We're singing a song, so won't you give us a hand

Whenever I feel a bit down, and need to lift my spirits, I listen to the Irish Band The Saw Doctors. Within minutes, the infectious beat, the self-deprecating lyrics, coupled to the humour of the absurd have me tapping my toes, and singing along.

On New Year’s Eve 1990, my wife Muriel and I danced to ‘I Useta Lover’ in Dublin as we started our honeymoon, and I defy anyone not to feel their spirits lift singing along to this wonderful song, and this most amusing video.

‘I Useta Lover’ was from their album “If This Is Rock and Roll, I Want My Old Job Back” 

I have fallen for another she can make her own way home
And even if she asked me now I'd let her go alone
I useta see her up the chapel when she went to Sunday mass
And when she'd go to receive, I'd kneel down there
And watch her pass
The glory of her ass

I useta to love her, I useta love her once
A long, long time ago
I useta to love her, I useta love her once
A long long time ago
It's gone , all my lovin' is gone
It's gone , all my lovin' is gone

D'you remember her collecting for concern on Christmas eve
She was on a forty eight hour fast just water and black tea
I walked right up and made an ostentatious
Contribution
And I winked at her to tell her I'd seduce her in the future
When she's feelin looser

So now you know the truth of it she's no longer my obsession
Though the thoughts and dreams i had of her would take six months in confession
See i met this young one Thursday night and she's inta free expression
And her mission is to rid the world of this sinful repression
Then we had a session

I useta to love her, I useta love her once
A long, long time ago
I useta to love her, I useta love her once
A long long time ago
It's gone , all my lovin' is gone
It's gone , all my lovin' is gone

It's gone, long, long gone
I have fallen for another and she can make her own way home

Copyright: P.Cunniffe/D.Carton/L.Moran/P.Stevens

Though one of the most life affirming pieces of music to me, is The Saw Doctors live version of Joyce Country Ceili Band. The link below is a live performance from Galway, and is wonderful, makes your feet tap and your voice sing, as well as making you smile with its absurd but gentle melody and verse.  

We're the Joyce country ceili band
Playing away and we're doing grand
We're singing a song won't you give us a hand
'cos we're the Joyce country ceili band

Friday night , off we go
Tune the fiddle , strain the bow
Take it handy for the first few sets
Sure there's hardly anyone listening yet

Thomas and Mary out on the floor
Well they never lost it, that's for sure
in his sparking shoes and his daz-white shirt
She's got a brand new perm
And a pleated skirt

We do do's and functions
Weddings and wakes
Meats and salads, buns and cakes
Well if you need a few tunes just
give us a call

For the house the pub or the parish hall
There's a princess on the floor all night
She can fairly throw them shapes alright
Howya Bridie are you on your own?
How're ya fixed far a spin back home

We're the Joyce country ceili band
Playing away and we're doing grand
We're singing a song won't you give us a hand
'cos we're the Joyce country ceili band

Copyright: P.Cunniffe/D.Carton/L.Moran/P.Stevens

I consider The Saw Doctors from Galway, Ireland to be better than Seroxat for lifting the spirits, so pour a Guinness and Jamie as a chaser and put the volume to 11.

And revel in the warm hearted absurdity of the boys from Galway; for managing our moods is very important in these days of geo-political strife, for the bark of the black dog is never far.