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Irish Song Lyrics: Sing Along to 10 of Our All-Time Favorite Irish Songs!
Learning Irish song lyrics is one of the best ways to express your
Irish side. From the haunting emotion of "Danny Boy" to the rollicking irreverence of "Whiskey in the Jar," there is an Irish song for every mood.
Here is our top 10 list. Jump directly to the song you like using the links below. OR read on for a bit o' information and fun facts about our 10 favorite Irish songs, as carefully chosen by the Irish Expressions Community:
- O' Danny Boy
- Molly Malone
- Whiskey in the Jar
- The Unicorn Song
- Seven Drunken Nights
- Red is the Rose
- Wild Rover
- The Sick Note
- Finnegan's Wake
- Fields of Athenry
At Irish Expressions we love singing along, and we hope you do too! To get started, let's find out how much you already know ...
Irish Song Lyrics: Find Out How Much You Already Know!
Take our fun, free quiz to find out how much you already know about our ten favorite Irish songs...
So - How Did You Do?
A score of 80 or higher is a sign of a well-developed Irish side!
A score of 60-70 is pretty good! You are probably the life of the party on St Patricks Day!
A score of 0-50 means you should brush up on your knowledge of the Emerald Isle!
Keep exploring Irish-expressions.com to discover exciting images and facts, and to learn about the many ways to express your Irish side, wherever in the world you happen to be.
10 'Must-Know' Irish Song Lyrics
Ready for a personal Irish music lesson? Below are our top 10 choices for 'singable' Irish song lyrics - not to be missed!
1. O' Danny Boy
Danny Boy is regarded by many people to be an Irish anthem.
The story behind the song has been interpreted a variety of ways, with 'Danny' representing a husband, or a son, or a boyfriend going off to war.
Danny Boy is a 'must know' for anybody who wants to express their Irish side through song. Click the image to find out why!
2. Molly Malone
No list of Irish song lyrics would be complete without the notorious "Molly Malone."
The song tells the story of a young girl name Molly who sells fish in the streets of Dublin but dies of fever at a young age. Click the image for more info.
3. Whiskey in the Jar
While there are different versions depending upon where it is being sung, all of them tell the same basic story: Highwayman is betrayed by his lover while he is sleeping.
Click on the image to sing along with this iconic Irish pub song.
4. The Unicorn Song
At first glance it’s a surprising choice for beer lovers considering its childlike lyrics but when you hear it and sing along with it, you will understand why it is so beloved.
Want to know why? Click on the picture to learn the lyrics and sing along!
5. Seven Drunken Nights
Seven Drunken Nights tells the tale of a man coming home drunk to his wife, and each night she has a new excuse to cover up what can only be her lover.
Alas, the drunk man carries on as the excuses get more and more ridiculous.
Learn the lyrics and hear the song by clicking the picture.
6. Red is the Rose
Red is the Rose tells of a blossoming love story that ends with sadness as the two lovers are separated.
Most believe that the song is about one of the lovers emigrating, a topic that inspires plenty of Irish songs and stories.
To learn the lyrics and hear the song, simply click the image here.
7. Wild Rover
The Wild Rover is about a man drinking in a pub who, by the last verse, decides to change his ways and leave alcohol behind.
Want to sing along? Learn the lyrics and hear the music by clicking on the image!
8. The Sick Note
The Sick Note is one of the world's best known folk songs. It is closely associated with Irish culture, and it is a comedy classic.
Over the years, the song has been sung under many titles and even to multiple melodies, but the storyline remains the same. "Paddy's not at work today."
9. Finnegan's Wake
The song is about Finnegan who dies but wakes up again at his own wake when a bucket of whiskey is spilled on the floor.
Click the image to learn the words and hear the tune to Finnegan's Wake!
10. Fields of Athenry
Fields of Athenry is a folk ballad dealing with a love story during a sad part of Irish history.
The song is set in the Great Irish Famine of the 19th century. Click the image to sing along to this famous Irish tune.
11. Black Velvet Band
The "Black Velvet Band," a traditional Irish folk song, narrates the story of a young man who is led astray by a woman with eyes that "shone like diamonds" and is ultimately sentenced to a penal colony in Australia because of her deceit. This song resonates with themes of love, betrayal, and exile, reflecting the hardships of Irish history. Learn more about its lyrical nuances and listen to some of the famous renditions by clicking here.
12: Boolavogue
The song "Boolavogue" commemorates the Irish Rebellion of 1798, a pivotal moment in Ireland’s fight for independence. Filled with stirring lyrics, it narrates the courageous stand of the Irish insurgents against British forces. This ballad captures a sense of pride and resilience, embodying the spirit of those who fought for their homeland. Learn how to sing along here!
Want More Irish Song Lyrics?
It is probably obvious - at Irish Expressions, we love Irish songs! The music of the Emerald Isle brings people together, telling stories that touch every human emotion.
Learning the lyrics and singing these songs gives us a deeper sense of connection with Ireland, wherever in the world we happen to be!
To help you build your own personal Irish songbook, we have over the years created many downloadable, share-able Irish games, puzzles, recipes, song lyrics, quizzes, and much, much more.
Want them right now? Keep reading to learn about "Your Irish Expressions Playbook."
More Fun With Irish Expressions
Congratulations on learning more about the Emerald Isle and discovering what we like to call your "Irish Side." You may be thinking "I'd love to actually VISIT Ireland but that's really not in the cards right now. What am I supposed to do with the stuff I just learned?"
Well never fear! Since 2009 we have collected all of the best printable, shareable resources we could find, to help you put your new knowledge of Ireland to good use. We've put them all together in a single download we call "Your Irish Expressions Playbook," which contains over 50 pages of games, puzzles, recipes, songbooks, quizzes, travel guides and much, much more.
Purchase them ALL for one small price, print as many copies as you like and share them with your friends - with no limitations! But order soon - we are already adding to the Playbook for future editions and this price will not last long.
Oh, want one more reason to order right away? If you buy YOUR copy of the Playbook now, you will be allowed to upgrade to any new future edition for FREE.
ORDER YOUR IRISH EXPRESSIONS PLAYBOOK HERE