Get all 10 Attila Tapolczai releases available on Bandcamp and save 40%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Identity, Playing Traditional Irish Folk Songs & Tunes, Playing Traditional Bluegrass, Rivers, New Home, New Home - A Traveller's Confessions, The Devil's Knockin' on My Door, The Guy from a Big Town, and 2 more.
1. |
The Galway Races
02:35
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The Galway Races
Traditional
As I roved out to Galway town to seek for recreation
On the seventeenth of August my mind was elevated
There were multitudes assembled with their tickets at the station
My eyes began to dazzle and they goin’ to see the races
[Chorus:]
With me Whack fol the do, fol the dideley, idleay
There were passengers from Limerick and passengers from Nenagh
And passengers from Dublin and sportsmen from Tipp’rary
There were passengers from Kerry and all the quarters of the nation
And our member, Mr. Hasset for to join the Galway Blazers
There were multitudes from Aran and members from New Quay shore
The boys from Connemara and the Clare unmarried maidens
There were people from Cork city who were loyal, true and faithful
That brought home Fenian prisoners from dying in foreign nations
It’s there you’ll see confectioners with sugarsticks and dainties
The lozenges and oranges, the lemonade and raisins
The gingerbread and spices to accommodate the ladies
And a big crubeen for threepence to be picking while you’rer able
It’s there you’ll se the pipers and the fiddlers competing
And the nimble-footed dancers and they tripping on the daisies
There were others crying ‘Cigars and lights and bills of all the races
With the colours of the jockeys and the prize and horses ‘ages’
It’s there you’d see the jockeys and they mounted on most stately
The pink and blue, the red and green, the emblem of our nation
When the bell was rung for starting all the horses seemed impatient
I thought they never stood on ground, their speed was so amazing
There was half a million people there of all denominations
The Catholic, the Protestant, the Jew and Presbyterian
There was yet no animosity, no matter what persuation
But fáilte and hospitality including fresh acquaintance
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2. |
Hot Asphalt
02:49
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Hot Asphalt
Ah, it’s likely gone six months ago I came to Dublin town
Where I joined a gang of lab’ring men who laid the asphalt down
Sure now I wear a Guernsey and around me waist a belt
I’m the gaffer of the boys who make the hot asphalt
[Chorus:]
So you may talk about your soldiers, your sailors and the rest
Your tailors and your shoemakers to please the ladies best
But the divil a one of them has got the graisy hearts to melt
Like the boys around the boiler making the hot asphalt
Well one day a copper comes up to me and he says to me ‘McGuire
Will you kindly let me warm myself around your boiling fire?
Then he turned around to the boiler and upon the edge he knelt
And he toppled right into the boiler full of hot asphalt
Well we quickly pulled him out of it and we put him in a tub
And with soap and lots of heated water we did rub and scrub
But the divil a bit of tar came off, it was stuck on just like stone
And every time we gave a rub you could hear the poor man groan
With the boilin’ and the ‘wettin’ he caught a bloomin’ cold
And for scientific purposes his body has been sold
Inside the National Museum he’s a-hanging by the belt
As an example of the dire effects of the hot asphalt
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3. |
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4. |
Carrickfergus
04:13
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Carrickfergus
I wish I was in Carrickfergus,
Only for nights in Ballygrant
I would swim over the deepest ocean,
Only for nights in Ballygrant
But the sea is wide and I can't swim over
Nor have I the wings to fly
If I could me a handsome boatsman
To ferry me over, my love and die
Oh in Kilkenny, it is reported,
They've marble stones there as black as ink
With gold and silver I would transport her,
But I'll sing no more 'till I get a drink.
I'm drunk today, but then I'm seldom sober,
A handsome rover from town to town,
Ah, but I'm sick now, my days are over
Come all ye young lands and lay me down.
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5. |
Eileen Og
03:43
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Eileen Og
[Verse:]
Eileen Og and that the darling's name is.
And through the Barony her features the were famous,
If we loved her then who was there to blame us,
For wasn't she the pride of Petravore.
But her beauty made us all look so shy,
Not a man could look her in the eye
Boys, O boys, sure that's the reason why,
We're in mourning for the pride of Petravore.
[Chorus:]
Eileen Og my heart is growin grey,
Ever since the day you wandered far away
Eileen Og there's good fish in the sea,
But htere's none of them like the pride of Petravore.
Friday at the fair of Ballintubber,
Eileen met McGrath the cattle jobber
I'd like to set me mark upon the robber
For he stole away the pride of Petravore
He never seemed to see the girl at all
Even when she ogled him from underneath her shawl
Looking big and masterfull when she was looking small
Most provoking for the pride of Petravore
So it went as it was in the beginning,
Eileen Og was bent upon the winning
Big McGrath contentedly was grinning,
Being courted by the pride of Petravore
Says he I know a girl thet could knock you into fits
As that Eileen nearly lost her wits,
The upshot of the ruction was that now the robber sits
With his arm around the pride of Petravore
Boys, Oh boys! With faith is hard to grapple
Of my eye 'tis eileen was the apple,
Now to see her walking to the chapel
With the hardest featured man in Petravore
Now boys this is all I have to say,
When you do your courting make no display
If you want them to run after you just walk the other way
For they're mostly like the pride of Petravore.
