This song means so much to me, not only is it my favourite song my uncle is the actor who plays Arthur mcbride in this video :)

I did an Ad. with the late Tiernan McBride many years ago....the son of Seán McBride..."Seán McBride first became involved in politics during the 1918 Irish general election in which he was active for Sinn Féin. The following year in 1919, aged 15, he lied about his age to join the Irish Volunteers, which fought as part of the Irish Republican Army, and took part in the Irish War of Independence. He opposed the 1921 Anglo-Irish Treaty and was imprisoned by the Irish Free State during the Irish Civil War."

Merry Christmas 2023

Paul brady is one of irelands greatest musicians,and this is my favorite rebel song of all time,by now,I can almost sing it word for word(after forty years)

Ireland needs more men like these now in these crazy times...and fast!!!

Watching this on Christmas Day 2020.

Well, that clears the 'Rowdy Dow Dow' thing up for me. I've had many sleepless nights wondering what it was.

So good to see this song visualised.

2.30 in the AM Christmas 2021 what a bloody great tune, good man Paul.

This not a sad song: so why do my eyes fill with tears when I play it?

One of the first antiwar songs. Beat the 1960s by 150 years!

Very well done...in fact better than the last Star Wars

Wow. I am an Irish musician by trade so may I say that this version of the song has always been Iconic. Sometimes I work as an actor and other things in film. These actors are astonishing, as is the director. It really brings more to the iconic recording. I love it.

I so love this film. It’s the wink at the end that gets me every time.

The unmistakable Godfrey 'Dear Heart' Quigley .....

Bless our parents and families to give us this privilege and the freedoms we take for granted.

That's a firesome work of art on many levels that never fails to gift tears. Thank you and much appreciation to all involved. Class.

The sergeant was in the Stanly Kubrick film Barry Lyndon.........so he was...so he was...

The main "Irishman" looked so very much like Donovan, that I find it hard to believe that they are not related!

Well, actually this video is beautifully as anyone who really knows the business can tell. The characterisations are just brilliant led by Godfrey Quigley as the bold Sergeant and Godfrey needs no lessons from anyone. It deserves to be watched a couple of times to get the nuances for it is well balanced and aligned with the song lyrics. St Paddy's Day, a glass of Guinness in hand and a couple of ruffians on hand who know how we reached this stage in our development. Sláinte......Just beautiful !

I can never get enough of this sublime short film! Great acting,actually perfect acting! Nothing could surpass this.

I enjoyed this film in addition to the legendary song by Paul Brady.

It's still a mighty video. The actors manage to convey the changing mood of the encounter without dialogue which must have been difficult but it works great. And the music's not bad either.

BRAVO!👏

Arthur McBride is one of my two favorite songs, along with (coincidentally) Willie McBride.

Gods bless the McBride's

My favorite christmas carol

Your welcome! Oh, me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride As we went a walking down by the seaside Now, mark what followed and what did betide For it being on Christmas morning Out for recreation, we went on a tramp And we met Sergeant Napper and Corporal Vamp And a little wee drummer, intending to camp For the day being pleasant and charming "Good morning, good morning" the sergeant did cry "And the same to you gentlemen" we did reply Intending no harm but meant to pass by For it being on Christmas morning But says he, "My fine fellows if you will enlist It's ten guineas in gold I will slip in your fist And a crown in the bargain for to kick up the dust And drink the King's health in the morning" "For a soldier he leads a very fine life And he always is blessed with a charming young wife And he pays all his debts without sorrow or strife And always lives pleasant and charming" "And a soldier he always is decent and clean In the finest of clothing he's constantly seen While other poor fellows go dirty and mean And sup on thin gruel in the morning" But, says Arthur, "I wouldn't be proud of your clothes For you've only the lend of them as I suppose And you dare not change them one night, for you know If you do you'll be flogged in the morning" "And although that we are single and free We take great delight in our own company And we have no desire strange faces to see Although that your offers are charming" "And we have no desire to take your advance All hazards and dangers we barter on chance For you would have no scruples for to send us to France Where we would get shot without warning " "Oh now!", says the sergeant, I'll have no such chat And I neither will take it from spalpeen or brat For if you insult me with one other word I'll cut off your heads in the morning And then Arthur and I we soon drew our hods And we scarce gave them time for to draw their own blades When a trusty shillelagh came over their heads And bade them take that as fair warning And their old rusty rapiers that hung by their side We flung them as far as we could in the tide "Now take them out, Devils", cried Arthur McBride "And temper their edge in the morning" And the little wee drummer we flattened his pow And we made a football of his rowdeydowdow Threw it in the tide for to rock and to row And bade it a tedious returning And we having no money, paid them off in cracks And we paid no respect to their two bloody backs For we lathered them there like a pair of wet sacks And left them for dead in the morning And so to conclude and to finish disputes We obligingly asked if they wanted recruits For we were the lads who would give them hard clouts And bid them look sharp in the morning Oh me and my cousin, one Arthur McBride As we went a walkin' down by the seaside Now mark what followed and what did betide For it being on Christmas morning

