SONGBOOK

O'DARBY

Released March, 2023

1

Magic of the Morning

Fairy moon, falling star

Ancient rune, kindred hearts

In the misty magic of the morning

Winding paths led us here

For6une smiled, drew us near

In the misty magic of the morning

See us joined in a circle now

Those we love witnessing our vow

In the misty magic of the morning

Charm or chance, spell or fate

Hearts dance, souls mate

In the misty magic of the morning

Lucky us, luckier together

Lucky, lucky us

___

Ken Lonnquist ~ Vocal / Guitar

Pete Burns ~ Vocal / Guitar

Espere Eckard-Lee ~ Vocal / Accordion

Doug Brown ~ Vocal / Fiddle

Chris Wagoner ~ Vocal / Mandolin

Liam McCarty ~ shaker / Finger Cymbals

Brighin Kane-Grade ~ Vocal

2

Leathering Bat

Traditional

"Hi," said the little leather winged bat,

"I'll tell you the reason that,

the reason that I fly in the night

Is because I lost my heart's delight."

How-dee dow-dee diddle um day (3x)

Lay-dee, lee-dee, Li-dee doh.

“Hi,” said the blackbird sittin’ on a chair

“Once I courted a lady fair

She was fickle and turned her back

Ever since then I’ve dressed in black.”

How-dee dow-dee diddle um day (3x)

Lay-dee, lee-dee, Li-dee doh.

"Hi," said the woodpecker, sittin' on a fence,

"Once I courted a handsome wench.

She got scared and from me fled,

ever since then my head's been red."

How-dee dow-dee diddle um day (3x)

Lay-dee, lee-dee, Li-dee doh.

"Hi," said the little turtle dove,

"I'll tell you how to win her love.

Court her night and court her day,

Never give her time to tell you, “Nay!'"

How-dee dow-dee diddle um day (3x)

Lay-dee, lee-dee, Li-dee doh.

“Hi,” said the bluebird as it flew

“If I were a young man, I’d have two –

If one should break my heart as such

I’d love the other twice as much!”

How-dee dow-dee diddle um day (3x)

Lay-dee, lee-dee, Li-dee doh.

___

Ken Lonnquist ~ Vocal / Guitar

Pete Burns ~ Vocal / Guitar

Espere Eckard-Lee ~ Vocal / Accordion

Doug Brown ~ Vocal / Flute

Chris Wagoner ~ Fiddle

Liam McCarty ~ Bodhran

3

Doolin

Take me back,

Take me back to…

Take me back to Doolin

Beside the Cliffs of Mohr

T’was there I met my darlin’

And climbed O’Brien’s tower

Take me back to Doolin

All my heart is willin’

Take me back,

Take me back to… Doolin

Take me back to Doolin

Salt breezes off the shore

Her auburn hair unfurlin’

The sea within me roars

Take me back to Doolin

All my heart is willin’

Take me back,

Take me back to… Doolin

My heart seemed like the Burren

Just hard, so cold and bare

Alone, hopeless and sullen

Till I found the fairest orchid there

Take me back to Doolin

The sessions fill the air

The bodhran and the uillean

Will get us reeling there

Take me back to Doolin

All my heart is willin’

Take me back,

Take me back to… Doolin

Oh, oh, oh – Oh, oh, oh-oh!

___

Pete Burns ~ Vocal / Guitar

Ken Lonnquist ~ Vocal / Guitar

Espere Eckard-Lee ~ Vocal / Accordion

Doug Brown ~ Vocal / Fiddle

Liam McCarty ~ Bodhran

Brighin Kane-Grade ~ Vocal

4

Gypsy's Daughter

Daughter am I of a gypsy’s daughter

By all rights twice removed from a life that is free

But my sad heart cries for a low roofed wagon

For the murmur of rain on a low roofed wagon

For the lantern’s glow in a low-roofed wagon

And a man I can hold close to me

My children are children like all children of gypsies

By all rights thrice removed from a life that is free

But their wild hearts cry for the paths of the woodlands

For the fish to be caught in the streams of the woodlands

For the sweet ripe fruit of the paths of the woodlands

And their brown feet pound all day through the woodlands

And at night they come… come home to me

Daughter am I of a gypsy’s daughter

By all rights twice removed from a life that is free

But my sad heart cries for a low roofed wagon

For the murmur of rain on a low roofed wagon

For the lantern’s glow in a low-roofed wagon

And a man I can hold close to me

___

Emily Whalley ~ Vocal

Pete Burns ~ Vocal / Guitar

Ken Lonnquist ~ Vocal / Guitar

Espere Eckard-Lee ~ Vocal / Accordion

Doug Brown ~ Fiddle

Chris Wagoner ~ Mandolin

Liam McCarty ~ Bodhran, Finger Cymbals, Shaker

5

Come Fortune Or What May

‘Twas early in the bright morning,

A day I’ll remember well

I left my home and my sister fair

And a tale to you I’ll tell, to you I’ll tell.

