DROPKICK MURPHYS - Sing loud, sing proud (2001)

For Boston
The Legend Of Finn MacCumhail
Which Side Are You On
The Rocky Road To Dublin
Heroes From Our Past
Forever
The Gauntlet
Good Rats
The New American Way
The Torch
The Fortunes Of War
A Few Good Men
Ramble And Roll
Caps And Bottles
The Wild Rover
The Spicy McHaggis Jig

************************

For Boston
For Boston for Boston, we sing our proud refrain
for Boston for Boston 'tis wisdom's earthly fame
for here are all one and our hearts are true
and the towers on the heights reach the heavens own blue.
for Boston for boston 'til the echoes ring agin!

For Boston for Boston thy glory is our own
for Boston for Boston 'tis here that truth is known
and ever with a right shall our heirs be found
'til time shall be no more and thy work is crowned
for Boston for Boston thy glory is our own!

The Legend Of Finn MacCumhail
This Mighty Soldier on the eve of the war he'd wage
told his troops of lessons learned from battles fought,
"May your heart grow boldier like an iron clad brigade",
said this leader to his outnumbered lot.

Known as a hero to all that he knew,
long live the legend of Fin MacCumhail.
The brave Celtic leader of the chosen few,
long live the legend of Finn MacCumhail.

Which Side Are You On
Our father was a union man some day i'll be one too.
The bosses fired daddy what's our family gonna do?
Come all you good workers good news to you
I'll tell of how the good old union has come in here to dewll.

Which side are you on?
Which side are you on?

My daddy was miner and I'm a miner's son
and I'll stick with the union 'til every battles done.

They say in Marlan County there are no neutrals
there you'll either be a union man or a thug for J.H. Blair

Oh workers can you stand it?
Oh tell me how you can will you be a lousy scab or will you be a man?
Don't scab for the bosses don't listen to their lies
us poor folks haven't got a chance unless we organize

The Rocky Road To Dublin
In the merry month of June from my home
I started left the girls of Taum
nearly brokenhearted saluted me father dear,
kissed me darling mother drank a pint of beer,
my grief and tears to smother then off to reap the corn,
leave where I was born
cut a stout blackthorn to banish ghosts and goblin,
brand-new pair of brogues,
rattling o'er the bogs frightening all the dogs on the rocky road to Dublin.

In Mullingar last night,
I rested limbs so weary started by daylight
next morning bright and early
took a drop of the pure to keep me heart from sinking
that's the daddy's cure when he's on the drinking
see the lassies smile, laughing all the while at me darling style,
would set your heart a-bubblin' asked me was I hired,
wages I required 'til I was almost tired of the rocky road to Dublin.

Hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road a
nd all the way to Dublin,
whack-fol-la-de-da!

In Dublin next arrived,
I thought it such a pity to be so soon deprived
a view of that fine city
decided to take a stroll all among the quality bundle,
it was stole in that neat locality something crossed my mind
when I looked behind no bundle could I find
upon me stick a-wobblin' crying for a rogue
said me connaught brogue wasn't much in-vogue on the rocky road to Dublin.

From there I got away,
me spirits never failing landed on the quay
just as the ship was sailing captain at me roared,
said that no room had he
then I jumped aboard a cabin found for Daddy
down among the pigs, played some funny rigs,
danced some hearty jigs, the water 'round me bubblin'
off to hollyhead wished myself was dead
or better far instead on the rocky road to Dublin.

The boys in Liverpool,
when we safely landed called myself a fool,
I could no longer stand it blood began to boil,
temper I was losing poor old Erin's Isle
they began abusing hooray me soul,
says I, let the shellaillagh fly some galway boys were nigh,
saw I was a-hobblin' with a loud array,
they joined me in the fray and soon we cleared the way
on the rocky road to Dublin

Heroes From Our Past
And so the story's told of a hearty group of men
it's a tale of their triumphs and their woes.
Be it raids and melees ancient or the modern worker's struggle
that inspires men to stand up for their rights.
And should we fall down by the wayside in this ever-changing world
we can look back to these heroes of our past.
With their staunch determination and ferocious iron will,
no tyranny would quell them in their task.

It's an age-old situation with an ever-present message:
that time and tide waiteth for no man.
So without fear of confrontation of the consequence of outcome,
it's for freedom and for happiness they toiled.
An in looking to the future,
we can see a better place where we can shake the yoke of tyranny for all.
It's been paved by generations who have gone now to their rest.
It's just remembrance of their dignity we ask.

