note: I’m gonna go out on a limb here. Naming this post with a “1” after it implies there will be more to come…let’s see how well that works out. Meantime, enjoy the break from most things serious!
Way back when I was in the duo Laura & Thereza*, we came across yet another ‘Celtic’ song that we liked and consequently arranged and performed at various gigs. That song was: Whiskey in the Jar.
While fooling around with our 12-string guitar/violin take of the piece, middle daughter tells us we should listen to how Flogging Molly plays that very song**.
Flogging What?
Therein lies my first introduction to the phenom known as 90s Celtic Punk.
…and the name of this group has haunted me for decades….
What does Flogging Molly mean, anyway?
That question re-visited me recently during one particularly hot & humid July night, when it was impossible to sleep even with the AC on.
I got up, grabbed a pen and listed out a few possible answers to this question, hoping that would ease me back to sleep.
It didn’t, but here’s my list.
- 1st thought: Molly’s being flogged
- 2nd thought: Molly’s doing the flogging
- 3rd thought: it’s a description of their music as having a ‘flogging’ driving beat; relentlessly continuing on and on and on
- 4th thought: an image of the drummer in the band as the ‘flogging’ force behind their music
What say you?
Oh sure, you can google the story behind the name of the band – but where’s the fun in that?
*Laura and Thereza (from the liner notes of unexpected)- this duo was created when the pair first met as performing members of the Denver Mandolin Orchestra in 2001. They each recognized in the other a high level of musicianship, commitment to the music, and depth of technical training. They soon began playing together as a duo with Laura on classical & 12-string guitars and Thereza on violin & mandolin.
**As I perused YouTube for that very song by that very group, I couldn’t find it. That makes me wonder – did middle daughter own a bootleg cd of that very group?!? Hmmm, yet another thought to ponder. 🙂
Yes I love Whisky In The Jar. Also The Wild Rover. Think it’s my Celtic Blood.
🙂
Oh yes I know these bands! My late husband was second generation Irish (Grandparetns from Ireland) and he loved Celtic Music from traditional to contemporary and we listened to a lot of it, along with bagpipe music that he loved (but that is more Scottish I think).
Very cool. There’s plenty of Celtic fests/live music where you live – perhaps you’ve tapped your toes to a few since moving? Have a great week!
I’ve always loved “Whiskey in the Jar.” The only version of it I’ve ever really known was the Limeliters one. I know, Flogging Molly is such a strange name. Poor Molly!
Hope this offered up an enjoyable break from your new volunteer duties. 😉
I’ve often thought that being a fly on the wall as a group decided on a name would be fascinating. How about naming paint colors, or cars, or a dessert? Great post, Laura.
Yeah – but for the ‘having to be a fly’ part – I agree! 😉
😀
Well, that was interesting! I know that song from the Celtic Thunder version, which is predictably far tamer than either of those you showed here! And the picture of you and Thereza is beautiful 😀
Thanks, Zippy! Celtic tunes never die!!!! 🙂
I so love the pic of *Laura and Thereza; it’s vibrant and full of happiness. <3 And oh, I prefer the description and mental image of Molly doing the flogging. 😀 I’m hoping there’s more of posts like this one; I enjoy reading and learning about your music genre.
Thanks for your input on the origins of Flogging Molly! HA! I guess that picture reveals much of what I’ve forgotten in the past few years: the joy in doing what one is meant to do. Thanks for noticing…
It’s good to give oneself a blogging challenge. I too used the numbering system when I first started blogging.
Whiskey in the Jar holds fond memories for me. Back in the day we had a cassette tape by The Fureys (sp?) who did that song.
What a gorgeous photograph of you and fellow serious musician.
I am afraid that my guess at what Flogging might denote is very rude.
Some of the other Celtic pieces we arranged & played were “The Star of the County Down” and ‘Brian Boru’s March’ -not quite as rousing, but we did have a substantial amount of Irish/Celtic tunes to offer up when the occasion arose!
