10 Essential Dubliners Songs Every Irish Music Fan Should Hear
Few bands have left quite the same mark on Irish music as The Dubliners. With their unmistakable voices, lively traditional arrangements and a collection of songs that have been passed down through generations, they helped bring Irish folk music to audiences around the world.
Formed in Dublin in 1962, the group became one of Ireland's best-loved musical exports, with Ronnie Drew, Luke Kelly, Barney McKenna, Ciarán Bourke and John Sheahan among the musicians who helped shape their sound. From rowdy drinking songs and colourful storytelling to quieter ballads about love, loss and changing times, their catalogue has a little bit of everything.
Choosing just ten songs isn't easy, but these Dubliners classics offer a pretty good introduction to what made the band so special. Whether you're discovering their music for the first time or revisiting a few old favourites, here are ten essential Dubliners songs that deserve a place on your playlist.
The Wild Rover
Few Irish folk songs are as instantly recognisable as The Wild Rover
, a lively drinking song that has become a favourite in pubs across Ireland and beyond. Despite its cheerful, clap-along chorus, the lyrics tell the story of a former heavy drinker who claims he's finally giving up his wandering ways. The Dubliners give it a wonderfully spirited treatment, with strong vocals, driving acoustic accompaniment and a chorus practically made for a crowd to join in.
Whiskey In The Jar
One of Ireland's best-known traditional songs, Whiskey in the Jar
tells the story of a highwayman who robs a military officer before being betrayed by his lover. It's a tale of crime, romance and misfortune, delivered with the sort of mischievous charm The Dubliners did so well. Their traditional folk arrangement, featuring lively strings and a memorable singalong chorus, helped make it a classic long before Thin Lizzy and Metallica introduced it to rock audiences.
Seven Drunken Nights
If there's one song that perfectly captures The Dubliners' cheeky sense of humour, it's Seven Drunken Nights. Made famous by the band in 1967, the song follows a suspicious husband who returns home each night to discover increasingly obvious signs of his wife's infidelity. Ronnie Drew's unmistakable gravelly voice brings the ridiculous story to life, while the bouncing folk rhythm and playful delivery make it almost impossible not to smile. Unsurprisingly, its suggestive lyrics caused quite a stir at the time.
The Irish Rover
Packed with outrageous characters and increasingly ridiculous details, The Irish Rover
is traditional Irish storytelling at its most entertaining. The song follows a supposedly magnificent sailing ship carrying an enormous cargo before meeting a rather unfortunate end. The Dubliners' energetic delivery, particularly their famous collaboration with The Pogues, turns the whole thing into a gloriously chaotic singalong. With its fast-moving rhythm, lively instrumentation and larger-than-life lyrics, it's a song that never takes itself too seriously.
Finnegan's Wake
Another Dubliners favourite with a healthy dose of Irish humour, Finnegan's Wake
tells the unlikely story of Tim Finnegan, a labourer who apparently dies after falling from a ladder, only to come back to life when whiskey is accidentally spilled over him at his wake. It's every bit as ridiculous as it sounds. The band's brisk banjo-led arrangement, infectious rhythm and enthusiastic vocals make it a hugely enjoyable piece of traditional Irish folk music, particularly when the chorus gets going.
In The Rare Old Times
Taking things in a more reflective direction, The Rare Old Times
is a touching tribute to a Dublin that was slowly disappearing. Written by Pete St. John, the song looks back on the city's changing streets, demolished landmarks and fading communities through the eyes of a man who barely recognises his hometown anymore. The Dubliners' version, with its measured acoustic accompaniment and Ronnie Drew's wonderfully weathered vocals, captures that sense of nostalgia beautifully. It's a song that still feels relevant as Dublin continues to change.
Rocky Road To Dublin
Few traditional Irish songs demand quite as much from a singer as Rocky Road to Dublin
. Written in the 19th century, it follows a young Irishman travelling from his home in Tuam to Liverpool, encountering plenty of trouble along the way. Luke Kelly's rapid-fire delivery is a particular highlight, somehow navigating the tongue-twisting lyrics without missing a beat. The unusual 9/8 rhythm, lively banjo playing and relentless pace give the song an almost breathless energy that's difficult to resist.
The Auld Triangle
Originally written by Brendan Behan's brother Dominic for the play The Quare Fellow, The Auld Triangle
offers a glimpse into the harsh daily routine of life inside Mountjoy Prison. The title refers to the metal triangle used to signal the start of the prisoners' day. The Dubliners' restrained folk arrangement allows the lyrics to do most of the work, with Luke Kelly's powerful, expressive singing bringing a real sense of loneliness and frustration to the story. It's one of their most memorable ballads.
Raglan Road
Based on a poem by Patrick Kavanagh, Raglan Road
is one of the finest love songs in the Irish folk tradition. Set against familiar Dublin streets, it tells the story of a doomed romance and a man who realises too late that he has fallen too deeply in love. Luke Kelly's remarkable vocal performance is the centrepiece, accompanied by a beautifully simple acoustic arrangement. There's no need for anything elaborate here, as Kelly's voice and Kavanagh's words are more than enough to carry the song.
Song For Ireland
Bringing our selection to a close, Song for Ireland
is a beautifully written tribute to the Irish landscape, its people and the feeling of belonging to a place. Written by English songwriter Phil Colclough, with music by his wife June, the song paints vivid pictures of Ireland's coastline, mountains and countryside. The Dubliners approach it with a gentler, more reflective folk sound, allowing the melody and heartfelt lyrics to take centre stage. It's a fitting reminder that Irish folk music can be just as powerful when it slows things down.
Final Verdict | The Dubliners – 10 Essential Songs
More than sixty years after they first came together, The Dubliners remain one of the most important names in Irish folk music. Their ability to move effortlessly between hilarious drinking songs, traditional storytelling and deeply moving ballads helped introduce generations of listeners to Ireland's rich musical heritage.
What makes their music so enjoyable is the sheer personality behind it. Ronnie Drew's gravelly delivery, Luke Kelly's extraordinary voice and the band's lively traditional musicianship gave these songs a character that's difficult to imitate. Whether it's the infectious energy of The Irish Rover
, the humour of Seven Drunken Nights or the quiet beauty of Raglan Road
, there's something here for just about everyone.
Of course, ten songs barely scratch the surface of such an extensive catalogue, with plenty of other classics deserving a mention. But as a starting point for anyone looking to discover The Dubliners, these ten tracks are hard to beat. Put them on, turn up the volume and enjoy some of the finest Irish folk music ever recorded.
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Photo Credit: Jim McCann / Wikimedia Commons / CC BY 2.
