Johnsons Motorcar Lyrics And Chords
The youtube video of this Irish folk song is by The Dubliners.Written by William Gillespie. A true story ? . recorded by The Dubliners and The Clancy's. I have given the guitar chords in chordpro in the same key as the way The Dubliners play the song, which are slightly different that my version of the chords. The sheet music notes are included.
Twas [G] down by Brannigan´s Corner, one morning I did stray.
I met a fellow rebel, and [D] to me he did say,
"We´ve [G] orders from the captain to assemble at Dunbar,
But how are we to get there, [D] without a motor [G] car?"
"Oh Barney dear, be of good cheer, I´ll tell you what we´ll do.
The specials they are plentiful, the IRA are few,
We´ll send a wire to Johnson to meet us at Stranlar
And we´ll give the boys a bloody good ride in Johnson´s Motor Car"
When Dr. Johnson heard the news he soon put on his shoes
He says this is an urgent case, there is no time to lose,
He then put on his castor hat and on his breast a star
You could hear the din all through Glenfin of Johnson´s Motor Car
But when he got to the railway bridge, some rebels he saw there
Old Johnson knew the game was up, for at him they did stare
He said "I have a permit, to travel near and far."
"To hell with your English permit, we want your motor car."
"What will my loyal brethren think, when he hear the news,
My car has been commandeered, by the rebels at Dunluce."
"We´ll give you a receipt for it, all signed by Captain Barr.
And when Ireland gets her freedom, boy, you´ll get your motor car."
Well we put that car in motion and filled it to the brim,
With guns and bayonets shining which made old Johnson grim,
And Barney hoisted a Sinn Fein flag, and it fluttered like a star,
And we gave three cheers for the IRA and Johnson´s Motor Car.
I met a fellow rebel, and [D] to me he did say,
"We´ve [G] orders from the captain to assemble at Dunbar,
But how are we to get there, [D] without a motor [G] car?"
"Oh Barney dear, be of good cheer, I´ll tell you what we´ll do.
The specials they are plentiful, the IRA are few,
We´ll send a wire to Johnson to meet us at Stranlar
And we´ll give the boys a bloody good ride in Johnson´s Motor Car"
When Dr. Johnson heard the news he soon put on his shoes
He says this is an urgent case, there is no time to lose,
He then put on his castor hat and on his breast a star
You could hear the din all through Glenfin of Johnson´s Motor Car
But when he got to the railway bridge, some rebels he saw there
Old Johnson knew the game was up, for at him they did stare
He said "I have a permit, to travel near and far."
"To hell with your English permit, we want your motor car."
"What will my loyal brethren think, when he hear the news,
My car has been commandeered, by the rebels at Dunluce."
"We´ll give you a receipt for it, all signed by Captain Barr.
And when Ireland gets her freedom, boy, you´ll get your motor car."
Well we put that car in motion and filled it to the brim,
With guns and bayonets shining which made old Johnson grim,
And Barney hoisted a Sinn Fein flag, and it fluttered like a star,
And we gave three cheers for the IRA and Johnson´s Motor Car.
Here are the guitar chords as played by The Dubliners in the youtube video
Twas [G] down by Brannigan´s [D]Corner, one morning I did [G]stray.
I met a fellow rebel, and [D] to me he did say,
"We´ve [G] orders from the captain to a[C]ssemble at Dun[G]bar,
But how are we to [D]get there, without a motor [G] car?"
"Oh [G]Barney dear, be of [D]good cheer, I´ll tell you what we´ll [G]do.
The specials they are plentiful, the [D]IRA are few,
We´ll [G]send a wire to Johnson to [C]meet us at Stran[G]lar
And we´ll give the boys a [D]bloody good ride in Johnson´s Motor [G]Car"
Twas [G] down by Brannigan´s [D]Corner, one morning I did [G]stray.
I met a fellow rebel, and [D] to me he did say,
"We´ve [G] orders from the captain to a[C]ssemble at Dun[G]bar,
But how are we to [D]get there, without a motor [G] car?"
"Oh [G]Barney dear, be of [D]good cheer, I´ll tell you what we´ll [G]do.
The specials they are plentiful, the [D]IRA are few,
We´ll [G]send a wire to Johnson to [C]meet us at Stran[G]lar
And we´ll give the boys a [D]bloody good ride in Johnson´s Motor [G]Car"
Here are the original lyrics
Down by Brockagh Corner one morning I did stray,
When I met another rebel bold, who this to me did say:
I've orders from the Captain to assemble at Drumbar
But how are we to reach Dungloe without a Motor Car?
O Barney dear, be of good cheer and I'll tell you what we'll do.
The Black and Tans have plenty guns altho' we have but few.
We'll wire down to Stranorlar before we walk so far,
And we'll give the boys a jolly ride on Johnston's Motor Car.
When Johnston got the wire then he soon pulled on his shoes.
He says this case is urgent, there's little time to lose.
He wore a fancy caster hat and on his breast a star.
You could hear the din going through Glenfin of Johnston's Motor Car.
When he came to the Reelin Bridge, he met some rebels there.
