Expecting Rain

I tried to fine a thread of a similar vein here, which i vaguely remember, but a search with 'dylan' and 'irish' did not turn it up.

in any case, it's a great way to note the day by recognizing how many songs dylan attended to that recalled the irish folk tradition.

here's a few to start with, feel free to build this list.

Ramblin Gamblin Willie (Roddie McCorley & Brennan On the Moor)
Farewell (The Leaving of Liverpool)
Restless Farewell (The parting glass)
With God on our Side (the Patriot Game)

a modern one that makes me always think of Ireland: Red River Shore.

When The Ship Comes In

Bob invited the Clancy Brothers to play at his 30th anniversary concert in 1992. They joined him on stage to sing, When the Ship Comes In. After the show,
Dylan insisted that everyone go back to Tommy Makem’s pub in New York for a party. During the evening, Liam told Dylan that The Clancys
were thinking of recording an album of his songs using Irish arrangements.

Dylan looked awestruck and said: “Would you do that Liam? Would you do that?”

Clancy asked him if he would mind. Dylan looked at him in surprise and said:
“You still don’t get it do you Liam? You’re my heroes man, you’re my heroes.”

http://www.irishmusicforever.com/bands/ ... /bob-dylan

Oye! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KVKqXZTDWQg

There's a song from the fifties, written by Sean McBride, which may have given Dylan the tune for I Pity The Poor Immigrant (or perhaps even I Dreamed I Saw St. Augustine). I'm not sure whether anyone else has noticed, or whether it just sounds like it to me. I suppose he would have heard it in Britain or from the Clancy's.

The song is called The Homes of Donegal.

You can hear the melody that Dylan may have taken particularly in the instrumental part before the singing starts. It's not an obvious lift, though, and perhaps the similarity is just accident.

Here it is sung by Johnny McEvoy so you can make up your own mind.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kBIBQk99ieE

Trobadour, i think this is the thread you were looking for:
viewtopic.php?f=6&t=62414&hilit=irish&start=25

Arthur McBride which Bob does very well is a genuine Irish folk song and it's the first one I thought of. Here's the wiki page that tells about it.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arthur_McBride

That melody is from long before the '50s, and Dylan used it before "Poor Immigrant" in the "Ballad of Donald White." Dylan's source was the "Ballad of Peter Emberly" sung by Bonnie Dobson. But this melody is the tune of so many songs, it's outrageous, "Tramps & Hawkers," and "Lakes of Pontchartrain" among them. On Shane MacGowan's first album with the Popes, there's several songs that share this melody, and it is also the basis for "Huck's Tune."

Well, that's the folk tradition. I have heard Donald White, and also Dylan's Lakes of Pontchartrain (that lovely early NET version) but had not made the connection. You are right, of course. One can't just stop when one hears a familiar melody. You have to trace it back.

Right, and the song you posted as I said is one of many. For instance check out Mark Knopfler's recording of "Lily Of The West," which he did with the Chieftains. Now the lyrics are the exact same "Lily of the West" that Bob did on the "Dylan" (aka "A Fool Such As I") album, but the melody again is this one. If you've never heard it, it should be on youtube. Whether "Lily of the West," was originally an Irish song done to this melody, I haven't found out yet. Which song came first? I don't know. The list of songs to this tune seems endless, and one you posted in one I've never heard before.

lovely version of 'The Parting Glass', by students from University College, Dublin:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=eisW0skJ9fU

Love to hear Dylan cover 'IF I Should Fall From Grace From God' by the Pogues

Would be one hell of a hoe down!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Hk1CiwrKgt8

The Parting Glass and Restless Farewell performed as one song by the great Ronnie Drew and the beautiful Eleanor Shanly

http://youtu.be/lamBi96nJDE

Not just tunes, but a few other covers of Irish songs come to mind; the Aul Triangle and Roisin the Beau on the Basement Tapes, the Newry Highway Man and Eileen Aroon from the NET. I'm sure there are lots of others. Perhaps one of the more technically proficient members on this board could put a Bobby O'Dylan playlist together.

Mike

I played Tempest (the song) to my mum, and she reckons the tune is from a well-known Irish song (can't remember which). So that counts.

I could imagine The Pogues singing this.

It reminds me of 'A Pair of Brown Eyes'

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zNtQ5AnRlz8