Luke Kelly explains how he met Patrick Kavanagh in The Bailey pub in Dublin. During this encounter Kavanagh told him he had a song for him. 1979. Clip courtesy of RTE.
The song started life as a poem by Patrick Kavanagh, himself a genius. It was on a fateful night in The Bailey that Kavanagh and Kelly met, soaked in whiskey. Kavanagh gave Luke the words and suggested the tune and only Luke Kelly could render it into one of the best folk songs of all time.
I will never tire of this. There's a reason why Luke Kelly was considered the definitive performer of Raglan Road, and why many consider this to be the definitive rendition of his. Many have covered this work but I believe none have bettered it. Taken from the world far too soon, but he gave us such a gift with this.
Incredible version of Raglan Road, Luke Kelly was a one off..... He did more than just sing a song, he told a story..... As a fellow Irishman, i believe his passing was a great loss to Ireland and it's wonderful culture....... Forever a Legend.....!
I'm not an Irish and I'm quite new to Irish folk song, but Luke Kelly, I can see in his face the true joy of singing. Never saw an artist like him before. He's a born Celtic Bard of morden era.
The emotion and poetry of this song is hard to bare. Luke bows his head at the end of the song somewhat unable to look up at the audience for his soul is laid bare. Just absolutely the best!
What can I say? Luke ; without all the paraphernalia of today’s guy’s is unparalleled. Would we know anything of this great piece of poetry without him .R.I.P…
Luke Kelly was astonishingly gifted. This beautiful poem brought to life. His wonderful voice. A kind beautifully talented genius. Example of the oral Irish tradition. We miss you Luke!
This was the voice of a man who sings his soul out on the words of someone who the grief of being rejected by a woman and being left with his heart in shreds made him write such painful beauty, as with nothing but with beauty can a man describe a woman.
An absolutely magical performance from the greatest singer ever! A song which hits you straight in the soul. I will never get tired of listening to Luke sing. RIP to the greatest ☘☘🇮🇪🇮🇪
Of course they would have existed because they were all good musicians and Ronnie could carry a song in his own right but Luke is what made then as big as they were..blessed with a great emotional heartbreaking voice..they won't be another Luke
I have been told a thousand times I can sing as good as him with this song and a good few of his songs but I can't take it as a compliment. It's his and only he was as good as this no one was or ever could be as good as this. Even here as he was Ill he was absolutely fantastic at singing. Rest in heavenly peace Luke you are deeply missed
I like to sing this&been asked what the song was,but I'm just an amateur..But if u have talent,the best thing u can do(and I'm sure the great man would agree!)is attempt to sing this with all the emotion u can muster&do ur best!
Used to see Luke in Sheahans Chatham Street (still there) in the mid 70's in his fine leather coat...no high airs -just another guy drinking his pints...oh and what a voice
A brilliant performer able to interpret the words of the poet touching the raw nerves of our emotions. He had a unique talent and I love to listen to his distinctive voice.
A legend ,a poet ,a singer ,a performer and proud son of the beautiful country of eire. for your memory may i one day in my lifetime witness and cheer a unified ireland .
Never heard of this before, though I'm just beginning Antoinette Quinn's biography of Mr. Patrick Kavanagh. Sounds like an ancient sea shanty...beautiful
HE WAS UNPRETENTIOUS, LETTING HIS RAW TALENT GLOW. LUKE BURNED THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS, BUT IT GAVE A BEAUTIFUL LIGHT. I DONT LIKE TO SAY WHO WAS THE BEST EVER IN THIS, THAT, OR THE OTHER. BUT FOR ORIGINAL TALENT AND MUSICAL ABILITY, HE, IN MY OPINION WAS TRUELY ONE OF A KIND.
The song started life as a poem by Patrick Kavanagh, himself a genius. It was on a fateful night in The Bailey that Kavanagh and Kelly met, soaked in whiskey. Kavanagh gave Luke the words and suggested the tune and only Luke Kelly could render it into one of the best folk songs of all time.
Yes indeed Patrick Kavanagh did give Luke the words and then Luke did this .....
What a vocal for this young Dubliner member but his life end up short
A story for the times.
That's not factually correct.
An unparalleled performance. Rest In Peace, Luke . Your likes will never be seen again.
Could listen to you forever
He was gifted, knew it, and used it. RIP to Luke. A once off gem
The banjo was playing a different song.. fucking dreadful. What a mistake
So wonderful we will never hear his like again ❤
Ronnie Drew performers a not to bad version
I will never tire of this. There's a reason why Luke Kelly was considered the definitive performer of Raglan Road, and why many consider this to be the definitive rendition of his. Many have covered this work but I believe none have bettered it. Taken from the world far too soon, but he gave us such a gift with this.
