all in his spare time
They said the previous week in Life magazine, that you wrote Ride On, The Voyage and Ordinary Man. Correction published on page 4.
I’m privileged to say that the authors, JImmy MacCarthy, Johnny Duhan and Peter Hames each shared those songs with me…… Peter, no longer with us, handed me a cassette of “Ordinary Man” after a gig in The Winter Gardens in Cleethorpes almost 40 years ago… Jimmy Sang “Ride On” in The Meeting Place Dublin in the late 70s and shared it with me some years later in Lombard Studio in Dublin…. After I recorded his song “El Salvador” Johnny Duhan visited us in Rialto and sang “Voyage “to me…as I write this I realise that these three songs brought titles to three successive albums in the 1980s……my repertoire has developed from three strands….songs from the Tradition, from other writers and the ones I’ve managed to write myself
and it all started for me with The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem
Disagreement over song texts! Would you ever imagine it! I was in me element singing along at a gig, ‘the violets are scenting the woods Maggie…’
begobs didn’t the fella behind me take the chats altogether ‘its NORA NORA NORA! F off you bloody Thatcherite’ he deafened my left ear….’
Yes Christy, Driving Madeline was a grand film. I also enjoyed A Whole Life recently, and I would be interested in your opinion on The Colour Purple if you get a chance to see it…a very interesting piece altogether
got booed once by Militant Feminists in Canberra.. cant remember why but they painted a slogan on the wall outside “dead men don’t rape”
got verbally attacked by a Fascist Yank in Virginia for singin “Hey Ronnie Reagan I’m Black and I’m Pagan, I’m Gay and I’m left and I’m free….
got slagged in Manchester in the 70s for singin “Ponchartrain” which an audient claimed was racist….
I love my work and those who come to hear the songs…..
a visiting Yank took severe exception when I sang Morrissey’s ” America You are not the world”in the TF Theatre Castlebar….. I still remember her last words..”I’m gonna write to Time magazine Mr Moore, you’ll never be allowed into America again”….. as she walked away she turned back and said “and who is this Allende guy we’re supposed to have killed”
the prop wantd to give her her money back ..I objected as she only complained about two songs and I had sung 27…I offered her two euro
we knock some sport as we traverse the by roads and the boreens….
“O The Crack was 90 in The Isle of Man”…( Barney Rush)
Hello Christy,
Thanks for pointing this out.
https://youtu.be/Fj7OZ64gZGA?si=MV_hX8B3FakOQjML
Rebecca
fáilte romhat
ps. I joined a singing session a few weeks back in Spain and the first song that I sang was The Contender. I sang the line “I could have lived my life without Casandra’s call”, as I usually do. I got into fierce trouble as one of the singers was from Cobh. There followed some good natured (kinda) quarrelling which was cleared up after a bit of googling! I might sing it again there and go with your line for the crack🤣
I’ve heard stories about song writers becoming apoplectic when their words were misconstrued,altered,misinterpreted (as is their right and entitlement)…it can happen..sometimes accidentally , sometimes with purpose….the folk process continues to derive, deride, describe, decant, declare and detonate verses ..sometimes when the name of the composer is long forgotten…surely the sign of a great song….when its still being sung centuries after its composer has faded into anonymity….
in the world of folk-song it seldom goes beyond discussion,argument, shouting,rancour and abuse (with occasional punch-ups, usually in lock -in situations when other resentments can lead to the boil-over point…I’ve witnessed some torrid affairs, drink and blood spilt, friendships sundered, bands breaking up allover a misunderstood lyric)
in other genres it can become legal and expensive
some years ago I witnessed a terribly violent scene brought about by a harmless discussion over the qualities of different types of potatoes
( see youtube The Great Potato Feud Pat Quinn Craiceann )
Don’t know if you saw that the Sunday Independent issued a correction this morning re yourself and song compositions. They should do their homework first! Hope you’re keeping well.
never saw a bit of it..what was it all about
my granny used to say ” paper never refuses ink”
Thank you for reminding me of Declan Welsh and his beacon
Hello Christy,
Something beautiful for this sunny day.
https://youtu.be/gRGDC9m9pls?si=avv4VYo94eVbMdxY
Rebecca
there he is, the first grandson of Andy, Nancy, Stephen and Alice, I remember his arrival…I was hanging out in Halifax when Davóg was born to Anne & Davoc in far off County Clare…..he is returning soon to sing in Dublin
Good evening Christy,congratulations on the championship,well deserved,The Dragon has lost its fire for now,we will return and rise up again,George North has retired,He has been a strong part of the team for so long,I see by the Gig page that you are very busy this year,Keep it going Christy,The fish are starting to wake up so Rods and fly to the ready,Shine on Christy.
