And so it is St. Patrick's Day and everybody is Irish.
I am particularly Irish this St. Patty's since I am off to see a Patrick (opening band Titus Andronicus) and a Shane-for the last Pogues concert ever.
I like the Pogues a whole lot. Always have, especially when Elvis Costello (aka MacManus -yup, Irish) was producing them. And they really hold a spirit of rock and the emerald isle. As do the Saw Doctors, Dropkick Murphy's, Black 47…
But Ireland, for me, is a bit more than just the spirit of rock and roll.
It is a strange mix of intensities: lachrymose sentimentality and violence: the rich green Isle running red with blood: starvation, fights, freedom, revolution, religious orthodoxy. And tradition.
So while it lends itself to the modern world, it is seeped in a dream. It is John Ford's "The Quiet Man" and it is Bing Crosby's "The Bells Of Saint Mary".
Yeah, I just jumped an Ocean but New York is so Irish, isn't it?
And on this St. Patty's please allow me to get a little lachrymose myself: raise a pint for the long gone son of the old sod, Bing Crosby.
First, "Danny Boy" -a father seeing his son off to war. Written by an English man but sung for the Irish, whether off to World War I or off to Ulsters. With its harbinger of deaths to come, it sounds like a eulogy though the death is presentiment not reality. Crosby, with that voice moving from a baritone to a deep bass captures every ounce of the pathos.The orchestra is a touch soupy but remember the context.
Next, is"When Irish Eyes Are Smiling", a lovely ode to the spirit of playfulness: "For your smile is a part of the love in your heart, And it makes even sunshine more bright." Incidentally, compare to another Irishman, Van Morrison, "The smile you smile is you when I see through your laughing eyes". Bing doesn't go to his bass for this, he remains on top till the very end and even then resists the lowered boom.
Finally, my favorite Irish song? "Too Ra Loo Ra Loo Ra (That's An Irish Lullaby"). Speaking of Morrison, he has a terrific version of this song somewhere or other. Me? I'll stick with da Bing, A lovely soothing song (it reminds me a little of "Golden Slumbers), there to put you at ease but also to make suffer in the seep thrall of nostalgia. In other words it is Irish to the edge of its soul:
"Over in Killarney, many years ago mother sang a song to me in tones so soft and low
Just a simple little ditty in her good old Irish way
And I'd give the world if I could hear that song of hers today"
Just a simple little ditty in her good old Irish way
And I'd give the world if I could hear that song of hers today"