The Contender - Tommy Fleming

[naasrddad]

A beautiful song raped by a prick who changed the lyrics.

[RebelMaggie]

Still love you Tommy...you are a fantastic person and the best singer I know. BUT how about visiting Birmingham UK My cousin Theresa is always asking why you don't go there.

[busterzoey089]

My Cousin Told Meh He Is Our Fourth Cousin And I Done Research On My Family Tree And He Is (Jack Doyle)

[anabellis1]

Deep...Beautiful words and thoughts ...:)

[crc778Hypnodoc]

I thought it was a woman singing!

[hartsty]

What a song. Evocative and wistful.Jimmy Mc Carthy is a bard with intelligence and insight.Beautiful.

[RebelMaggie]

I was at Tommy's concert last Saturday it was fantastic as always. A marvelous voice and getting better every time. Love Tommy and he is so nice always there for his public. Please no nasty comments about Tommy he is a wonderful person. Keep your dirty comments for yourself......naasrddad it is disgraceful the way you think.

[bhoy029]

They should do a film about Jack Doyle's life, it would be an amazing film, even more drama than mickey ward's life.

[2010Realistic]

Tommy brings me great final memories of my mum and so glad I brought her to one of his concerts in her final days... Thank you Tommy for these memories and thanks for posting....

[TheJannance]

Such a promising young man.....it breaks the heart to see his life ended so sadly. Too bad they didn't have intervention then as they do today. Jan from

Georgia, USA

[markkavanagh2k8]

homosexual

[unitedenfree]

great man but the demon drink r.i.p

[shad7again]

The accolades to Christy (a great man and singer) are misplaced. Jimmy McCarthy who Christy acknowledges as the writer of The Contender sings different lyrics than Christy it's all about interpretation.

I am looking at an old photo of Bernard Gilley, Jack Doyle (both of Cobh) and friends at the bar in Fords social club (Dagenham, UK. Little Cork!!) late 70's we think, could have been the Millhouse. if you were there that night love to hear from you.

Bernie Gilly R.I.P.

[macgiver351]

how did this gobshite get a full hour on RTE1 on sunday to plug his new album? absolute disgrace by RTE, using our licence fee to pay for this rubbish.

[davidoffon]

@macgiver351 The gobshite who sing this fantastic song?

[dan747ht]

It is a beautiful song, but there is no need to get all patriotic about it. No matter what part of the world he came from it would still be a nice song,

[nolanerunner]

Gonna go see Tommy !

Be proud you Irish...hes doing it for you all!

cant get enough of that sound!

thanks tommys momma...you did a grand job!

[pinkycurtis]

dave this one is for you i will always think of you when i hear it .....its mad what happened .... i hope one day soon they will lay you to rest and peace ..... R.I.P x x x

[brendan4b]

v good.........

[joolls9]

It is one of my favourite songs and Tommy Fleming helped put Ireland on the map for me.

[ssbreathneach]

typical cork or dub, everything theres its a great version just brilliant,1 of OUR own

[MrFoxyrocks]

I prefer David McClenaghan's version it’s much more heartfelt!

[MrFoxyrocks]

Like this version but you should likten to the contender by david mcclenaghan on here., by far a better version...

[simpun1]

Was thing song about a boxer from Cork.

[TheMurphyEBW]

great song

[oconlan003]

dont know who u r 'wooldawg' but u can fuck offu drop kick wot ive said on here is straight and true ...luv this song and my dad was a 'corkonian' so u can fuck urself

[TheWooldawg]

oconlon003 shut the fuck up u idiot!

[bucko2601]

Great piece of music, sings it beautifully as does Jimmy McCarthy,thans for posting it.

[martyeds]

Brillant tune...does anyone have a link to the lyrics

[MagaStroppy]

Forever Dads 'song'....still miss ya!

[oconlan003]

grubby fek

[cashy300]

between cork cobh and youghal.. not casandras call!!! jimmy is a relation of mine.. trust me!!

[CillRos]

@cashy300, both are sung, the original version is the one you mention, but people outside Ireland wouldn't understand the reference so McCarthy wrote the other line as an alternative. (He said so on the Late Late Show, I think.)

[ThoseDirtyFeckers]

This is the fuckin shit!! Rock and roll gigalo!!

[oconlan003]

ur a fuck wit

[oconlan003]

my dad was an orphan was in those 'effin' borstals could fight and was a terrific tenor singer from cobh i miss him but this song does a lot for me thanx machree

[MrSouthyking]

"id sing into the dawning, So id blaze into the morning, long before I was the man you see today"....im from cobh, its a beautiful song I love it

[jenenifer2007]

love this song, reminds me of my Grandfather who always loved this song. He died 3 years ago and I'll always think of him when this is playing

[geniennis]

Isn't this a very special song- great voice of Tommy

[admccrum]

i love this song, my brother inlaws band celtic dawn sing it at their gigs. brilliant.

