Let me ask you a question: Are you Irish?
Most people in the world aren’t.
But when St. Patrick’s Day rolls around, everyone and his brother suddenly starts speakin’ the brogue, wearin’ the green, and kissin’ the blarney.
Surely, for one day, it’s ok stereotype a group most of us don’t belong to? Why else would the good lord give us green beer?
Now you know me —
I do love a good comedy song.
And I’ve got one for you for St. Patrick’s Day.
(If you want a slightly less silly Irish song for, take a look here for “Did Anyone Ever Tell You, Mrs. Murphy.“)
The great thing about this song is that it’s so old, it doesn’t mind culturally appropriating from not one, but TWO great world cultures, both Hawaii and Ireland.
I think that may work like a double negative, where one cultural appropriation cancels out the other.
Dig this title:
O’Brien is Tryin’ to Learn to Talk Hawaiian.
They just don’t write ’em like that any more!
This song tells the story of Irishman Pat O’Brien who wants to impress a lovely hula dancer in Hawaii by speaking to her in her own language. It’s beautifully odd and entirely obscure, so you’ll almost certainly be the first on your block to be playing it.
I suggest singing it with an overblown Irish accent if at all possible — it adds a lot to the comedy and has the bonus of potentially offending some people.
(I will go on record as saying that the title of this song alone has more good rhymes than any current Top 40 country song.)
(I will go on another record as saying the first person who writes a song rhyming ukulele with shillelagh is going to make a fortune…)
I’ve got the sheet music download waiting for you HERE.
But uke players beware!
Be aware that even though I’m calling it a ukulele song for St. Patrick’s Day, this is not specifically ukulele sheet music — no ukulele chord diagrams (in fact, no chord names at all).
BUT… your ol’ pal Danno won’t leave you hanging like that.
I’m also enclosing a PDF file with the lyrics and chord names in place.
(There’s something about a non-Federal holiday that just brings out my generosity…)
It’s a very easy song to play, with simple ukulele chords.
So download it, give it a go, and amuse your Iro-Hawaiian friends (or your Hawaiio-Irish friends) on St. Patrick’s Day!
Hey, how’s this song go anyway?
Here’s a 1917 recording of “O’Brien” so you can hear how this little Irish ukulele song sounds. Shockingly good sound quality, considering.