♪ [funky soulful music/ handclaps] ♪ - [Announcer 1] Support for the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival on KVCR comes from Amazon.

- [Announcer 2] This program from the annual Summer Music Festival at the Redlands Bowl is made possible by support from these Inland Empire civic-minded organizations concerned with the cultural life of our communities.

The citizens of the Inland Empire that patronize the Bowl, and viewers like you supporting local public television in the Inland Empire.

Thank you.

(audience cheering) (upbeat fiddle music) ♪ (loud voice) - Redlands, how are yous?

(audience cheers/applauds) Come on!

You can do better than that!

(audience cheers/applauds) That's it!

♪ ♪ Oh the little boats are gone ♪ ♪ From the shores of Anna Liffey ♪ ♪ And the ferry boats are stranded on the quay ♪ ♪ And the Dublin docks are dyin' ♪ ♪ Our way of life is gone ♪ ♪ Ah, but Molly, that was part of you and me ♪ ♪ Where the strawberry beds sweep down to the Liffey ♪ ♪ You'll kiss away the worry from my brow ♪ ♪ I love you well today ♪ ♪ I will love you more tomorrow ♪ ♪ And if you ever loved me, Molly, love me now ♪ ♪ It was the only job I had ♪ ♪ It was hard and it was lonely ♪ ♪ But the ferry boats they made a man of me ♪ ♪ Now they're gone and lost forever ♪ ♪ Half-forgotten even now ♪ ♪ I'm sure, Molly, that was part of you and me ♪ ♪ And where the strawberry beds sweep down to the Liffey ♪ ♪ You'll kiss away the worry from my brow ♪ ♪ I love you well today ♪ ♪ I love you more tomorrow ♪ ♪ And if you ever loved me, Molly, love me now ♪ Okay, Redlands!

Where are ya?

(audience cheering) Give me one more time!

(audience cheering) Okay, are there any Irish people in the audience?

(audience cheering) Well, tonight you're all Irish!

(audience cheering) ♪ So I'll go and tend the yard ♪ ♪ And I'll spend me days a talkin' ♪ ♪ And I'll hear them whisper "Charlie's on the dole" ♪ ♪ Ah, but Molly, we're still livin' ♪ ♪ And my darling, we're still young ♪ ♪ For the river took my heart but not me soul ♪ Come on!

♪ Where the strawberry beds sweep down to the Liffey ♪ ♪ And take ♪ ♪ The worry from my brow ♪ ♪ I love you well today ♪ ♪ I will love you more tomorrow ♪ ♪ And if you ever loved me, Molly, love me now ♪ One more time!

♪ Where the strawberry beds sweep down to the Liffey ♪ ♪ You will kiss away the worry from my brow ♪ ♪ I love you well today ♪ ♪ I will love you more tomorrow ♪ ♪ And if you ever loved me, Molly, love me now ♪ ♪ Well, if you ever loved me Molly ♪ ♪ Love me now!

♪ Hup!

(audience cheering/applauding) Ah, yes!

Yes, yes, yes.

A mediocre response from the Redlands crowd!

- [Audience] Awww!

- I know that half of ye were at the pub before ye got here!

(audience laughs/whoops) So, let's try it one more time.

(shouts) Good evenin', Redlands!!

(audience cheering loudly) That's more like it!

I want you to pretend like it's St.

Patrick's Day, because tonight I am goin' to bring a little piece of Ireland to you all.

As you take and hear from my accent, I come from a town far, far away from here.

Ames, Iowa!

(audience laughing) No, it's a fact!

I actually moved to America about 20 years ago, and I made my life here.

But, I spend about half the year at home in Ireland.

So, I guess that means I am Io-wish!

(audience laughing) I go home just purely to top up me accent!

(audience laughs) If I went home talkin' like a Yank, my mother would give me a thick ear!

So tonight, I am going to take you here in sunny California.

I want you to close your eyes for a minute.

We're going to go across North America.

We're gonna cross the Atlantic Ocean.

And you're goin' to stand in the lovely town of Wexford, on the sunny southeast.

And when I say "sunny," it's not that sunny!

(audience laughs) Wait!

Go back to imagining you're standing on the harbor, lookin' at the trawlers, bringing in the catch of the day.

It's raining.

It's been raining for three days, (audience laughs) but you don't care 'cause you're in the pub, (audience laughs) surrounded by the palest people you've ever seen in your life!

(audience laughs) We're like drunk ghosts!

