Daoiri Farrell - The Mickey Dam Lyrics and Chords

 One of the first songs I ever heard Daoiri sing back in 2011. I had heard the song before from a Duo at Irish Folk Festival some time ago but don't remember the names of the two singers.

First a video of Daoiri, I think it's from 2013 made in Elmstein, Germany.

A live version from around 2001, only audio.

A live version with his trio I filmed in Pforzheim, Germany in 2019

{t:The Mickey Dam}

{st:Daoiri Farrell Version}

No capo

Daoiri: nur D 7050 und C 7500 je 2Takte In Str. 1

I’m an [D]honest Irish Laborer and I [G]came from the County Clare

I [D]always had a little farm with [G]nothin left to spare

I [D]had to sell me donkey and me [G]famous billy goat

And [D]with the money I received, to [C]Glasgow took the boat

In the [D]morning, when I landed there, be[G]fore me hair got [C\G]dry

I was [D5]started [C]at the [G]Micky [D/A]Dam in a [C]place they [D/A]called Mull [D5]Guy

And the [D5]ganger that I started with, they [C]call him [G/B]John the [C]Mouse

And the [D5]very first [C]day that [G/B]I got [D/A]there, at [C]me he’d [G/B]start to [G]grouse

Well, I [D]quickly did surprise him and I [G]said, „“You little [C\G]rat.

I’ll [D5]tie a [C]string a[G/B]round you’re [G]neck and [Dsus4/A]toss you to the cat““

For I’m [D5]strong as any lion. I was [G]reared on eggs and [C\G]ham

I’m a [D5]terror [C]to all [G/B]fighting’ [D/A]man a[C]round the [D/A]Micky [D5]Dam

Well, this roused the mouse’s temper and at me he made to jump.

And he swore he’d paralyze me with the handle of a pump

But, I quickly surprised him and I grabbed him by the throat

And I shook that ugly monkey ’til the tail fell off his coat

{soc}

For I’m [D5]strong as any lion. I was [G]reared on eggs and [C\G]ham

I’m a [D5]terror [C]to all [G/B]fighting’ [D/A]man a[C]round the [D/A]Micky [D5]Dam

{eoc}

Well, the big hotels we’re stopping at, they call them navies huts

And the fleas and bugs that are in the bed are as big as coconuts

Of a Saturday night, when I get home, I stands behind the door

And as they come out, one by one, I bashed them to the floor

For I’m as strong as any lion. I was reared on eggs and ham

I’m a terror to all fighting me around the Micky Dam

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 I have collected some videos how this app works.

Chords:

D5: 7,0,5,0

G/D: 7,5,0,0

G: 0,5,5,0

C/G: 0,2,3,0

C: 5,5,0,0 or 5,5,3,0

G/B: 4,5,0,0

D/A: 2,0,0,0

Dsus4/A (or A7?): 2,5,0,0 (A chord Daoiri uses often to lead from A to D)

Andy Irvine with Kevin Burke & Mícheál Ó Domhnaill - Santa Barbara, California - 1984-02-21

 What a gem! I don't think there a many video recordings of Andy from that time. Here's one hour of Andy solo and with Kevin Burke and Mícheál Ó Domhnaill. Once again thanks to AndyFanblock page on YouTube who collects videos of Andy.

Andy Irvine & Paul Brady - 40th Anniversary Concert, Vicar St. Dublin

 A newly posted video on the Andy Irvine Fanblock on YouTube. What a concert it was!

Daoiri Farrell - Biddy Mulligan - Tab and Chords

Another lovely song of Daoiri's repertoire.

This is what AI knows about the song:

"Biddy Mulligan" is a folk tune composed by Seamas Kavanagh in the 1930s. It honors the lively personality of a street vendor from the Coombe area in Dublin. The song paints a picture of a woman who makes a living selling things like fruit, nuts, and used clothing, and it emphasizes her strength and sense of pride in her working-class roots. It also stands as a cultural companion to the better-known Dublin ballad, "Molly Malone."

