Robert Emmet Dunlap has expanded his often recorded and popular song, Mick Ryan’s Lament, into a show that tells more of the story of his fictional Irishman’s journey from famine era Ireland to America in the mid 1880s. From ballads to lively Irish tunes, the program uses new, original songs along with traditional music from the period. It combines history and legend to show the connections between Irish and American songs and music and the impact of immigration, expansionism, and war on ... view more »
Robert Emmet Dunlap has expanded his often recorded and popular song, Mick Ryan’s Lament, into a show that tells more of the story of his fictional Irishman’s journey from famine era Ireland to America in the mid 1880s. From ballads to lively Irish tunes, the program uses new, original songs along with traditional music from the period. It combines history and legend to show the connections between Irish and American songs and music and the impact of immigration, expansionism, and war on all sides.
The song, Mick Ryan’s Lament, has struck a chord with people for it’s heartfelt tale of the ironies of war. It tells a ghost story about two brothers who escape post-famine Ireland for the Land of the Free, and fight for the Union in the War Between the States. Mick stays in the army and ends up dying with Custer at Little Big Horn; forever haunted by, and to the tune of “The Garryowen.”
The song has been recorded by many artists, including bluegrass legend Tim O’Brien on his 2001 CD Two Journeys, and by Tim O’Brien and Darrell Scott on their 2012 CD, We’re Usually a Lot Better Than This. Tim also performed the song in March, 2016 at the National Concert Hall in Dublin, Ireland, as part of their Imagining Home Concert Series in recognition of 100 years since the Irish Rebellion.
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