A beautiful, well known Jig here played by Shannon Heaton, backed by her husband Matt on bouzouki. This is the warmup Jig at this VGS from Nov. 19, 2023. Delicate playing from Matt with lovely countermelody and second voicings. Jig starts approx. at 6:46.
A beautiful, well known Jig here played by Shannon Heaton, backed by her husband Matt on bouzouki. This is the warmup Jig at this VGS from Nov. 19, 2023. Delicate playing from Matt with lovely countermelody and second voicings. Jig starts approx. at 6:46.
Originally from Tipperary, Vincent Fogarty now lives in the heart of Ireland’s traditional music scene in Corofin, County Clare. A skilled bouzouki player, he is known for his clear, rhythmically precise accompaniment and his deep connection to the musical heritage of the west of Ireland.
Initially influenced by rock and blues, Fogarty discovered his passion for traditional Irish music in the 1990s. It was the vibrant session culture of Doolin that particularly shaped his musical path. Today, he is a regular fixture in the scene and frequently performs in well-known pubs such as McGann’s, McDermott’s, and O’Connor’s.
In addition to his solo work, Vincent is also a member of the band The Red Wellies, with whom he released a well-received album. His bouzouki playing is marked by musical depth, technical finesse, and a strong sense of collaboration—qualities that make him a respected figure in Irish music, both at home and abroad.
Daoiri released this song as a single during Covid. He plays it on his Bass-Bouzouki in C without capo (with D shapes). As I don't own a Bass-Bouzouki I have to play it with capo on 5th fret and G-Shapes.
This is the Covid Lockdown Version (Sorry for the bad sound, it is as it was )
{t:When The Breakers Go Back On Full Time}
{st:Daoiri Farrell}
Capo 5
{soc}
Oh, and it's [G]ah, sure if the news be true,
The store bills the first thing I'll [C]pay,
A [D]Grand parlor suit for the lounge I will [D7]buy
And an [C]organ for Biddy, [D]hurray ([D7]HOORAY)
Me [G]calico skirt I will throw into the dirt
In a new one I'll cut a [C]shine
And the [D]very next chance, I'll put Seamus in [D7]pants
When the [C]breaker goes [D]back on full [G]time
{eoc}
Oh, our [G]troubles are over, Mrs. Murphy,
The Dutchman next door tells me strai[C]ght
Oh the [D]mines, they go full time on Monday[D7]
[C]That's what he says to me any [D]rate[D7]
And the [G]boss he told Michael this morning
As he was just enterin the [C]mine
That the [C]coal i[D]s quite scarce around in P[G]hilly [Em]
And the [C]breaker goes [D]back on full [G]time
{soc}
Oh, and it's [G]ah, sure if the news be true,
The store bills the first thing I'll [C]pay,
A [D]Grand parlor suit for the lounge I will [D7]buy
And an [C]organ for Biddy, [D]hurray ([D7]HOORAY)
Me [G]calico skirt I will throw into the dirt
In a new one I'll cut a [C]shine
And the [D]very next chance, I'll put Seamus in [D7]pants
When the [C]breaker goes [D]back on full [G]time
{eoc}
I'll [G]ne'er put me hand in the washtub
The Chinaman he'll get me [C]trade
And I'll ne'er [D]pick the coal off the slate bank[D7]
No I'll [C]buy everything ready-[D]made [D7]
We'll [G]dress up our children like fairies
And we'll build a house big and [C]fine
And we'll mo[C]ve right aw[D]ay from the [G]round heads [Em]
When the [C]breaker goes [D]back on full [G]time
{soc}
Oh, and it's [G]ah, sure if the news be true,
The store bills the first thing I'll [C]pay,
A [D]Grand parlor suit for the lounge I will [D7]buy
And an [C]organ for Biddy, [D]hurray ([D7]HOORAY)
Me [G]calico skirt I will throw into the dirt
In a new one I'll cut a [C]shine
And the [D]very next chance, I'll put Seamus in [D7]pants
When the [C]breaker goes [D]back on full [G]time
And the [D]very next chance, I'll put Seamus in [D7]pants
When the [C]breaker goes [D]back on full [G]time
{eoc}
If you copy these lyrics and import them into an lyrics and chords app like Songbook you can see the chords above the lyrics, transpose etc. In the Songbook app you can define Bouzouki as instrument and it has chords implemented so you can see how to play them. You even can define your own chords, which is really handy sometimes. The app is available for most platforms.
Because the full lyrics aren’t generally available in public sources, what follows is a summary based on reviews, commentary, and what DaoirĂ has said about the song.
Theme / Voice: The song is sung from the perspective of a worker (a coal miner or someone connected to mining / the coalfields) who is waiting for better days. The “breakers” here refers to the coal breakers — these are machines or processing plants in coal mines that break coal up and prepare it for transport. When the breaker is “on full time,” it means there’s full work in the mines, seasonal or temporary idleness is over, and full production has resumed.
Desire & Hope: The narrator is longing for the return of steady work. When production is running full‑time, that means more income, stability, being able to meet obligations (pay store bills), better provisions for the family, maybe improvements to clothing or living standards.
Relief from hardship: In periods when the breaker is not working “full‑time,” life is harder: irregular pay, worry, perhaps debt, worry about affording basic necessities. The song expresses hope for a change: that soon things will be better.
Promises & Plans: The lyrics imagine what the narrator will do when work returns — pay the bills, buy a “suit,” dress the kids, improve the house, etc. There is a sense of celebration in anticipation: once the work comes, life will improve.
