Dear readers and listeners,
We welcome the new autumn season with something thoughtful and wholesome. I have added this song to the stations (RadioUnited) catalog for future play. It's kinda funny how some songs hit differently, when you learn about what the artists intentions were at the time. This particular song was many years old by the time I first heard it when I was like 25 or 26 years old. I knew a bit about Thin Lizzy's records but Lynott's solo work has some great moments as well.
Fans often miss the fact that this song is simply a dad being silly for his little girl.
It is one of Phil Lynott’s most tender, playful, and personal songs with a rare glimpse of the softer, family‑centered side of a man usually remembered for his swagger, poetry, and streetwise romance. The sweetness... the humor... the unmistakable Lynott charm.
Lynott wrote "Cathleen" for his daughter. This is a father’s love wrapped in a playful melody. I can relate to the feeling here; this song reminds me of mine.
The harmonica on “Cathleen” was played by Huey Lewis... yes folks, that Huey Lewis from Huey Lewis & The News. That sauce adds a rootsy, Americana‑blues flavor to a song that’s otherwise a tender Irish pop‑rock lullaby. Huey and Phil's paths crossed often in the early ’80s London/Dublin music scene.
So here we go, this is for all those who enjoy the early '80s era... for when it began... and how it grew into a phenomenal decade.
Peace sells... but whose buying.
franklin