No Irish Need Apply

Pete Seeger

Originale

Versione di Tommy Makem, sull’aria della popolare “Boys from...

NO IRISH NEED APPLY I'm a decent boy just landed From the town of Ballyfad; I want a situation, yes, And want it very bad. I have seen employment advertised, "It's just the thing," says I, "But the dirty spalpeen ended with 'No Irish Need Apply.' " "Whoa," says I, "that's an insult, But to get the place I'll try," So I went to see the blackguard With his "No Irish Need Apply." Some do count it a misfortune To be christened Pat or Dan, But to me it is an honor To be born an Irishman. I started out to find the house, I got it mighty soon; There I found the old chap seated, He was reading the Tribune. I told him what I came for, When he in a rage did fly, "No!" he says, "You are a Paddy, And no Irish need apply." Then I gets my dander rising And I'd like to black his eye To tell an Irish gentleman "No Irish Need Apply." Some do count it a misfortune To be christened Pat or Dan, But to me it is an honor To be born an Irishman. I couldn't stand it longer So a hold of him I took, And gave him such a welting As he'd get at Donnybrook. He hollered, "Milia murther," And to get away did try, And swore he'd never write again "No Irish Need Apply." Well he made a big apology, I told him then goodbye, Saying, "When next you want a beating, Write `No Irish Need Apply.' " Some do count it a misfortune To be christened Pat or Dan, But to me it is an honor To be born an Irishman.

THEY TOLD US NO IRISH NEED APPLY Just think of all the presidents who came from Irish folk There was Wilson and Buchanan, there was Jackson, Grant and Polk There was Cleveland and McKinley and the brave Jack Kennedy And many more whose names have joined that goodly company And they told us no Irish need apply! Yes, they told us no Irish need apply! You've heard about James Curley, that man of great renown And Honey Fitz, who proved his worth as Mayor of Boston town And Rose and Ted and Bob and Jack and all the Kennedy clan And the noble John McCormack, who is honored through the land And they told us no Irish need apply! Yes, they told us no Irish need apply! Did you know John Hancock's family came from the County Down? And composer Victor Herbert, he was born in Dublin town And the blood in Davy Crockett's veins was Irish through and through And Connie Mack, the baseball great, well he was Irish too And they told us no Irish need apply! Yes, they told us no Irish need apply! The father of the navy, John Barry was his name He was a gallant Irishman, from Wexford town he came To the many Irish giants in the literary field You can add F. Scott Fitzgerald and the great Eugene O'Neill And they told us no Irish need apply! Yes, they told us no Irish need apply! Whenever people talk about great service to mankind No doubt, the name of Boston's Cardinal Cushing comes to mind And Doctor Thomas Dooley should be leader of the van His entire life was spent in helping out his fellow man And they told us no Irish need apply! Yes, they told us no Irish need apply! In the noble art of self-defence, as you'll already know We had men like John L. Sullivan, who never feared a foe And gentleman Jim Corbett was among the very best Likewise the bold Gene Tunney and Jack Dempsey and the rest And they told us no Irish need apply! Yes, they told us no Irish need apply! We're the men who built the railroads, we're the men who fought the wars We're the men who manned the police force, we're the men who drove street cars We're the men who formed your unions, we're the men who sang your songs We're the men who filled your history and tried to right your wrongs And they told us no Irish need apply! Yes, they told us no Irish need apply!