Here you can download my tab

{t:Biddy Mulligan}

{st:Daoiri Farrell}

{c:}

No Capo

{soc}

You[D] may travel from [Bm]Clare to the [G]County Kil[A]dare,

From[D] Dublin right down to Ma[A7sus4]croom,

But [D]where would you [Bm]see a fine [G]widow like [A]me,

Biddy[D] Mulligan the[A] pride of the[D] Coombe me [Bm]boys

Biddy[D] Mulligan the[A] pride of the[D] Coombe

Run: 74, 55, 45,35,25,25

{eoc}

 

I’m a [D]buxom fine [Bm]widow that [G]lives in a [A]place,

In [D]Dublin its [Bm]known as ''The [A]Coombe''

Me [D]shop and my [Bm]stall are laid [G]out in the [A7sus4]street

And me [D]palace con[A7sus4]sists of one [D]room

By [D]Patrick's street corner for [Em]35 years

I [D]stood by me stall that's no [A]lie

And [D]while I was there - there's no [Em]one would dare

To say [D]black was the [A]white of me [D]eye

{soc}

You[D] may travel from Clare[Em] to the County Kildare,

From[D] Dublin right down to Ma[A]croom,

Bu[D]t where would you see a fine[Em] widow like me,

Biddy[D] Mulligan the[A] pride of the[D] Coombe me [Bm]boys

Biddy[D] Mulligan the[A] pride of the[D] Coombe

{eoc}

I sell [D]apples,oranges [Em]nuts and split peas,

Bulls [D]eyes and sugar sticks [A]sweet,

On [D]Saturday night I sell [Em]second hand clothes

From me [D]stall on the [A]floor of the [D]street,

Now I [D]have a son Mick who [Em]plays on the pipe,

He be[D]longs to the Longford street [A]band

It would [D]do your heart good - to [Em]see them march out

On a [D]Sunday to [A]Sandymount [D]Strand

{soc}

You[D] may travel from Clare[Em] to the County Kildare,

From[D] Dublin right down to Ma[A]croom,

Bu[D]t where would you see a fine[Em] widow like me,

Biddy[D] Mulligan the[A] pride of the[D] Coombe me [Bm]boys

Biddy[D] Mulligan the[A] pride of the[D] Coombe

{eoc}

David Tennille - How to play Bouzouki

 

Just found this little boob while searching Amazon. The reviews are really bad. Does anybody know more about it? The index looks ok, but the misspelling on the cover???

If you maybe have it it would be nice if you'd comment and tell about it.

Alan Finn & Fionn O' Hanlon (UCC TradSoc Lunchtime Concerts, 5th of April 2023)

 The UCC TradSoc Lunchtime Concerts take place regularly and offer great concerts. Here is a concert with Alan Finn & Fionn O' Hanlon (Fiddle and Bouzouki)

Here's Simon Crehan and Fionn O'Hanlon at Crowleys Music Centre 

This is the youtube channel of Fionn O'Hanlon

'Twas Many a Wild Night, a CD by Alan Finn, Joanne Quirke, Paul Clesham & Fionn O' Hanlon

 

By chance I came across this CD on bandcamp a few months ago but forgot to mention it here on the blog. Fine bouzouki playing here. I especially like the polkas and slides.

I asked chatgpt to write a short text about the musicians, here's what came out (hope the information is correct ;)

Alan Finn, Joanne Quirke, Paul Clesham & Fionn O’Hanlon

This quartet brings together four of Ireland’s finest young traditional musicians, each with deep roots in the music of their home counties.

Alan Finn (Buttevant, Co. Cork) is a renowned button accordion player and founder of the Shandrum Céilí Band, celebrated for multiple All-Ireland titles and his lively, driving style. Joanne Quirke (Co. Cork) is a versatile multi-instrumentalist on whistle, flute, fiddle, piano, and harp, and a graduate of University College Cork who was awarded the prestigious Seán Ó Riada Prize. From Hollymount, Co. Mayo, Paul Clesham is an All-Ireland champion on concertina and a highly skilled accompanist, equally at home on fiddle, accordion, melodeon, and piano, with a strong academic background in ethnomusicology. Completing the group is Fionn O’Hanlon (Boherbue, Co. Cork), a bouzouki player whose roots in the Sliabh Luachra tradition bring rhythmic energy and harmonic depth to the ensemble.