I think the director must have recently watched the film adaptation of Barry Lyndon by Stanley Kubrick - very reminiscent of Kubricks rich style. A beautiful adaptation of the song and really tells an entertaining story.

Beautiful song and lovely film. Well shot and edited, my guess is 16mm. Looks like BBC/PBS type stuff I would've seen on TV during the time. It looks familiar. I might have seen it run late one night on PBS.

12/25/21 I've been playing this on Christmas morning for years...

Absolutely super video.

So great! Cannot stop watching it. So important song and very good film!

Never knew this existed! Love the acting.

hard to beat the quality of the guitar and pauls mellow clear voice.

How many times iv listened to this song I know it off by heart ❤ now only seeing this gem of a video

Priceless. Loved it

Oh I forgot to mention the DP. The cinematography, blocking, everything....works so beautifully.

Happy Christmas morning for all those that only want to live in peace! Sainte!! 🎄

There's a half a verse left out, though! It's the really violent part where Arthur and his cousin really kick the soldier's asses! Here it is: And we having no money, paid them off in cracks And we paid no respect to their two bloody backs For we lathered them there like a pair of wet sacks And left them for dead in the morning.

Here I sit at 2 45 AM in "me" studio listening to cats I wish I was playing with right now, as I type. Slovenian music, Ukrainian music and now, as I lay down to sleep a beautiful rendition of a beautiful song. I chimed in a wee bit with an accordion, and ended a beautiful day. Nice music.

An Irishman is a proud man .... and dont ever forget it.

"Arthur McBride is a traditional song that first was collected in Ireland by Patrick Joyce in 1840. It was also collected in Donegal by George Petrie. McBride was a popular name in Donegal and many researchers believe that was probably where the song originated.However, McBride is also a common Scottish name and there are many references to the song in Scotland. There are also references to it in England in the 19th century where it was published several times as a broadside ballad.

This film is brilliant! It's so gleefully waggish and technically well done, considering when it was made.

Yes it was, Axel...on Gormanstown beach north of Dublin. I was there!

love this!! great acting and costumes

Amazing

I think its rather sad that most folks do not realize that the real intense quality of this film or Kubrick's Barry Lyndon is rarely seen today. That is no mistake.

I'd never thought I'd feel sorry for a press-gang but there we go

I’ve recently started following Paul Brady and just realised he is the voice behind this wonderful rendition.#whoknew 💕#favoritesong

This makes me laugh and cry at the same time. Its just so good.

i love this song, and i have sang it loads of times, its one of my favourites, until you see this film i never seems as good, the video does it justice, just amazing

Thanks, Paul, for putting this up here. We play Arthur McBride every Xmas Day, as one our special Christmas songs, and I have long regretted that I never could find Tiernan's movie ever since I first saw it way back in the day. Wonderful, I love it, despite agreeing with the critics who wish it was the complet version of the song with a bit more 'leathering' of the redcoats! Still remember you playing this in the back lounge of some pub on Dorset Street way back in the 80s. Your performance raised the hair on my head! All the best!