(audience laughs) But I promise ya, in that little room is a wealth of Irish culture.

There's a reason why our culture reaches all across the world, and it's because we celebrate our culture daily in our daily lives.

Mostly in the pub!

(audience laughs) I can think of nothin' better than bein' with my family and my friends in my local pub at home, singin' great songs together.

And, somebody will get up and do a poem, or will dance a jig.

And, that's why our culture is so alive.

(low humming music) You know here in America, and when you're listenin' to a big country tune, you will-- that music will take over your soul, and you go, "Yee-haw!"

(Southern accent) (audience laughs) We would never do that in Ireland.

Why?

Because it involves effort!

(audience laughs) Our response to Irish music is very different.

We have three letters: H-U-P.

Hup!

- [Audience] Hup!

Hup!

- One more time.

- Hup!

- So, when you feel the music takin' over ya, I want you to gimme a hup!

(low humming music) - Hup!

- Only when you feel it people, only when you feel it!

Right, are you ready?

♪ Lift MacCahir Óg your face ♪ ♪ You're brooding o'er the old disgrace ♪ ♪ That black Fitzwilliam stormed your place ♪ ♪ Drove you to the Fern ♪ ♪ Grey said victory was sure ♪ ♪ Soon the firebrand he'd secure ♪ ♪ Until he met at Glenmalure with Fiach Mac Hugh O'Byrne ♪ - Hup!

♪ Curse and swear Lord Kildare ♪ ♪ Fiach will do what Fiach will dare ♪ ♪ Now Fitzwilliam, have a care ♪ ♪ Fallen is your star, low ♪ ♪ Up with halbert down with sword ♪ ♪ We'll follow onward by the Lord ♪ ♪ Fiach MacHugh has given his word ♪ ♪ Follow me up to Carlow ♪ Hup!

- Hup!

Redlands, come on!

I want yous to work yourselves up into a frenzy.

♪ See the swords of Glen Imayle ♪ ♪ They're flashin' o'er the English pale ♪ ♪ See all the children of the Gael ♪ ♪ Beneath O'Byrne's banners ♪ - Hup!

♪ Rooster of a fighting stock ♪ ♪ Would you let a fightin' cock ♪ ♪ Crow out upon an Irish rock, go up and teach him manners ♪ ♪ Curse and swear Lord Kildare ♪ ♪ Fiach will do what Fiach will dare ♪ ♪ Now Fitzwilliam, have a care ♪ ♪ Fallen is your star, low ♪ ♪ Up with halbert down with sword ♪ ♪ We'll follow onward by the Lord ♪ ♪ Fiach MacHugh has given his word ♪ ♪ Follow me up to Carlow ♪ Hup!

♪ (audience whooping) (shoes tapping) (bold piano rhythm) Hey!

(shoes tapping) ♪ Ho!

(bold drums/percussion) ♪ Hup!

♪ (tap shoes clacking) ♪ ♪ From Saggart to Clonmore ♪ ♪ There flows a stream of Saxon gore ♪ ♪ O, great is Rory Óg O'More ♪ ♪ Sending the loons to Hades ♪ ♪ White is sick and Lane is fled ♪ ♪ And soon they'll have Fitzwilliam's head ♪ ♪ We'll send it over drippin' red ♪ ♪ To Liza and her ladies ♪ ♪ Curse and swear Lord Kildare ♪ ♪ Fiach will do what Fiach will dare ♪ ♪ Now Fitzwilliam, have a care ♪ ♪ Fallen is your star, low ♪ ♪ Up with halbert down with sword ♪ ♪ We'll follow onward by the Lord ♪ ♪ Fiach MacHugh has given his word ♪ ♪ Follow me up to Carlow ♪ ♪ Follow me up to Carlow ♪ ♪ Hup!

Follow me up to Carlow ♪ (music stops) Whoo!!

(audience cheering) Ladies and gentlemen, Brandon Asazawa!

(audience cheering/applauding) Whoo!!

(audience cheering/applauding) The man, Brandon!

[out of breath] There he is now.

Off he goes.

(audience whooping) I love being Irish!

(audience applauding/laughing) So, I- Uh?

Am very lucky in that I get to live in two great places.

I love it here, and I love being at home.

And over the past five years, I'm so lucky in that I now host a show on PBS called "Ireland with Michael."

(light clapping) And-- thank you to the four people who watch it!

(audience laughing/clapping) And, you can see it right here on your local channel, KVCR.

They are so supportive.