Together, their 2025 album ’Twas Many a Wild Night captures the joy, drive, and spirit of Irish traditional music today.

Here's a video of them playing at Custy's in Ennis.

Here's the link to their bandcamp site

Eimear Arkins & Alan Murray - Scully Casey's with Tab

Eimear Arkins is an award-winning fiddle player, singer, and dancer from County Clare, now based in St. Louis, Missouri. A multiple All-Ireland champion, she is equally celebrated for her rich traditional fiddle style and her expressive singing, from sean-nós to contemporary folk.

 Eimear has toured internationally with ensembles such as Cherish The Ladies, Téada, and The Paul Brock Band, and has represented Ireland at cultural showcases worldwide. Her debut album What’s Next? (2018) was praised for its fresh take on Irish tradition, and her follow-up Here & There (2024) reflects both her Clare roots and her life in the U.S. Whether on stage or in the classroom, Eimear is known for bringing warmth, virtuosity, and authenticity to Irish music.

(Text made by Chat.gpt) ;-)

The first track of her album Here & There is a set which starts with the jig Scully Casey's. On thesession this tune is written as a slide. As I could not find an abc-file written as a jig I used this for my tab. There is a video of Flute Player Hatao on youtube which contains staff notation for the tune as a jig.

The bouzouki player on the album is Alan Murray who seems to become one of my favourite bouzouki players at the moment. 

This is the album version:

Here's the tab. Might not be absolute perfect, but gives an insight into Alan's style of playing.

You can download the whole tab here.
Now I made a tab in 6/8 which is easier to read,  you can find it here.

Here's a video of the release concert for the album:

Robin Jones - The Rain Song (Led Zeppelin)

 

Robin Jones' arrangement of Led Zeppelin's "Rain Song". On his website you can buy the tab if you wish to play it. 

Here you can buy the tab

Here you can subscribe to get all of his content  

Daoiri Farrell - Blackwaterside

Another gem from Daoiri Farrell. A version of The Bonnie Irish Maid or Blackwaterside. The lyrics here don't match Daoiri's always. Here's a link to the lyrics he uses but the chords are a bit different and in G.

Live Version, Capo 5

Studio Version, Capo 3

{t:Blackwater Side - Bonny Irish Maid}

{st:Daoiri Farrell}

{c:Capo 5}

As [D]I went out one [G]morning [A]fair, so [A7]early [A]as I [D]strayed

It being all in the month of [G]May the [D]birds sang [A]in the [G]shade[A]

The [D]sun shone down right merri[G]ly and the [D]water did [A]swiftly [G]glide [A]

Where the [D]primroses [D/F#]and [G]daisies [A]grow, down [A]by Black[A7]water[D]side

 

I [D]had not gone but [G]half a mile when [D]there by [A]chance I [D]spied

Two lovers talk as they did [G]walk down [D]by Black[A]water[G]side

And [D]as he held her in his [G]arms, these [D]words to [A]her did [G]say

"When [D]I am in A[G]merica I'll be [D]true to my [A]Irish [D]Maid"

 

"T’is [D]when you are in A[G]merica those [D]Yankee [A]girls you'll [D]find

And you'll have sweethearts of your [G]own more [D]pleasing [A]to your [G]mind

Do [D]not forget the promi[G]ses and the [D]vows you [A]made to [G]me

Oh, [D]stay at home love, [G]do not roam from your [D]bonny [A]Irish [D]maid"

 