My wife walked down the aisle to this, to my surprise, I think it likely I’ll be buried to it too...
@@motorcitycobra2009 Me too...
👏👏👏👏👏
Incredible ❤
Incredible version of Raglan Road, Luke Kelly was a one off..... He did more than just sing a song, he told a story..... As a fellow Irishman, i believe his passing was a great loss to Ireland and it's wonderful culture....... Forever a Legend.....!
He’ll of a scale
I’m sorry I didn’t get to meet Luke Kelly’s music until after his death. The first time I heard him I fell in love with him ☘️☘️☘️💚💚💚🇮🇪🇮🇪🥰🥰
I love how he goes straight into singing his heart out without even the barest of pauses.
So true. From zero to unalloyed melancholic passion in 1 second flat
The greatest singer to have ever lived on this island
No Wolf Tones better
Luke rules. Ok ✌️
@@michaelpower4372 nah.
@@gaygambler yeah wolf tones better than the Dubliners by a mile.🎻🎸
Luke Kelly crushes all
Carried my daddy from the church to this his favourite
Same 🙏
I'm not an Irish and I'm quite new to Irish folk song, but Luke Kelly, I can see in his face the true joy of singing. Never saw an artist like him before. He's a born Celtic Bard of morden era.
Yeah it's cool man
This day 37yrs ago you left us, Luke. Thank you for the days.
Love that Patrick Kavanagh gave this song to Luke Kelly. A perfect poem/song and Luke is perfect for it, as Patrick so wisely knew.
This is one of the best hidden gems I have found on RUclips
The emotion and poetry of this song is hard to bare. Luke bows his head at the end of the song somewhat unable to look up at the audience for his soul is laid bare. Just absolutely the best!
Jesus he flung himself into that song in a split second. What a voice, What a powerful instrument.....
Luke Kelly and Al O'Donnell. Two Dublin legends in the music world. Luke would have been 81 today. May both these men Rest easy.
My das mate sang this in the graveyard at my nanny and grandas funeral a week apart from each other, will always be my favourite ballad.
Luke is a classic example of being Irish ... and tonight I'm proud to call myself Irish, like every other night. Thank you Luke, Dubliner. Irish.
What can I say? Luke ; without all the paraphernalia of today’s guy’s is unparalleled. Would we know anything of this great piece of poetry without him .R.I.P…
Luke Kelly was astonishingly gifted. This beautiful poem brought to life. His wonderful voice. A kind beautifully talented genius. Example of the oral Irish tradition. We miss you Luke!
There are strong voices ... and then there's Luke Kelly.
Not many realise how great that was. I am blessed to of been raised right.
This was the voice of a man who sings his soul out on the words of someone who the grief of being rejected by a woman and being left with his heart in shreds made him write such painful beauty, as with nothing but with beauty can a man describe a woman.
Some performer
I never get tired of listening to this man sing, one of many from a very cultured land.
Emf fae the Plains and I agree wi you.
An absolutely magical performance from the greatest singer ever! A song which hits you straight in the soul. I will never get tired of listening to Luke sing. RIP to the greatest ☘☘🇮🇪🇮🇪
His voice IS the instrument. Extraordinary.
I’m only an eighth Irish but by God I love Irish music and this is as good as it gets.
You're an American then...
Who is playing the guitar wit luke
I found this song through watching 'In Bruges' and I cannot stop listening to it
This is even better than the studio version
It really is. I’m stunned every time I watch it
A true performer it just flows naturally so unique.
What a beautiful song. God bless ya Luke Kelly. Singing for St Peter in heaven 😄👍
Singing top rate poetry, with a soul in it
It’s so perfect not many dare to sing this amazing song.
Still love him 😘
never be another voice like lukes miss you every day RIP LUKE
Unbelievable performance 😲💟 actually that's a daft thing to say...I've just watched it and totally believe it! Perfection 👌
if there is ever going to be a time capsule for music, this must be included.
Sublime thank you Luke. 😊👍
Just like that, sitting around chatting, he sings (imo) the definitive version of this great song, he was just that good! RIP Luke!
He was brilliant i think there would have being no dubliners without him
davyboy98 true true true but on his own he was still sensational
Of course they would have existed because they were all good musicians and Ronnie could carry a song in his own right but Luke is what made then as big as they were..blessed with a great emotional heartbreaking voice..they won't be another Luke
What a beautiful performance!
Fanatstic, wish I'd met Luke and heard him sing. absolutely a one-off genius.
his talent is beyond words
Absolutely beautiful!Live.A true humble man and Irishman.💚
Breathtaking and heartwrenching. One of my favorites
How can he do this so beautiful so amazing the Great Luke kelly is there anyone better no who can do this acapello on his own wow
I am an Northern Irish woman and I love this.
