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  • Lot of talk on another thread about Jewish Money Lenders. As I was born in the heart of Little Jerusalem I know first hand how the Jewish community were major contributors to the local economy, by providing many jobs for youngsters and adults alike,

    I'll never forget the lucrative job I had as a chiseler, believe it or not in common with Elvis Presley and other well knowns.
    WIKI = In the 20th century, Colin Powell, Mario Cuomo, Gill Alexandre, Martin Scorsese, Floyd B. Olson, Harry S. Truman, and the adolescent Elvis Presley assisted their Jewish neighbors in this way
    The job was known to the Jewish people "Shabbos Goy" whereby every Saturday I would carry out simple tasks for several Jewish residents such as turning on or off a light, lighting the fire or opening mail and lighting the gas stove, for which my palm was crossed with silver.



    No paper rounds for me in the wind and rain.

    I can remember well that there's many a younwan or yunfella wouldn't have had a communion suit to wear had it not been for the Jewish money lenders.

    So here's to the past gentle kind and generous Jewish residents of Little Jerusalem and the greater Dublin without who the community and city would have been a much poorer place.



    Remembering this little ditty I wrote with the early days of Little Jerusalem and the Jewish money lenders in mind. This one was put to music by the highly acclaimed East Wall singer songwriter Paul O'Brien, as past poster in here who put it to music and included it on one of his CD's.

    Paul has the very talented knack of writing songs about Dublin life and East Wall, the place he grew up.... Check him out here http://www.paulobrien.eu/

    My true recollection of Ikey our money lender and the fear he instilled if me oulfella hadn't got the money, mind you the Ma nearly always came to the rescue....Canny lot those oul Dub Ma's eh

    [CENTER]
    The Friday Knock

    Long ago in Dublin Town in Little Jerusalem
    A family lived at 82,the divil a pity for them
    Times were tough and times were hard
    And cash as scarse could be
    But they all lived there in that tenement house
    court'sy of ould Ikey.

    Ikey was a jewish man
    With beard all long and grey
    Tatty coat and a trilby hat
    But a very rich man I'd say
    He loaned his money to the poor
    To help them pay their way
    But a familiar knock on a friday night
    Would scare a giant away

    Oh ! jayziz christ' I'm short this week
    I'd hear me father say
    That's oul Ikey at the door,but
    I've nuttin here te pay
    The work was scarce,I got laid off
    Three days in all last week
    Dors not enough te go around
    More work I'll have te seek

    Go out and telim I'm nor rin,
    I'll pay him twice next week
    Fer Jayziz sake will ye hurry up
    Before he wakes the street

    Me Da's nor rin, I'd meekly say
    As i stood inside the door
    An Ikey there with funny voice
    Sayin; "tellim,twill cost him more"
    Well,he said he'd pay ye twice next week
    If that's all right with you
    With me oul man hidin behind the door
    An me thinking,ye have yor glue !

    Some weeks were so much berror
    When me Ma had been te hock
    A god few bob,three half a crowns
    In a secret place she'd lock
    That's me stash for a rainy day
    Me diddley and new clock
    An it's there for when oul Ikey comes
    And we get The Friday Knock./CENTER]
    We'll sail be the tide....aarghhhh !!

    Comment


    • Originally posted by DAMNTHEWEATHER View Post
      Lot of talk on another thread about Jewish Money Lenders. As I was born in the heart of Little Jerusalem I know first hand how the Jewish community were major contributors to the local economy, by providing many jobs for youngsters and adults alike,

      I'll never forget the lucrative job I had as a chiseler, believe it or not in common with Elvis Presley and other well knowns.


      The job was known to the Jewish people "Shabbos Goy" whereby every Saturday I would carry out simple tasks for several Jewish residents such as turning on or off a light, lighting the fire or opening mail and lighting the gas stove, for which my palm was crossed with silver.



      No paper rounds for me in the wind and rain.

      I can remember well that there's many a younwan or yunfella wouldn't have had a communion suit to wear had it not been for the Jewish money lenders.

      So here's to the past gentle kind and generous Jewish residents of Little Jerusalem and the greater Dublin without who the community and city would have been a much poorer place.



