From: jaymin@maths.tcd.ie (Jo Jaquinta)
Subject: Horslips --- Irish Musical Tradition
Summary: Some satire, then serious discussion of modern Irish musical tradition
Organization: Dept. of Maths, Trinity College, Dublin, Ireland.
Date: Tue, 28 Jul 1992 08:29:02 GMT

In article <repofire@vadier.gr.osf.org> emcmanus@gr.osf.org (Eamonn McManus) writes:
>>"Love is blind, or so it seems, to make me
>>offer you my dreams. But after all is said and
>>done, a blind man's dreams are not much fun."
>>		-- Horslips, "Blindman"
>
>I think these lyrics are quite offensive, and wonder why you reproduce
>them in your signature.
	"Quite offensive"? Really. Perhaps you would rather I said:

	A feeling of mutual attraction is visually challange, or so
	my perceptions lead me to beleive, so that I might make a
	gift to you of my nocturnal visions in REM sleep mode.
	Once all relevant discussion of the topic and comesurate
	actions is completed, the nocturnal vision in REM sleep
	mode of visually challanged persons do not lead to mutual
	enjoyment.

	Less offensive, perhaps, but it doesn't evoke the same feeling.
	The traditional music of Ireland has been sung and enjoyed throughout
the world. If we just sit around playing and enjoying our traditional music
our musical tradition will become stagnated. Horslips was a significant Irish
band in the mid-70s that took traditional themes and played them in a modern
setting and style (cf. Thin Lizzy's "Whiskey in the Jar"). 
	Horslip's music was largely a developments of traditional music but
their words held some of the pure magic of the legendary bards that could
raise visions of what they spoke. Some of my choice evocative phrases:
	"Tears turn into diamonds at the eclipse of the sun."
	"Then, as we danced, all the stars fell in the sea."
	"I am the flash of hawkeye in the sun."
	You can compare Ireland with almost any other area of the world of
equal size in population without finding as many internationally known
bands. Anyone who has seen The Commitments can see (although rather grafically)
how important the musical scene is here. Music is part of our culture.
	Take, for instance, Sinead O'Connor. When the Irish government was 
fumbling over the question of whether to let the pregnant 14 year old out 
of the country for an abortion Sinead flew over from England, marched right
into the Dail, and demanded to see the Taoiseach (Prime Minister). There was
quite a striking picture of her in The Irish Times. She was admited and told
him to let her go. In the end he did.
	This action is highly reminiscent of the role of the Bard in Brehon
Ireland. The Bards were the conscience of the Kings. Wielder's of satire and
immune to challange they were the safeguarders of what was right. I do not
think Ms. O'Connor's actions or the Irish government's reactions consciously
conformed to this archaic role but they are both products of the same
cultural upbringing where this things live on.
	If you cannot see beyond the surface representation of the lyrics
of a song or perceive that they are trying to convey feelings they you,
my friend, are a Blindman.

			Jo Grant

PS: So all may judge in context:

		BLINDMAN

		Horslips

Blindman, man of straw, shuffling down the night
	Going to visit little girls who never do things right.
Scarecrow, wooden heart, finds it hard to love
	Dressing up in dead man's clothes to charm the stars above.
Do you ever feel like dancing, when the evening turns to gold?
Or does life's simple melody make your blood run cold?

Blindman, halfway there, empty as a nun
	Tears turn into diamonds at the eclipse of the sun.
Scarecrow, out alone, play your pantomime
	I'd join you for the late late show but haven't got the time.
Do you ever feel like crying when swallows leave the rain behind?
Or does some midnight rythym drive your spirit wild?

Blindman, tell me, tell me tell me do
	Can't you see that I'm a blind man just like you.
Scarecrow, in the wind, let your thoughts blow free
	Got to tell the others what you once told me.

			Jo Grant
		jaymin@lanczos.maths.tcd.ie
		44 Bancroft Ave., Tallaght,
		    Dublin 24, IRELAND