And, what "Ireland with Michael" has done for me is that I'm getting to look at Ireland in a very different way.

Because Ireland isn't just about the castles and the scenery.

Okay, a lot of it is about the castles and the scenery!

(audience laughs) And, the pints of Guinness!

But really, it's the people and their creativity and how all of our artists, the real asset that Ireland has, have spread themselves all over the world over the past couple of hundred years.

A few of them came here, one or two!

(audience laughs) And, they-- As a result, their music and their culture kind of evolved.

So, Irish America has turned into somethin' that is really beautiful, but ultimately very different than what Ireland is.

And, I love both worlds.

And, I thought I'd sing somethin' tonight.

The reason that I moved here, the reason that I love here, is that I fell in love with the American-- "The Great American Songbook."

And, seein' those little Irish influences every so often excite me.

And, this next song is actually-- Everybody thinks it's an Irish song, but it's an old vaudeville song.

And, I think it really sums up what Irish America is.

- [Band Member] One, two, three, four.

(uptempo beat/ bright tin whistle music ♪ ♪ Oh, Molly dear, now did you hear ♪ ♪ The news that's goin' round ♪ ♪ Down in a corner of my heart a love is what you've found ♪ ♪ And every time I gaze into your Irish eyes of blue ♪ ♪ They seem to whisper, "Darlin' boy ♪ (slow tempo) ♪ My love, it's just for you" ♪ ♪ Oh... ♪ (slow dramatic piano) ♪ Molly, my Irish Molly ♪ (quick piano rhythm) ♪ My sweet macushla dear ♪ ♪ I'm fairly off my trolley ♪ ♪ My Irish Molly, when you are near ♪ ♪ Spring time, you know it's ring time ♪ ♪ Come dear, now don't be slow ♪ ♪ Change your name, go on be game ♪ ♪ Begorra, wouldn't I do the same ♪ ♪ My Irish Molly-O ♪ Hup!

♪ (upbeat tin whistle music) ♪ Molly dear, now did you hear I furnished up the flat?

♪ ♪ Two little cozy rooms with bath ♪ ♪ And a "Welcome" on the mat ♪ ♪ It's five pounds down and two per week ♪ ♪ We'll soon be out of debt ♪ ♪ It's all complete except they haven't ♪ ♪ Brought the cradle yet ♪ (slow tempo) ♪ Oh... ♪ (slow dramatic piano) ♪ Molly, my Irish Molly ♪ (quick piano rhythm) ♪ My sweet macushla dear ♪ ♪ I'm fairly off my trolley ♪ ♪ My Irish Molly, when you are near ♪ ♪ Spring time, you know it's ring time ♪ ♪ Come dear, now don't be slow ♪ ♪ Change your name, go on be game ♪ ♪ Begorra, wouldn't I do the same ♪ ♪ My Irish Molly-O ♪ Hup!

Whoo!

(sprightly fiddle/piano music) ♪ ♪ (audience applauds) ♪ Oh, Molly dear, now did you hear ♪ ♪ What all the neighbors say ♪ ♪ About the hundred sovereigns you safely stowed away ♪ ♪ They say that's why I love ya ♪ ♪ But Molly, that's a shame ♪ ♪ If you had only 99 ♪ (slow tempo) ♪ Well, I'd love ya just the same ♪ ♪ Oh... ♪ (slow dramatic piano) ♪ Molly, my Irish Molly ♪ (quick piano rhythm) ♪ My sweet macushla dear ♪ ♪ I'm fairly off my trolley ♪ ♪ My Irish Molly, when you are near ♪ ♪ Spring time, you know it's ring time ♪ ♪ Come dear, now don't be slow ♪ ♪ Change your name, go on be game ♪ ♪ Begorra, wouldn't I do the same ♪ ♪ My Irish Molly-O ♪ (uptempo beat) Hup!

♪ (bright tin whistle music) Ho!

Molly!

(music stops) (audience cheering/applauding) "Come to California," they said.

"It's an outdoor show," they said.

"Yes, you're Irish," they said, "But, the heat won't kill you at all!

You're well able for it," they said!

(audience laughs) Okay, so I kind of gave you a glimpse of what Irish America was.

Now, let's go back to what Ireland was.

I don't know if you knew this, but we have a little bit of a problem with our neighbors!

(audience laughs) For 800 years!

(audience laughs) And, what that did despite all of the hundreds of years of oppression, because durin' that time our culture was crushed.

So, you were not allowed to perform as an Irish person.

