13 March 20201 | James Porteous | Clipper Media | https://linktr.ee/jamesporteous

It that time again. Once, twice a year, there is a moment when it becomes imperative to revisit this clip of Glen Hansard and band moving into the crowd after what is said to have been a three hour show, and captivated them (and us) with impromptu versions of Passing Through and The Auld Triangle.

It is seriously chilling and fun and everlasting.

A fine yearly pre-Saint Patrick’s Day celebration.

A song written by Irish writer and playwright Brendan Behan (1923-1964), during his stay in Mountjoy Jail in Dublin. The Royal Canal is an old shipping canal that cuts across the north of Dublin and heads out west (its counterpart on the southside of the city is the Grand Canal).

The Auld Triangle – Dominic Behan

A hungry feeling came o’er me stealing
And the mice were squealing in my prison cell
And that auld triangle went jingle jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

Oh to start the morning, the screw was bawling
“Get up out of bed, and clean out your cell”
And that auld triangle went jingle jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

Oh the screw was peeping and the lag was sleeping
As he lay weeping for his girl Sal
And that auld triangle went jingle jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

On a fine spring evening, the lag lay dreaming
And the seagulls were wheeling high above the wall
And that auld triangle went jingle jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

Oh the wind was sighing and the day was dying
As the lag lay crying in his prison cell
And that auld triangle went jingle jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

In the female prison there are seventy five women
And I wish it was with them that I did dwell
And that auld triangle could go jingle jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal  

A song written by Irish writer and playwright Brendan Behan (1923-1964), during his stay in Mountjoy Jail in Dublin. The Royal Canal is an old shipping canal that cuts across the north of Dublin and heads out west (its counterpart on the southside of the city is the Grand Canal).

Songwriters: Dominic Behan