I’m back to the folk scene of the 70’s as I listen to this great song.

Brilliant - have known & played the song for years but never seen this film before. And the recruiting process still goes on in the provinces.................

Wow. Yep that put a massive smile on my face this morning! Amazing.

One fine example of the songwriter's art ... thanks

Great movie. It's just as I pictured it in me head for years listening to the song.

I love this song quite dearly and I think it’s one of the best and most beautiful ever written. I love this video, too. but as a fashion historian, the clothing isn’t quite right for 1805. I’d say they’re more c. 1820s - early 1830s. Nonetheless, this video perfectly captures the feel of the song and the actors look exactly like what I imagined the characters to look like. A beautiful song and a beautiful video. Bravo!

wonderfull film, I just love the song.I have played it myself a 100 times but paul's version just makes you feel more irish. Anyone who has spent a long time away from ireland knows exactly what i mean.Another song of paul's that does strange things to you when abroad is anaothing but the same old story.......Thanks Paul..............

Thanks to youtube I found your1977 performance singing Arthur McBride live, and just found this delightfully poignant and well-made film. Amazing. I see you're coming to San Fran in November, looking forward to seeing you live. My mother (seen in my profile pic) is all Irish and we grew up in the 60s listening to traditional music. Proud to to have Irish roots:YES!

Thank you Paul, have not heard this for a very long time. Wonderful song, wonderful video, takes me back to the folk days in Belfast.

why is arthur mcbride so hot

Sheer perfection,many thanks!

I just love the comments here. For the love of Mike, it is not an Irish anti-miltary song. It was an Irish anti-conscription ballad when it was composed. The Irish have a tremendous respect for the brave men and women of our nation's defence forces, who have served with great bravery and distinction as UN peacekeepers in some of the most dangerous places throughout the world, such as Cyprus, the Congo, Lebanon, Kosovo, etc., for decades. It was written as an anti-conscription ballad against the British Army, which was occupying Ireland, and wanted the Irish to join and "serve the King and Empire," and many did. Only to die by the tens of thousands in the First World War. As for the digs at the American military here , the ones I met in Kosovo were all very decent and friendly, very quick to share food and candy with the locals, provide medical attention to any and all in need, donate footballs to the kiddies, not bad at all. Met a hell of a lot of Irish-Americans who were serving their armed forces, and they knew many of our songs that I grew up with. F@ck sake, why can't we just listen to a decent song without the usual vitriol and nasty diatribes...

great voice and guitar playing. And lovely film. thanks for posting.

Thank goodness for that. I had always misinterpreted the lyrics as meaning they killed the drummer boy. See only a film of the lyrics could tell me that

Beautiful film to a perfect song.

A bit of brilliant bothering here. A grand song with a fine film to represent it.

This little film is exactly the way I envisioned the song! Thanks so much for posting it!

Goosebumps

Loved it, and it is a little different from the first time I heard it in about 1976 from a guy called, I think Denis Tracey from Canberra, Australia. Love the look on the face of the Corporal, who appears in an episode of Father Ted about 20 years later

Just watched Paul Brady play this at the Celtic Club in Melbourne. Brilliant. Unforgettable...

Sheer perfection!

great way to start a better day..thanks for this

great film great song thanks for the post

I have loved this song for more than four decades, since I first heard it on the Planxty black album in the early 70s, and have often thought that it would make a great short film. So, it was with great interest that I happened upon this film. The experience was a bit like reading a book, then seeing the film some time later. The location doesn't look like I had imagined (in my mind's eye, I saw scenery like that of the Dingle Peninsula in "Ryan's Daughter")

Whoa, this really impressed me, they got really good actors!

Holy crap it's that guy from Barry Lyndon 😵

Great storytelling.

Thanks for this beautiful song of freedom:)

Egads. Is that the mighty Godfrey Quigley, who played the role of Prison Chaplain in 'Clockwork Orange' in '71, six years previous? Another Kubrick reference. Eh? Then again, he did play Captain Grogan in 'Barry Lyndon' in '75. And he was in 'Get Carter'. "What's it going to be then, eh?"