I took a wrong turn while writing my reply….it led me to Declan Welsh reading his poem “I am a white man in Palestine”
Good to hear from you my Fisherman Friend.
I hope your XV will soon regain their rightful place ….I miss the harmonies that reverberate around the valleys when Wales Rugby is in full flow
Hi Christy,
Hope you are well.
My tribute duo to you, ‘More Christy’ played a 2 hour set on St Patrick’s Day in The Bell & Crown over here in Salisbury, Wiltshire. As a result the manager has granted us a residency guaranteeing us 2 gigs a month !
Ride On to The Bell & Crown in Salisbury…..keep up the good work Dave
Hello Christy.Thanks very much for a wonderful night of music and song in Limerick. Great to hear the marquee song away from home.Tony and myself sang our hearts out in the wonderful venue.Roll on Derry next month. Next stop Monk’s Lane for my usual Sunday .Thanks again Christy.
Thanks for that vital prompt Dave…between yourself and Hilary you helped to steer me between the ditches and make it thru
apart from the momentary loss of power it was a good one for me….the PA going down led to The Scariff Martyrs, murdered on The Bridge of Killaloe….I last sang that in Glór,Ennis, maybe 15 years ago….
while working in The National Bank, Tulla, County Clare ,I used visit Mrs Murphy ..her Son Teddy ran a pub at the top of The Windswept Hill….the lady sang that song to me and described being at the Funeral of those four martyrs in Scariff
my abiding memory of that gig will be the young lad coming up to recieve the set list
hi to Gavin & Michelle…enjoy your dinner
Thank you so much Christy for an incredible concert this evening, and especially for singing Spancill Hill, in the best version we have heard! Lasting memories for us and sincerely appreciate you. With love & appreciation from Scilly Isles & Las Vegas, back to Clare and Limerick tonight.
Siobain, Shirley & Duncan.
always a good night in Chuck Feeney’s
Good evening
I checked out that Jim Page song a couple of days ago, it is powerful .
I sent it from bandcamp to one of my kids as a gift, a strange gift i guess she thought.
It came to mind earlier today as i carved my 81st email to my mp to ask for a ceasefire, having watched a 12yo recount finding her 18m old brother’s severed head.
So well raised Moeke, well sung Christy.
….eventually they came for me but there was no one left to speak.
Rory
Jim has been singing and playing all his life…a front line man
Now it.s over, I can no longer look on Instagram for a while,the images keep getting worse and worse. It’s already so intense to see the rubble, knowing that there are dead people underneath, to imagine what it smells like there, the ongoing starvation, babies who no longer have the energy to cry, traumatized children, the despair of fathers and mothers! And my powerlessnes to change anything.
I wish I were a singer or a poet or a writer to shout it out. But I am just a simple houswife, who may have a talent for drawing but a lack of creativity.
I know, This is not the place and I am really sorry that I’m doing it anyway. But I thought maybe you could shout for me.
I am really looking forward to your upcoming album. Your voice makes the world a more beautiful one,
Dear greetings from a worried moeke.
Thank you for sharing…There is very little any of us can do in the face of Israeli, American and Hamas violence… but we can do small things…raise our voices, draw pictures, talk about it, share like you did here…let us all remember that silence is acquiesence
tonight in Limerick I will sing a song sent me by Jim Page from Seattle, the opening verse is;
Let me tell you a story,I’ll be as quick as I can
terrible news form the Holy Land
pictures of Children etched in my mind
buried in the rubble along the firing line
the Jews and the Arabs lived one and the same
for a thousand years before the Zionists came
came like a river came like a flood
Al Nakba written on the wall in blood
In Palestine In Palestine