[robchocs4]

Cobh is proud of Jack Doyle .there is a bar in Cobh named after Jack Doyle and numourous things set up in his honour...

[balingarry]

Beautiful!

[oconlan003]

hate to be ...picky but w\ere do u get 'doyal' from...wills. ?

[willsheffron]

wat a true cork legand , the company i work for bought the devine rights to rights to his name all over the world and are in the process of launchin a jack doyle brand of clothes , the company SUITS DISTRIBUTORS IRELAND LTD hope to have the jack doyal brand finished within the coming weeks , see our showroom to explore the brand .the profit made is going to charities all over the world ,

[oconlan003]

a magic song sang beautifully thanks machree

[SharonAherne]

Such a sad song.. I love this song.. a man who had it all and lost it...but still a legend..

[ijs159]

I have been looking for this song FOREVER.  Its GREAT!!!!!!!! Laura

[Doyle1958]

This is my favourite version of the song, and as someone posted, Cobh people havent forgotten him. I'm Jack's nephew, and when I go to Cobh, people often talk about him to me.

[spuds5164]

I love this version. I 1st heard Christy singing it but then found this version on youtube and adore it. Defo my fav song at the moment and a truly interesting story reading up on Jack Doyle

[zippojano]

love this song

it shows how cobh people havent forgot jack doyle

[fossie32]

Lovely song and a very nice tribute, well done.

[blackwellfamily]

Lovely version-Oran you'll have to go some x

[thefellawitthehair]

Where can i listen to the original by Jimmy McCarthy?

[shivvy123]

tommy flemming is one of the most underrated singers in Ireland

he is brilliant and even better live

this is one of his best songs - I love him singing you raise meup

[Doyle1958]

Great to see so many people love this song.

[MrBrendan893]

brilliant song

[mairenidhomnaill]

amen

[ugnkrisis]

Love this song !!!!!! Top class post !

[RepublicanLad]

I officially love this song

[naasrddad]

why did he change the lyrics?  Cassandra's call!! WTF, what an amatuer, he should be ashamed of himself. Sing the song the way it was written or write your own you shite bag.

[machree01]

What or you getting uptight about, it is only a song, I think this is the original lyrics, the only other singers i've heard singing "Cassandra's call" is The Irish Tenors.

[martinaf1]

am nearly finished the book THE GORGEOUS GAEL IT IS THE MOST FASCINATING BOOK IVE READ IN AGES.. I WILL HATE IT TO END

[JonathanAnon]

Yeah Christy sings it as "Cork, Cobh and Youghal". Tommy is singing it the same way that The Tenors sing it. I hate Christy's version though, Tenors version much better.

[ishdai52]

dope

[JonathanAnon]

a well thought out and constructive point, well done.

[scruffmeister]

TENORS version me arse!

Sing it the way its written or go and write your own song!

[clareman2009]

@machree01 "Cassandra's call" is the original lyric by Jimmy McCarthy. I prefer the alternative lyrics that Christy Moore uses. Thanks for the upload.

[ticklezzz]

Jimmy McCarthy changed the lyrics himself from "I could have lived my life between Cork, Cobh and Youghal" to "I could live my life with Cassandra's call" for a more international appeal to it.

[terencef97]

@naasrddad cassandras call/cork cobh and youghal.  potato/potatoe

[UnshavenStatue]

@naasrddad You're a frigging hypocrite. If you realized that Celtic Thunder did not write that song, that it was in fact written by Jimmy McCarthy, and that he did not write any lyrics with "Cassandra's call", then you would realize how stupid a comment this is. Tell Celtic Thunder to sing it the way it was written, WITHOUT CASSANDRA'S CALL. By the way, Celtic Thunder are not that good, this is infinitely better.

[SvendBosanvovski]

@naasrddad Fair go. This is a beautiful interpretation. Sure, Christy's great version will never be surpassed for those of us who adore the great expressive quality in the great man's delivery. But Tommy is very, very special and deserves the accolades he is attracting all over the world. As an Irishman, you should swell with pride knowing that far away the heart and soul of Ireland is being heard and appreciated by those who have never had the honour of standing on your beloved soil.

