Frank Mackey's Song 'Kiss My Irish Ass'

Music has played a major role throughout the evolution of human kind. It has been around since the days of cavemen who discovered the effects of banging rocks and sticks in a rhythm. Through the years music has been used as a medium for expression of thoughts, feelings, and ideas. The lyrics of the song are usually the easiest and least complex way of expressing these feelings. There are more subtle ways that are often overlooked though. These are the tone of voice, tempo of the music, the instruments used, hidden meanings or metaphors, and the overall way the song sounds. A good example of this is the song Kiss My Irish Ass by Frank Mackey and the Keltic Cowboys. Mackey wrote this song about ten years ago. The song has many expressions of thoughts as well as feelings, emotions, and even history. First off the title itself shows the main idea of the song. The
The chorus goes:” We're as stubborn as mules/ With our blood on fire/ When we ain't at Sunday mass/ We'll look any man straight in his eyes and say/ Kiss my Irish ass!/ You better kiss my Irish ass!”
This shows how the Irish really feel about themselves and others. It also shows how they defend themselves against the oppressing Americans of other, more affluent descendents. With this Mackey also says about the families who talked about his behind his back that if he was old enough to understand he would’ve “given it right back.” The tone of this song adds a significant feeling to the song. The music used is very upbeat and happy. The Keltic Cowboys use a variety of instruments that are very Irish and add to the emotions that this song expresses. They use the banjo, harmonica, and accordion among others. These instruments make this song very cherry and fast-paced. This not only helps avoid the threatening manner in which the words come off but also explains how Mackey and other immigrants and relatives of Irish-born