You were not allowed to sing Irish songs.

You were not allowed to write Irish poetry.

You were not allowed to use the Irish language.

You were not allowed to be creative in any way, lest we make commentary on what was happening at the time.

But, what that actually did was what happens when you condense a mineral; it turns into a diamond.

And, that's what happened to our culture.

We thrived under that and we saved a lot of what we created.

And, a lot of what we sing about isn't quite direct.

Here's an interesting fact about an Irish person.

There's no verb to say "I love you" in Ireland.

The word "love", which is grá, is a noun.

Why?

Because an Irish man's never gonna say "I love you."

(audience laughs) But, you know what he is going to do?

He's gonna write a song for you and he's gonna recite poetry to you.

And, that's why we're so creative.

This is a song that really is a commentary on what is around us, what we cherish most on our land, and it's our land.

And, it's about the culture during that time when nothing was free.

And, this song is called "Only our Rivers Run Free."

(somber guitar music) ♪ ♪ When apples still grow ♪ ♪ In November ♪ ♪ ♪ When blossoms still bloom ♪ ♪ From each tree ♪ ♪ ♪ When leaves are still green ♪ ♪ In December ♪ ♪ ♪ It's then that our land will be free ♪ ♪ ♪ I wander her hills ♪ ♪ And her valleys ♪ ♪ ♪ And still ♪ ♪ Through my sorrow I see ♪ ♪ A land ♪ ♪ That has never known freedom ♪ ♪ ♪ And only her rivers run free ♪ (somber piano/guitar music) ♪ I drink ♪ ♪ To the death of her manhood ♪ ♪ ♪ To those men ♪ ♪ Who'd rather have died ♪ ♪ ♪ Than to live ♪ ♪ In the cold chains of bondage ♪ ♪ ♪ To bring back their rights ♪ ♪ When denied ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh, where are you now ♪ ♪ When we need you?

♪ ♪ ♪ What burns ♪ ♪ Where the flame used to be?

♪ ♪ Are you gone ♪ ♪ Like the snows of last winter?

♪ ♪ ♪ And will only our rivers run free?

♪ ♪ (mournful tin whistle music) ♪ ♪ ♪ How sweet ♪ ♪ Is life, but we're crying ♪ ♪ ♪ How mellow the wine ♪ ♪ But it's dry ♪ ♪ ♪ How fragrant the rose ♪ ♪ But it's dying ♪ ♪ ♪ How gentle the wind ♪ ♪ But it sighs ♪ ♪ ♪ For what good is in youth ♪ ♪ When it's aging?

♪ ♪ ♪ What joy is in eyes ♪ ♪ That can't see?

♪ ♪ When there's sorrow ♪ ♪ In sunshine and flowers ♪ ♪ ♪ And only our rivers run free ♪ ♪ ♪ And only our rivers ♪ (music stops) ♪ Run free...!

♪ (audience applauding) (audience whistling/applauding) Thank you!

(audience cheering/applauding) Well?

Now that I have made yous all miserable!

(audience laughs) 'Cause let's face it, nobody does misery better than the Irish!

(audience laughs) We're brilliant at it!

When I first arrived in New York 20 years ago, I was very, very, very lucky to have my first professional job in America be as the lead singer of "Riverdance" on Broadway.

- [Audience] Yeah!

- I know!

(audience applauding) My favorite part of "Riverdance," was when I finished my song and I'd walk side stage and I'd turn around to see the beautiful slip jig.

It is my favorite dance.

And, I asked the ladies tonight to dance for you my favorite Irish dance, the slip jig.

(audience cheering/applauding) (mellow guitar music) ♪ ♪ (gentle guitar/ tin whistle music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (music pauses) ♪ (mellow guitar/ soft percussion) ♪ (brighter tin whistle music) ♪ ♪ (gentle fiddle/ tin whistle music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (gentle fiddle/ tin whistle music) ♪ (louder drums/ bright tin whistle music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (soulful gentle music) ♪ ♪ (light tin whistle/ gentle guitar & fiddle) ♪ ♪ (music fades) (audience cheering/applauding) Ladies and gentlemen, Belle, Leah and Maeve!

(audience cheering/applauding) (audience laughs) Oh, I think I popped me knee!

(audience laughs) I now want you to do what Irish people do best.

And, that is to sing.

Are you ready, Redlands, to sing?

- [Audience] Yeah!

- Okay, don't worry.

I will not judge Redlands if there aren't great singers.