You.are.still.I.our.hearts.luke.15.2020
This, and a song for Ireland..pure class 🇮🇪❤️
Singular talent. Transcendent really. Sad so few will know him. Sad for them.
Speechless... Absolutely magnificent.
I want this played at my funeral.
I have been told a thousand times I can sing as good as him with this song and a good few of his songs but I can't take it as a compliment. It's his and only he was as good as this no one was or ever could be as good as this. Even here as he was Ill he was absolutely fantastic at singing. Rest in heavenly peace Luke you are deeply missed
I like to sing this&been asked what the song was,but I'm just an amateur..But if u have talent,the best thing u can do(and I'm sure the great man would agree!)is attempt to sing this with all the emotion u can muster&do ur best!
The one and only Luke Kelly, rest in peace comrade.
Absolutely mind blowing unreal song and unreal from luke
He made it look SO easy!
A literal force of nature. Always and forever the greatest. Rest easy Luke. The 🐐
Used to see Luke in Sheahans Chatham Street (still there) in the mid 70's in his fine leather coat...no high airs -just another guy drinking his pints...oh and what a voice
Stunning! Rest In Peace, Luke Kelly...
Just wonderful.
A brilliant performer able to interpret the words of the poet touching the raw nerves of our emotions. He had a unique talent and I love to listen to his distinctive voice.
I loved too much and by such is happiness thrown away.
Lyrics are pure gold
Thank you for uploading this
Dude, I wish I could have seen this live.
Only you can sing that song luke, magic, what a voice,miss you always.
What a passionate man. An Irish legend
40 years in England - I go back occasionally to luke - awesome
He actually wrongly phrased the third verse, but every cover version since then has done the same. Just goes to show Luke Kelly is the gold standard.
He never put less than his ALL into every song. Pure Heart! A most loved and missed character indeed. xxx
Only hear Luke once live .. he had.incredible projection ...great singer.
A legend ,a poet ,a singer ,a performer and proud son of the beautiful country of eire. for your memory may i one day in my lifetime witness and cheer a unified ireland .
excellent luke kelly, a singer, respect rest in peace, from north ireland
What a voice ...and what passion ! Truly beautiful .
Meraviglia assoluta♥️♥️♥️
thank you very much
Simply a masterpiece. Love it.
May you sing with the angels, Luke.
Never heard of this before, though I'm just beginning Antoinette Quinn's biography of Mr. Patrick Kavanagh. Sounds like an ancient sea shanty...beautiful
("WHAT") what was it like on mars.👽
@@michaelpower4372 England, close to Jupiter, when it comes to things Irish.
@@MrResearcher122 oh that explains it theres a lot of strange Aliens on planet England
@@michaelpower4372 wtf,, a sea shanty , you need to stop smoking that shit lol
Jesus! how I missed this, 😭 beautiful
A powerful and brilliant singer
one of the best songs ever r i p,
What a charming and gentle man Luke seems, whereas he looks quite intimidating until he speaks. This is a truly magnificent performance.
HE WAS UNPRETENTIOUS, LETTING HIS RAW TALENT GLOW.
LUKE BURNED THE CANDLE AT BOTH ENDS, BUT IT GAVE A BEAUTIFUL LIGHT.
I DONT LIKE TO SAY WHO WAS THE BEST EVER IN THIS, THAT, OR THE OTHER.
BUT FOR ORIGINAL TALENT AND MUSICAL ABILITY, HE, IN MY OPINION WAS TRUELY ONE OF A KIND.
A broken mould for sure...brilliant man taken tooooo young altogether.!
Fantastic!
Luke lives forever
Good God if this does not tug at your roots nothing will RIP Luke........
Outstanding everyone that was there was so very lucky such a great talent.
Sublime performance by one of my favorite voices in all of music.
Awesome
What an incredible song ❤
As soon as he started to sing I teared up , the less Ireland becomes Irish the more I become Irish , I effing love my home ,(Ireland)
Calm down Kennedy, you absolute lush
Jesus Ireland will always be as it was full of liars lushs and the odd genius ...calm down.
@@johnsometimeswrong8742 u must be living in the butt end of nowhere ,
@@iankennedy1441 in Ireland we say Arse end of nowhere ...your a bit Americanised ...its too many utube clips that...
Everytime I listen to this, ok average 6 months, I'm rubbing my eyes after two minutes
Wow...to remember the words to sing like a bird.to echo the emotion it to verses so grand ...wat a man;)
I am beginning, to fall in love, with this particular rendition.
sublime
Luke is the very essence of Ireland Rest in Peace dear Luke.
Beautiful Thankyou
People like Like Kelly come along once in a lifetime
This song speaks to my own lost love. such a wonderful singer.
Unbelievable performance, Luke Kelly