Special Song of the Season: Mursheen Durkin from Ireland
Calicanto is delighted to offer a special Song of the Season every other month or so. In honor of St. Patrick’s Day, our first featured song is the spirited, “Mursheen Durkin.” This song was sung by Irish miners who left the potato famine in Ireland to seek their fortunes in the California Gold Rush. One of the lines is: “Instead of digging praties (potatoes), I’ll be digging lumps of gold!” I was recently in Ireland and I actually sang this song in several pubs. To my amazement, most of the Irish people in the pubs knew this song and could sing along with me! In the second verse, a number of Irish towns are mentioned. It is a fun way to learn a little Irish geography while also singing an authentic Gold Rush song! “Mursheen Durkin” can be found in our book: Days of Gold! Songs of the California Gold Rush.