So come now walk beside me,

On rainy or sunny days

And we’ll rove out to Dublin town,

Come fortune or what may.

Oh, I was the boy with the wildest dreams,

That gold and fame were mine,

If I played my guitar and sang the songs

That stood the test of time, the test of time.

So come now walk beside me,

On rainy or sunny days

And we’ll rove out to Dublin town,

Come fortune or what may.

My feet grew weary and the sun was hot

As I traveled most the day

And in the town of Killkenny

I stopped along the way, along the way.

So come now walk beside me,

On rainy or sunny days

And we’ll rove out to Dublin town,

Come fortune or what may.

Now I played my songs at Ryan’s Pub

To me they took a shine

But not like the lass with the auburn hair

Now my heart’s no longer mine, no longer mine.

You know I’ve never been a fickle man,

But on that fateful day

I found my fortune in the auburn hair

Of the girl who made me stay, who made me say…

Oh, come now walk beside me,

On rainy or sunny days

And we’ll rove out to Dublin town,

Come fortune or what may –

Come fortune or what may!

___

Pete Burns ~ Vocal / Guitar

Ken Lonnquist ~ Vocal / Guitar

Espere Eckard-Lee ~ Vocal / Accordion

Doug Brown ~ Banjo

Chris Wagoner ~ Fiddle

Liam McCarty ~ Bodhran

6

Barefoot Girl

Long ago upon the road

I met a lassie dancing

Shoeless, she looked up at me

er nimble limbs entrancing

Heel to toe, skipping as though

Kicking a dust cloud rising

Up, up, up, up in the world

All for the joy of a barefoot girl

In surprise, beguiling eyes

Regarded me a moment

Then she spun away in fun

And on and on the show went

Heel to toe, skipping as though

Kicking a dust cloud rising

Up, up, up, up in the world

All for the joy of a barefoot girl

“Lassie, why no shoes?” said I

“It’s long been my conviction

Limbs and feet and hearts should beat

In life free of restriction!”

“What of aches and blisters making

Calluses?” I wondered

“Let ‘em come! And once they’re spun

With joy and dance them under!”

So away she danced the day

Her memory so carefree

Stirs me still. My ankles will

Lift up as though I dare be

Heel to toe, skipping as though

Kicking a dust cloud rising

Up, up, up, up in the world

All for the joy of a barefoot girl

___

Espere Eckard-Lee ~ Vocal / Accordion

Brighin Kane-Grade ~ Vocal

Ken Lonnquist ~ Vocal / Guitar

Pete Burns ~ Vocal / Guitar

Doug Brown ~ Fiddle

Liam McCarty ~ Bodhran

7

Irish Dancer

I am an Irish dancer. I never move my arms.

Above the waist you’ll find that I

Am quite devoid of any charm.

But furiously flailing feet below my waist

Belie the cold, impassive look

That’s frozen on my face.

Lord of the dale, lord of the dance

Lord of the men in fancy pants

A-tippity-toe, wherever I go

My wrists are stapled to my pants!

I am an Irish dancer, a ramrod for a spine.

Pinned against my rack of ribs

My arms are rigidly confined.

But, below me bonnie waist

Your peepers shall behold

The greatest furiosity of footwork yet extolled!

Lord of the dale, lord of the dance

Lord of the men in fancy pants

A-tippity-toe, wherever I go

My wrists are stapled to my pants!

I am an Irish dancer. The ballet lovers sniff:

“He’s half a whirling dervish

And the other half a bloody stiff!”

Like a duck upon a pond, serenity I show…

Unruffled up above, but paddlin’

Like all hell below!

I am an Irish dancer. I’ve half a mind to quit

My top’s come to a stop

But still, my throbbin’ bottom will not sit!

Like Ireland itself I’m divided head to toe:

I’m Catholic above the waist

And Protestant below!

Lord of the dale, lord of the dance

Lord of the men in fancy pants

A-tippity-toe, wherever I go

My wrists are stapled to my pants!

My back is straighter than a lance

My eyes are in a mystic trance

Thank God for the Public TV audience!

Hey!