I would never move on to the next town and say that this town was terrible at singing.

I would never do that.

San Bernardino!

(muffled voice) (audience laughs) - [Audience] Ooh!

(audience laughs) No!

Okay.

So... Irish people, Irish singers in particular, we go out into the world, we sing our songs to you great people.

We take your songs and then we take them back to Ireland.

We learn them.

We go back out into the world and we tell everybody that they're Irish songs!

(audience laughs) There's one country that we have a secret deal with.

We steal each other's songs and nobody will report each other.

And, that is Scotland!

(audience laughs/whoops) And, they have stolen our songs.

We have stolen theirs.

This is one that we stole from them.

It's a very, very beautiful song.

And, I want you to repeat after me.

Are ya ready?

- Oh, yes.

- Green grow the rushes, O.

- [Audience] Green grow the rushes, O.

- Okay.

One more time.

Green grow the rushes, O.

- [Audience] Green grow the rushes, O.

- Very good.

The sweetest hours that e'er I spent.

- [Audience] The sweetest hours that e'er I spent.

- Very good!

Are spent among the lasses, O.

- [Audience] Are spent among the lasses, O.

- The sweetest hours that e'er I spent.

- [Audience] The sweetest hours that e'er I spent.

- Are spent among the lasses, O.

- [Audience] Are spent among the lasses, O.

- Okay.

Right, are you ready?

- Yeah.

(mellow guitar music) (Michael and audience sing) ♪ Green grow the rushes, O ♪ ♪ ♪ Green grow the rushes, O ♪ ♪ ♪ The sweetest hours that e'er I spent ♪ ♪ Were spent among the lasses, O ♪ - Okay.

One more time.

(mellow guitar music) ♪ Green grow ♪ ♪ - The rushes, O ♪ (Michael and audience sing) ♪ - Green grow the rushes, O ♪ ♪ ♪ The sweetest hours that e'er I spent ♪ - Come on, everybody!

♪ Were spent among ♪ ♪ - The lasses, O ♪ - Oh, that's fantastic!

Okay, this time just me!

(audience laughs) ♪ The war'ly race may riches chase ♪ ♪ ♪ An' riches still enjoy them, O ♪ ♪ ♪ Tho' at last they catch them fast ♪ ♪ Their hearts can still enjoy them, O ♪ Come on, sing with me.

(Michael and audience sing) ♪ Green grow the rushes, O ♪ - That's it.

♪ Green grow the rushes, O ♪ ♪ ♪ - The sweetest hours ♪ ♪ - That e'er I spent ♪ ♪ Were spent among ♪ ♪ - The lasses, O ♪ ♪ (Music drowns out Michael) ♪ The war'ly race may riches chase ♪ ♪ ♪ An' riches still enjoy them, O ♪ ♪ Tho' at last they catch them fast ♪ ♪ Their hearts can still enjoy them, O ♪ Sing it with me, Redlands!

(Michael and audience sing) ♪ Green grow the rushes, O ♪ ♪ - Green grow.

♪ ♪ Green grow ♪ ♪ - T he rushes, O ♪ ♪ ♪ - The sweetest hours that ♪ ♪ - E'er I spent ♪ - Come on!

♪ - Were spent among ♪ ♪ - The lasses, O ♪ - Come on, Davy!

Hup!

(bright tin whistle music) ♪ ♪ (music softens) ♪ The war'ly race may riches chase ♪ ♪ An' still the world enjoys it, O ♪ ♪ Tho' at last they catch them fast ♪ ♪ Their hearts can still enjoy them, O ♪ (Michael and audience sing) ♪ Green grow the rushes, O ♪ - You're on your own!

♪ - Green grow the rushes, O ♪ ♪ ♪ - The sweetest ♪ ♪ - Hours that e'er I spent ♪ ♪ ♪ Were spent among the lasses, O ♪ - One more time.

Come on, Redlands!

♪ ♪ Green grow ♪ ♪ - The rushes, O ♪ ♪ - Green grow ♪ ♪ - Green grow the rushes, O ♪ ♪ (Michael and audience sing) ♪ - The sweetest hours that ♪ E'er I spent ♪ ♪ Were spent among the lasses, O ♪ ♪ Oh, oh, oh!

♪ - Redlands!

You can sing!!

(audience cheering/applauding) (dramatic piano) Well done, everybody!

(audience applauding/cheering) (music stops) Ooh!

Let me tell you.

When they said there was a little bit of a heat-- The quote was, "There's a little bit of a heat advisory, Michael."

