From: straffin@Xenon.Stanford.EDU (Ethan Douglas Straffin)
Subject: Re: black 47 info wanted
Organization: Computer Science Department, Stanford University.
Date: Wed, 27 Jan 1993 01:47:08 GMT

In article <gremlin.728084915@camelot> gremlin@camelot.bradley.edu (Stephanie Udry) writes:
>anybody out there familiar with the band black 47?  i assume their self
>titled item that the song "funky ceili" comes from is their first...

Here's the blurb I just finished for Stanford's entertainment weekly:

Black 47 - ep.  If you're the kind of person who gets songs inside
your head and can't get them out, do not, I repeat, do not listen to
"Funky Ceili (Bridie's Song)."  Turn off your MTV when the video comes
on, and for heaven's sake don't pick up this Irish band's five-song
debut EP.  Like the bastard offspring of Billy Bragg and the Pogues,
Black 47 sing about love and politics with all the humor and vehemence
of six guys who have had a few "dirty big pints of stout."  Flawed
only by ex-Car Ric Ocasek's usual penchant for overproduction, and a
bit of political melodrama, this debut leaves no doubt that fresh,
funny, and inspiring Irish rock still exists.  Expect _Fire of Freedom_,
Black 47's first full-length album, in early March.  (3 stars out of 4)

>btw, from listening to the lyrics, it sounded like ceili is a type of dance
>or maybe a drink..any ideas?

Not a drink...I'd guess a type of song, or maybe an instrument?  It's
not in my dictionary.

>is the rest of this album in a similar style to this song?  iof so, i want it!

"Funky Ceili" is the best song (but how could it not be?).  The other
four songs are more straight-ahead rock, all more or less upbeat.
(One more love song, two political ones, one which is half-and-half.)

Would anyone care to elaborate on the politics behind the lyrics to
"James Connolly" and "Black 47"?  I know that the latter (and the
band's name) refers to 1847, but little more...my Irish history is
sorely lacking.  (Clueless American!)

>lyrics would be appreciated to for funky ceili...i doubt they are in any
>archive yet

Okay, I'm up for some procrastination.  Here goes (mostly from the
liner notes)...

Funky Ceili (Bridie's Song)
written by Larry Kirwan
---

Bridie!  Where are ya girl?

Bridie was teachin' out in Carysfort
I was workin' in the bank
2 pay checks every Friday
And a Morris Minor out in the back
But I was mad for jigs and reels
Drinkin' dirty big pints of stout
When the Bank of Ireland gave me the boot
They said "Don't let the door hit your arse on the way out"

Fiddleeee diddleeee deidelydee
I was born to play the funky ceili
Over the seas and far away - off to Amerikay
Fiddleeee diddleeee deidelydee
Where the wild, wild women are waitin' for me
Think of me Bridie whenever you see me there on your MTV
I love you, a cushla, but how could I be
Without me punky funky ceili

Bridie broke down and started to bawl
When I told her about me divorce from the bank
She said "I've got news of me own, a stor,
I'm two months late and it's not with the rent"
She said I'd have to be tellin' her Da
So we drove the Morris Minor to Cork
The ould fella said "you've got two choices,
Castration or a one way ticket to New York!"
Oh Bridie, what can I do girl?

(chorus)

So here I am up on Bainbridge Avenue
Still in one piece but glad I'm alive
Drinkin' dirty big glasses of porter
Playin' me jigs and me reels and me slides
Think of you, Bridie, whenever I'm sober
Which isn't too often, I have to confess
Take good care of the Morris Minor
Bad luck to your Da and give the baby a great big kiss -
   from his Daddy in the Bronx

(chorus)

Oh Bridie, I'm still crazy about you, girl
Does the baby look like me, Bridie
Has he got red hair and glasses
Oh, Bridie, sell the Morris Minor
Come on out to America girl
The pubs never close over here
I've got a penthouse up on Bainbridge Avenue
I've got the biggest bed in the world, girl,
We can stay in it and make babies forever...
Oh Bridie!
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