He knew the game was up with him, and at them he did stare.
He said I've got a permit for travelling out so far
You can keep your English permit, but we want your motor car.
What will my loyal comrades say when I get to Drumboe.
To say my car was commandeered by rebels from Dungloe.
We'll give you a receipt for her, its signed by Captain Maher,
And when Ireland's free, then we will see to Johnston's Motor Car.
They put the car in motion, they filled it to the brim.
With guns and bayonets shining, while Johnston he did grin.
When Barney waved a Sinn Féin flag, she shot off like a star
And they gave three cheers for freedom and for Johnston's Motor Car.
When the loyal crew they heard the news, it grieved their hearts full sore.
They swore they'd have reprisals before they would give o'er.
In vain they searched through Glenties, the Rosses and Kilcar,
While the I.R.A. their flags displayed on Johnston's Motor Car.
Down by Brockagh Corner one morning I did stray,
When I met another rebel bold, who this to me did say:
I've orders from the Captain to assemble at Drumbar
But how are we to reach Dungloe without a Motor Car?
O Barney dear, be of good cheer and I'll tell you what we'll do.
The Black and Tans have plenty guns altho' we have but few.
We'll wire down to Stranorlar before we walk so far,
And we'll give the boys a jolly ride on Johnston's Motor Car.
When Johnston got the wire then he soon pulled on his shoes.
He says this case is urgent, there's little time to lose.
He wore a fancy caster hat and on his breast a star.
You could hear the din going through Glenfin of Johnston's Motor Car.
When he came to the Reelin Bridge, he met some rebels there.
He knew the game was up with him, and at them he did stare.
He said I've got a permit for travelling out so far
You can keep your English permit, but we want your motor car.
What will my loyal comrades say when I get to Drumboe.
To say my car was commandeered by rebels from Dungloe.
We'll give you a receipt for her, its signed by Captain Maher,
And when Ireland's free, then we will see to Johnston's Motor Car.
They put the car in motion, they filled it to the brim.
With guns and bayonets shining, while Johnston he did grin.
When Barney waved a Sinn Féin flag, she shot off like a star
And they gave three cheers for freedom and for Johnston's Motor Car.
When the loyal crew they heard the news, it grieved their hearts full sore.
They swore they'd have reprisals before they would give o'er.
In vain they searched through Glenties, the Rosses and Kilcar,
While the I.R.A. their flags displayed on Johnston's Motor Car.
Irish Songs Of Rebellion By The Clancy Brothers And Tommy Makem
People have a way of singing about the things they do, and, as people in Ireland have been in the throes of rebellion every generation for hundreds of years, there are numerous Irish rebel songs. Some were written by men of letters, others are anonymous; all were the work of rebels-sometimes active rebels. These songs were, and still are, universally known and sung all over Ireland, although to sing or even whistle some of them was a punishable offense up to 1922 and even later.
The Earl of Pembroke (Strongbow) led the first English army into Ireland in 1169. Soon English (Norman) settlements were established and for centuries there were end- less raids, skirmishes and wars. Through all these there was no united Irish effort, and not until Wolfe Tone founded the Society of United Irishmen, in 1791, was Irish nationalism, as we know it, established. Under Tone's leadership, Irish and Anglo-Irish, Catholic and Protestant were united in a demand for independence from the British crown. This led to the great risings of 1798. These risings, however, were largely local and isolated, and, when expected French help did not arrive, the revolt failed. Only in Wexford was there any success.
Most of our songs are of this period. They helped breathe life into the Young Ireland movement in the 1840s and '50s, and the Fenian Brotherhood in the 1860s. These songs were part of a powerful movement and were (and are) as familiar to the Irish people as household words. Sometimes they refer to actual events, such as risings and hangings, sometimes to heroes or the enemy. They may be rallying cries or laments, bitter or sarcastic or full of the spirit of savage resistance and defiance.
Band 1: KELLY THE BOY FROM KILLANNE-John Kelly was one of the leaders of the Wexford rising in the summer of 1798, leading the charge through the Three-Bullet Gate at the town of Ross (the grim gap of death). Begneal Harvey (brave Harvey) was commander-in-chief of the Wexford forces. On being captured, he and others were beheaded; their heads were placed on spikes in Wexford Town and their bodies were thrown into the river. This stirring song, sung here by the chorus with a vocal solo by Liam Clancy, was written by P. J. McCall and is sung to an old traditional air.
Band 2: KEVIN BARRY-This is one of the best known of Irish rebel songs. Indeed, it was so popular in Ireland at one time that a young woman was said to have asked of her mother: "What used they sing before Kevin Barry?" Barry, an 18 year old student, was hanged as a rebel in Dublin on November 1, 1921; his martyrdom resulted in the greatly increased voluntary recruitment of his fellow students into the Irish Republican Army. There are several widely sung ballads about Kevin Barry. This one was written by Terrence Ward of The Irish Press. It is sung by Tom Clancy.
