Are Ye Sleepin’, Maggie with Lethbridge Highland Dancers. Lethbridge Highland Dancers, Fiona Urquhart and Ava Trotter, dancing to an old Scottish tune. Recorded live at ATB Financial Lethbridge Rotary Dragon Boat Festival, 2023.
Are Ye Sleepin’, Maggie. A very old Scottish poem, written in the 1700s by Robert Tannahill, which was later set to music. The story was about a Young Scottish lad courting his lassie (Maggie), who’s “sleeping” in her father’s house. The words are in old Scottish English, so it’s hard to follow the story. Let’s just say he managed a successful liaison with his lover! Recorded live at a private St. Patrick’s Day event in 2023.
Up She Rises. A fun Newfoundland singalong, clap along tune – try to just listen without clapping!. Recorded live in the School Tent at Water Valley Celtic Festival, 2023.
Home Boys, Home. A traditional Irish tune. Since we were playing this at a family-friendly event (Chamber Tent at Water Valley Celtic Festival 2023), we sing the family version!
Rambles of Spring. A whimsical celebration of spring, sung by a travelling Scottish (or Irish) fiddler! Recorded live on Settle In Stage at Water Valley Celtic Festival, 2023.
St. Patrick Battalion. In order to escape the Great Famine in Ireland in the late 1840’s thousands of Irish people emigrated to North America. Many of the young men who landed in Boston or New York were immediately conscripted into the US army. At that time, the Americans were engaged in a war with Mexico, fighting over the Texas territory. One group of Irish soldiers decided that the Mexicans were being exploited by the Americans, so they traded sides, formed The St. Patrick Battalion and fought alongside the Mexicans. Mexico lost the war and, therefore the territory. Most of the fighting Irish perished in that war. Recorded live on Settle In Stage at Water Valley Celtic Festival, 2023.
Lanigan’s Ball. Our fun version of Lanigan’s Ball. As the story goes, Jeremy Lanigan inherited a small fortune from his father (which was good because he really didn’t have much money!). He threw a “grand party for friends and relations”, but the party didn’t go as planned! It started out OK, but then it erupted into “a row and a ruction”, and deteriorated quickly. We sing only 2 verses: the first to set the stage and the last to summarize the disastrous ending! The jigs include, “Tenpenny Bit”, “Rakes of Kildare”, “Dancing Master” (also known as “Swallowtail Jig:) and “Lanigan’s Ball”. Recorded live at Theoretically Brewing, Lethbridge, 2023.
Far Side of the World. A modern day song from Scotland – a guy reminiscing about his Highland Girl, and obviously missing her! The traditional tune, “Maggie in the Woods”, made famous by The Chieftains just seemed to fit nicely at the end of the song! Recorded live at Theoretically Brewing, Lethbridge, 2023.
Kelligrew’s Soiree and I’s th’ B’y. A couple of popular Newfoundland tunes. Recorded live at Theoretically Brewing, Lethbridge, 2023.
I’ll Tell Me Ma. A Belfast street song! We start with The Road to Boston, then I’ll Tell Me Ma, then finish with O’Keefe’s Reel. Recorded live at Theoretically Brewing, Lethbridge, 2023.
Irish Rover. Traditional Irish tune about the craziest ship that ever sailed from Cork en route to New York….but it didn’t quite make it! We have lots of fun with this one! Recorded live at Theoretically Brewing, Lethbridge, 2023.
The Osprey and Drunken Piper. Medley of Scottish Tunes – The Osprey (written by Dougie MacLean) and Drunken Piper (traditional). Recorded live at Theoretically Brewing, Lethbridge, 2023.
I Wish I was Hunting. A lively Irish/Scottish song about the joys of hunting. We follow this with 2 Irish reels – “Denis Murphy” and “John Ryan”. Recorded live at Theoretically Brewing, Lethbridge, 2023.
Walking on the Waves. A modern Scottish love story. Recorded live on the patio at Theoretically Brewing, Lethbridge, AB, 2023.
In Memory of Herbie MacLeod. A beautiful traditional fiddle tune from Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. Recorded live at Legion Arms, Lethbridge, August 2023.
Jolly Beggarman. A whimsical tale of Johnny Dhu, the Jolly Beggarman. Ah, the life of the rover! Recorded live at Lost Things Distillery, Pincher Creek, Alberta, March 17, 2024.
Paddie Lie Back, with Kesh and Morrison’s Jigs. A fun song about sailing to sea, followed by 2 Irish jigs – Kesh Jig and Morrison’s Jig. The crowd was really into this one at Lost Things Distillery, Pincher Creek, Alberta, March 17, 2024!
Red-Haired Mary. A fun story about an Irish guy who spots a beautiful red-haired colleen. He offers her a ride on his donkey to the Dingle Fair. While he quite fancied her, he found out when they got to Dingle that she was engaged to another. That’s how the story starts but watch out for the surprise ending! Recorded live at Lost Things Distillery, Pincher Creek, Alberta, March 17, 2024.
Carrickfergus. An old Irish song about an old man reminiscing about his childhood in the town of Carrickfergus, County Antrim, Northern Ireland, and wishing he could return. A beautiful, yet sad song. Recorded live at Lost Things Distillery, Pincher Creek, Alberta, March 17, 2024.
Down by the Sally Garden. An old Irish poem, written by famous Irish poet, W. B. Yeats. We’re not sure who wrote the melody, but the lyrics and words go so very well together! Recorded live at Lost Things Distillery, Pincher Creek, Alberta, March 17, 2024.
Ireland My Home. We took a few liberties with this song. Originally a Cornish song, “Cornwall My Home”, and changed the lyrics for St. Patrick’s Day, only! Our apologies to all Cornish folks – don’t worry, our next video recording will definitely be with the original Cornish lyrics! Recorded live at Lost Things Distillery, Pincer Creek, Alberta, March 17, 2024.
The Island. Scottish song about reminiscing the older man’s youth and dancing all night at the beginning of the summer solstice. Recorded live at Lethbridge Folk Club, November 10, 2023.
McPherson’s Lament and Athol Highlanders. A Scottish medley of McPherson’s Lament and Athol Highlanders. McPherson’s Lament, a tune often sung and/or recorded by both Scottish and Irish singers, is a song about a fiddler facing the gallows, and deciding that his fiddle should never be played after his death, so he destroys it.Recorded live at Lethbridge Folk Club, November 10, 2023.
My Heart’s Tonight in Ireland. A song written by Andy Irvine of Planxty reflecting on his early days before Planxty when several “soon to be” professional musicians used to jam in County Clare in Ireland. At the time, Willie Clancy was a master uillean piper and seemed to be the catalyst for celebrating traditional Irish music in County Clare. Although Willie has now passed, his piping school still operates in Miltown/Malbay, Clare. We follow the song with “Merrily Kissed the Quaker”. Recorded live at Lethbridge Folk Club, November 10, 2023.
McNabb’s Hornpipe. A popular hornpipe that’s great for highland dancing! Recorded live at Lost Things Distillery, Pincer Creek, Alberta, January 6, 2024.
Caledonia. A very popular song written by well-known Scottish singer/songwriter, Dougie MacLean. Many Scots regard this song as an unofficial anthem of Scotland. Recorded live at Everything Scottish Celebration, Southern Alberta Ethnic Association Hall, January 20, 2024.