Powerful performance. Just listened to this with my father and saw the emotion in his eyes. He's lived a much better life in America than he ever would have if stayed in Turf Lodge during the Troubles, but I can feel the pain of leaving his family and country even if he will never say it. Amazing job lad! ☘️
I've listened to many versions of this song. Young man is great but he hasn't seen what paddy Luke and the rest of the dubliners saw. He is quoting real mail. But he was 30 years late.
Great to see the next generation keeping this songs not just alive but singing it with so pure and soulfully god bless yeah young man. That kind of performance travels very easy 👍
I cant beleive this is the first time hearing this. Ryan your voice cut rite to my soul. My gran came to the us in 1926. You brought a tear to my eye. Cheers from Boston .....!!!!!!!!!
He really reminds me of an Irish bruce or ryan adams in that he doesn't have to scream to tell the story..the control is second to none. It's an underrated talent.👏👏
@@jppmccrea What are you talking about John? What does any politician got to do with any of this? Let me guess..a bored lonely old man desperate for a little bit of human interaction, so he tries to aggravate strangers on the internet..well, jog on John these are rhetorical questions you just continue to impregnate your sisters sock collection and keep your beak outta others business,or if not at least try make sense when tryina insult people for no reason whilst making no sense. Cheerio gobshite.
so i came across this song like two days ago i think i've listened to it about 60 times! the story this song tells is so heartbreaking! his voice just makes the whole think breath taking! What a talented young man!!
Normally I'd say with a classic like this to leave well alone. But this cover is what made me change my mind. Well done Ryan! Above and beyond! High expectations for you! Best of luck with your bright future! I'll be attending a show for sure. 😁
I’ve travelled a lot and left Ireland for a year but never really out of necessity not financial need anyway. But this song cuts me . Heartfelt songs have always cut me it’s an art form which has always touched me.
Mine too! It’s the only version I like of it. Ryan performs it beautifully, it’s just perfectly understated. I’ve seen him perform it live a few times and it’s always such a joy to hear and never fails to give me goosebumps.
Fantastic version love this song you made it your on just watched your documentary here in Belfast tonight on bbc2 loved it fair play to you hope to get to see you at one of your Gigs in our beautiful Belfast 💚🇮🇪
Lyrics: I was 18yrs old when I went down to Dublin with a fistful Of money and a cartload of dreams "Take your time" said me father Stop rushing like hell and remember all is not what it seems to be For there's fellas that would cut ye for the coat on yer back Or the watch that you got from your mother so take care me old bucko And mind yourself well and will ya give this wee note to me brother At the time Uncle Benjy was a policeman in Brooklyn And me father the youngest, looked after the farm When a phonecall from America said 'Send the lad over' And the oul fella said 'Sure wouldn't do any harm' for I've spent me life working this dirty old ground For a few pints of porter and the smell of a pound And sure maybe there's something you'll learn or you'll see And you can bring it back home make it easy on me So I landed in Kennedy and a big yellow taxi Carried me and me bags through the streets and the rain Well me poor heart was thumpin around with excitement And I hardly even heard what the driver was sayin We came in the Shore Parkway to the faltlands of Brooklyn To me Uncle's apartment on East 53rd I was feeling so happy I was humming a song and I sang "You're as free as a bird" Well to shorten the story what I found out that day was that Benjy got shot down in an uptown foray and while I was flying my way to New York Poor Benjy was lying in a cold city morgue. Well I phoned up the old fella told him the news I could tell he could Hardly stand up in his shoes and he wept as he told me 'Go ahead with the plans And not to forget be a proud Irish man' So I went to Nellies beside Fordham road and i started to learn about lifting the load But the heaviest thing that I carried that year Was the bittersweet thought of my hometown so dear I went home that December 'cause the oul fella died Had to borrow the money from Phil on the side And all the brught flowers and brass couldn't hide The poor wasted face of me father I sold up the oul farmyard for what it was worth and into my bag stuck A handful of earth then I boarded a train and I caught me a plane And I found meself back in the US again It's been 22yrs since I've set foot in Dublin The kids know to use the correct knife and fork But I'll never forget the green grass and the rivers As I keep law and order in the streets of New York.
Just came here after listening to Ryan sing this song in Melbourne. Covered it well just like in this video. Never heard this song before, and I won’t forget it.
I hope the singer sees this, I rate his his version of this song up there with the very best. Don McLean - Vincent, Beatles etc. There aren’t many renditions of songs that you believe everything the performer says. You son, have a unique, god given talent
I grew up on irish music. This is a wonderful and almost perfect rendition of this song. My 80yo da says so and he heard the original from Ireland, the fkn dubliners ffs but I love this one
Here ya go, not sure what key he’s in, he’s got it capoed way up, but this should give you a handle in the sequences. Good luck. www.bigchords.com/the_wolfetones_chords/the_streets_of_new_york_chords.html
Thanks Laura I am actually listening to him now as I watch my favourite football team Liverpool beating Sparta Moscow 5/0 at the moment I cannot get his voice out of my mind hauntingly brilliant
