When eviction and the famine packed the ships that sailed from Cork They were bound for Ellis Island in the harbour of New York This new world, this land of plenty, must have seemed so very strange But they had their fiddles, pipes and songs to help them through the change. Chorus What a time it must have been When the century had turned And all the music came together In the brave new world What a time it must have been When the century had turned And all the music came together In the brave new world There were Germans, Poles, Italians playin' polkas oompah-style But the boys who had them reelin', they came from auld Erin's Isle Touhy, Ennis, Coleman, Morrison, and the bands made up by Chief O'Neill Daddy Rice he softshoe-shuffled while he fiddled jigs'n'reels. Chorus What a time it must have been When the century had turned And all the music came together In the brave new world What a time it must have been When the century had turned And all the music came together In the brave new world In the Appalachian mountains the tunes took on new names Likewise in Philadelphia where the Irish Minstrels reigned Every Friday night the Flanagans played the Tub of Blood, New York Singin' Tura Lura Lura, My Irish Molly-O Drinkin' rare auld Irish whiskey from Cavan and Mayo. On the railroads, down the coalmines, in workcamps and vaudeville halls Irish music met black rhythms with a sound that shook the walls Such a joyful syncopation this odd couple then did make At the time some called it crazy, it's called Rock'n'roll of late. Chorus What a time it must have been When the century had turned And all the music came together In the brave new world What a time it must have been When the century had turned And all the music came together In the brave new world