(audience laughs) And my people, we don't do the heat.

When it's 70 degrees in Dublin, they're goin', "Oh, Lord!

It's roastin'."

(audience laughs) No word of a lie.

So, I want yous all to enjoy this next set of tunes.

I'm going to go back there and drink about seven gallons of water!

(audience laughs) And, I want you to give me as much HUPS as ya can!

Are ya ready?

- Yes!

- Hup!

See you in a while!

- Hup!

(audience laughs) (mellow guitar music) ♪ ♪ (gentle tin whistle music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (carefree happy music) ♪ (joyful fiddle music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (bold drums) ♪ ♪ (carefree happy music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (tap shoes clacking rapidly) (audience cheering/whooping) (bold drumming) (tap shoes clacking) ♪ (bright tin whistle/ bold drumming) ♪ ♪ (mellow guitar/ tin whistle music) ♪ ♪ (tap shoes clacking) ♪ ♪ (music fades) (audience cheering/applauding) (music stops) (audience cheering/applauding) (quick rambling guitar music) ♪ ♪ (bright uilleann pipe music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (joyful uilleann pipe/ guitar music) ♪ ♪ (sprightly fiddle/ uilleann pipe music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (bold drums/bright fiddle) ♪ ♪ (bold drum solo) ♪ ♪ (bright fast tin whistle music) ♪ (joyful uptempo music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (joyful uptempo music) ♪ ♪ ♪ (music fades) (music stops) (audience cheering/applauding) - [Michael] Hup!

- [Audience] Hup!

- I know I talked about Wexford, where I'm from, the southeast corner of the island.

It's where Irish people actually go on vacation.

We're the sunniest part of the country, which is relative!

I was noticing actually all your beautiful palm trees.

We actually have palm trees in Wexford, but they don't look like that.

They look like this... (audience laughs) because of the wind and the rain!

(audience laughs) But, Wexford is famous for-- We are the fruit pickers.

We've the best fruit in Ireland.

Our strawberries are the best you'll ever taste in your life.

We're famous for our opera festival, and our singers, and our authors.

But, there's one thing that you won't know about Wexford.

When I was growin' up, in every hallway in every house across the whole of Wexford was the Holy Trinity: John, Bobby, and Pope John XXIII!

(audience laughs) All in the same frame, mind you!

Why?

Because in the 1840s, Patrick Kennedy left Wexford, crossed to Liverpool, and onto Boston and the rest, as they say, is history.

And, we are so proud of that because President Kennedy, in the 1960s, in 1963, just six months before that awful time, he came to Ireland- as he called it- he called it "home."

He came home in 1963 in June.

And, you have to know that the whole country stopped because the great President Kennedy was a man of Wexford.

And, 50 years later, in 2013, the Irish government gave me a call and they said, "We would like you to host a gathering "to honor that trip 50 years ago.

"And, we'd like you to sing at the graveside "on behalf of Ireland in thanks to President Kennedy."

And, I sang the Irish national anthem in Arlington, there in June.

The next day-- It was a somber affair.

The next day, however, we got all of the Kennedys and we put them on a plane and took them to Ireland to celebrate their father's legacy.

And, I was hosting that event.

Uh?

I was terrified.

They said, "We need you to come up with a song to honor the Kennedy family, and Caroline, who is going to be sitting right in front of you, we need you to find a song.

Oh!

And by the way, you're going to be singing with Judy Collins.

(audience laughs) I was terrified.

And, for months, I was trying to find the right song.

And, ultimately I was talk-- I was thinking about-?

You know what I was doing there?

I was standing on the stage in Wexford, my hometown, right in front of me was Caroline Kennedy and her children.

And, right behind Caroline was my own mother.

And, I was singing to her and I was singing to Caroline, and I thought, "Really, what I want to sing about is legacy and what we pass on to our children."

And, this is the song that I sang on that day.

(gentle piano music) ♪ ♪ Days pass ♪ ♪ Like a moving wave ♪ ♪ ♪ Always faster ♪ ♪ Than you think ♪ ♪ ♪ And just below ♪ ♪ The misty surface ♪ ♪ ♪ If you try to stop time ♪ ♪ ♪ You will sink ♪ ♪ ♪ And so I only have you ♪ ♪ For a little while ♪ ♪ ♪ I brush my fingers through your hair ♪ ♪ And you smile ♪ ♪ ♪ I may not be there when ♪ ♪ You get to where you're going ♪ ♪ ♪ I plant the seed but may not ♪ ♪ See that tree done growing ♪ ♪ Still as long as there's a blue yonder ♪ ♪ And yonders forever ♪ ♪ Why?

