The top ten Dropkick Murphys songs boast a Celtic flair to the group’s brand of punk rock. Since 1996, this Massachusetts-based band has built a reputation as one of the most unique rockers ever to grace the music industry. While many fans will recognize “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” as the band’s signature hit, there are nine other classics that are worth mentioning as the Dropkick Murphys have been more than just one hit wonders. This group put punk rockers on their toes with some great tunes that are just as popular today as they were when they first came out.
Boston Hellcats
The Dropkick Murphys was founded in 1996 by Rick Barton, Ken Casey, Jeff Erna, and Mike McColgan. Hailing out of Quincy, Massachusetts, this four-man band would have its first replacement the next year when Matt Kelly took Erna’s place as its new drummer. The name of the band was inspired by a detox center named after Dr. John “Dropkick” Murphy. When the band first started playing together it was in the basement of a friend’s barbershop. It didn’t take long before they began to tour and record.
In 1997, the Dropkick Murphys opened for the Mighty Mighty Bosstones and this marked the beginning of a break in the music industry the boys from Massachusetts needed to get noticed. Before the group was signed by Hellcat Records in 1997, Dropkick Murphys released an EP, Boys on the Docks. In 1998, The Early Years was released as a compilation album by the label Sidekick Records, the same year Hellcat released Dropkick Murphys’ debut album, Do or Die. Part of the production crew with Hellcat was Lars Frederikson.
While touring across the United States to promote its first album, Dropkick Murphys lost its lead singer, McColgan. Upon the 1998 release of Curse of a Fallen Soul, the group issued a statement about what became of McColgan and why he was no longer part of the lineup. Taking McColgan’s place was Al Barr. Once upon a time, Barr was the lead singer for the Bruisers and was a rival to the Dropkick Murphys. Both bands were from Massachusetts and both were incredibly popular as local favorites.
Where the Bruisers once dominated as one of the top local acts, the Dropkick Murphys were quickly dethroning as its popularity continued to grow. When Barr first learned McColgan was out, he assumed that was the end of his rivals. However, he wound up auditioning for them and joining them. As the new lead singer, the group released “Curse of a Fallen Soul” as a single in 1998.
The Gang’s All Here was Barr’s first album with Dropkick Murphys as its new lead singer. The musical direction of this group bore a similar hardcore punk style to Barr’s old band, the Bruisers. It also had a stronger Irish. “10 Years of Service” became the first song that would earn the group its first taste of mainstream audience success. After this, Barton was next to quit as the Dropkick Murphys were in the middle of working on its third album. In an explanation Barton revealed in 2014, he stated the relationship between himself and Ken Casey had soured and it served as his cue to move on.
Upon Barton’s departure, he was replaced with four new bandmates who would join Dropkick Murphys’ roster. James Lynch joined as a guitarist while Marc Orrell played mandolin. There was also Ryan Foltz with a tin whistle and Robbie “Spicy McHaggis” Mederios as a bagpipe player. Mederios got his name after an item on a McDonald’s menu while he and the rest of the crew were doing a concert tour in Scotland. In 2001, this lineup produced Sing Loud, Sing Proud! as its third album included two cult favorites, “The Wild Rover” and “For Boston.” The first of these two was a cover of a traditional folk song while the second was a popular Boston College fight song.
In 2002, the Dropkick Murphys performed three live shows during a St. Patrick’s Day weekend at Boston’s Avalon Ballroom. This has since become an annual event. As for the 2002 performances, the footage was recorded as a live album, Live on St. Patrick’s Day from Boston, MA. It was at this time former lead singer Mike McColgan formed Street Dogs, along with another old Dropkick Murphys bandmate, Jeff Erna. This group debuted with Savin Hill in 2003 and it featured Al Barr and Ken Casey performing with Street Dogs for its popular tune, “Stand Up.” Also in 2003 was the release of Dropkick Murphys‘ fourth studio album, Blackout. This was performed with a slightly altered lineup as Scruffy Wallace replaced McHaggis on the pipes while Tim Brennan was brought in to replace Foltz.
