Adding yet another series: Backtrack, where I attempt to trace the roots of something that has to do with music – in a very ‘scientific’ manner. Some would call it going X to X. I call it: Let’s see where this goes back to.
90s kids know it because of the Metallica version (I did too). Inspired by the version Thin Lizzy did in the 70s. But who poured it first? According to this, The Dubliners popularized the song in their 5th album, More of the Hard Stuff, in 1967.
The Dubliners at David Frost’s show in 1968. Luke Kelly sings.
Nice, right? But wait…there’s more: Now check out the first recorded version of the song that exists in the great Alan Lomax series World Library of Folk and Primitive Music: Vol. 2: Ireland. Click on link and preview song #19. How about that!
