The Irish Rover

by Mark
(Manchester, NH)

My parents went to Hawaii, and my mother asked me what I'd like as a present. After about 2 seconds I said a ukulele, because I figured what the hell, it's better than a moo-moo. I also thought that she'd never actualy get me one. Shows me what I know. As it turns out, the ukulele is a decent one, a Kala Concert model. I immediately fell in love with it. I'm in an Irish pub band (Whiskey Prison) and play fife, penny whistle, and harmonica, but this was my first stringed instrument. Ukulele instructors are hard to find here in New Hampshire, so I started from scratch with the chord chart that Ma gave as a companion to the instrument (Learn to Play The Ukulele by Kawika). The charts and chord progressions were good, but the song selection left something to be desired. I didn't have anything better to do, so I hit the Whiskey Prison set list. The Irish Rover was the first one I was able to make it through. Most of those Irish bar songs are pretty basic, and many of them are funny. Learn Seven Drunken Nights if you'd like to be a hit at the party.
Star of the County Down will make major points with the ladies if you can convince your girl of choice that it really expresses the emotions that you felt when first you laid eyes on her.