If you couldn't tell from my name, (Erin Margaret Lanahan), I am very Irish. I was raised listening to a variety of Irish music, ranging from traditional songs that everyone could recite at family gatherings, to more modern music that my brother is always blasting from his room. With St. Patrick's Day right around the corner, there are going to be many people going out and getting the most out of this great Irish-American holiday. If you are looking to properly enjoy this holiday, here are a few of my favorite songs and some lyrics to make your celebration as "authentic" as possible.

"The Irish Rover" - Many Irish songs tells a story, and in this one they sing about the tales of a ship called "The Irish Rover." Whether you listen to the fast paced version by the Dropkick Murphys, or a more traditional version by The Irish Rovers, any version is a great one!

"Whiskey In The Jar" - My favorite lyric to this song is the bridge when they sing "Mush-a ring dumb-a do dumb-a da." It's fun to sing and always makes me smile! The version I like the most is by the Dubliners, but I know many bands have covered it, such as Metallica!

"The Rocky Road To Dublin" - Another great drinking song, and one you can definitely do an Irish jig to! It's catchy and upbeat, making it fun to sing with friends.

"Johnny, I Hardly Knew Ya" - My favorite version of this song is by the Dropkick Murphys, but that's because of how fast paced and loud it is. However, I know of some less aggressive covers that still sound great, such as the version the Irish Rovers sing.

"The Parting Glass" - This song is a bit slower, yet I love the lyrics to it, mainly because it's usually all vocals. Many artists have done a cover, from The High Kings, to The Pouges, to Ed Sheeran. It is a classic and always pleasant to hear.

"Black Velvet Band" - This is in the category of fun Irish drinking songs, for the chorus I feel is very catchy and fun to sing with your friends and family. I like the music to this song, and it of course tells a story about the betrayal of a woman. I especially favor a live version by The High Kings, for you can hear the crowd singing along with the band, which truly captures the spirit of the Irish.

"Mo Ghile Mear ("Our Hero")", The Chieftains - I have known this song for as long as I can remember, and every time I hear it, it feels nostalgic. It's slow and the music is beautiful, making it one of my all time favorite songs. Half of the lyrics are in Gaelic, giving the song a nice flow. It translates to the story of a man who's woman had left him, so it isn't the most uplifting song. Yet, I still love the music and I always make sure to play it this time of year.

"The State Of Massachusetts", Dropkick Murphys - One of the more popular songs the Dropkick Murphys have released, there is a great chance if you are anywhere close to Massachusetts, Boston in particular, you have heard this played at a sporting event. It is very upbeat and I think it get's a lot of people really excited, hence the reason it's played at sporting events.

"Some Say The Devil Is Dead", The Wolfe Tones - This song refers to the feud between the Irish and the English. The extremely brief history of it is many years ago, the English tried to convert the Irish from being Catholics to being Protestants. They fought for their independence and eventually was granted that independence from the United Kingdom. The song goes to say "Some day the Devil is dead...more say he rose again and joined the British Army."

"You'll Never Beat The Irish", The Wolfe Tones - If you don't know much about the history of Ireland, it is a tale of struggle and woe. However, this song reminds anyone who's listening, we bounce back. The song says much about what the Irish have gone through, giving a better recap of their history than I could. The chorus is my favorite part, and speaks for itself:

"You'll never beat the Irish, no matter what you do
You can put us down and keep us out, but we'll come back again
You know we are the fighting Irish and we'll fight until the end
You know, you should have known: You'll never beat the Irish"

Some songs may be listed without an artist, and that's because some are common Irish drinking songs that have been covered by many different bands over the many years. Because of this, I'm leaving the choice of artist up to you. The songs should all sound good as you sing them with a Guinness in your hand!

If you are looking for more great Irish songs, here's a playlist on Spotify with the songs above and more!

Irish Music For St. Patrick's Day