St. Patrick's Day, Vol. 6

A very happy, and hopefully lucky, St. Patrick's Day to all of you! This is always such a fun post, full of vibrant and fun music to celebrate the "greenest" day of the year. As always, you can find the full Master Playlist by following me @audioaesthetics on Apple Music.

The Rollicking Boys Around Tandragee by Fourwinds (written by T. Delany, D. Farrell, R. Walsh)

Featured on Fourwinds' 2015 self-titled album, this is a lovely version of a traditional Irish folk song. This is definitely Fourwinds' specialty, it gives off an acoustic, almost live feel. If you love folk music, you'll love this.

Good luck to all here now barring the cat/That sits in the corner there, smelling a rat/O wheesht your philandering girls and behave/And saving you presence, I’ll chant you a stave/I come from the land where the pritties grow big/And the boys neat and handy can swirl in a jig/And the girls they would charm your heart for to see/Those darling colleens around Tandragee/So here’s to the boys who are happy and gay/Singing and dancing and tearing away/Rollicksome, frollicksome, frisky and free/We’re the rollicking boys around Tandragee

Green Light by Lorde (written by J. Antonoff, J. Little, E. Yelich-O'Connor)

Featured on Lorde's 2017 album Melodrama, you know why this is here: green, baby. Also, like I discussed recently in my Lorde Diva Spotlight, this song is just a banger in general. Throw it on your St. Patrick's Party Playlist and just watch everyone have a great time.

I do my makeup in somebody else's car/We order different drinks at the same bars/I know about what you did and I wanna scream the truth/She thinks you love the beach, you're such a damn liar/Those great whites, they have big teeth/Hope they bite you, thought you said that you would always be in love/But you're not in love no more/Did it frighten you, how we kissed when we danced on the light up floor/On the light up floor/But I hear sounds in my mind/Brand new sounds in my mind/But honey, I'll be seein' you 'ever I go/But honey, I'll be seein' you down every road/I’m waiting for it, that green light, I want it/‘Cause honey, I'll come get my things, but I can't let go/I’m waiting for it, that green light, I want it/Oh, I wish I could get my things and just let go/I’m waiting for it, that green light, I want it

A Song for Ireland by Luke Kelly (written by P. Colclough)

Featured on The Dubliners' 1983 album Prodigal Sons, this is another lovely traditional Irish folk cover. Kelly's excellent vocals add a realness to the words, feeling rough hewn and yet comfortable. It's a really beautiful song in a lot of different ways.

Walking all the day, near tall towers/Where falcons build their nests/Silver winged they fly/They know the call of freedom in their breasts/Saw Black Head against the sky/Where twisted rocks they run down to the sea/Living on your western shore/Saw summer sunsets, asked for more/I stood by your Atlantic sea/And sang a song for Ireland

Ireland by Orfeh (written by L. O'Keefe, N. Benjamin)

Featured on the 2007 original Broadway cast recording of Legally Blonde the Musical, this song is performed in Act I by Paulette, portrayed on this track by Orfeh Or. It's my favorite song in the show, largely because I love Paulette in both the film and the show. It's a wonderful blend of Irish and Bostonian, and is simultaneously silly and sentimental.

When I'm lonely or feeling dejected, I play this and it never fails/I pretend like I'm in Ireland with Enya and the whales/When my telephone gets disconnected, or I spend every night alone/I pretend like I'm in Ireland where the Irish bagpipes drone/Smell the grass as a rainstorm is endin’/People smile while I stroll pass their farms/With a red-headed sailor named Brendan/And we dance without moving our arms

If I Should Fall from Grace with God by The Pogues (written by S. MacGowan)

Featured on The Pogues' 1988 album If I Sould Fall from Grace with God, this is a great modern Irish folk song. The Pogues' blending of folk, punk, and rock music with classic Celtic themes is a lot of fun to listen to. This is a high energy banger sure to get you in the party type mood.

If I should fall from grace with God/Where no doctor can relieve me/If I'm buried in the sod/But the angels won't receive me/Let me go, boys, let me go, boys/Let me go down in the mud, where the rivers all run dry

The Man Who Can't Be Moved by The Script (written by A. Frampton, S. Kipner, M. Sheehan, D. O'Donoghue)

Featured on Irish pop band The Script's 2008 self-titled album, this song took me right back to high school on the nostalgia train. It's satisfying melodically, and has some really fun vocal moments to both listen to and to sing. It's got a good groove to it, and feels like a solid alternative pop song.

Going back to the corner where I first saw you/Gonna camp in my sleeping bag, I'm not gonna move/Got some words on cardboard, got your picture in my hand/Saying, "If you see this girl, can you tell her where I am”/Some try to hand me money, they don't understand/I’m not broke, I'm just a brokenhearted man/I know it makes no sense, but what else can I do/How can I move on when I'm still in love with you/‘Cause if one day you wake up and find that you're missing me/And your heart starts to wonder where on this Earth I could be/Thinkin' maybe you'll come back here to the place that we'd meet/And you'll see me waiting for you on the corner of the street/So I'm not moving, I'm not moving

Glad Tidings by Van Morrison (written by G. Morrison)

Featured on Morrison's 1970 album Moondance, this gives off exactly the energy I'd expect from this Irish legend. His music is so fun, and always makes me want to go dance in a big patch of sunlight. Basically, I think it's really difficult to be in a bad mood listening to Van Morrison.

And they'll lay you down low in the easy/And the lips that you kiss will say Christmas/And the miles that you traveled the distance/So believe no lies, dry your eyes and realize/That surprise/La, la, la, la la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la/And the businessmen will shake hands and talk in numbers/And the princess will wake up from her slumber/Then all the knights will step forth with their arm bands/And ev'ry stranger you meet in the street will make demands/So believe no lies, then dry your eyes and realize/That surprise/La, la, la, la la, la, la, la, la, la, la, la

If you're celebrating today, I hope you have a fun, safe holiday! Happy listening, and see ya'll next week!