We’re Irish And Proud Of It, Too

 


Regal Zonophone MR205-BListen to a clip
of Ella Retford’s
1933 recording

.

 

 

 

Tom Mellor, Harry Gifford & Fred Godfrey — London: Bert Feldman, 1914.

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Songs celebrating Irish-ness were all the rage in 1914. The chorus of this Fred Godfrey contribution became popular — in England, at least — at the start of the Great War. It is one of a number of songs, by Godfrey and others, that assume the willing and plucky contribution of Irish soldiers to the Imperial war effort. At any rate, it served its role as a Music Hall recruiting song. Typical is the third verse:

Once a lot of soldier fellows, just across the sea,
Over in Paree, happy as they could be.
All the mamselles cried “What lovely soldier boys they are!
Do they come from Canada or Zanzibar?”
Sergeant O’Mulligan tippled a wink at one little dainty wench,
Got excited, said to her, in his best kind of French,

(chorus)

Shure we’re Irish, and proud of it, too!
Irish, and proud of it, too!
Oh, we don’t care if it rains,
And we don’t care if it snows,
We come from the land
Where the shamrock grows.
Shure we’re Irish, and proud of it, too,
And we all like a hullabaloo!
We’ve all come over to see the fun,
Ev’ry mother’s son of a gun,
Irish, and proud of it, too!

 

Recordings

Florrie Forde (Ariel 9493, 1914; Zonophone 1416, 1914)

Murray Johnson (HMV B-455, 1914; HMV-Victor [Canada] 120315, 1914)

Stanley Kirkby (Jumbo A346, 1915)

Stanley Read (The Winner 2781, 1915)

Ella Retford, in “Ella Retford Songs Medley, Part 2” (Regal Zonophone MR-205, 1930); reissued on LP “The Greatest Music Hall Bill Ever Assembled” (Music For Pleasure MFP-1146, ca. early 1960s); reissued on compact disc “Top Of The Bill” (Pearl PAST CD 9753, 1992)

The London Orch.; dir. by John Firman; with Charles W. Saxby at the Kingsway Hall Organ, in “Shamrockland” (Zonophone 5892, 1931)

The Irish Singers & Players, in “Shamrockland (Selection Of Irish Gems)” (Edison Bell Winner 5376, 1931)

Eddie Molloy, in 7-LP set “Palace Of Varieties — Old Time Music Hall” (BBC CN-1426, 1976 reissue of recordings made 1952–58)