___

Ken Lonnquist ~ Vocal / Guitar

Pete Burns ~ Vocal / Guitar

Espere Eckard-Lee ~ Vocal / Accordion / Washboard

Doug Brown ~ Vocal / Fiddle

Liam McCarty ~ Bodhran

8

Fisherman's Daughter

Don’t want to be a fisherman’s daughter

My soul was born to the water, I…

I want to live a life that’s free

Sailing ‘round and ‘round and ‘round

The seven seas

Don’t want to be a fisherman’s wife

Left on the shore all my life, I…

I want to live a life that’s free

Sailing ‘round and ‘round and ‘round

The seven seas

Wake me up in the morning

Tie me to the breeze

In my boat I’ll be going where I please

Wake me up in the morning

And set me free, set me free…

Don’t want to be a fisherman’s mother

And hear the tale from the lips of another, I

I want to live a life that’s free

Sailing ‘round and ‘round and ‘round

The seven seas

Sailing ‘round and ‘round and ‘round

The seven seas

Sailing ‘round and ‘round and ‘round

The seven seas

___

Emily Whalley ~ Vocal

Ken Lonnquist ~ Vocal / Guitar

Pete Burns ~ Vocal / Guitar

Espere Eckard-Lee ~ Vocal / Accordion

Doug Brown ~ Vocal / Fiddle

Liam McCarty ~ Bodhran / Finger Cymbals

Joanne Schilling ~ Wave Drum

9

Heave Away, My John!

John is the captain of a magic ship

Each night he makes a fearful trip

Between the moon & the stars he slips

Heave away, my John!

John takes me up when the night-time falls

And to his shipmates he does call

A map by his side and a star for all

Heave away, my John!

Heave, heave away

Don’t care if night becomes the day…

I long to love a maiden fair

And kiss the diamonds in her hair

Only John can take me there

Heave away, my John!

I love a girl, but she don’t love me

I built a wall with words, and she

Was trapped on the other side from me

Heave away, my John!

How can I say what I truly feel?

Pick the lock or break the seal?

I just have words that don’t seem real

Heave away, my John!

Heave… heave away!

My words were bricks, my lies were clay…

Tonight we have to scale them all

And find the girl behind the wall

Work your magic, heed my call!

Heave away, my John!

John is the Captain of a magic ship

Each night he makes a fearful trip

Between the moon and the stars he slips

Heave away, my John!

Heave… heave away!

That’s all I really want to say…

I long to love a maiden fair

And kiss the diamonds in her hair

Only John can take me there

Heave away, my John!

______

Ken Lonnquist ~ Vocal / Guitar

Pete Burns ~ Vocal / Guitar

Espere Eckard-Lee ~ Vocal / Accordion

Doug Brown ~ Vocal / Fiddle

Chris Wagoner ~ Mandolin

Liam McCarty ~ Bodhran / Finger Cymbals

10

Darby

I met a maid in a wooded glen

Tipped my hat, smiled and then

Said to the maid in the wooded glen

“Would you come down to Darby?”

Darby’s pretty, Darby’s fine

The land of honey, milk and wine

I’ll be your love, you’ll be mine

Please come down to Darby

“Lad, if your aim’s to game with me

And leave my heart in misery

On my honor I’ll not be

Down the road to Darby!

Though Darby’s pretty, Darby’s fine

The land of honey, milk and wine

Careless love is not my kind

I’ll not go to Darby.”

“Lass, I swear I’ll be your own

Never will you be alone

’Til the last Spring wind has blown – blown…

Down the road to Darby!

We walked and heard Spring birds trill

Songs of love that linger still

In our hearts - they always will

For she came down to Darby

Darby’s pretty, Darby’s fine

The land of honey, milk and wine

If it’s love you hope to find

Find it down in Darby!

___

Espere Eckard-Lee ~ Vocal / Accordion / Hand Claps

Brighin Kane-Grade ~ Vocal

Ken Lonnquist ~ Vocal / Guitar / Hand Claps

Pete Burns ~ Vocal / Guitar / Hand Claps

Doug Brown ~ Vocal / Fiddle / Banjo / Hand Claps

Liam McCarty ~ Bodhran

11

The Day Me Daddy Died

I remember the day me Daddy died

We sat on his bed, blubbered and cried

Pulled up the linen to cover his ham

Opened a bottle and poured a dram

Dad, dad, daddy-o dad

I remember the dqy me Daddy died

We hoisted him up, and hauled him outside

The dearly departed was tossed in a cart

Snapping the reins made the mule fart

Dad, dad, daddy-o dad

Toodle-oo to ya,

To heaven or hell, no one can tell,

Wherever you’re goin’ - farewell!