      Remembering this little ditty I wrote with the early days of Little Jerusalem and the Jewish money lenders in mind. This one was put to music by the highly acclaimed East Wall singer songwriter Paul O'Brien, as past poster in here who put it to music and included it on one of his CD's.

      Paul has the very talented knack of writing songs about Dublin life and East Wall, the place he grew up.... Check him out here http://www.paulobrien.eu/

      My true recollection of Ikey our money lender and the fear he instilled if me oulfella hadn't got the money, mind you the Ma nearly always came to the rescue....Canny lot those oul Dub Ma's eh

      [CENTER]
      The Friday Knock

      Long ago in Dublin Town in Little Jerusalem
      A family lived at 82,the divil a pity for them
      Times were tough and times were hard
      And cash as scarse could be
      But they all lived there in that tenement house
      court'sy of ould Ikey.

      Ikey was a jewish man
      With beard all long and grey
      Tatty coat and a trilby hat
      But a very rich man I'd say
      He loaned his money to the poor
      To help them pay their way
      But a familiar knock on a friday night
      Would scare a giant away

      Oh ! jayziz christ' I'm short this week
      I'd hear me father say
      That's oul Ikey at the door,but
      I've nuttin here te pay
      The work was scarce,I got laid off
      Three days in all last week
      Dors not enough te go around
      More work I'll have te seek

      Go out and telim I'm nor rin,
      I'll pay him twice next week
      Fer Jayziz sake will ye hurry up
      Before he wakes the street

      Me Da's nor rin, I'd meekly say
      As i stood inside the door
      An Ikey there with funny voice
      Sayin; "tellim,twill cost him more"
      Well,he said he'd pay ye twice next week
      If that's all right with you
      With me oul man hidin behind the door
      An me thinking,ye have yor glue !

      Some weeks were so much berror
      When me Ma had been te hock
      A god few bob,three half a crowns
      In a secret place she'd lock
      That's me stash for a rainy day
      Me diddley and new clock
      An it's there for when oul Ikey comes
      And we get The Friday Knock./CENTER]
      Do you have a photo of Paul DTW by any chance

      Comment


      • Originally posted by rasher View Post
        Do you have a photo of Paul DTW by any chance
        Think I have, he came and stayed with us to help research and gather inspiration for the Port to Port CD, what a talented fella eh. I'll have a look for ye in me files.
        We'll sail be the tide....aarghhhh !!

        Comment


        • Originally posted by rasher View Post
          Do you have a photo of Paul DTW by any chance
          Here yar then Rasher...last one taken by me when Paul played with my good friend and famous musician Herbie Armstrong (lead guitar van Morrison) at his music pub in Hampshire village. Number taken by me when he played a gig I got him in another country pub. One of the nicest blokes ever met and a talent for writing songs up there with the best. Like most talented Irishmen he'll be appreciated more when he's gone unfortunately.
          Attached Files
          We'll sail be the tide....aarghhhh !!

          Comment


          • Memories of fishing for money at the bottom of the pub cellar grill...wat a challenge !!!.... How did you do it ?
            We'll sail be the tide....aarghhhh !!

            Comment


            • Originally posted by DAMNTHEWEATHER View Post
              Here yar then Rasher...last one taken by me when Paul played with my good friend and famous musician Herbie Armstrong (lead guitar van Morrison) at his music pub in Hampshire village. Number taken by me when he played a gig I got him in another country pub. One of the nicest blokes ever met and a talent for writing songs up there with the best. Like most talented Irishmen he'll be appreciated more when he's gone unfortunately.
              Thanks DTW I thought I knew him but it’s not the same guy

              Comment


              • Originally posted by rasher View Post
                Thanks DTW I thought I knew him but it’s not the same guy
                You weren't thinking of a P O'Byrne were you.
                We'll sail be the tide....aarghhhh !!

                Comment


                • Originally posted by cosmo View Post
                  bits of naval history and irish guards.
                  You're well missed here Cos...be great te see you back.
                  We'll sail be the tide....aarghhhh !!

                  Comment

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