As the daughter of a Bostonian dad with Irish and Italian heritage, I don’t think there was a single morning car ride to elementary school that “Shipping Up To Boston” by the Dropkick Murphy’s was not played. That and his warranted obsession with Martin Scorsese’s The Departed made this song inescapable for most of my childhood. This masterpiece is a high energy-punk rock song with elements of Celtic folk music. The sound production and stylistic choices made by producers Ken Casey and David Bianco contribute to the powerful character and the lasting impact of the song.
In true punk rock fashion, the vocalists deliver a rigid, shout like sound that engages the listeners and almost makes you want to shout along with them. It reminds me of a sea shanty, but more like a sea shouty. The lyrics, though simplistic in nature, have a very interesting origin story. They were actually written by Woody Guthrie, an American Folk music legend. In a moment of synchronicity that some might call a miracle, the band received a call form Nora Guthrie, the daughter of the late musician. She invited the band to her fathers foundation and archives, showing them songs and lyrics he had never used. Casey haphazardly stumbled upon a poem called “Shipping Up To Boston” with lyrics that perfectly matched their latest instrumental project.
The instrumentation is intense and energetic. The base layers include many traditional rock elements including the electric guitar, bass, and intense creating percussion. The most notable layer features Celtic folk instruments including the accordion, bagpipes and tin whistle. You can almost feel the Celtic heritage come to life through these instruments, but they need the rock elements to cement the intensity of the song. Here is an instrumental version with only the folk instruments. It has a completely different and almost whimsical vibe in my opinion.
In theory, the combination of rock, Celtic instruments, and shouting sounds like it might be overwhelming. But in practice? You get a memorable and well balanced celebration of Irish-American culture that is perfect for St. Patrick’s Day!