Ya flew or ya fell, no one can tell,

Wherever you’re goin’ – farewell!

I remember the day me Daddy died

We’d not been long on the funeral ride

Tearful exertion left us so dry

We stopped at the first pub as we happened by

Dad, dad, daddy-o dad

I remember the day me daddy died

A wake was on when we went inside

We made it a double and hauled daddy in

I swear I saw his cadaver grin

Dad, dad, daddy-o dad

Toodle-oo to ya,

To heaven or hell, no one can tell,

Wherever you’re goin’ - farewell!

Ya flew or ya fell, no one can tell,

Wherever you’re goin’ – farewell!

I remember the day me daddy died

The winds were howling wild outside

Pub door slammin' to wake up the dead

“Grab me a doorstop!”, my brother said

Dad, dad, daddy-o dad

I remember the day me daddy died

We leaned him against the door inside

Stiff as a board, and wedged in tight

The slammin’ was over, we drank all night

Dad, dad, daddy-o dad

I remember the day me Daddy died

Quietly we philosophied

Reincarnation is real, ‘cause Pop

Came back in the end as a doorstop!

Dad, dad, daddy-o dad

Toodle-oo to ya,

To heaven or hell, no one can tell,

Wherever you’re goin’ - farewell!

Ya flew or ya fell, no one can tell,

Wherever you’re goin’ – farewell!

___

Ken Lonnquist ~ Vocal / Guitar

Pete Burns ~ Vocal / Guitar

Espere Eckard-Lee ~ Vocal / Accordion / Washboard

Doug Brown ~ Vocal / Fiddle / Banjo

Liam McCarty ~ Bodhran

Brighin Kane-Grade ~ Vocal

Joanne Schilling ~ Wave Drum

12

Rob Summerbell

Hey, Rob Summerbell! Rob Summerbell!

Hey, Rob Summerbell! Robin Summerbell!

Bring us a blue sky, soft summer rain

Sunshine and wildflowers in the woods and plain

Sing us the rivers, fish in the stream

Starlight and fireflies and a full moon dream

Hey, Rob Summerbell! Rob Summerbell!

Hey, Rob Summerbell! Robin Summerbell!

Your birds and your bees

And your honeycomb trees

Your beautiful butterfly wings

Your berries and bears,

Your woodpecker who shares

Rhythm as you sing…

Hey, Rob Summerbell! Rob Summerbell!

Hey, Rob Summerbell! Robin Summerbell!

___

Ken Lonnquist ~ Vocal / Guitar

Pete Burns ~ Vocal / Guitar

Espere Eckard-Lee ~ Vocal / Accordion

Doug Brown ~ Vocal / Fiddle / Flute

Chris Wagoner ~ Mandolin

Liam McCarty ~ Bodhran / Finger Cymbals

13

Remedy

Off we go together, off to Remedy

Fair or foul the weather, as we go you’ll see:

Love will lift you, Johnny, step along with me

On and on along the road to Remedy

When the morning’s breaking with the melodies

Of the birdies making music in the trees

Love will lift you, Johnny, step along with me

On and on along the road to Remedy

When your body’s aching and your limbs are sore

Far too tired for taking even one step more

Love will lift you, Johnny, step along with me

On and on along the road to Remedy

When the way is long and longer is the time

When the winds are strong and high the hills you climb

Love will lift you, Johnny, step along with me

On and on along the road to Remedy

Step by step together, step by step aligned

Hands and hearts forever as we go entwined

Love will lift you, Johnny, step along with me

On and on along the road to Remedy

___

Ken Lonnquist ~ Vocal / Guitar

Pete Burns ~ Vocal / Guitar

Espere Eckard-Lee ~ Vocal / Accordion

Doug Brown ~ Vocal / Fiddle / Flute

Liam McCarty ~ Bodhran

Brighin Kane-Grade ~ Vocal

14

Irish Blessing

May the road rise up to meet you

And may the wind be always

At your back, the sun shining warm

On your face and soft rain falling

‘Til we meet again may God

Hold you safe in the palm of her hand

May you have four walls for the wind

And a roof for rain, and fire

Warmth and cheer, and those you love near

You, and all your heart desires

‘Til we meet again may God

Hold you safe in the palm of her hand

‘Til we meet again may God

Hold you safe in the palm of her hand

___

Ken Lonnquist ~ Vocal / Guitar

Pete Burns ~ Vocal / Guitar

Espere Eckard-Lee ~ Vocal / Accordion

Doug Brown ~ Fiddle / Flute

Chris Wagoner ~ Mandolin

Liam McCarty ~ Bodhran