The Auld Triangle - A song by Brendan Behan - A little bit of musical and cultural appreciation

Hi folks

This is a song I have been playing around with recently.Its called The Auld Triangle and it was written by an Irish poet ,author and playwright named Brendan Behan.

Brendan was one of Ireland's most famous and celebrated writers.He was also a notoriously heavy drinker and was in and out of prisons and borstols his whole life.

Although he had his fair share of troubles he was a larger than life character , a funny ,witty charming son of Dublin.He became somewhat of a hero to the generation of Irish artists who came after him like The Dubliners and Shane McGowan of The Pogues

He died an untimely death at the age of 41 in 1969 after drinking himself into a coma and never waking up.

This song was written during one of his many prison sentences.It basically tells the story of a man incarcerated and missing his girl.

"The Auld Triangle"
Brendan Behan

A hungry feeling
Came o'er me stealing
And the mice were squealing
In my prison cell
And that auld triangle went jingle-jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

To begin the morning
The screw was bawling
"Get up ya bowsie and clean up your cell!"
And the auld triangle went jingle-jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

One fine spring evening
As the lads lay dreaming
With the seagulls squealing
High above the wall

And the day was dying
As the wind was sighing
As I lay there crying
In my prison cell

And that auld triangle went jingle-jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

Now the screw was peeping
As the lads lay sleeping
As I lay there weeping
For my poor gal

And the auld triangle went jingle-jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

In the female prison
There are 70 women
And among them, I wish I did dwell

Then the auld triangle went jingle-jangle
All along the banks of the Royal Canal

I watched this documentary on the life and times of Brendan Behan a while back. Since St Patrick's day is just around the corner this might be a good one to watch with a few drinks around about the time.

Another grand old bit of Irish culture comes in the form of this documentary showcasing Brendans time in Paris...well worth a watch ,ideally accompanied by a few strong whiskeys :)...