JUKEBOX: Luke Kelly, a Musical Gift From Ireland
Given the recent news to come out of Ireland, I figured this would be a good time to pay tribute to not only one of the best folk singers to come out of the Emerald Isle, but also probably one of my favorite singers of all time, Luke Kelly. One of the founding members of the Irish folk band the Dubliners (he even suggested the name of the band while reading the James Joyce book of the same name), he was with the band pretty much since the beginning and made a lasting impact.
Like many folk singers of the ’60s and ’70s, Kelly was very involved in activism and displayed his political ideals through his songs. While everything he sang was either traditional folk tunes or composed by someone else, he still managed to convey a sense of passion, anger, hope, and laughter within the words.
Sadly, Kelly’s time on Earth was very brief. He passed away in January, 1984, at the age of 43 due to a brain tumor leaving behind a great legacy. This week’s JUKEBOX is dedicated to him and the incredible musical legacy he left behind.
1) “The Rocky Road to Dublin” (1964)
There’s a good chance that you’ve already heard Kelly’s music if you saw the 2009 movie Sherlock Holmes, which featured the Dubliners’ rendition of this classic folk song. I’m still amazed by how Kelly is able to keep up with the blazing fast pace of the song. I dare any of you to try and sing this karaoke-style.
2) “Raglan Road” (1986)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7iC5L79J9dc
Continuing with the film soundtracks motif for a second, if you’re a lover of dark-comedies then you’ve probably seen the movie In Bruges (2008), written and directed by Irish playwright Martin McDonagh. In this film about two Irish hitmen (Colin Farrell and Brendan Gleeson) on the run from their hot-tempered boss (Ralph Fiennes), McDonagh uses this song beautifully in one of the movie’s saddest moments. I dare not ruin it for you.
But what about Kelly? This song was originally written by Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh who essentially gifted his poem to Kelly, and thought he should sing it. The official recording you’re hearing was first released on the Dubliners compilation album Luke’s Legacy and is a bonus track on The Prodigal Son (1983). This version of the song will always be the best; I don’t think I’ll ever hear a version to top it.
3) “The Molly Maguires” (1969)
This was the first Luke Kelly/Dubliners song I ever heard outside of “Rocky Road to Dublin,” and it really sparked my love for the man and his voice. The song is about the Irish-American activist group of the same name who gained fame for their support for coal miners in Pennsylvania. This wouldn’t be Kelly’s first time singing about noted Irish activists and rebels, but this to me is the standard to which many other social anthems are held. And before anyone asks, to my knowledge, this was not used in the 1970 Martin Ritt movie.
4) “Free the People” (1972)
As mentioned above, like the great folk singers of the time, Kelly would use his fame as a singer as a soapbox for his activism. What was he an activist for? Take your pick. This song could be seen as an epitome for his belief that people should be free from tyranny and wrongful persecution.
5) “The Auld Triangle” (1975)
While this wasn’t the Dubliners first rendition of the Brendan Behan song — the first was on their album More of the Hard Stuff (1967) and it was sung by Ronnie Drew — this version is the best to me. First performed on their 1975 album Now, this displays not only Kelly’s singing, but also how well he sang with the rest of the Dubliners. Even after Kelly’s death, the band would stick with this rendition.
6) “Freedom-Come-All-Ye” (1970)
Kelly was not only of Irish heritage; he was also of Scottish heritage, and he displayed it as well. Originally paired with the fiddle tune “The Battle of Somme” on the Dubliners’ album Revolution (1970), Kelly displays his Scottish roots through this anti-imperialist song by Hamish Henderson in the Scots’ language. There’s a good chance that if Kelly were alive today, he’d play this song as a means to promote Scottish independence.
7) “The Thirty Foot Trailer” (1976)
Even though Luke Kelly sang many great songs in promotion of progression, he also acknowledged that changing times can also mean that many ways of life come to an end. In this song, he sings how the trade of traveling craftsman is slowly dying, given how many things are made cheaply and quickly without that extra touch.
8) “Kelly, the Boy from Killan” (1967)
As stated above, Kelly sang many songs about noted Irish rebels and activists, and one of the finest examples comes in the form this song. The song tells of 18th Century Irish rebel John Kelly who was a major figure of the Irish Rebellion of 1798. The video above showcases Kelly’s onstage reputation as an excellent live performer; appropriately, you can find this version on the album Luke Kelly: The Performer (2005).
9) “The Town I Loved So Well” (1973)
Even though Luke Kelly sung of rebellion and the war heroes who fought for Ireland, he acknowledged the ultimate cost of war. This song was written by Phil Coulter about Derry, his hometown in Northern Ireland, and about the 30-year conflict known as The Troubles. While Kelly himself was born and raised in Dublin, he manages to portray the sadness and grief that Coulter probably went through when he saw what was happening to his childhood home.
10) “Scorn Not His Simplicity” (1970)
Yet another Coulter composition, this time Coulter wrote it about his first son who was born with Down syndrome. Luke Kelly was the first singer to perform the song, and he felt that due to its personal nature, it should only be performed only for special occasions. One of the only times Kelly performed it live was by request of his fellow bandmate, the late Jim McCann, on a television program.
11) “Farewell to Carlingford” (1975)
Like many great Irishmen, Kelly could properly sing a fisherman’s ballad. This rendition of the Tommy Makem-penned tune remains quite possibly my favorite Dubliners song; it’s hard to pin down why I adore it, but have a listen, and you might be able to tell.
12) “My Little Son” (1968)
Kelly didn’t just sing of the plights of the working man — he also gave voice to the women as well. In this version of the tradition folk tune, Kelly takes the role of a mother trying to comfort her son who wonders why his father is off working and isn’t with them more. I’m still amazed at how well this song works. In both this rare version and in the studio recording, Kelly can convey the troubles of this family, how emotionally straining it is to have a member so far away and the nurturing and confident tone of this mother. The final few moments, to me, make this song especially strong.
13) “The Foggy Dew (When I Was a Bachelor)” (1976)
Kelly wasn’t all about displaying the plights of the working class and rebellion; he could also be rather romantic. Not to be confused with the song of the same name about the Easter Rising of 1916, this song tells of the love one young man felt for a young lady during a passionate night. Luke’s calm and composed singing complements the minimum instrumentation of this absolutely love song.
14) “Maids When You’re Young Never Wed an Old Man” (1968)
Of course, Kelly was more than just serious business — he was a showman who loved to liven the crowd with joyful and comedic songs. Being an amateur actor as well, Kelly knew how to make the audience smile when playing these songs. Go to the 3:10 mark to see his class-clown persona.
15) “Song for Ireland” (1986)
During the final years of his life, it was becoming increasingly harder for Kelly to perform due to health issues including his battle with a brain tumor. But you wouldn’t guess that based on his version of the Phil Colclough song which was recorded at the same time as “Raglan Road.” Like “Raglan,” it would be officially released on the album Luke’s Legacy (1986).
16) “The Night Visiting Song” (1972)
The final song I’ll share is the Dubliners’ cover of the traditional Scottish folk song “The Night Visiting Song” which would be the last song Luke Kelly would perform on television before his death in 1984. It’s obvious that his health was taking a toll on him, but he still manages to perform the song beautifully. Listen carefully at the end, and you can hear his bandmate Ronnie Drew saying, “Well done, Luke.” To me, that’s a more-than-perfect way to wrap it up.
What other songs by Luke Kelly and/or the Dubliners would you add? Who are your favorite Irish artists? Let us know in the comments!