Thank you for keeping your rudeness at bay – I can only imagine! 😉
Well, I’m embarrassed to admit that the only Irish Rovers song I am familiar with is The Unicorn Song… which is now a worm, firmly planted in my brain, thank you very much.
I love that picture of you and Thereza… such joy!
HA! Well, today’s a new day, maybe that earworm went away! My younger bro liked The Irish Rovers while growing up – along with the Jackson 5…so while I was blasting out Beatles, Deep Purple and Pink Floyd from my room, he was blasting out them! 😎
Those were some fun and rousing songs! Do you have a recording of you and Thereza playing together?
Yes, some fun! As I mentioned to L. Marie below, the only recorded pieces of us playing together are on my cd: unexpected (TRACKS 11,12,13,14,15,16) Plus there’s a rogue video taken with a bulky handheld home video recorder (terrible audio) that I haven’t been able to track down with our performance of a 2 movement Paganini piece for classical guitar and violin…
I think now-a-days it’s expected there to be some video of gigs, concerts, etc from random audience members due to the commonality of cell phones etc. So no, there are no recordings of our more rousing sets in the more rousing gigs we played! HA!
Okay, when I read the post I saw that I commented on it. So I must have forgotten that you had posted about Thereza. Sorry about that.
So that’s how they got their name? Makes sense!
No apologies necessary – it felt good to recount/recycle the stories! Ya know?
Haha! The things that haunt our minds on sleepless nights. I’ll admit that I’d heard of the name Flogging Molly but none of their music. Celtic Punk—I managed to live 65 years without knowing that was a thing. Ignorance is bliss. 🤣 Like you, I’ve always been fascinated by band names and where they came from. Sometimes I think there might be some deep meaning behind a name, and then I read in an interview that a band member suggested the name in a drunken stupor.
Well, our duo name of ‘Laura and Thereza’ was not suggested in such a state! But then, our experiences playing at Wine Tastings is a much different dynamic than other genres playing in dive bars! (A common joke subject across the spectrum of who-plays-gigs-where according to the style of music in one’s repertoire) 😎
Ah, those sleepless nights definitely lead to ponderous thoughts. Now I’m going to think of Flogging Molly as I putter around my quilt room. Thoughts I had from this post – glad I don’t have to ride a skateboard to my gig (quilt room); I need to listen to Laura while I quilt roday. Then I got distracted by a few of your other posts. Haha. Looking forward to more ponderings.
“I need to listen to Laura while I quilt today.” Wow – that’s a very cool sentence, Wendy! (imagine blushing emoji here). Maybe I can figure out how to develop a gig playing during quilt guild/group meetings. HA!
Thanks for getting ‘distracted’, too.
Enjoy your weekend of quilting, you’re on a roll, lady!
Wow, Laura! You were part of a duo? You were in a mandolin orchestra??? The things I’m learning about you via your posts! I’d love to hear a recording of you and Thereza!
My guess about flogging Molly is number 3. I took your advice and just guessed, rather than search for the meaning. So what is the answer?
Funny, I thought you already knew that stuff! While our set lists filled a fat 3 inch binder & an extra overflow 2 inch binder for different gigs and/or actual concerts – the only recorded pieces of us playing together are on my cd: unexpected (TRACKS 11,12,13,14,15,16) Plus there’s a rogue video taken with a bulky handheld home video recorder (terrible audio) that I haven’t been able to track down with our performance of a 2 movement Paganini piece for classical guitar and violin…
I wrote briefly about the mando orchestra in a post you might be interested in reading: https://laurabrunolilly.com/keeping-you-in-my-heart-for-awhile/
The answer? “According to legend, the Irish punkers got their start playing every Monday night at an Irish pub in Los Angeles called Molly Malone’s. They played there so often lead singer Dave King said it was like flogging a dead horse, and next thing you know, a band name was born.” source: https://dyingscene.com/archive/why-did-they-choose-the-name-flogging-molly/
Whew, that’s alot of links – thanks so much for your enthusiastic support of me and my music, L.Marie – you’re a gem. 😉