My Dad raised us (9 of us) on these lads' songs from the early 60's on. This particular song was one of their famous 'rebel' songs. It brings a specific memory back of an incident about 40-years ago on my first trip to the Ireland. My brother & I were in a small pub near Donegal. There were a couple of fiddlers, a pianist on an old upright and someone with a 'squeeze box' playing some nice ol' traditional Irish ballads while those present joined in the vocals. Well, they knew we were Yanks, and after an hour or so, asked if we had any requests. So we suggested Risin' of the Moon. Their backs immediately stiffened and their eyes narrowed as if someone had just reminded them of an ancient tribal feud--it was as if we had woken a sleeping-giant. To say they got into the song with enthusiasm & gusto would be like saying the Grand Canyon was a gully! The only thing missing for them at the end were some pikes-in-hand and the 'enemy'. We thanked them for the songfest, downed our pints and got the hell out of there before a Donnybrook ensued. Sláinte
Great to see this. It is Tom Clancy who sang The Rising of the Moon, Liam is on guitar etc. Tommy Makem on the tin whistle etc and Paddy Clancy makes up the fourth fitting in nicely.
I've never seen this video before, WOW. Amazing. I love the Clancy's, Tommy Makem and this song. Makes me think of my dad, he got me into Irish music when I was younger, this on we'd listen to all the time. Now this is Irish music!
Great performances all round and a lovely appearance by the legendary Pat O'Brien who along with the likes of James Cagney really was part of what was coined the "Hollywood Irish Mafia".
OMG! What a treasure. This was so wonderful to see. I remember seeing "the boys" when I was just a baby and I fell in love with Tommy Makem then and never lost that feeling! Seeing Pat O'Brien dancing was so much fun. Thank you for posting this great "historical document."
The first time i heard the clancy brothers it was this song. saint patricks day 2007 it still gives me shivers up my spine to hear the corus. The best part is its followed by me favorite song by them. so here we have both my first and my favorite.
Hands down, one of the most awesome videos on RU-vid - the Clancys and Tommy Makem are wonderful, and adding Pat O'Brien at the end just made my day. Thank you so much for uploading this!! :-)
cronin - they took America by storm with their appearances on the Ed Sullivan show, so I suppose the bookings came rolling in over there and they weren't going to turn their backs on them..:) There have always been plenty of singers, entertainers and broadcasters here on English TV right up to the present dayand the english took them to our hearts, for example the Dubliners had a smash hit here with 'Seven Drunken Nights', and 'Father Ted' is still getting regular reruns on english TV. As regards the IRA bombing us, we know they were only a tiny minority and in no way represented the vast majority of the great Irish people. Incidentally I had an Irish ladyfriend, gosh what a temper she had, I slung a piece of bacon behind her settee for her cat and she nearly lynched me..
They were very popular in London in the late 60s, I have most of their records, up in the loft as I don't have a record player any more but I do have lots of tapes and CD's.
They even had an English member of the group - Louis Killen - a Geordie. Joined at the time Tommy Makem was going off in another direction - around 1970/71. A grand addition too. They earned their keep (records/touring) almost exclusively in North America right enough.
Actually I thought he ruined it, he looks like a creepy old bastard to me, too bad. I loved watching the Ed Sullivan show when I was a kid tho.. And this was 1 of my Da's favourite songs!
Pretty sure it's a Clark Whistle, Key of C. Liam looks like he's playing in C as well. Clark whistles were about all you could find most places in the US in the 1960's. If you're playing with fiddlers you'll do better with a Generation whistle, key of D
