- published: 12 May 2009
- views: 268263
Joseph Ronald "Ronnie" Drew (Irish: Ránall Ó Draoi IPA: [ˈɾˠaːnəl̪ˠ oː dɾˠiː]) (16 September 1934 – 16 August 2008) was an Irish singer, folk musician and actor who achieved international fame during a fifty-year career recording with The Dubliners.
He is most recognised for his lead vocals on the single "Seven Drunken Nights" and "The Irish Rover" both charting in the UK top 10 and then performed on TOTP. He was recognisable for his long beard and his voice, which was once described by Nathan Joseph as being "like the sound of coke being crushed under a door".
“Ronnie Drew in his fine suit of blue
And a voice like gravel that would cut you in two
We thought he was Dublin through and through
But he blew in from Dún Laoghaire”
Ronnie Drew was born in Dún Laoghaire, County Dublin in 1934.
Ironically, and although he was so intimately associated with being "a Dubliner", he would somewhat tongue-in-cheek say that "I was born and grew up in Dún Laoghaire, and no true Dubliner would accept that at all!", a quip that Andy Irvine relayed in his song "O'Donoghue's".
"step right up, step right up everyone. whether you're good or bad, happy or sad,
whether you're an emotional wreck, or a blissful speck in the black hole of an existance we
call life. step right up, and witness something you will be soon to never forget. feast your
ears on the most ferociously soothing waves of sonic communication to ever be created. built
for you by the master..."
"hey!"
"...built for you by the mast..."
"hey, shutup already, what is it?"
"what is it?"
"um... yeah, dog. what is it?"
"what is it?"
"dude, chill man."
"it... is limp bizkit!"
all around the world, you know me