I’m not Irish and I don’t consider myself to be a hardcore punk. Therefore some may find it odd that the Irish born, Guinness drinking, head banging, and body flailing band called Flogging Molly has a special place in my heart. It is their Irish folk sound together with a souped up fast paced punk sound that has the ability to truly pump blood through my veins. It is their heartfelt and meaningful lyrics that move me to tears. It is their lively and free willed persona that makes me one of their fans. I feel more strongly about some of their songs than I do about others. I therefore present to the reader what I think to be the top ten Flogging Molly songs.
10) “Tobacco Island” (from Within a Mile of Home). This song gives the listener a brief overview of the band’s persona along with a quick history lesson. It details the darker side of Englishmen Oliver Cromwell’s military campaign. Combining dismal lyrics like “‘Twas 1659 forgotten now for sure, they dragged us from our homeland with the musket and their gun” and “The floggings they’re a plenty, but reasons there are none” combine with a thrilling punk sound to make light of a gloomy time. This theme will reign throughout their music.
9) “Salty Dog” (from Swagger). A fun look at the life of a true “Salty Dog”. The extraordinary sounds of the traditional Irish instruments mix together here to tell a tale of a sordid man. “They threw a rope around yer neck to watch you dance the jig of death. Then left ya for the starvin’ crows hoverin’ like hungry whores .” These lyrics should make me shudder, but put to this music, they make me giggle.
8) “The Kilburn High Road” (From Drunken Lullabies). “Toast to tears of times past glories. This ageless clock chime stalls“. This song implores the listener to forget about the problems of today and remember the glory days. Anyone who has ever gone to high school, which is the institution that this song longingly looks back to, can appreciate their plea. The music also fits the theme of the song as it sweeps you off your feet with the whirling rock of guitars and the sweet overtone of the fife.
7) “Rebels of the Sacred Heart” (from Drunken Lullabies). It is a known fact that these artists are no longer Catholic. This song helps the listener to realize that they also vehemently hate the religion. Undoubtedly this song was written to show the stupidity of religion in general. Being Lutheran I cannot agree with their purpose, but some of the lyrics in the song fit my belief well. The words “Now I`m aimin’ for heaven, but probably wind up down in hell” and “Now bless me father for I have sinned, but it`s the same old story again and again and again” show the anguish of a sinner. This is exactly what the Bible says, “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Rom. 3:13). Now Catholics teach that one needs to a variety of things to win God’s favor. Flogging Molly reflects these thoughts with the words: “Genuflect all you refugees…Now on guilt you kneel…say a prayer for those left behind. You saved your shillins and your last six pence cause in God`s name they built a barbed wire fence. This is all true for “You were saved by grace alone through faith and this is not from yourselves, it is the grace of God.” (Ephesians 2:8).Thus this songs serves as common outcry against the heresies of the Catholic church for myself and the band.
6) “Laura” (from Whiskey On Sunday). A song that is truly written from the heart, this endeavor’s lyrics prick your soul. It tells of a lover who has lost his true love. In agony, he sings one last time to her saying, “Laura your beauty will never fade. To say that this song will reach for the sky. This love that you leave will never be denied and after this song the spirit lives on. Though you’re not around you’ll never be gone.” It is a beautiful treatment of a melancholy topic.
5) “Drunken Lullabies”(from Drunken Lullabies). This 2000 release is by no means the bands first, but it was my first experience with them. My ears perked up as the steady beat of a single drum set the pace for the introduction by the banjo. Then the whole band joined in and introduced me to the wonderful world of Flogging Molly. The song is an anthem to finding love and enjoyment in a world full of hate. The powerful refrain “Must it take a life for hateful eyes to glisten once again. Cause we find ourselves in the same old mess singin’ drunken lullabies” encourages us to keep living though all may seem lost, for happiness is out there. It just needs to be found.
4) “What’s Left of the Flag” (from Drunken Lullabies). Although this song seemed to be the only one that any of my friends knew (which is a turn off for me because it shows my lack of individuality), I thought about it and can’t deny my love for it. While written about Ireland, the song questions the patriotism in all of us. From the first tender notes describing a dead soldier: “His eyes they close and his last breath spoke. He had seen all to be seen a life once full, now an empty vase, wilt the blossums on his early grave.” To the thrilling yet anger filled proclamation “No angel flys with me tonight though freedom reigns on all. And curse the name for which we slaved our daysso every men chose Kingdom Come.” The song runs it course with the full band playing and then it finally returns to peace relaying to us that the anger for a senseless death be put aside, because now we need to mourn yet another dead soldier.
3) “The Seven Deadly Sins” (from Within a Mile of Home). Sin has never been so fun. This song makes it so high on my list simply because of the excitement and raucousness that it arises in me. It is the fastest of all the songs they play. In fact, if it wasn’t for the lyrical booklet that comes with the CD, I wouldn’t know a single word to a verse. It makes light of the sinner in all of us and spins a marvelous tale about some rather naughty pirates who, “Sail away where no ball and chain Can keep…(them).. from the roarin’ waves Together undivided but forever…(they’ll)…be free”.
2) “The Light of a Fading Star” (from Within a Mile of Home). I’m a lover at heart. Hence this song really warms my heat. The lyrics of Dave King proclaim “The light of a fading star is what you were is what you are”. His words announce that his true love will always be just that: his true love. Despite the fact that the two lovers have been fighting and there is “a brick that’s found between…(them) and the pulling of the hair”, the lyrics tell us that “…if there’s a reason. I don’t need to know right now.” A wonderful love anthem with some great guitar chords.
1) “The Likes of You Again” (from Swagger). There is something mysteriously awesome about this melody. Since I totally cannot relate to the lyrics, which chronicle the thoughts and actions of a man whose alcoholic father has just die, the music which changes from a quiet single voice to the lively music of the entire folk band moves one to the former accompanied by the latter. It always makes me wonder what it would be like to lose someone, whom you should love, but his action have caused you not to love him. The chorus simply states ‘good bye’ to a man that obviously did not leave a good impression on a his son. They exclaim in high fashion “We’ll never see the likes of you again.”
All the lyrics in this article were written by Flogging Molly. They can be found in their albums: Swagger, 2000. Drunken Lullabies, 2002. Within a Mile of Home, 2004. Whiskey on Sunday, 2006.
