What happened when a Norwegian girl started hanging around the Liberties after buying a horse and keeping it in a yard near Meath Street is not the most ubiquitous form of culture clash around but it is among the most charming.
Norwigi is a travelling street musician who goes by the name of The Musical Slave was driving her van around Meath Street and reversed into the wall of a horse yard. The local lads came out for a look, and they ended up bringing her out for a spin with the horse and cart.
Norwigi was hooked so she bought her own horse and kept it in the yard. The boys and the girl with the Viking ancestors became friends (even if the boys didn’t want to admit it).
So, Norwigi wrote a song about her friendship with the boys Branner, Sean, Dano, Dessie and Turbo. The lads even join in on two verses. The full video and song is worth watching in full, it’s a charming ode to the sweet friendship that developed between two very different types of people and her acceptance by the community.
She’s also working on a documentary about the laneway and the boys in the Liberties.
More from The Musical Slave on Spotify.
Niall Byrne is the founder of the most-influential Irish music site Nialler9, where he has been writing about music since 2005 . He is the co-host of the Nialler9 Podcast and has written for the Irish Times, Irish Independent, Cara Magazine, Sunday Times, Totally Dublin, Red Bull and more. Niall is a DJ, founder of Lumo Club, club promoter, event curator and producer of gigs, listening parties & events in Dublin.
Lyrically this is the 2nd worst song I’ve ever heard, the worst being Human by the Killers.
As for musical composition, it’s infantile, so the music for lack of a better word goes well with the lyrics.
There’s a huge issue with the mistreatment, neglect and abandonment of inner city horses in this country. City housing estates are no place for equines
For me this is punk reincarnated. Brilliant. Who else is celebrating the lives of these kids? Rough, tough, but full of love. Norwiji sings with the spirit of Joe Strummer, and Sinead O’Connor, and Fearghal Sharkey, and Polystyrene, and Exene Cervenka, and Bob Marley.
well done Norwigi, amazing song, totally captures the spirit of the Liberties and inner city Dublin. Ballsy and unique, looks like a lot of fun went into making the song 🙂
This is the kind of courage and honesty I strive for, and fall short of, every day.
Absolutely brilliant