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6. |
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7. |
The Spanish Lady
03:49
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The Spanish Lady
As I went down to Dublin city,
At the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I see but the Spanish Lady,
Washing her feet by candle-light.
First she washed them, then she dried them
Over a fire of amber coal,
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so sweet about the soul.
Whack fol the toora, loora laddie
Whack fol the toora loora lay (2x)
As I went down to Dublin city
At the hour of half-past eight
Who should I see but the Spanish Lady
Brushing her hair in the broad daylight.
First she brushed it, then she tossed it,
On her lap was a silver comb.
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so fair since I did roam.
As I went back through Dublin city
As the sun began to set
Who should I see but the Spanish Lady
Catching a moth in a golden net.
When she saw me then she fled me
Lifting her petticoat over her knee
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so shy as the Spanish Lady.
I've wandered north and I've wandered south
By Stoneybatter and Patrick's Close
Up and around by the Gloucester Diamond
And back by Napper Tandy's house.
Old age has laid her hand on me
Cold as a fire of ashy coals
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so sweet as the Spanish Lady.
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8. |
Innisheer
04:06
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9. |
Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye
03:09
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Johnny I Hardly Knew Ye
While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athy, hurroo, hurroo
While goin' the road to sweet Athy
A stick in me hand and a tear in me eye
A doleful damsel I heard cry,
Johnny I hardly knew ye.
[Chorus:]
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns, hurroo, hurroo
With your drums and guns and drums and guns
The enemy nearly slew ye
Oh my darling dear, Ye look so queer
Johnny I hardly knew ye.
Where are the eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so mild, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your eyes that were so mild
When my heart you first beguiled
Why did ye run from me and the child
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye.
Where are the legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run, hurroo, hurroo
Where are your legs that used to run
When you went for to carry a gun
Indeed your dancing days are done
Oh Johnny, I hardly knew ye.
But I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home, hurroo, hurroo
I'm happy for to see ye home
All from the island of Sulloon
So low in flesh, so high in bone
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye.
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg, hurroo, hurroo
Ye haven't an arm, ye haven't a leg
Ye're an armless, boneless, chickenless egg
Ye'll have to put with a bowl out to beg
Oh Johnny I hardly knew ye.
They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again, hurroo, hurroo
They're rolling out the guns again
But they never will take our sons again
No they never will take our sons again
Johnny I'm swearing to ye.
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10. |
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11. |
Spancil Hill
04:14
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Spancil Hill
Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by
Me mind being bent on rambling to Ireland I did fly
I stepped a-board a vision and I followed with my will
Till next I came to anchor at the cross near Spancil Hill
Delighted by the novelty, enchanted with the scene
Where in my early boyhood where often I had been
I thought I heard a murmur and I think I hear it still
It's the little stream of water that flows down Spancil Hill
It being the 23rd June the day before the fair
When lreland's sons and daughters in crowds assembled there
The young and the old, the brave and the bold they came for sport and kill
There were jovial conversations at the cross of Spancil Hill
I paid a flying visit to my first and only love
She's white as any lily and gentle as a dove
She threw her arms around me saying 'Johnny, I love you still'
Oh she's Mag, the farmer's daughter and the pride of Spancil Hill
I dreamt I stooped and kissed her as in the days of yore
She said, "Johnny you're only joking as many's the time before"
The cock he crew in the morning he crew both loud and shrill
And I woke in California, many miles from Spancil Hill.
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12. |
I'll Tell Me Ma
02:21
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I'll Tell Me Ma
I'll tell me ma when I go home,
The boys won't leave the girls alone.
They'll pull my hair, they stole my comb,
Well that's alright till I go home.
She is handsome. She is pretty.
She is the bell of Belfast City.
She is courtin' one, two, three.
Please won't you tell me, who is she?
Albert Mooney say's he loves her.
All the boy's are fighting for her.
They knock at the door and ring at the bell
Sayin' "Oh my true love, are you well"?
Out she comes as white as snow,
Rings on her fingers and bells on her toes.
Ole Jenny Murray says she'll die
If she doesn't get the fella with the roving eye.
Let the wind and the rain and hail blow high
And the snow come shoveling from the sky,
She's as nice as apple pie.
She'll get her own lad by and by.
When she gets a lad of her own,
She won't tell her ma when she gets home.
Let them all come as they will
But it's Albert Mooney she loves still.
