David Kincaid - Vocals, Guitar, Banjo & Percussion Liz Knowles - Fiddle
Jerry O’Sullivan - Uilleann Pipes & Whistle
This will be the sixth song arranged and recorded from the amazing 1864 collection entitled “Joe English’s Irish and Comic Songster” (Dick & Fitzgerald, Publishers, New York). Not much is known about this Irish-immigrant music hall performer, popular enough to have had his own “songster,” or collection of song lyrics, published during the period. While his other songs make clear his staunch support of the Union war effort, extolling his fellow Irishmen to enlist in the cause, this one approaches it from a different perspective: that of an Irish immigrant facing the galling prejudice and anti-immigrant sentiments of the era. “No Irish Need Apply” was a very real, constant insult and severe economic disadvantage endured by the Irish people at this time, along with being publicly depicted as half-human simians or even blatantly as apes or gorillas in political cartoons.
The first thing our “Paddy,” this song’s protagonist, encounters upon his arrival is antagonism and bigotry, being told “will you ever go home, sir?...” He seems to deal with it by thumbing his nose at the whole system, going on a spree through the city as a vagabond ne’er-do-well, getting into a fair amount of mischief along the way. In the third verse, Paddy enters an “eating house,” has a hearty meal, and when presented with the token that served as the check in those days, gives it back saying “keep the change!” - the old dine and dash. He’s then offered a ride in a Hackney Coach, and after being driven through the city, is confronted for the fare. Of course Paddy hasn’t the means to cover it, the driver bawls out for police and is knocked down and kicked for his trouble.
While Paddy’s antics may, or may or not be viewed as outright criminal, he’s certainly a nuisance until he runs into a soldier and fellow Irishmen Barney Doyle, who entices him to enlist and take the bounty. He succumbs to the temptation and joyfully anticipates the glorious soldier’s life fighting with General Grant - “the boy that is victorious..”
Joe English, in his inimitable comic manner, reminds us of what our Irish immigrant ancestors faced upon their arrival. Vicious anti-immigrant organizations such as “The Know-Nothings” and “Native Americans” made life a nightmare for many. In our current times of rising, virulent anti-immigrant sentiment, may we all take heed and learn from this history.
Produced, arranged and engineered by David Kincaid at Logan Sound Studio, and McCormick Sound, Staten Island, NY, 2024 - 2025.
Copyright ℗ & © 2025 by David Kincaid, Haunted Field Music
FIRE AWAY, AND TAKE IT AISY. Written and sung by JOE ENGLISH. AIR– "New Policeman."
I've just come out to try a song– To plaze you all I now intend it; And if you find it rather long,
I'll lave it off–as soon as I end it. I'm always ready at your call, Always do my best to plaze ye; The raison why I sing it all
Is, I'm the boy that's free and aisy.
Chorus– Begare, my boys’, to make you smile You'll find meself is no-ways lazy;
So, if you'll listen to me a while,
I'll fire away, and take it aisy!
I landed here the other day,
And through the streets I went to roam, sir;
Whin a little blackguard to me did say,
"Arrah, paddy, my boy, will you ever go home, sir?" I tried to catch him by the clothes,
But off he ran, with a laugh and a shout, now,
And putting his finger to his nose, (imitates)
Cries, ”Dry up and bust, for that's played out now!” Begare, my boys, etc.
'Twas dinner time, I hadn’t a cint,
But I done as hunger always taught me–
Into an aiting-house I wint,
And I ate up all the waiter brought me.
He gave me a coin–’twas mighty strange– 'Twas a medal, and stamped just sixty cents, sir; I gave it him back, saying, "Keep the change, My stomach is full, so damn the expense, now." Begare, my boys, etc.
A coachman next asked me to ride,
To refuse him I thought would be a pity;
He opened the dure, I jumped inside,
And he drove me all around the city.
We stopped, he asked for cash straightway, And soon he for police was bawling;
Thin, as he insisted on having his pay,
I knocked him down, and kicked him for falling. Begare, my boys, etc.
Soon a soger caught me by the fist– 'Twas Barney Doyle, from Dublin county, Says be, "Now Pat just come and 'list; You'll get five hundred dollars bounty."
I couldn't refuse, so off I went,
For a soldier's life is ever glorious;
I'm going to fight with General Grant, For he's the boy that is victorious. Begare, my boys, etc.