Remember the you-got-chocolate-in-my-peanut-butter, you-got-peanut-butter-on-my-chocolate debate? And what’s that got to do with music videos and today’s musical celebration of St. Patrick’s Day?

It’s like this: Canada’s great Great Big Sea is like the chocolate, and Irish icons The Chieftains the peanut butter (or vice versa if you prefer) – individually awesome, and even better together.

GBS is Newfoundland’s biggest band ever, helping bring the island’s sea shanty tradition and general Celtic vibe to a wider audience in Canada, while The Chieftains have been popularizing Irish folk music within and beyond the Emerald Isle’s borders since 1962, not least through high-profile collaborations with the likes of Van Morrison, the Rolling Stones, and many others.

Here Paddy Maloney and his Chieftains mates meet Alan Doyle and the boys for a collaboration on the GBS traditional favourite “Lukey” in a 1998 video.

The gathering is emblematic of the Irish – and Newfy – experience: lively, infectious, and fun. Which is to say, two bands tailormade for the pub, together and seemingly having the time of their lives.

And that is why we love Ireland, Newfoundland, and Celtic music – and, of course, metaphorically speaking, chocolate in our peanut butter.

Happy St. Patrick’s Day!

Lyrics

Well oh, Lukey’s boat is painted green,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey’s boat is painted green,
The prettiest boat that you’ve ever seen,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!

Well oh, Lukey’s boat’s got a fine fore cuddy,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey’s boat’s got a fine fore cuddy,
And every seam is chinked with putty,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!

Well I says “Lukey the blinds are down”
Ha, me boys!
I says “Lukey the blinds are down”
“Me wife is dead and she’s underground”
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day

Well I says Lukey “I don’t care”
Ha, me boys!
I says Lukey “I don’t care”
“I’ll get me another in the spring of the year”
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!

Oh, Lukey’s rolling out his grub,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey’s rolling out his grub,
One split pea, and a ten pound tub,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!

Well, Lukey’s boat’s got high-topped sails,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey’s boat’s got high-topped sails
The sheet was planted with copper nails,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!

Lukey’s boat is painted green,
Ha, me boys!
Lukey’s boat is painted green,
It’s the prettiest boat that you’ve ever seen,
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!
A-ha, me boys a-riddle-i-day!