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13. |
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14. |
In the Town of Ballybay
02:22
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In the Town Of Ballybay
In the town of Ballybay, there was a lassie dwelling
I knew her very well and her story's well worth telling
Her father kept a still and he was a good distiller
But when she took to the drink, well the devil wouldn't fill her
Chorus:
Ring-a-dumma da, ring-a-dumma-daddy-o
Ring-a-dumma-da, whack fol the daddy 'ol
She had a wooden leg that was hollow down the middle
She used to tie a string on it and play it like a fiddle
She fiddled in the hall and she fiddled in the alleyway
She didn't give a damn, for she had to fiddle anyway
She said she couldn't dance, unless she had her wellie on
But when she had it on, she could dance as well as anyone
She wouldn't go to bed, unless she had her shimmy on
But when she had it on, she would go as quick as anyone
She had lovers by the score, every Tom and Dick and Harry
She was courted night and day, but still she wouldn't marry
But then she fell in love with a fellow with a stammer
When he tried to run away, well she hit him with a hammer
She had children up the stairs, she had children by the byre
And another ten or twelve, sitting roaring by the fire
She fed them on potatoes and on soup she made with nettles
And lumps of hairy bacon that she boiled up in the kettle
She led a sheltered life, eating porridge and black pudding
And she terrorized her man, until he died quite sudden
And when her husband died, well she wasn't very sorry
She rolled him in a bag and she threw him in a quarry
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15. |
The Sally Gardens
03:09
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The Sally Gardens
It was down by the Sally Gardens, my love and I did meet.
She crossed the Sally Gardens with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree,
But I was young and foolish, and with her did not agree.
In a field down by the river, my love and I did stand
And on my leaning shoulder, she laid her snow-white hand.
She bid me take life easy, as the grass grows on the weirs
But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.
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16. |
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17. |
Molly Malone
02:41
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Molly Malone
In Dublin’s fair city, where the girls are so pretty
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone
She wheeled a wheelbarrow through streets broad and narrow
Crying: ‘Cockles and Mussels a-live, a-live oh’
A-live, a-live oh, a-live, a-live oh
Crying: ‘Cockles and Mussels a-live, a-live oh’
She was a fishmonger, but sure, ‘twas no wonder
For so were her father and mother before
And they both wheeled their barrow, through streets broad and narrow
Crying: ‘Cockles and Mussels a-live, a-live oh’
She died of a fever and no one could save her
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone
But her ghost wheels her barrow, through streets broad and narrow
Crying: ‘Cockles and Mussels a-live, a-live oh’
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18. |
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19. |
The Castle of Dromore
04:27
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The Castle of Dromore
The October winds lament around the Castle of Dromore
Yet peace is in its lofty halls my loving treasure store
Though autumn leaves may droop and die a bud of spring are you
Sing hush-a-bye loo, la loo, lo lan, sing hush-a-bye loo, la lo
Bring no ill winds to hinder us, my helpless babe and me
Dread spirit of Blackwater banks, Clan Owen's wild banshee
And Holy Mary pitying us in heav'n for grace doth sue
Sing hush-a-bye loo, la loo, lo lan, sing hush-a-bye loo, la lo
Take time to thrive, my rose of hope, in the garden of Dromore
Take heed, young eagle, till your wings are feathered fit to soar
A little rest and then the world is full of work to do
Sing hush-a-bye loo, la loo, lo lan, sing hush-a-bye loo, la lo
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20. |
Whiskey in the Jar
03:45
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Whiskey In The Jar
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 then produced my rapier.
Said stand and deliver, for I am a bold deceiver,
[Chorus:]
Musha ring dumma do dumma 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 my pocket and I took it home to Jenny.
She said 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 took my charges and she filled them up with water,
Then sent for captain Farrel to be ready for the slaughter.
It was early in the morning, as I rose up for travel,
The guards were all around me and likewise captain Farrel.
I first produced my pistol, for she stole away my rapier,
But I couldn't shoot the water so a prisoner I was taken.
If anyone can aid me, it's my brother in the army,
If I can find his station down in Cork or in Killarney.
And if he'll come and save me, we'll go roving near Kilkenny,
And I swear he'll treat me better than me darling sporting Jenny
Now some men take delight in the drinking and the roving,
But others take delight in the gambling and the smoking.
But I take delight in the juice of the barley,
And courting pretty fair maids in the morning bright and early
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21. |
The Parting Glass
04:00
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The Parting Glass
Of all the money e'er I spent,
I spent it in good company.
And all the harm I've ever done,
Alas! it was to none but me.
And all I've done for want of wit
To mem'ry now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass
Good night and joy be with you all.
Oh, all the comrades e'er I had,
They're sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts e'er I had,
They'd wish me one more day to stay,
But since it falls unto my lot,
That I should rise and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call,
Good night and joy be with you all.
If I had money enough to spend,
And leisure time to sit awhile,
There is a fair maid in this town,
That sorely has my heart beguiled.
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips,
I own she has my heart in thrall,
Then fill to me the parting glass,
Good night and joy be with you all.
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Attila Tapolczai Augsburg, Germany
Attila Tapolczai is a singer-songwriter, guitar and mandolin player. Previously doing many years of punk rock, he formed his first acoustic group in 2005 which became known as Attila & Friends.
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