Thank you for this extraordinarily beautiful and moving song. Fantastic lyrics and wonderful singing and playing. Good to see this forgotten aspect of Irish history being explored. Well done Solas.
FYI: 'Irish America's most influential band.' - NPR 'Shamrock City is a deeply thoughtful, imaginative collection of songs which grapple with the wealth of ideas and emotions inherent in the immigrant journey'. - FOLK ALLEY Solas is the quintessential Irish-American band recording and touring in the US today. Fifteen years ago, in a manner befitting their name (Gaelic for 'light"), Solas burst onto the Irish music scene and instantly became a beacon - an incandescent ensemble that found contemporary relevance in timeless traditions without ever stooping to clichés. Anchored by founding members Seamus Egan (flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistles, guitars, bodhran) and Winifred Horan (violins, vocals), Solas is rounded out by Mick McAuley (accordians, low whistle, concertina, vocals), Eamon McElholm (guitars, keyboards, vocals), and newest member and lead singer, Niamh Varian-Barry. With ten albums under their belt, Solas' band leader Seamus Egan was inspired by his family history to create Shamrock City - their most ambitious project to date. Shamrock City tells the story of Butte, MT, a mining town at the turn of the 20th century, as seen through the eyes of an Irish immigrant and Seamus' great-great uncle, Michael Conway. In 1910 he sailed from Cobh, Co. Cork in Ireland to Philadelphia and then made his way to Butte to work in the copper mines. Six years later, at the young age of 25, he was dead from a blow to the head. Shamrock City seeks to not only uncover the life and young death of Conway, but to also illuminate life as an immigrant during the Industrial Revolution. Although Shamrock City is seen through the eyes of Michael Conway, it really tells the story of the thousands of young men and women from all over the world who left behind their homes and families to follow their dreams in America. It reveals their spirit, tenacity and humor, but also the hardships they faced: discrimination, corruption, an unknown and unforgiving land, a system that valued the few over the many. One hundred years later, it's their story, but the struggles of the working class and immigrants are the same. Shamrock City is for those then and now that believe in a better life, and are willing to risk it all for a chance at something more. Solas have never been hindered by genres - special guests on the album include Rhiannon Giddens of GRAMMY Award winning Carolina Chocolate Drops & Aoife O'Donovan of nu-folk trailblazers Crooked Still. www.amazon.com/Shamrock-City-Solas/dp/B00BD4K4JE
OK - found website - have all words. Thanks. Possible correction: near the end I hear: Maybe there’s just too much made of freedom PRAY I’ll be no forgotten man.
Hi, webpuddin. Say, listen, I've deciphered and posted 2 songs from Shamrock City on the website ultimate-guitar (Michael Conway and Far Americay), and have just deciphered Labour Song but haven't posted it yet. Anyway, I might be able to get what you've worked out for this song? thanks!
Agree with Shecky Green above: I’ve always worked each day God sent, the best I’m able. I get 'shot glass' as well; but was missing 'shame' - thanks. Also missing: But I did my share of killin’, and I took my share of war. God knows I’ve bled for my ?-freedom -?. No photographs to ?-pin upon a feeling -?. Can you help with these lines?
I have 99% now as well...two lines I cant figure out: second line : ="Of all this work(ed) each day God sent as best I’m able" and a line near the end: ="In the shot glass (shop lass?) there’s no mercy and your bottle only blame
From the woods of California to the banks of Ohio I've always worked each day God sent as best I'm able While both me and the crops they failed, those damn wolves came to my door I just couldn't put no food upon the table Time to step up, boy, and be a man. So they stuck you 'neath a helmet and put a shovel in your hand Sayin' it's time to step up, boy, your family needs ya' And though we struggled hard to save, they say our money turned no good And that there's not gonna' be enough to feed ya' And they say it never happened 'cause they can. So they rob us of our livin', kick us down with shiny shoes God knows we've paid for our dreamin' And now they're trying to tell us that they'll own us 'till the end Someone better pray that luck means justice 'Cause I'll be no forgotten man. So they stuck me 'neath a helmet, put a gun into my hand Saying time to step up, boy, your country needs ya'. They rounded us like slaughter, they shipped us all to hell Sayin' what doesn't kill you boy is gonna' free ya'. Pretend it didn't happen if you can. But I did my share of killin' and I took my share of war God knows I bled for my leader And now you're trying to tell me my enemy's my friend They'll only pray as long as there is freedom But I'll be no forgotten man. These days I wheel the city, where the streets don't know my name They'll say time to move on boy 'cause no one needs you. In the shot glass there's no mercy, in your bottle only blame Though you shout the deeds you done no one believes ya' Come, man, spare a nickel if you can Cause all I've got's a story, no kin to call my own No photographs to pin upon a feelin' But what you're trying to tell me makes the truth too hard to bend And maybe there's just too much made of freedom Then I'll be no forgotten man. 'Cause one man's chains become another's freedom So I'll be no forgotten man. 'Cause one man's chains becomes another's freedom So you'll be no forgotten man.
Wow, this needs more views, come on people get your butts out there and share this wonderful music!
Such a heartbreaking, beautiful song
Thank you for this extraordinarily beautiful and moving song. Fantastic lyrics and wonderful singing and playing. Good to see this forgotten aspect of Irish history being explored. Well done Solas.
So beautiful love the soft gentle voice great song true to life
Said it before, I'll say it again, Solas is the most underrated band
FYI: 'Irish America's most influential band.' - NPR 'Shamrock City is a deeply thoughtful, imaginative collection of songs which grapple with the wealth of ideas and emotions inherent in the immigrant journey'. - FOLK ALLEY Solas is the quintessential Irish-American band recording and touring in the US today. Fifteen years ago, in a manner befitting their name (Gaelic for 'light"), Solas burst onto the Irish music scene and instantly became a beacon - an incandescent ensemble that found contemporary relevance in timeless traditions without ever stooping to clichés.