Well, I will always ♪ ♪ Have faith for tomorrow's child ♪ (uplifting piano music) ♪ ♪ We all began ♪ ♪ As sons and daughters ♪ ♪ ♪ We all become ♪ ♪ Lovers and friends ♪ ♪ ♪ Some of us are blessed ♪ ♪ To be mothers and fathers ♪ ♪ ♪ But we all become ♪ ♪ Children in the end ♪ ♪ ♪ And so I only have you ♪ ♪ For a little while ♪ ♪ ♪ I run my fingers through your hair ♪ ♪ And you smile ♪ ♪ ♪ I may not be there when ♪ ♪ You get to where you're going ♪ ♪ ♪ I plant the seed but may not ♪ ♪ See that tree done growing ♪ ♪ Still as long as there's a blue yonder ♪ ♪ And yonders forever ♪ ♪ Why?

♪ ♪ I will always ♪ ♪ Have faith in tomorrow's child ♪ ♪ And now ♪ ♪ Don't you ever feel alone ♪ ♪ ♪ You're always ♪ ♪ Coming home ♪ ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ (bright tin whistle music) ♪ Ooh, ooh, ooh ♪ ♪ ♪ Still as long as there's a blue yonder ♪ ♪ And yonders forever ♪ ♪ Why?

Well ♪ ♪ I will always ♪ ♪ Have faith in tomorrow's ♪ ♪ Child ♪ ♪ ♪ I have faith in tomorrow's ♪ ♪ Child ♪ ♪ I have faith in tomorrow's ♪ ♪ Child ♪ ♪ I will have faith in tomorrow's ♪ ♪ Child ♪ (music fades) (audience applauding/cheering) Are ya ready for some dancin'?

- Yeah!

(audience clapping) Hup!

- Hup!

Hup!

(tap shoes clacking) (audience cheering/applauding) - [Dancer] Ready?

- [Audience] Ready!

Hup!

Hup!

(shoes tapping rhythm) (stomp!)

(audience cheering) (shoes tapping/stomping) (shoes tapping musically) (shoes tapping) (audience whooping) - [Dancers] Hup!

(shoes tapping rapidly) (stomping) - [Dancer] Hup!

(shoes tapping rapidly) (shoes tapping in rhythm sequence) (audience cheering) (shoes tapping) - Whoo!

Hup!

(shoes tapping/stomping) (shoes tapping/stomping) (audience whooping) (solo rapid tap) - [Dancer] Ho!!

- Oh, yeah!

- Alright!!

(audience cheering/applauding) - Whoo!!

(audience cheering/applauding) - [Dancer] Ready to go?

(audience cheering) - Five, six, seven, eight!

(shoes tapping) - Ready?

- Yeah!

(clap-clap!)

- Hup!

- Go again!

(shoes tapping) (clap-clap!)

(shoes tapping) (dancers and audience clap) (shoes tapping) (clap-clap!)

- Okay!

Pretty good.

Pretty good!

(audience cheers/applauds) - [Dancer] We're gonna split ya!

OK?

- OK!

- [Dancer] You guys, this way.

- [Dancer] With me.

- And, you guys are with me!

(audience whoops) You ready to go?

- [Audience] Yes!

Let's ride!

Ready?

Five, six, seven, eight!

(claps rhythm) (shoes tapping/stomping) Ready?

(dancers and audience clap) Right here!

(shoes tapping/stomping) (clap-clap!)

- Yes!

(shoes tapping/stomping) (clap-clap!)

(shoes tapping/stomping) Everybody!!

(dancers and audience clap) (tapping/stomping) (clap-clap!)

(tapping/stomping) (dancers and audience clap) (tapping/stomping) (clap-clap!)

(tapping/stomping) Hup!

(clap-clap!)

(tapping/stomping) Hup!

(clap-clap!)

(tapping/stomping) (dancers and audience clap) (tapping/stomping) - Hup!

- Oi!

(audience applauds/cheers) - Hey!

(solo stomping rhythm) (solo tapping) (dancers tapping/stomping) - Hup!

(fast tapping/stomping) (audience whoops/cheers) - Hup!!

(tapping/stomping) Hup!

- Hup!

Go!

(clapping) (audience clapping in rhythm) (audience whoops/cheers) (fast tapping/stomping) - Hup!