"T’is [D]when I'm in A[G]merica, those [D]Yankee [A]girls I'll [D]see

And they must be very hand[G]some, to re[D]mind me [A]love of [G]thee

For [D]there's not a bird in yonder [G]bush or [D]flower in [A]yonder [G]glade

That [D]does remind me [G]love of thee, my [D]bonny [A]Irish [D]maid"

 

"It's [D]many's the foolish [G]youth" she said, "has [D]gone to some [A]foreign [D]shore

Leaving behind his own true love be[G]hind, for [D]ne’er to [A]see no [G]more

It's in [D]crossing of the Atlantic [G]foam, some[D]times their [A]graves are [G]made

Oh, [D]stay at home love, [G]do not roam from your [D]bonny [A]Irish [D]maid"

 

These [D]two young hearts to[G]gehter so [D]fondly [A]did em[D]brace

Like honey drops upon the [G]dew, the [D]tears ran [A]down her [G]face

"There’s [D] not a day while you're a[G]way I'll [D]visit [A]still these [G]glades

Un[D]til you do re[G]turn again to your [D]bonny [A]Irish [D]maid."

I made some tabs for the intro and verses in Tabledit, which is an app I really can recommend.

You can download my tabs from my Dropbox.

Intro

1st verse

2nd verse

4th verse

Graham McDonald - How to build an Irish Bouzouki - Online Course and Plans

Many years ago Graham McDonald released a book how to build bouzoukis. He is a luthier and builds bouzoukis for about 40 years now. So he knows what he does. You can buy his book on Amazon or as Ebook from McDonald Strings.

The first chapter can be downloaded as a .pdf here and  Andy Irvine's Forward can be downloaded here .

The full size plans can be downloaded separately here. 

Now he released an online course on this topic. On YouTube you can watch the introductional video which I enclose here. So if you ever wanted to build your own bouzouki this one's for you.

Matt Heaton - Thoughts on accompanying Polkas

Matt Heaton posted a series of bouzouki videos on YouTube some time ago. I can highly recommend these to any bouzouki player. There are videos on different keys, rhythms and chord overviews. One type of tune that is often overlooked is the polka. In this video, 

Matt shows his approach to accompanying polkas. Since the bouzouki tends to vibrate due to its double strings, it is not advisable to play too loudly. Here, he shows a way to play more delicately and emphasise the rhythm. The emphasis here is more on the second beat. This results in a slightly bouncing rhythm.

BB's hopefully helpful Harmony hints for Irish Traditional Musicians

Bill Black is hosting an interesting website with some information for Irish Musicians.


http://capeirish.com

You'll find some original tunes, trad. songs, writings and other useful things. Especially the section called "Reference Library" contains interesting documents.

Here you'll find his text: "BB's hopefully helpful Harmony hints for Irish Traditional Musicians" which he has updated and extended in 2019. There you find information about building chords, harmonization, Scales and Modal tunes.


Also a basic Session Tune list, a tune library of about 10 000 tunes and a text concerning the concept of the Session and some Banjo hints and tips.

If you find this useful you can buy me a pint.

Matt Heaton - Chord Overview - Chords in the key of G

Interestingly, most people visit the chord page here on the blog. Perhaps this great video by Matt Heaton gets a little lost in the shuffle. In this video, he shows chord shapes in the key of G major. Many chords are close together, making them easy to play. I posted the information on the video about four years ago. Perhaps you'd like to watch it again. 

Matt has published several videos on chords and tunes on youtube. Just look for "Backer Corner Bouzouki" and you'll find lots of good instructional videos he made.

Here's a list of his Backer Corner videos (Bouzouki and Guitar )

If you find this useful you can buy me a pint.

Matt Heaton - The Black Rogue Tab

Matt and Shannon's session was great fun again. They played some well-known tunes as well as some lesser-known ones. Matt played his bouzouki on three sets. Today I tried to pick out his arrangement for the jig ‘The Black Rogue’. In the first run-through, he mainly uses an open A chord (x707) in the A section. He also accompanies with beautiful bass lines.

The tune starts at 19:14

You can download my tab here:

If you find this useful you can buy me a pint.