Just Irish Music

The Young Servant Man – An Irish Ballad of Iron Doors and Unbreakable Love Some songs don’t just tell a story — they trap you in it. “The Young Servant Man” is one of those rare Irish ballads that wraps its melody around a tale of love, punishment, and unexpected redemption. Originally collected by Lucy Broadwood in Sussex in 1901, this version is linked to a melody found in Bunting’s Ancient Music of Ireland — a tune with deep Irish roots and English print-life, shared under names like “The Cruel Father” and “Two Affectionate Lovers.” No matter its origin, its soul is unmistakably Irish. The tale centers around a nobleman’s daughter who falls deeply for a servant. Her beauty is described as unmatched, and her heart as loyal — a contrast to her father’s wrath. When the romance is uncovered, the father doesn’t merely scold or forbid. He builds a dungeon. A literal one. Stone walls, bread and water, daily beatings — all meant to crush love. But love in Irish ballads never dies so...

Tarry Trousers: An Irish Folk Ballad of Love, Loyalty, and the Sea Tarry Trousers is a traditional Irish folk song that has traveled through centuries, ports, and hearts. Rooted in oral tradition, it captures a classic theme: a young woman’s love for a sailor, and her rejection of a more materially secure suitor. It is a tale of fidelity — to love, to the sea, and to one’s own heart. This version of Tarry Trousers comes from Sam Henry’s monumental collection , Songs of the People , a treasure trove of Irish folk lyrics gathered in the early 20th century from singers across Northern Ireland. What’s remarkable about this ballad is how many versions exist — Henry himself connects it to over sixteen related songs, including Oh No, John , The Dumb Lady , and The Spanish Merchant’s Daughter . The phrase “tarry trousers” refers to the waterproofed pants worn by sailors, who used tar to protect their garments from saltwater and wear. The term "Jack Tar" became common in the 18t...

“Youghal Harbour” is more than just another Irish ballad — it’s a haunting story wrapped in melody, passed down through generations like salt on the Atlantic wind. What begins as a simple tale of lost love soon stretches across counties, hearts, and oceans. The result is a song that feels deeply personal, yet universally Irish. At the heart of the ballad is Jamie, a young man once full of hope and love, whose world begins to unravel not through betrayal, but through the slow grind of other people’s decisions. He falls in love with Nancy, a girl from Youghal whose family believes she’s too good for him. Her parents, cold and proud, banish her — not to punish her, but to punish him. They tear the young couple apart before it even begins, sending Jamie walking with nothing but heartbreak and the road ahead. As he wanders through the sweet green valleys of Ireland, Jamie arrives in County Cavan, where fate introduces him to another woman. She’s gentle, fair, and kind — but already tied i...