So come on rally round this brave and valiant cause with tradition,
pride, and honor at its core.
With swords drawn to defend stood stood these noble-hearted men
Faugh-an-ballagh, clear the way, me boys!!

Under perilous conditions with small hope of success
they left behind the lives that they once led
and by virtue of their fortitude and single-minded strength
they cleared the way for the people of today
so when we think back to our ancestors respectfully
we hark and thank the men whose struggle broke the chai
it's a long road up ahead of us -
let's forge on while we're strong and leave our mark of honor once again
So the story has been told and it comes now to an end.
It's setting any era, any land.
When abusive tyrants force the hands of matters great or small,
it inpires men to stand up for their rights.

Forever
"Never take your loved ones for granted: they could be gone tomorrow"
all of my dreams seem to fall by the side like a discarded thought
or the day's fading light but I know that if I could just see you tonight
forever at times we may fall, like we all tend to do
but I'll reach out and find that I've run into you
your strength is the power that carried me through forever

Your kindness for weakness I never mistook I worried you often,
yet you understood that life is so fleeting,
these troubles won't last forever inspired me truly you did from the start
to not be afraid and to follow my heart
there's a piece of you with me they can't tear apart forever

Forever I'll find you, forever we'll be
Forever your power and strength stays with me

The Gauntlet
Well I just got back from a break in the fight
I was weighing in heavy but still feeling alright
all I hear in the distance mines and shells
here come the sirens wailing another attack to be repelled
do you think we're gonna make it? I don't know unless we try
you could sit here scared to move or we could take them by surprise
it's submission that they want it's surrender that they need
when we're doing it their way their aims will be achieved

They're gonna come when you're not ready when you're not to well-prepared
they're gonna prey upon your weakness no man's soul is ever spared
you've got to stand up, yeah, and fight them show them what it's all about
this man is not for sale there will be no backing down

Stand up and fight and I'll stand up with you! We shall succeed...

They won't get me they won't get me thought they never cease to try
they won't get me they won't get me I would rather fight and di
they won't get me they won't get me well my friend will they get you?
when they get you when they get you tell me what are you gonna do?

Good Rats
Have you ever stopped to think about what rats do for fun?
Sure they crawl around and scurry, yeah they're always on the run
but a rat sure likes a good time just like you and me
I'll prove it with a tale about a rat-infested brewery

It started with a little lad named vermin McCann
who fell upon a drink that made him feel like quite a man
he rounded up his furry boys, though some wore a frown
they quickly changed their tune and they slammed a couple down.

One, two, one-two-three-four!
Come on all you good rats we'll send you to heaven
you'll find the pearly gates in the froth and the foam

The Guinness to gold!

Like mice behind a piper, rats from all around
soon headed for this factory in old Dublin Town.
They surely heard the news about this fancy new rat-brew they come,
they saw, they had a taste and knocked back a few

The rats were in a tizzy addicted to the bone
the hairy lugs wer giddy they were never going home
like a bunch of drunken pirates prepared to walk the plank they drank,
they sang, they took a plunge and in the beer they sank!

The New American Way
"The punishment no longer fits the crime"

Each day when I wake up and I set my best foot forward
I'll make an effort to be all that I can be.
I take a look around me and I wonder how things change so much
in the few short years since I was a young boy.

Do you know what we're fighting for?
I know in an instant I could lose everything I'm working toward.

I know I'll win my battles though I fear we'll lose the war
to the new American way.

The morals of this nation's youth have long gone astray
lead by tolerance, indifference, and this kinder gentler way
that has corrupted and destroyed so many of our boys and girls
oh lord I start to wonder will it ever come around?

The Torch
Wash away all the lines on your face that show how you've aged
it's a long way down - your back's been broken you can't make the rounds
the tables are turned as the litany goes... you're a rotten old man
who'll be covered in dirt on your knees and pray to the maker
that caused you to bleed

Turn back the hand on the clock you're a bitter old man
who's done nothing but work your hands to the bone on the assembly lines
you've grown cold to the touch of the ones that you love
ignorance is something you can't over come but you've passed it on down
and that's something much worse for a bitter young man...
is now taking the torch

Silent scorn - you've taken it out on the ones you adore Inside rage
- they've left you before but they'll come back again
they'll pray for you with all their love but this time your indifference
just can't be excused Forced amends - well it's something you'll die with
but it goes on for them... for a bitter young man... has now taken the torch...

