A ROOM FULL OF SONG
There are strange things heard, by man, beast and bird,
From the boys who entertain.
And many a night, if they're feeling right,
You'd hear things that would pickle your brain.
And the big full moon has heard many a tune,
And many a hair-raising word.
But they're in their top gear whenever they hear
They've to go to a club to record.
It happened, you know, not too long ago,
On a night that was moonlit and starred,
I got into my car and I drove very far,
'Til I came to "The Harp and Bard.”
There's an atmosphere there, that is pleasant and rare,
You can't beat it wherever you roam,
And the music is good and so is the food,
And the staff make you feel right at home.
When I entered the door there were people galore,
Both upstairs and downstairs the same,
Then the young maitre d' he says unto me,
“Have you booked, sir, and what is your name?”
I told him I had, and he said he was glad,
And he stroked my name out of his book,
Then he showed me downstairs, and he found me a chair,
And my place in the corner I took.
The room was just packed from the front to the back,
And the air was alive with good cheer,
The talk and the joke, 'mid the laughter and smoke,
Made friends out of strangers in here.
As quick as you'd wink, I was furnished a drink,
By some old friends I'd ventured upon,
Did you know Mick O'Brien was a good friend of mine?
And the Corcorans, both Brian and John?
We sat in a row, awaiting the show,
Quite relaxed, we'd no cause for concern,
Everything would go right, for the rest of the night,
In the hands of producer, Gene Byrne.
Then the houselights went down, and there wasn't a sound,
You could hear a pin drop in that pause,
The musicians came on, and each single one,
Was greeted with thund'rous applause.
Then the singing began and there wasn't a man
In the house, but was drifted away,
On the tide of a song, and it drove us along,
Til we thought we could feel the earth sway.
And the audience sang and the rafters they rang,
You could feel every spirit rejoice,
'Til between me and you, by a quarter past two,
We'd exhausted each body and voice.
I've often been told, that it's good for the soul,
To be part of a room full of song.
When the going is rough, and things have been tough,
It helps the old spirit along.
And take it from me, if you buy this LP,
It will help you to banish dull care,
Even when you're alone, you can play it at home,
It's almost as good as bein' there.
John Donahue