Anchored by founding members Seamus Egan (flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, whistles, guitars, bodhran) and Winifred Horan (violins, vocals), Solas is rounded out by Mick McAuley (accordians, low whistle, concertina, vocals), Eamon McElholm (guitars, keyboards, vocals), and newest member and lead singer, Niamh Varian-Barry.
With ten albums under their belt, Solas' band leader Seamus Egan was inspired by his family history to create Shamrock City - their most ambitious project to date. Shamrock City tells the story of Butte, MT, a mining town at the turn of the 20th century, as seen through the eyes of an Irish immigrant and Seamus' great-great uncle, Michael Conway. In 1910 he sailed from Cobh, Co. Cork in Ireland to Philadelphia and then made his way to Butte to work in the copper mines. Six years later, at the young age of 25, he was dead from a blow to the head. Shamrock City seeks to not only uncover the life and young death of Conway, but to also illuminate life as an immigrant during the Industrial Revolution.
Although Shamrock City is seen through the eyes of Michael Conway, it really tells the story of the thousands of young men and women from all over the world who left behind their homes and families to follow their dreams in America. It reveals their spirit, tenacity and humor, but also the hardships they faced: discrimination, corruption, an unknown and unforgiving land, a system that valued the few over the many. One hundred years later, it's their story, but the struggles of the working class and immigrants are the same. Shamrock City is for those then and now that believe in a better life, and are willing to risk it all for a chance at something more. Solas have never been hindered by genres - special guests on the album include Rhiannon Giddens of GRAMMY Award winning Carolina Chocolate Drops & Aoife O'Donovan of nu-folk trailblazers Crooked Still.
www.amazon.com/Shamrock-City-Solas/dp/B00BD4K4JE
What a great song! Totally relevant to today's politics! Seamus, when are you back in Philly? I'd love to have you on the radio show again!
Terrific song.
another fantastic recording
Cannot wait for the album!!!!!
I just love this, the music and the literal story of "no forgotten man" !
Maravillosa Canción..Gracias.
Love you and love the song. Can we please get lyrics?
This entire album is free to download on the group's bandcamp page, for anyone interested.
The video poster is the band! I think they already know the lyrics.
OK - found website - have all words. Thanks.
Possible correction: near the end I hear:
Maybe there’s just too much made of freedom
PRAY I’ll be no forgotten man.
web puddin To all who hate this new world order.Liam
Send them to the video poster, hopefully they will add them to the show more section.
Hi, webpuddin. Say, listen, I've deciphered and posted 2 songs from Shamrock City on the website ultimate-guitar (Michael Conway and Far Americay), and have just deciphered Labour Song but haven't posted it yet. Anyway, I might be able to get what you've worked out for this song? thanks!
I have worked out 99% of the lyrics if anyone is interested; just don't know how to post here ... too long.
Great way to end the show at Freight and Salvage 3/2/2012. Would love to have lyrics to the whole Shamrock City Album.
Thanks. Tap'er lite
Agree with Shecky Green above:
I’ve always worked each day God sent, the best I’m able.
I get 'shot glass' as well; but was missing 'shame' - thanks.
Also missing:
But I did my share of killin’, and I took my share of war.
God knows I’ve bled for my ?-freedom -?.
No photographs to ?-pin upon a feeling -?.
Can you help with these lines?
I have 99% now as well...two lines I cant figure out: second line : ="Of all this work(ed) each day God sent as best I’m able" and a line near the end: ="In the shot glass (shop lass?) there’s no mercy and your bottle only blame
From the woods of California to the banks of Ohio
I've always worked each day God sent as best I'm able
While both me and the crops they failed, those damn wolves
came to my door
I just couldn't put no food upon the table
Time to step up, boy, and be a man.
So they stuck you 'neath a helmet and put a shovel in your
hand
Sayin' it's time to step up, boy, your family needs ya'
And though we struggled hard to save, they say our money
turned no good
And that there's not gonna' be enough to feed ya'
And they say it never happened 'cause they can.
So they rob us of our livin', kick us down with shiny shoes
God knows we've paid for our dreamin'
And now they're trying to tell us that they'll own us 'till
the end
Someone better pray that luck means justice
'Cause I'll be no forgotten man.
So they stuck me 'neath a helmet, put a gun into my hand
Saying time to step up, boy, your country needs ya'.
They rounded us like slaughter, they shipped us all to hell
Sayin' what doesn't kill you boy is gonna' free ya'.
Pretend it didn't happen if you can.
But I did my share of killin' and I took my share of war
God knows I bled for my leader
And now you're trying to tell me my enemy's my friend
They'll only pray as long as there is freedom
But I'll be no forgotten man.
These days I wheel the city, where the streets don't know my
name
They'll say time to move on boy 'cause no one needs you.
In the shot glass there's no mercy, in your bottle only
blame
Though you shout the deeds you done no one believes ya'
Come, man, spare a nickel if you can
Cause all I've got's a story, no kin to call my own
No photographs to pin upon a feelin'
But what you're trying to tell me makes the truth too hard
to bend
And maybe there's just too much made of freedom
Then I'll be no forgotten man.
'Cause one man's chains become another's freedom
So I'll be no forgotten man.
'Cause one man's chains becomes another's freedom
So you'll be no forgotten man.
can sobody tell give me the lyrics cause my english is not good and i don't really understand sometimes. I need the lyrics for today
The second one I think is " In the shot glass there’s no mercy, in your bottle only blame" I mean, like, whassup with the "shop glass?"
lyrics?
not 'shame' ... meant to type 'blame'.
Do you subscribe to this or my channel, Shecky---cause while you have a great name, who'd know who you actually are?