See yah, Baile Átha Cliath

In un giorno di pioggia

Addio, addio e un bicchiere levato

al cielo d'Irlanda e alle nuvole gonfie.

Un nodo alla gola

ed un ultimo sguardo

alla vecchia Liffey

e alle strade del porto.

Un sorso di birra per le verdi brughiere

e un altro ai mocciosi coperti di fango,

e un brindisi anche agli gnomi a alle fate,

ai folletti che corrono sulle tue strade.

Hai i fianchi robusti di una vecchia signora

e i modi un po' rudi della gente di mare,

ti trascini tra fango, sudore e risate

e la puzza di alcool nelle notti d'estate.

Un vecchio compagno ti segue paziente,

il mare si sdraia fedele ai tuoi piedi,

ti culla leggero nelle sere d'inverno,

ti riporta le voci degli amanti di ieri.

E' in un giorno di pioggia che ti ho conosciuta,

il vento dell'ovest rideva gentile

e in un giorno di pioggia ho imparato ad amarti

mi hai preso per mano portandomi via.

Hai occhi di ghiaccio ed un cuore di terra,

hai il passo pesante di un vecchio ubriacone,

ti chiudi a sognare nelle notti d'inverno

e ti copri di rosso e fiorisci d'estate.

I tuoi esuli parlano lingue straniere,

si addormentano soli sognando i tuoi cieli,

si ritrovano persi in paesi lontani

a cantare una terra di profughi e santi.

E' in un giorno di pioggia che ti ho conosciuta,

il vento dell'ovest rideva gentile

e in un giorno di pioggia ho imparato ad amarti

mi hai preso per mano portandomi via.

E in un giorno di pioggia ti rivedrò ancora

e potrò consolare i tuoi occhi bagnati.

In un giorno di pioggia saremo vicini,

balleremo leggeri sull'aria di un Reel.

(Modena City Ramblers)

Hallelujah

On the first day of May I took to the road

I'd been staring out the window most of the morning

I'd watched the rain claw at the glass

And a vicious wind blew hard and fast

I should have taken it as a warning

As a warning As a warning As a warning

I'd given my nurse the weekend off

My meals were ill prepared

My typewriter had turned mute as a tomb

And my piano crouched in the corner of my room

With all its teeth bared

All its teeth bared All its teeth bared All its teeth bared.

Hallelujah Hallelujah

Hallelujah Hallelujah

I left my house without my coat

Something my nurse would not have allowed

And I took the small roads out of town

And I passed a cow and the cow was brown

And my pyjamas clung to me like a shroud

Like a shroud Like a shroud Like a shroud

There rose before me a little house

With all hope and dreams kept within

A woman's voice close to my ear

Said, "Why don't you come in here?"

"You looked soaked to the skin"

Soaked to the skin Soaked to the skin Soaked to the skin

Hallelujah Hallelujah

Hallelujah Hallelujah

I turned to the woman and the woman was young

I extended a hearty salutation

But I knew if my nurse had been here

She would never in a thousand years

Permit me to accept that invitation

Invitation That invitation That invitation

Now, you might think it wise to risk it all

Throw caution to the reckless wind

But with her hot cocoa and her medication

My nurse had been my one salvation

So I turned back home

I turned back home I turned back home

Singing my song

Hallelujah

The tears are welling in my eyes again

Hallelujah

I need twenty big buckets to catch them in

Hallelujah

And twenty pretty girls to carrythem down

Hallelujah

And twenty deep holes to bury them in

Hallelujah

The tears are welling in my eyes again

Hallelujah

I need twenty big buckets to catch them in

Hallelujah

And twenty pretty girls to carry them down

Hallelujah

And twenty deep holes to bury them in

(Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds)

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,
musha ring dumma do damma 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 sportling 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

(Traditional Irish Song)