Are Ye Right There Michael is a song by the 19th-century and early 20th-century

Irish Irish may refer to: Common meanings * Someone or something of, from, or related to: ** Ireland, an island situated off the north-western coast of continental Europe ***Éire, Irish language name for the isle ** Northern Ireland, a constituent unit ...

composer and musician

Percy French William Percy French (1 May 1854 – 24 January 1920) was an Irish songwriter, author, poet, entertainer and painter. Life French was born at Clooneyquinn House, near Tulsk, County Roscommon, the son of an Anglo-Irish landlord, Christopher F ...

, parodying the state of the

West Clare Railway The West Clare Railway (WCR) originally operated in County Clare, Ireland, between 1887 and 1961. This narrow-gauge railway ran from the county town of Ennis, via numerous stopping-points along the West Clare coast to two termini, at Kilrush ...

system in rural

County Clare County Clare ( ga, Contae an Chláir) is a county in Ireland, in the Southern Region and the province of Munster, bordered on the west by the Atlantic Ocean. Clare County Council is the local authority. The county had a population of 118,817 ...

. It was inspired by an actual train journey in 1896. Because of a slow train and the decision of the driver to stop for no apparent reason, French, though having left Sligo in the early morning, arrived so late for an 8pm recital that the audience had left. The ballad caused considerable embarrassment for the railway company, which was mocked in music halls throughout Ireland and Britain because of the song. It led to an unsuccessful libel action against French. It is said that when French arrived late for the libel hearing, the judge chided him on his lateness. French reportedly responded "Your honour, I travelled by the West Clare Railway", resulting in the case being thrown out.

Lyrics

:Are Ye Right There Michael :by Percy French (1902) :You may talk of Columbus's sailing :Across the Atlantical Sea :But he never tried to go railing :From

Ennis Ennis () is the county town of County Clare, in the mid-west of Ireland. The town lies on the River Fergus, north of where the river widens and enters the Shannon Estuary. Ennis is the largest town in County Clare, with a population of 25,27 ...

as far as

Kilkee Kilkee () is a small coastal town in County Clare, Ireland. It is in the parish of Kilkee, formerly Kilfearagh. Kilkee is midway between Kilrush and Doonbeg on the N67 road. The town is popular as a seaside resort. The horseshoe bay is pr ...

:You run for the train in the morning :The excursion train starting at eight :You're there when the clock gives the warnin' :And there for an hour you'll wait :And as you're waiting in the train :You'll hear the guard sing this refrain: :Are ye right there, Michael, are ye right? :Do you think that we'll be there before the night? :Ye've been so long in startin' :That ye couldn't say for certain :Still ye might now, Michael :So ye might! :They find out where the engine's been hiding :And it drags you to sweet Corofin :Says the guard: "Back her down on the siding :There's a goods from

Kilrush Kilrush () is a coastal town in County Clare, Ireland. It is also the name of a civil parish and an ecclesiastical parish in Roman Catholic Diocese of Killaloe. It is located near the mouth of the River Shannon in the south-west of the county. ...

coming in." :Perhaps it comes in two hours :Perhaps it breaks down on the way :"If it does," says the guard, "by the powers :We're here for the rest of the day!" :And while you sit and curse your luck :The train backs down into a truck. :Are ye right there, Michael, are ye right? :Have ye got the parcel there for Mrs White? :Ye haven't, oh begorra :Say it's comin' down tomorra :And well it might now, Michael :So it might :At

Lahinch Lahinch or Lehinch ( ''or'' ) is a small town on Liscannor Bay, on the northwest coast of County Clare, Ireland. It lies on the N67 national secondary road, between Milltown Malbay and Ennistymon, roughly by road southwest of Galway and north ...

the sea shines like a jewel :With joy you are ready to shout :When the stoker cries out: "There's no fuel :And the fire's tee-totally out! :But hand up that bit of a log there :I'll soon have ye out of the fix :There's a fine clamp of turf in the bog there :And the rest go a-gatherin' sticks." :And while you're breakin' bits of trees :You hear some wise remarks like these: :"Are ye right there, Michael? Are ye right? :Do ye think that you can get the fire to light? :Oh, an hour you'll require :For the turf it might be drier :Well it might now, Michael :So it might." A popular sung version by

Brendan O'Dowda Brendan O'Dowda (1 October 1925 – 22 February 2002) was an Irish tenor who popularised the songs of Percy French. Early life O'Dowda was born in Dundalk, County Louth and was educated at the De la Salle Brothers' school in the town. His ...

adds the following lyrics which may or may not have been part of the original: :Kilkee! Oh you never get near it! :You're in luck if the train brings you back :For the permanent way is so queer :It spends most of its time off the track. :Uphill the old engine is climbin' :While the passengers push with a will :You're in luck when you reach

Ennistymon Ennistymon or Ennistimon () is a country market town in County Clare, near the west coast of Ireland. The River Inagh, with its small rapids known as the Cascades, runs through the town, behind the main street. A bridge across the river leads to ...

:For all the way home is downhill. :And as you're wobblin' through the dark :you hear the guard make this remark: :"Are you right there, Michael, are ye right? :Do you think that you'll be home before it's light?" :"Tis all dependin' whether :The old engine holds together— :And it might now, Michael, so it might! (so it might), :And it might, now, Michael, so it might."

References

{{authority control Irish songs Songs written by Percy French Songs about Ireland Songs about trains Year of song missing