[bhoy029]

@naasrddad u fool

[nialllewis]

In fairness mate... Christy Moore sings "between Cork Cobh and Youghal".... but Jimmy McCarthy wrote this song... his version is on youtube... and he sings "Cassandra's call", which has a significant meaning regarding Jack Doyle's life if you Google "Cassandra: cursed prophetess". So if the man who wrote it sings it this way, Tommy Fleming didn't change the lyrics owl son.

[lubothegreat100]

@naasrddad This song was written by Jimmy Mc Carthy and Cassandra's call is the original lyric's you clown !!!

[ChrisAntoGriffin]

@naasrddad Listen here dude you clearly dont know music its called a cover some people change them slightly to suit their singing voice. The only Shit bag is you for making sick commons like that you havn't a clue what your about. I'm in the music business a long time and its the likes of you that destroys good music.

[giddygiddy85]

4.20 minutes of drivel

[Cutebunyeva]

ii Love The Song..! ii Was At The National Irelands Choir in Cork on Thursday and One Of The Teacher Sang This Song and its Soo Beautiful i Love it..!

x x x

[Cutebunyeva]

ii Mean The National Irelands Children's Choir.. My Bad... x

[clarebannerman]

This is a beautiful ballad. Jimmy McCarthy is one of the greatest songwriters ever to come out of Ireland. Remember seeing a documentary around '73 on the late Jack Doyle. Ah yes the cursed drink---- \_/ ♪♫

[orrinoconnor]

Finally got to see Tommy on Sat night at the Waterfront, in Belfast, I loved his voice before seeing him live. He has now in my mind ascended to sainthood; He is also very funny with little his stories and bits and pieces he throws in!

When he sang The Contender, I couldn't hold the tears back! A wonderful guy with a voice to amaze !!

[farrell164]

1st song i learnt..class

[shellycummins08]

class song love his voice up the deise

[louisekins]

this song is one of the best....n no beter person 2 sing it ;) ....X

[peterroseie]

tommy you rock,up the deise

[paulcozzz]

one of the best ever made ... no better words to describe it !

[luvs2dancex]

Omg I Luv Dis Song .. I No All Da Words =D

X

[ferdia1]

true. you can but jimmy mac carthys book "ride on" with lyrics and short explainations of the songs

[d26irish]

I love that song the words have such a deep meaning and tell such a great story. chart music just lacks this type of song writing ability and just match words to a tune but each to their own.

[GlasgowCeltic88]

Tommy's voice is unique and beautiful to listen to!

Thank God for Phil giving him the break he so richly deserved!

And thank God he was watching over him after he broke his neck in a car crash in 1998.

Tommy was returning to his native Sligo when he took a shortcut to home, he veered off the road and hit a tree, loosing consciousness for some time the car burst into flames with the car door damaged it was more than luck to escape the burning car.

Great video.

Slán,

GC88.

[machree01]

I remmber that car crash, he was walking about with a broken neck, didn't know it was broke, Tommy has a brilliant voice easy to listen too.

[tommy9lives1989]

Had to avoid a dog!

[gillygilligan]

The Celtic Tenners sing it brilliantly to.

But i cant see a video for them with this song. anyone help me?

[6835064]

brillant song and singer . . . tommy great singer and lovely fella realy down to earth

[ferdia1]

RTE DID A documentary on doyles last year, you kno rte they will have it on again this winter,

[tommy9lives1989]

Dey did n all

[bedoboy]

Going to feature this on my autoplay now

[kingyoung81]

This song is a eyejerker if you ask me and it is a true story aswell.

Check out Bob Champion's website and yet another true story which will send a tear to your eye.

[baldoordesloot]

saaiu

[sytno1]

Heard Christy Moore singing this and searched for more. Love this version. I also looked at Jack Doyles life slightly and he seems to have lived the life of 20 people.

[shivvy123]

good video

[shivvy123]

this guy is the most under rated singer in Ireland.

[jackrevell]

fuckin class song m8 just shows how good irish music if an american wrote this it wud be no1 in u s a anyone agree??? :)

[DragonJoey3]

Irish music is great!

[willyk5]

ye better than christy moore and mary black....

[Bealzbob]

Lovely version of a song I've only just discovered :)

[machree01]

Thanks for the comment

[theirisher]

Doyle's story would make a great movie, except that it hasn't a happy ending. Thanks for compiling the pictures. Good job!

[machree01]

it would be a great movie, thanks for the comment

[catalpa]

I only came across Tommy Flemming recently, he makes a fine job on this, as good as Christy, it took a Cork man to write this classic, a sad end to a great boxer and singer.

[machree01]

Tommy is a great singer, he used to sing with De Danann. thanks for the comment dardo.