Best Irish Songs To Listen To On St. Patrick's Day

With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, it's time to start building your playlist. Even though we can't celebrate the way we have in years past, that's no excuse to not enjoy some of the best Irish songs of all time. Whether it's a ballad or a fun drinking song, there are plenty of tracks to add to your St. Patrick's Day playlist. Here are some of our favorites:

The Irish Rover—The Pogues and The Dubliners

Though this song has been recorded many times by various artists, one of the most famous takes is a collaboration between The Pogues and The Dubliners. The classic Irish folk song details the journey of a doomed sailing ship known as the Irish Rover. By the end of the ship's disastrous seven year journey, the narrator is the only one left to tell the tale.

Molly Malone—The Dubliners

Like so many traditional Irish songs, 'Molly Malone' has been recorded by a number of artists over the years. The lyrics tell the story of a fictional woman named Molly Malone, a fish wife from Dublin, who died young.

Black Velvet Band—The Irish Rovers

The lyrics of 'Black Velvet Band' tell the story of a young apprentice in Belfast who falls for a young woman. Things go awry when the woman steals a watch and frames the narrator. He gets sentenced to seven years servitude for the crime.

Whiskey in the Jar—Thin Lizzy

One of the most popular traditional Irish songs, 'Whiskey in the Jar' has had many iterations. In 1973, Irish rock band Thin Lizzy put their own, modern spin on the track. The song tells the tale of a man who is betrayed by his wife.

Fairy Tale of New York—The Pogues

Yes, Fairy Tale of New York is technically a Christmas song, but it's so good it's worth adding to your St. Patrick's Day playlist, too. According to The Telegraph, 'Fairytale of New York' is the most-played Christmas song of the 21st century over in the U.K.

The Rocky Road to Dublin—The Clancy Brothers

The song describes the adventures, troubles, and travails that the protagonist encounters on his travels. At the beginning of the song, the protagonist of the story states that he is "off to reap the corn" meaning he is off to seek his fortune. ("Corn" can refer to any cereal grain, such aswheatorbarley, and metaphorically refers to wealth.) He begins his journey by bidding farewell to his family and friends and preparing supplies. He leaves his hometown ofTuam,County Galway

Galway Girl—Mundy and Sharon Shannon

Originally written by Steve Earle and recorded with Irish musician Sharon Shanno, this cover version by Mundy, featuring Shannon, became the most downloaded song of 2008 in Ireland.

Finnegan's Wake—The High Kings

This comic ballad has been recorded by many groups, such as The Dubliners and The Clancy Brothers, but this version by The High Kings is worth checking out. The ballad tells the story of Tim Finnegan, who falls from a ladder and dies. As mourners gather for his wake, somebody spills whiskey in the casket. This incident wakes up Tim Finnegan and he joins in drinking with the mourners.

Rattlin' Bog—The Irish Descendants

One of the most fun Irish folk songs to sing along with, 'Rattlin' Bog' is a "cumulative song." This means the chorus consists of a list that grows longer after each verse. The song increases in speed with each additional verse, as well, making it increasingly more difficult to remember the lyrics and be able to sing them out loud.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

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