Contrast & Tension: There is both hope but also doubt; because often in mining communities, promises of resumption of full work are made and then delayed, or conditions fluctuate. So the song reflects both longing and resignation, mixed with optimism.
Background & Context
Here are important details about the song’s origins, meaning, and how DaoirĂ Farrell came to record it:
Traditional / Folk Roots: “When the Breakers Go Back On Fulltime” is a song previously recorded by Frank Harte & DĂłnal Lunny, two well‑known figures in the Irish folk tradition. DaoirĂ’s version is a traditional arrangement.
Album & Timing: It appears on DaoirĂ Farrell’s single The Lockdown, released 26 June 2020. It was recorded live from his home during the COVID‑19 pandemic, as part of his weekly “Corner Sessions” live‑streaming performances.
Relation to Lockdown Experience: DaoirĂ has said that When the Breakers Go Back On Fulltime was chosen in part because its theme — longing for the return of steady work — resonated with many people during the lockdowns, when many workers were furloughed, unemployed, or unable to work. The song’s message parallels the experience of uncertainty, waiting for full normality to resume.
The Little Drummer is a song from Daoiri's first album "The First Turn"
Here's a solo version
And a fantastic live version with Keeva feat. Alan Doherty, Tola Custy and Gerry Paul
{t:The Little Drummer}
{st:Daoiri Farrell}
#Studio Version
O[Dm]ne fine summer's morning, both gallant and gay,
[Dm]Twenty-four ladies went [C]out on the quay,
And a [Bb]regiment of soldiers did [Am]soon pass them [C]by,
[Bb]A drummer and [C]one of them [Am]soon caught his [Dm]eye.
He [Dm]went to his comrades and [Am]to them did [Dm]say,
"Tw[Dm]enty-four ladies I [C]saw yesterday,
And [Dm]one of those ladies she [C]has me heart won,
And [Bb]if she den[C]ies me then s[Am]urely I'm [G]done." [F][G][Am]
"Go [Dm]off to this woman and [Am]tell her your [Dm]blight
[Dm]Tell her she's wounded your [Am]poor heart inside.
Go and [Bb]tell her she's wounded your [C]poor heart, full sore,
And [Bb]if she de[C]nies you what [Am]can you do [Dm]more?"
So [Dm]early next morning this [Am]young man arose,[Dm]
And he [Dm]dressed himself up in a fine[Am] suit of clothes,
With a [Bb]watch in his pocket and a [Am]cane in his hand,
He sal[Bb]uted those [C]ladies as he [Am]walked down the [G]strand. [F][G][Am]
Well he [Dm]walked up to her and he says [Am]"Pardon [Dm]me,
[Dm]Pardon me lady for [C]making so free,
Me fi[Bb]ne honored lady, you [Am]have me heart won,
And [Bb]if you deny [C]me I'm [Am]surely un[Dm]done."
"Go [Dm]off little drummer, now [Am]what do you [Dm]mean?
For I[Dm]'m the lord's daughter of [Am]Ballycasteen.
[Bb]I'm the lord's daughter of [Am]honour, you see,
Go[Bb] little [C]drummer, you're [Am]making too [G]free." [F][G][Am]
So he [Dm]put on his hat and he [Am]bade her fare[Dm]well
Saying "[Dm]I'll send my soul down to [Am]heaven or hell.
For [Dm]with this long pistol that [C]hangs by my side,
[Bb]I'll put an [C]end to my [Am]own dreary [G]life."
[Dm]"Come back little drummer, now [Am]what do you [Dm]mean,
[Dm]For I do not want to be [Am]guilty of sin,
[Dm]To be guilty of innocent [Am]blood for to spill.
Come [Bb]back little [C]drummer, I'm [Am]here at your [Bb]will."[C][Bb][A5]
"We'[Bb]ll hire a [C]car and to [Am]Bansheer we'll [Dm]go.
[Dm]There we'll be married in s[Am]pite of our foes.
But [Bb]what can they say when it's o[Am]ver and done,
But [Bb]I fell in [C]love with the [Am]roll of your drum?[Dm]"
If you copy these lyrics and import them into an lyrics and chords app like Songbook you can see the chords above the lyrics, transpose etc. In the Songbook app you can define Bouzouki as instrument and it has chords implemented so you can see how to play them. You even can define your own chords, which is really handy sometimes. The app is available for most platforms.
Here's a tutorial video by Brent Matusik where he explains how to play it:
I asked chatgpt to make a search for the origins of the song. After all I let it write a short text about what it found out. It took some time and help until chatgpt found some more information:
The Little Drummer is a traditional folk song that has been performed by artists like DaoirĂ Farrell, Christy Moore (with Planxty), and other folk groups including Reel More, Fialla, and Inish. The song tells a romantic narrative: a young drummer courts a noblewoman, is initially rejected due to class, threatens to take his own life, and eventually wins her love.
The song has been catalogued in the Roud Folk Song Index as Roud 2749, confirming its place in the oral folk tradition. One early recording comes from Martin Gorman, a singer from County Sligo, recorded in London in 1966. His version appears in The Voice of the People series, a respected anthology of traditional British and Irish folk song.
While no definitive 19th-century broadside version has been identified yet, the song’s presence in field recordings and its appearance in multiple regional repertoires suggest that it circulated widely in oral tradition. Its classification as “Trad. / Arr.” in recordings further supports its traditional roots.
“The Little Drummer” remains a staple in Irish folk circles, offering a blend of romance, class conflict, and timeless melody that continues to resonate with modern audiences.