Band 3: WHACK FOL THE DIDDLE-"I'll sing you a song of peace and love..." may appear to be an unusual first line for an Irish rebel song, but the appeal here is to the intellect, and the biting sarcasm is embarrassingly perfect. It was written by Peadar Kearney, a member of the I. R. A. and one of Ireland's leading patriotic poets. The author of Ireland's national anthem (The Soldier's Song), Kearney has the distinction of having had many of his songs declared seditious by the British at the time of the Easter rising and later. The singer is Liam Clancy.
Band 4: THE MEN OF THE WEST-The 1798 rising ended in failure in June of that year. Two months later the French gen- eral Humbert sailed for Ireland to help the rebels and landed in Mayo. His arrival brought hope and there was a rising of "the men of the west." After a resounding initial victory, the rebels were badly routed. The song is attributed to William Rooney, a vigorous pioneer in the early days of the Gaelic League. This rousing song is performed here by Tommy Makem and chorus.
Band 2: THE CROPPY BOY-There are versions of this sou all over Ireland. The term "croppy" is said to be a nickname given to the rebels of Wexford because of their close-cropped hair, and for many generations the term was synonymous with "rebel". In another version the croppy boy does not die at the end, but goes into exile. Liam Clancy performs the version sung on this recording.
Band 3: THE RISING OF THE MOON-While people were waiting for the 1798 rising, pikes and guns were hidden in thatch and bogs, and hearts were beating fast. Sixty years after the rising, John Keegan Casey wrote this song while in prison as a Fenian; he died in prison at the tender age of twenty-three as a result of his sufferings. The phrase, "The rising of the moon", has become almost proverbial in connection with an Irish up- rising in arms. The air is well-known as The Wearing of the Green. The song is here performed by Tom Clancy and chorus.
Band 4: THE FOGGY DEW-This song of the Easter rising of 1916 was an appeal for Irishmen to die fighting for their own country rather than die in some foreign war in a British uniform. Suvla was a battleground in the Dardanelles, and Sud-el-bar probably refers to some battle in the middle-east. "Pearse" and "Valera", mentioned in the last stanza, refer to Patrick Pearse, leader of the Easter rising, and Eamonn De Valera, who later became prime minister of Ireland. The words were written by Rev. P. O'Neill, and are sung to the tune of a traditional Irish love song of the same name. The singer is Patrick Clancy.
Band 5: THE MINSTREL BOY-Thomas Moore, author of this song, cannot be considered a rebel; this and many of his songs, however, were utilized as patriotic ballads. Although Moore lived at the time of the 1798 rising and through much of Ireland's later strife, his major contribution are songs of sweet and tender melancholy, far removed from the reality of Ireland's struggle for freedom. The music to this song, performed here by Liam Clancy, is based on a traditional air.
Band 6: THE WIND THAT SHAKES THE BARLEY-This is an excellent example of the many songs which serve both as love lyric and rebel song. The scene described refers, again, to the 1798 rising. The words are the work of Robert Dwyer Joyce, a professor of English Literature at Catholic University in Dublin. In danger of arrest for rebel activities, Joyce fled to the United States. He later returned to Ireland and died in Dublin in 1883. The singer is Tommy Makem.
Band 7: TIPPERARY FAR AWAY-The death of Sean Tracey was mourned all over Ireland, but most of all in his native Tipperary. Tracey was the leader of a fearless band of rebels and one of his most famous exploits was the rescue of his friend, Sean Hogan, from the British at the station of Knocklong in 1919. This song tells of his death in Dublin on October 14, 1920. It is sung by Tom Clancy.
Band 5: EAMONN AN CHNUIC (Ned of the Hill)-Edmond O'Ryan, the hero of this Gaelic song, was born in Kilnamanagh, County Tipperary, before the wars of 1690. After the defeat of James II, whom he supported, he was outlawed and had his. estates confiscated. After a roving life full of romantic adven- ture, he was buried in the Church of Doon, Loch Gur, County Limerick. The song, in describing the outlaw driven by pain and beating on the closed door of his beloved, symbolized the lonely cause of Ireland. The song is performed in the original Gaelic by Liam Clancy.
Band 6: NELL FLAHERTY'S DRAKE-The main character of this anonymous 19th century ballad, "Nell Flaherty's Drake", is said to be a secret or code name for Robert Emmet who led a small uprising in Dublin in 1803, for which he was publicly hanged. Emmet's famous "speech from the dock", in which he requested that no epitaph for him be written until Ireland took her place among the nations of the earth, as well as his youth and exceptional charm, assure him of an eternal place in the hearts of all Irish nationalists. The song is performed by Tommy Makem.
Band 7: BOULAVOGUE-The rising of 1798 was really a num ber of isolated struggles. Only the Wexford rising had any great success, and part of this success was due to the courage of the "croppy priest", Father Murphy. Boulavogue is the name of a small town in Wexford. After the final defeat of the rebels at Vinegar Hill, Father Murphy and other surviving leaders were hanged. The song was written by P. J. McCall and dates from the second half of the 19th century. The tune was known for gener- ations as Youghal Harbor. The singer is Patrick Clancy.
Ronnie Drew Of The Dubliners