- [Dancers] Hup!

Ey!

(audience cheering) Whoo!!

- Hup!

(audience cheers/whoops) (stomp!)

- Hey!

(audience cheers) - Ladies and gentlemen, Brandon, Dan and Andy!

(audience applauds/cheers) Lads, you're amazin'.

We're not quite at the end yet, but we're winding down.

And, I was just lookin' out there from the curtain at y'all and thinkin' to myself, how lucky is Redlands to have this gem in the middle of its-- It's the lifeblood of this town.

Am I wrong?

It's incredible.

(audience cheering) I'd love ya (ahem) to keep supporting live acts here in this area, but support this programming.

It's incredible to see such a large crowd at a live event.

I'd like to thank KVCR for taping this.

It's incredible that you have a station that locally you can watch live entertainment without havin' to leave your house.

It's incredible that PBS supports the arts like that.

And, I'd encourage you to please, please support public broadcasting.

(audience cheers/applauds) Thank you.

(audience applauds) I want to thank everybody here for-- You know, when somethin' like this happens, it's-- A hundred people arrive at this building and do everything in their power to make all of this happen in a couple of hours.

(pauses) I'm about to sing a song that I sing-- I've sang for 25 years because my mother suggested it.

(audience laughs) There was no suggestion, she just told me!

(audience laughs) And luckily, it kind of changed my career and gave me a career after "Riverdance."

And, it's so good to me.

The secret to the song is that I think it makes everybody who listens to it think about that one person in their life who they are closest to, be they sitting right beside them, be they on the other side of the world, or be they in another world.

And I sang it in 70 countries, maybe, and it has the same magic little reaction.

And I don't know what that secret is, but I intend to keep singing it.

(warm guitar music) ♪ ♪ Oh, Danny Boy ♪ ♪ The pipes, the pipes ♪ ♪ Are calling ♪ ♪ ♪ From glen to glen ♪ ♪ And down the mountainside ♪ ♪ ♪ The summer's gone ♪ ♪ And all the flowers are dying ♪ ♪ ♪ 'Tis you, 'tis you ♪ ♪ Must go ♪ ♪ And I must bide ♪ ♪ ♪ But come ye back ♪ (higher voice) ♪ When summer's in the meadow ♪ ♪ ♪ Or when the valley's hushed ♪ ♪ ♪ And white with snow ♪ ♪ ♪ 'Tis I'll be here ♪ ♪ In sunshine ♪ ♪ Or in shadow ♪ ♪ ♪ Oh, Danny Boy ♪ ♪ Oh, Danny Boy ♪ ♪ I love ya so ♪ (warm guitar music) ♪ ♪ But if ya come ♪ ♪ And all the flowers are dying ♪ ♪ ♪ And I am dead ♪ ♪ As dead I well may be ♪ ♪ ♪ You will come and find ♪ ♪ The place where I am lying ♪ ♪ ♪ And kneel and say ♪ ♪ An Ave there for me ♪ ♪ ♪ And I shall hear ♪ ♪ Though soft you tread above me ♪ ♪ ♪ And all my dreams ♪ ♪ Will warmer, sweeter be ♪ ♪ ♪ If you'll not fail ♪ ♪ To tell me ♪ ♪ That you love me ♪ ♪ ♪ While I simply sleep ♪ ♪ In peace ♪ ♪ Until you come ♪ ♪ To ♪ ♪ Me...!

♪ (music fades) (audience applauds/whistles) (audience applauds/cheers) Thanks so much, everybody!

(audience applauds/cheers) I had a blast.

(audience applauds/cheers) I'm not sure I'm gonna be able to talk in the mornin', but I had a blast!

(audience applauds/cheers) I hope you had a great night!

Good night.

Hup!

- [Audience] Hup!

(audience applauds/cheers) - [Audience] One more!

(audience applauds/cheers) - [Man] One more!

- [Woman] One more!

(audience applauds/cheers) (audience whistles/applauds) - [Michael] Good night, everybody!

Hup!

- [Audience] Hup!

(audience applauds/cheers) - [Announcer 2] This program is made possible by support from these Inland Empire civic-minded organizations concerned with the cultural life of our communities, the citizens that patronize the Bowl, and viewers like you supporting local public television in the Inland Empire.

Thank you.

[funky soulful music/ handclaps] ♪ - [Announcer 1] Support for the Redlands Bowl Summer Music Festival on KVCR comes from Amazon.

♪