Sing the song. It's what it's there for. I never heard a song complain about who was singing it.

Godfrey Quigley, the actor who plays the sergeant here, played a more likable redcoat in Stanley Kubrick's greatest movie Barry Lyndon. As Captain Grogan, he befriends Barry the draftee soldier. His poignant death scene is one of the best in the movie.

I've been working solidly for over a week to nail this song. It's a real gymnastics lesson but I'm almost there, almost. A few twiddly bits to get in my fingers but I have most of it down. I wanted to learn it after seeing this video. I work with a shadow theatre and so we're using this film as a template to translate the song into a shadow play whilst I perform it live. Absolutely buzzed up about it. We'll be performing it over this summer so I dare say there will be a video recording of it to upload at some point.

I've loved this song for years, and I thank you deeply for posting this video. It's really tickled me this christmas time! :D

Merry Christmas 2021

make me proud of me irish roots. stop the war people. we know their names.

This film is perfection. A great song enhanced with this wonderful film. be lovely to see in remade with latest technology.

This is absolutely delightful!

This was brilliantly done!

I am English to the core..but that was fantastic. Paul's guitar is just awesome, I am learning the Lakes Of Pontchartrain. Check out Paul playing this.

I love how merry they play it

Cool outfits

Love this version - and Planxty's too! 😉

Superb

Lyrics Oh, me and my cousin one Arthur McBride As we went a-walking down by the seaside Now mark what followed and what did betide For it being on Christmas morning Out for recreation we went on a tramp And we met sergeant napper and corporal vamp And the little wee drummer intending to camp For the day being pleasant and charming "Good morning, good morning, " the sergeant did cry "And the same to you gentlemen, " we did reply "Intending no harm but meant to pass by" "For it being on christmas morning" But says he, "My fine fellows if you would enlist" "It's ten guineas of gold I will slip in your fist" "And a crown in the bargain for to kick up the dust" "And drink the king's health in the morning" "For a soldier he leads a very fine life" "And he always is blessed with a charming young wife" "And he pays all his debts without sorrow and strife" "And always lives pleasant and charming" "And a soldier he always is decent and clean" "In the finest of clothing he is constantly seen" "While other poor fellows go dirty and mean" "And sup on thin gruel in the morning" But says Arthur, "I wouldn't be proud of your clothes" "For you've only the lend of them as I suppose" "And you dare not change them one night for you know" "If you do you'll be flogged in the morning" "And although that we are single and free" "We take great delight in our own company" "And we have no desires strange faces to see" "Although that your offers are charming" "And we have no desire to take your advance" "All hazards and dangers we barter on chance" "For you would have no scruples to send us to france" "Where we would get shot without warning" "Oh now, " says the sergeant, "I'll have no such chat" "And I neither will take it from small penal brats" "For if you insult me with one other word" "I'll cut off your heads in the morning" And then Arthur and I we soon drew our hods And we scarce gave them time for to draw their own blades When a trusty shillelagh came over their heads And bade them take that as fair warning And their own rusty rapiers that hung by their sides We flung them as far as we could in the tide "Now take them up devils!" cried Arthur McBride "And temper their edge in the morning" And the little wee drummer we flattened his bow And we made a football of his rowdy-dow-dow Threw it in the tide for to rock and to roll And bade it a tedious returning And we haven't no money paid them off in cracks And we paid no respect to their two bloody backs For we lathered them there like a pair of wet sacks And left them for dead in the morning And so to conclude and to finish disputes We obligingly asked them if they wanted recruits For we were the lads who would give them hard clouts And bid them look sharp in the morning Oh, me and my cousin one Arthur McBride As we went a-walking down by the seaside Now mark what followed and what did betide For it being on Christmas morning

The Brits in this scene: "Thank God they left out the last verse."

I'm glad they didn't beat up the wee drummer. I kind of felt sorry for the little guy.

Listening to this and missing the lush green hills of home :)