The Fortunes Of War
(Dedicated to the memory of Brian Deneke)

Each town has its cliques those who don't get along
and then there's towns I know where certain kids just don't belong
so know your rivals and watch your back 'cause no one's gonna be there
when the enemy attacks

When the justice eludes you it's the fortunes of war
wouldn't things be different had the tables been turned?
If the people won't protect you you must fend for yourself
when the justice eludes you it's the fortunes of war

You drove right over him and then you sped away
how does it feel to kill and know you didn't pay?
So walk away even though a life is gone someday
you'll know the price when god repays you for your wrongs.

A Few Good Men
It's time we stood up for ourselves so get up off your knees.
We'll shake off our detractors and attain our hopes and dreams
and if we fall prey to in-fighting, we're never gonna win,
so put aside your differences, sing loud, sing proud

We won't listen to their stories or be waylaid by their lies
it's a dream that's still attainable for kids like you and I
So if we all stand together singing one defiant song
our voice will reach the heavens, so sing with all your heart

Join us in a song - we shall rise and sing stand up and be counted
- sing a song for liberty join us in this song
- together we shall sing rise up and be counted
- sing it loud, sing it proud

We've been brutalized and crucified, the brunt of their attacks,
is corruption not their trademark and compassion what they lack?
If we can realize our common goals, the end of which is plain united
and now stronger, their loss is now our gain!

Ramble And Roll
Driving down the highway and I've got no lights
dreaming about my future, but it's fading away in the night
what do you want out of life when you don't play by the rules
I've got no expectations and I fully expect to lose

'Cause I was born to ramble I was made to roll
living my stickin' life in yesterday's rock and roll

I drink in dirty bars 'cause they serve bigger drinks
and I don't own fancy cards I take the train and man it stinks, yeah,
I play music but I do't hang out with stars
and if I need money I'll just pawn a few guitars

I may speak gibberish, but I don't talk shit
and I'm not one for book smarts but I'm known for my barroom wit!

Caps And Bottles
When I was thirteen, I bought a scally cap
looked up to the older guys who drank at the rat
couldn't wait to grow up just to drink with the crew
put my name on the map and have a social few

I recall when I was small I thought I'd be legend soon
but that was then and this is now a harder road cannot be found
don't get me wrong, good times were had sometimes the fun outweighed the bad
but all in all, now said and done I can recall more bad than fun

It's killing me - the answer's here, it's plain to see it's taken me
- I'm half the man I thought I'd be it's killing me
- it's taken years but now I see I'm not the man I thought I'd be

I'd fight them all, big or small angel dust and Bud tall collars up
and fists the same protect your friends and family name had my lumps,
received a few but not near what I deserved
some say this life's my punishment some say this life's my just deserves

The Wild Rover
I've been a wild rover for many's the year
and I've spent all me money on whiskey and beer
and now I'm returning with gold in great store
and I never will play the wild rover no more

And it's no, nay, never no, nay, never!
No more will I play the wild rover no, never, no more

I went into an alehouse I used to frequent
and I told the landlady me money was spent
I asked her for credit, she answered me nay
such a custom as yours I could have any day

I took from me pocket ten sovereigns bright
and the landlady's eyes opened up with delight
she said she had whiskeys and wines of the best
and the words that she told me were only in jest

I went home to my parents, confessed what I'd done
and I asked them to pardon their prodigal son
and when they'd caressed me as oft times before
I never will play the wild rover no more

The Spicy McHaggis Jig
I'll tell you a story, believe me it's true a tale
you'd best hope never happens to you old spicy mcHaggis,
how he met his fate you I can save, but for him it's too late

Spicy was big, burly and strong his pipes were gigantic,
and so was his schlong from city to city running around looking
for chicks over four hundred pounds

One night at the pub a girl caught his eye big as a house,
just the right size the broad was enormous,
stacked to the hilt spicy soon noticed a bulge in his kilt
the piper delivered his best pick-up line thought to himself,
"this beast is all mine" the portly young lady could stand for no more
grabbed his cojones and went for the door

They got to her house and dimmed all the lights
Spicy was in for one hell of a night he said that he loved her,
he'd always be true "But Mr. McHaggis, I've only just met you!!"

By now he saw double through his drunken eyes
neither had looks or appropriate size he came to his sense,
thought to himself, "At this time of night I won't find nothing else"
he took off his shirt, she lifted her skirt,
they pulled out his unit and stared to play she asked for a glove,
he gave her a shove, had baby McHaggis nine months to-the-day.

Three packs a day, he'll smoke 'til he dies Spicy McHaggis,
one hell of a guy!