Barney McKenna …a Farewell! -Pete St John ©

April 9th, 2012

 

The Dubliners are untamed balladeers

And Barney was the coolest of them all

This banjo master simply lived apart

In a secret world beyond our call

Days of friendship in his Howth retreat

Always ended in the Cock so near

When his banjo talked of other things

That only men who paid their dues could hear

For Barney McKenna was no simple man

He hid his Dublin intellect with guff

And when it came to knowing what was what

You found a Barney made of sterner stuff

On stage his banjo wizardry would blend

With John’s subtle fiddle to create

That sound we knew was Dubliners at large

When Luke and Ronnie’s voices made them great

For 50 years the Dubliners marched on

As some founder members left the scene

So Sean and Eamon came with Patsy now

To fill the shoes of heroes they have been

I’ve no fear of being sentimental

For what you feel is real and so I say

I’ll miss Barney when a banjo rings

Across the noise of life in every day.

 

The Dubliners are what we know they are

A force of nature that we feel we own

Tomorrow I will join the Dubs again

To be a part of Barney going home.

 

Pete St John ©

April 6th 2012 .

A Song for Mayo

March 25th, 2012

“HOW THE JAYSUS CAN THIS BE ??”

August 8th, 2011

Bravo BeerMats!! Singers found at last!!

Finally there comes a voice for my Workers’ Song… And brave balladeers that can sing for the Voiceless men and women on our nation’s Dole queues!!… Workers made jobless by the actions of the criminal bankers and failed politicians of the infamous Celtic Tiger debacle!!… Lets “SING GRIEF NOT CRY IT!!…

Pete St John

St.Patrick’s Day Music…

March 16th, 2011

Éire Vol 1We’re all looking forward to the festivities on the big day tomorrow, there will be St.Patrick’s Day parties in the four corners of the Earth.  What better way to get the celebrations started than with some great Irish music.

Our friend Dave has just opened his new Irish music download store.  So if you’re searching for some Irish music to get everyone in the mood tomorrow, why not download a couple of albums, turn up the volume and sing along with your friends and family!

(P.S. “The Ferryman” appears on the album “A Touch of Irish Vol 1“, “The Fields of Athenry” on “Irish Collection” and there’s a great version of “The Rare Ould Times” on the album “Éire Vol Two“).

www.davemonks.com/store

A very happy St.Patrick’s Day to one and all.

ALERT!… Rugby World Cup 2011 New Zealand 2011!

February 11th, 2011

Pete St John launches his The Fields of Athenry (FOA) Song World Tour.

Pete in Croke Park

VISION STATEMENT:

Pete’s Vision is to have his world famous Irish ballad “The Fields of Athenry” sung where ever the Irish diaspora and their friends are gathered to support the Irish Rugby International Team in the Rugby World Cup games in New Zealand 2011.

Pete’s son, Kieron Mooney, will be the Tour leader through USA, Canada, Australia and on to the RWC in New Zealand on Sept/Oct 2011.

AND Please Remember… you do NOT have to be going to the actual games to join the FOA World Choir!  By singing the FOA SONG in your local rugby club, pub, community centre, etc.  You can be with tour leader Kieron in spirit as he travels and visits Irish centres on his way to New Zealand.

So now please visit… Facebook The Fields of Athenry 2011 Song World Tour, meet Kieron, and post a message to join and support the FOA Tour.

Enjoy the song and supporting the Irish Rugby Team to Victory!

Pete St John, Live at The National Concert Hall, 8th May 2011.

February 7th, 2011

Poster for Pete St John in the National Concert Hall, May 8th 2011.

Pete St John will appear in The National Concert Hall on Sunday, the 8th of May 2011.  This very special show celebrates 30 years of “The Fields of Athenry”.  Tickets can be ordered on 01 417 0000 (or 00353 1 4170000 if you’re not calling from Ireland) or from www.nch.ie.

Pete St John goes Country!

January 28th, 2011

Stephen Smyth album cover

Stephen Smith sings a New country song written by Pete following the writer’s memorable visit to the famous Wolverton Mountain area of Arkansas, USA.  Irish country music star Stephen Smyth gives the song wings with his truly unique song style and fine voice… sure to be a chart topper, this special single is in all the major record shops right now!

A Workers’ Song… © Pete St John / Saint Music

July 15th, 2010

PETE ST JOHN THOUGHT FOR THE DAY !!
Dateline: Dublin 7/7/2010

State of the Nation: 400,000 persons on the Dole Queue / ERSI report 5,000 people emigrating each month / Government on 3 month holidays !!

Street Reality: BLACK HUMOUR remark , overheard by the writer , in the mens’ room of a Northside Dublin Pub!!

“ THERE’S A BLACK GUY ON OUR DOLE QUEUE SAYIN’ THERE’S JOBS IN ZANZIBAR !! “

And as my mother always said: “You  might as well Sing grief as Cry it !!”……… Know anyone brave enough to sing this little ditty???……. Slan go foill…… Pete.

A Workers’ Song… © Pete St John/Saint Music - Graphic by Ray Kennedy

A Workers’ Song… © Pete St John/Saint Music

You can find me on the dole queue

In my fake Armani suit

From the Zoombie Bank that fired me

But still racking in the loot

It’s our own taxpayers’ money

They are stealing to be spent

Baling out the criminal bankers

That control our government !!

Chorus :

Come and join us on the Dole Queue

It’s not where we want to be

Four hundred thousand singing

How the Jaysus can this be ?? “

Our homes and jobs and futures

Stolen by the powers that be

In the Celtic Tiger twilight

It’s the end of You and Me !!!!!!

Leinster House is now a grave yard

So the Dail takes 3 months off !!!

On holliers ‘til its over

Must be nice to be a toff !!!

What will we tell our families ?

Now we know our goose is cooked

And this dole queue just gets longer

While the Shan Van says we’re Vocht !!!!!

The credit cards are maxed out

And the mortgage in arrears

Sure we lived the life of Reilly

When they told us Spend … No Fears !!

I can’t afford the Luas

Since the repos took me car

There’s a black guy on the dole queue

Sayin’ there’s jobs in Zanzibar !!

Pete St John © 8/7/2010.

Pete St John, Live at The National Concert Hall

January 21st, 2010

Pete St John will appear in The National Concert Hall on Saturday the 20th of March 2010, for a very special show.  “The Fields of Athenry - The Songs and Stories of Pete St. John” will star Pete, along with very special host of guests.

Fields Concert 2010

Tickets are available directly from The National Concert Hall box office on +353 1 417 0000 and from their website www.nch.ie.

Never Drink and Drive Song goes Number 1!

February 12th, 2009

Ok ok, well not quite number 1 in the charts, but the site is now at Number 1 the Google rankings for “Never Drink and Drive”! Not bad out of 8.2 Million results.

Never Drink and Drive Google Ranking

Our IT guru Ger (creator of the NDD song site) reports hits from all over the world. Australia have picked up on the song and its message through the good offices of Fred Rea / Irish Scene Magazine in the city of Perth, WA.

Gay Byrne and Pete St John Launch the Never Drink and Drive Song outside the Gaiety Theatre in Dublin

Please continue to spread the word, get your friends and work mates to visit the website. Its’ message might save their lives! And songs are magic carpets!  Maybe think about singing the song as your Party Piece?

-Pete