It was also during this time Stephanie Dougherty unofficially became a member of Dropkick Murphys as a featured vocalist, namely for the re-recorded version of “The Dirty Glass.” This was a popular fan favorite that originally came from 2002’s Face to Face vs. Dropkick Murphys. Another favorite that came from the album was “Time To Go,” a song about the National Hockey League’s Boston Bruins. It later became part of the tracklist belonging to popular video games such as Activision’s Tony Hawk’s Underground and NHL 2005 by Electronic Arts.
Boston Warriors
Going into the 2004 Major League Baseball season, the Dropkick Murphys performed a version of an old Boston Red Sox anthem, “Tessie.” This was later used in 2005 for the movie Fever Pitch and the EA video game, MVP Baseball 2005. After this, the fifth and final album while contracted with Hellcat Records was The Warrior’s Code. This 2005 release further heightened the popularity of this Irish-themed punk group as “Tessie,” “Sunshine Highway” and its title track became fan favorites, along with a re-recorded version of “I’m Shipping Up to Boston.” The lyrics came from a poem by Woody Guthrie that was found by the band in his archives. At first, the song wasn’t hugely popular until after it was heard in Martin Scorsese’s 2006 movie, The Departed. There were two music videos that were produced in response to the popularity the song received.
After the run with Hellcats Records was done, 2007’s The Meanest of Times was released by the band’s own label, Born & Bred Records. The first single from it was “The State of Massachusetts” and it instantly became a regional hit. It also won over the fans across the nation and beyond. In addition to switching labels, there was also another change in the lineup. However, the Dropkick Murphys were still at the peak of its popularity, thanks to the 2010 movie, The Fighter featuring “The Warrior’s Code” as one of its songs. It was also used in other film productions such as Your Highness and Restrepo. After the release of 2011’s Going Out in Style, the Dropkick Murphys realized its highest charted album yet as it debuted at number six on the US Billboard 200. This was followed by the 2012 release of Going Out in Style: Fenway Park Bonus Edition.
Altogether, Dropkick Murphys has recorded and released twelve studio albums, three live albums, and three compilation albums. It also has three EPs to its credit, a video album, and thirty-five singles. 2013’s Signed and Sealed in Blood already released two singles before the album itself came out. “Rose Tattoo” was a single in November 2012 that was released in the form of a music video while “The Season’s Upon Us” was released a week before Christmas Day. It also produced two more singles, “The Boys Are Back” and “Out of Our Heads.” The fourth and final single from the album became the opening theme for Boston’s Finest, a reality show that featured the Boston Police Department as it aired on TNT in 2013. At the same time, Captain Morgan used “Prisoner’s Song” in its commercials.
Aside from still rocking the fans with its brand of music, the Dropkick Murphys haven’t held anything back when it came to putting out an energetic performance each time the group was on stage. Even after twenty-five-plus years, there is no sign of Ken Casey or the rest of the Dropkick Murphys crew of slowing down anytime soon.
Top 10 Dropkick Murphys Songs
#10 – Fields of Athenry
“Fields of Athenry” became a popular fan favorite that came from 2003’s Blackout, the fourth studio album produced by the Dropkick Murphys. Technically, this is a traditional Irish folk song but the energetic performance Dropkick Murphys poured into it felt out of this world. This was a great way to pay homage to the Irish without sounding too folksy. Originally, this 1979 folk ballad was written by Pete St. John and recorded by Danny Doyle about the famine that swept the Irish nation during the 1840s.
Told as a man who stole food while trying to feed his family, it shared what became of his fate when he was sent to a penal colony in Australia. Going into the 1980s, this became a favorite song at sporting events in Ireland. There have been various versions of “Fields of Athenry” covered by several artists aside from Dropkick Murphys. However, none have put in the same energetic Celtic-themed flair like the men from Massachussetts did.
#9 – The Boys Are Back
“The Boys Are Back” was a song that served as a declaration by Dropkick Murphys in 2013 that it was back to pick up where it left off. This came from the album, Signed and Sealed in Blood, and it was performed as a punky Celtic-style celebration only the talent pool of the Dropkick Murphys could pull off. Designed as a song to let go and make some noise, “The Boys Are Back” had no trouble encouraging listeners to enjoy yet another great song from one of the music industry’s most energetic rock bands.
