How come Saint Patrick's Day only gets one day? How come there's not a whole season dedicated to this fun holiday? Come on, who dislikes green? Heck, Bush and Ford are all over "green" these days. And Saint Patrick was a nice guy (that's the whole "Saint" part in his title) -- although I'm sure, hated by anyone anti-religion.

So, I think we should celebrate the entire first half of the month of March, instead of just one day. So I shall -- with much singing!

Today, I'll give you the words to a really neat Irish tune. It's short, but very powerful. It was written in the early 1800s Thomas Moore. It's called "The Minstrel Boy." I love this song, have a neat rendition on CD, and sing along at the top of my voice:

The Minstrel Boy to the war is gone
In the ranks of death you will find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him;"
Land of Song!" said the warrior bard,
"Tho' all the world betrays thee,
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!"

The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain
Could not bring that proud soul under;
The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again,
For he tore its chords asunder;
And said "No chains shall sully thee,
Thou soul of love and brav'ry!
Thy songs were made for the pure and free,
They shall never sound in slavery!"

Interestingly enough, when looking for the lyrics online so I didn't have to type them, I found The Minstrel Boy blog! Weird, huh?

And if I could sing a little better, I'd sing this at the Renaissance Festival this year...

Posted by: Ogre at 06:07 PM | Comments (14) | Add Comment
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1 That reminds me of Sgt. MacKenzie by Joseph Kilna McKenzie. It was in the movie "We Were Soldiers." It is not Irish but Scottish which is even better!

Posted by: Arbitratorofall at March 01, 2006 10:27 PM (5+Jvh)

2 Damn Scotts!

Posted by: Ogre at March 01, 2006 11:04 PM (CyQ4M)

3 I'd celebrate St. Patty's day all month. I try to every weekend as it is! I'll over look your comment about the Scots, since being a Scot I naturally forgive the Irish.

Posted by: Contagion at March 01, 2006 11:18 PM (e8b4J)

4 I guess I can forgive and forget for one day.

Posted by: Arbitratorofall at March 02, 2006 12:14 AM (5+Jvh)

5 And you wonder why Scots don't have their own day...

Posted by: Ogre at March 02, 2006 12:14 PM (/k+l4)

6 Since I am Scottish and Irish does this mean I have to hate myself?

Posted by: Machelle at March 02, 2006 02:48 PM (ZAyoW)

7 Well, you're certainly allowed to curse yourself a lot.

Posted by: Ogre at March 02, 2006 02:57 PM (/k+l4)

8 They do you manky irish bastard, it's called Tartan day.. and every other day of the year. If it weren't for the Scots the modern world wouldn't be!

Posted by: Contagion at March 06, 2006 12:02 AM (e8b4J)

9 Every other day of the year? Oh, did they tell you that children's day was every day of the year, too?

Posted by: Ogre at March 06, 2006 12:08 AM (CyQ4M)

10 Bah! We have two days, dammit! Tartan day and Jackobite Day! Who cares if I'm the only person who celebrates Jackobite day....

Posted by: Graumagus at March 06, 2006 02:06 AM (5u5N6)

11 Damn Scots. See, people? They have to make up holidays do drink. We Irish, we drink on real holidays.

Posted by: Ogre at March 06, 2006 03:03 AM (CyQ4M)

12 Dude, I like green beer, but I think St. Patty's needs to last all month. (And I'm Welsh!)

Posted by: Billy The Blogging Poet at March 13, 2006 03:16 AM (Gn4KC)

13 I figure I'll try and expand it to half a month first, then we can work on a whole month...

Posted by: Ogre at March 13, 2006 12:26 PM (/k+l4)

14 I've just been staying at home waiting for something to happen. Whatever. Not much on my mind lately. I guess it doesn't bother me.

Posted by: Kaka61524 at April 21, 2006 04:46 AM (VaZmv)

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