Even though the carols are traditional most of them are rarely heard on the radio or in the mall. Even the common and popular O Come All Ye Faithful is completely redone and a joy to listen to. Every song on the album is beautifully played and packed full of the spirit of the season.
The album boasts a wide variety of songs, as well as languages. From fast Irish jigs to slow almost operatic songs, The Bells of Dublin has it all.
Instrumental Songs on the Album
Track 1. The Bells of Dublin
Starting off the album are the sounds of the Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin. The haunting, but almost joyous bells set the mood for the rest of the album.
Track 13. Skyline Jig
A catchy tune, the Skyline Jig is just what it sounds like: a jig. It has a very seasonal feel and keeps the toes tapping. It severs as a great break between the previous serious song and the following slow melody.
Traditional Popular Carols on The Bells of Dublin
Track 6. I Saw Three Ships A Sailing
Marianne Faithful sings this classic carol. The song is upbeat and refreshing. This is yet another song on the album that will keep people singing and clapping long after it ends.
Track 14. O Holy Night
Rickie Lee Jones joins the album with a slow, almost wistful O Holy Night. The slowest song on the album, it is also one of the most beautiful.
Track 22. Ding Dong Merrily on High
This traditional carol gives the listener a merry send-off.
Track 23. O Come All Ye Faithful
A more traditional version of the song ends the album.
Non-English Carols
Track 4. Il Est Né/Ca Berger
The fourth song is actually a medley of two traditional French carols, Il Est Né and Ca Berger. Kate and Anna McGarrigle sing the songs entirely in French.
Track 5. Don Oíche Úd I mBethil
Haunting notes start off this traditional Irish Gaelic song. Burgess Meredith slowly narrates in English, then sings the song in Gaelic.
Track 7. A Breton Carol
Yet another haunting song, this one dates back to Medieval times. Nolwen Monjarret sings this beautiful old Brittany song.
Unique Carols on the Album
Track 2. Past Three O’Clock
The second song is an old English folk carol loosely based on the call of a night watchman. It was originally written by George Ratcliff Woodward.
Track 3. St. Stephen’s Day Murders
Elvis Costello headlines the third, rather unusual song. According to legend, a chirping wren gave away where Saint Stephen was hiding, leading to his death. An old tradition was for children to go out on St. Stephen’s Day, December 26, and kill a wren.
Track 11. The Wexford Carol
Nanci Griffith presents the eleventh song on the album, yet another traditional Irish carol. The original version has been dated back to the twelfth century.
Track 12. The Rebel Jesus
The next song is sung by Jackson Browne. The lyrics are a reminder that the season is also about giving, not just consumerism.
Track 21. Once in Royal David’s City
Almost operatic in feel, this slow ballad is a great contrasting follow up to the previous songs.
Bells of Dublin Medleys
Tracks 8 - 10. Carols Medley
These songs all blend in one after another in a wonderful medley. It starts off with O The Holly She Bears a Berry which is a great, catchy song. The well-know God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen begins the moment the previous song ends. These two are followed by The Boar’s Head. The earliest known printed version of this song dates to 1521
Tracks 15 - 20 The Wren The Wren
The next six songs are another medley. They start off with The Arrival of the Wren Boys, a merry jig, this one is full of laughter and voices as the so-called Wren Boys arrive. It is followed by The Dingle Set. A quick chant about wrens is followed by rowdy music and clapping. After that comes The Wren in the Furze. A fast-paced song about catching a wren in the bush on St. Stephen’s Day.
A Dance Duet - Reels comes right on the heels of the previous song. It starts off with a slow insturmental carol and gets a bit faster before turning into Walsh’s Hornpipe. They are then followed by the Farewell, a mix of The Piper Through the Meadow Strayed and This is the Season to be Merry.
A Great Holiday Album
From wild jigs to captivating ballads, every song on this album will have the listeners tapping their feet and singing along. No holiday playlist should be complete without The Bells of Dublin.
HOL101
Katie Ouderkirk - Katie Ouderkirk started working at a barn when she was ten. As the years went on she worked at a number of different barns, two zoos, and ...
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