Kitty

[Nate]

At the end of the song Kitty there is someone lilting. Who is the singer and what melody is the lilt based on, sounds a bit like the Dingle Regatta to me?

Nate

Sorry if this has already come up, if someone could direct me to the appropriate place.

[Zuzana]

This was discussed at PRS forum some time ago. It is indeed Dingle Regatta and it is sung by the man who calls himself Socrates at PRS.

Socrates’ comments (originally posted at PRS forum):
"The lilt on end of Kitty came froma crazy idea in the pub with Shane, I suggested a mad Psyched out lilt at end of Transmetropolitan. i forgot all about until Shane said they wanted ME to do it. a few weeks later i found myself at Elephant but the day was running late an they decided to just have me say something in irish ( F in inter cert ) with a wee lilt. both James and Shanes attempt to stop me speeding up were in vain and it was the wrong tempo so it didnt work for intended purpose . listening to it now it was the right tempo in parts but then again its the right tempo in parts for most any feckin song, so it twas stuck on end of album, something missed by most people incuding whoever recut it, Danny Kelly give it a mention in the NME review at the time as did Dave Quantick. the fact that Dingle Regatta came out was lost on me until the re-issue. i only had two regrets
1. false modesty when asked by Stan what i wanted as credit i said "nothing"
2. " nil aon...." was the first thing that came into my head and i wish straight away i had repeated Michael O' Hares famous saturday afternoon phrase on RTE. "sin a bhfui ag coursai sport" - excuse spelling (F in inter cert)."

[carmen]

oh yes zuzana--it was socrates. thanks

[Mick Molloy]

I was just listening to Kitty and I was wondering what mavourneen means? I heard it in Finnegan's Wake as well. Anyone?

[Eyeball_Kid]

Likewise, "mavourneen" is another gaelic diminutive and not a surname. "Muirnín" is irish for 'darling', so "mo mhuirnín" would mean "my darling;" and "mavourneen" would be an english transliteration of the gaelic.

copied from the great Poguetry in Motion website: http://www.poguetry.com !
essential viewing!

[Mick Molloy]

Cheers, thought it would be something like that

[Guest]

Whom wrote the song 'Kitty?'

[firehazard]

Whom wrote the song 'Kitty?'

That would be Mr/Ms "Trad". I think Shane has said that he learnt it from his mother.

[Zuzana]

Whom wrote the song 'Kitty?'

That would be Mr/Ms "Trad". I think Shane has said that he learnt it from his mother.

From the Lost Decade:
""'Kitty' is my favourite track on the album," says Shane. "it's a song that I learnt from my mother and I've only ever met one person, who wasn't out of my family or from round our particular little area in Tipperary, who knows it."

Well, I haven't ever met anybody apart from Shane singing it.

[Mick Molloy]

Ron Kavana does a cracking version of it

[Christine]

Ron Kavana does a cracking version of it

Is that the one on the Irish Songs of Rebellion?

The box set has a fine demo version too. And a live one.

[IrishRover]

noice to see thois already answered, oi was ointerested to knoiw as well

[Low D]

Whom wrote the song 'Kitty?'

That would be Mr/Ms "Trad".

I think "Anon." may have had a hand, too.

[CraigBatty]

I was just listening to Kitty and I was wondering what mavourneen means? I heard it in Finnegan's Wake as well. Anyone?

Anglicisation of 'mo mhúirnín' from Irish.

My beloved/sweetheart/darling etc.

Tá fáilte romhat ar fad, a Mick. (You're welcome, Mick).

Irrelevant post!

Sorry, just saw the already-extant reply to this query.

Face. Red. Mine. Is.

[phro37]

this is one of my favorites. i'm a big fan of fantastically melancholy/bittersweet songs.

do we know why are the cops after the guy or why they want him to leave? and is this song a reference to an actual person?