Dubliners - The Mero

[burnzeeeeeee]

thanks for the break down twolly banager

[MrLance228]

the dubliners are legends

[The4books]

Can anyone explain the reference to "having me primo"? Is this the certificate for leaving bunscoill/primary school? In which case, speaker is about 12 at that point in the song?

Or if not that, then what?

[spudseamus]

johny 40 coats was the 60s I remember him well around Blackrock

[Lfc4life67]

This is so wierd. My nans called joanie, my grandads called johnny, my auntie is nora, my other auntie is mary, my uncle, cousin is called martin, and my uncle just had a baby, whos second name is power (baby power). Freaky o_O

[vincileso3]

Somebody can tell me in what cd of the Dubliners can I find this song?

[snackbox1989]

"we used to solve a difference with a diggin match and a jar, but now there all playin bang, bang thats goin to bleedin far" - aint that the fuckin truth, id prefer a diggin match anyday, fight like a man, any fool can shoot a gun!

R.I.P Ronnie and Lukey

[ladylassiecat]

yay finally found this song wasnt sure what it was called ! Thanks :)

[BraveLittlePuma]

Blood or Whiskey does a great cover of this song.

[TOMMYd0888]

Blood or Whiskey, is that suppose to be a band?

[BraveLittlePuma]

some of their stuff is on youtube, check out the album recordings though, not the live stuff.

[TOMMYd0888]

finally found that band... google is not nice to them.

[dingane]

Alfie Byrne was a local politician for many years in Dublin.

Bang bang was a 'character who used to popint his fingers at people and shout 'bang bang'.

Con Martin was a footballer (soccer and gaelic football in the 40s and 50s)

[dingane]

Oh and 'Tan' means Black and Tan.

Jacobs is Jacobs biscuit factory.

The Transport Union was a trade union (Irish Transport General Workers Union)

The pillar was Nelson's pillar (blown up 1966)

Baby power is a small whiskey

[Ratter08]

God save good old ronnie

[sid77ie]

Longers is long trousers

[sparrisen]

I'm Irish and my father is Irish, and I've been to Ireland 10-14 times and i have always wondered what the Mero is. What is the Mero?

[lreland1]

It was a cinema in Dublin. Other tit-bits - from unitedireland.tripod com:

Johnny Forty Coats, Tramp (30's)

Bang Bang, another tramp (50's)

Hafners, sausage makers in Dublin

Jacobs, Buiscuit Makers in Dublin

Langers, Very Drunk

The Pillar, Nelson's Pillar

Hairy Lemon, another tramp in Dublin, named because of long beard.

Dolly Fosset's, Brothel in Dublin.

Pleanary Indulgence, Reward from Catholic Church for good works

[ShenanigansOHooligan]

The last two words "baby Power" refer to basically a one-shot bottle of Power's Whiskey. They're small and easy to hide.

[The4books]

@lreland1

a few more footnotes:

-Con Martin was a footballer

-Alfie Byrne was Lord Mayor of Dublin 1930-39 and 1954-5.

-baby powers: miniature bottle of Powers whiskey

-confo money: money given as a present for the speaker's confirmation

-helping the black babies: annual Catholic church collection for charitable relief work in Africa

[The4books]

@The4books

One final note: The Legion of Mary was founded in and organizaed out of Dublin. Their activities included charitable and missionary work in Africa ["helpin' the black babies"]. Since blue is Mary's color, the scapulars mentioned were probably distributed by the Legion. The Legion also did ministry work among the poor and socially outcast, including prostitutes. So the reference to "helping ... Dolly Fosset's" might refer to rehabilitating prostitutes, rather than patronizing them.

[seangavin123]

@lreland1 Hairy lemon was a dog trapper

[DERMOTDEBARRA]

As far as I now the Mero or Maro was a picture house or cinema located in mary street just above Henry street It was there until the 50s and you could get in by using a jamjar as currency. I worked in the building in the 70s and the shape of the cinema was still there now AXA wolfe tone st.

Dermot

[kelkel14311]

de dubliners r savage!!!

[Zazaza47]

Like a Pirates song...

[nicktheone118]

aye lol haha, like u can imagine johnny depp as captain jack humming to this whilst sailing and all his crew working

[spudseamus]

Ahh its the play between a free stater and the black and tans it makes sense now

[spudseamus]

is he sayin stater or slater?? i know what a slater is but---

[bowbez]

stater, it means Free Stater

[rasherst]

I'm old enough to have gone to the Maro, and I remember oul Bang Bang who'd frighten the life outta you. Ah the Maro, the Plaza, the Royal on a sunday, the 'Lec in Talbot St, the Phoenix up along the quays, the Masterpiece also in Talbot Street where they said miracles happened - you went in a cripple and came out walking (walking alive with fleas) Yes, they were the good oul days alright. But these days are even better.

[lreland1]

LOL :-)

[spudseamus]

yep it says it like it was in auld Dublin -- ide forgotten about Bang Bang

[zxcxcz]

best dubliners song without a doubt!!