#8 – Time to Go
2003’s “Time to Go” was a song written specifically about the NHL’s Boston Bruins. It has since become an anthemic favorite for the city’s hockey fans. Also featured on the popular video games Tony Hawk’s Underground and NHL 2005, the Dropkick Murphys performed this song live at the TD Garden during the intermission break of a game that took place featuring the Bruins. Like many people who call Boston home, the band members of Dropkick Murphys are avid sports fans who love their teams. “Time to Go” became the perfect rev-up song that did more than just rev up hockey games played by the Bruins.
#7 – Worker’s Song
In 2003, Dropkick Murphys released Blackout, along with “Worker’s Song” as a tribute to the American working class. Like many other songs produced by the group from Massachusetts, it didn’t hold anything back when it exploited how badly the government and society, in general, have treated men and women who constantly struggle just to make ends meet. Instead of being thanked for all that they do, the working class is often abused by authority figures who seem to care nothing about them. “Worker’s Song” revealed the reality of a population that suffers from low pay high living costs, and is sent to fight wars they don’t always believe in.
#6 – 10 Years of Service
“10 Years of Service” was the song Al Barr performed as he auditioned for the role of lead singer with Dropkick Murphys in 1998. Prior to joining this band, he was the lead singer for its top rival, the Bruisers. This was a newly written song was the first big hit from the album, The Gang’s All Here. The music video for it won over a mainstream audience and it spiked the popularity of this Massachussetts-based band even further in 1999. As a band, the Dropkick Murphys often rallied on behalf of workers and veterans who sacrifice so much yet get so little in return. In some cases, their lives are lost in the process. This was a highly energetic song that hammered home strong messages about how badly people are treated by people who are in positions of power who couldn’t care less about their well-being.
#5 – The Season’s Upon Us
Released in 2013, “The Season’s Upon Us” was a Christmas song from the Dropkick Murphys that became one of its biggest hits. It came from the group’s eighth studio album, Signed and Sealed in Blood. On the US Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Chart, it was a number twenty-three hit. In Canada, it peaked as high as number forty-two and it was popular enough in Australia to peak as high as number sixty-nine. The beauty behind “The Season’s Upon Us” was throwing humorous doses of reality that the holiday season isn’t always as festive as it seems.
#4 – Rose Tattoo
“Rose Tattoo” was released in 2013 from Sign and Sealed in Blood. It became one of the most popular hits from the Dropkick Murphys and remains a cult favorite to this day. This was a great song to pay tribute to lost loved ones as a heartfelt classic. It also didn’t hold back the rockin’ sound, especially with the version featuring Bruce Springsteen when these two talents teamed up. After the tragedy of the Boston Marathon bombing, Springsteen and the Dropkick Murphys performed as part of a charity concert as a tribute to the lives that were stolen at what should have been an enjoyable event.
The inspiration felt from the mandolin was nothing short of incredible as it added that much more charm to a really good song. Part of the inspiration came from Ken Casey’s memory of his grandfather. On his arm, he sports a rose tattoo as a memorial to his grandfather who raised him after Casey’s father died. On the US Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Chart, “Rose Tattoo” peaked as high as number twenty-five. It still remains an all-time favorite among fans who can relate to it with their own set of memories and experiences.
#3 – The State of Massachusetts
The guitar solo featured in “The State of Massachusetts” served as one of the song’s highlights while the mandolin harnessed this Celtic-influenced rock number for the melodic gem that it is. If there was ever a song that defined the Dropkick Murphys as a band, as well as its fans, this is it. On the US Billboard Hot Rock & Alternative Songs Chart, “The State of Massachusetts” became a number fourteen hit.
This was a great song showing off the pride of the New England state and the incredible legacy it has created as one of the earliest settlements that spawned the growth and development of the United States of America. Since the start of its career, the Dropkick Murphys have rallied on behalf of the working class. When it comes down to political differences, it’s not about which party has its act together. It’s about who really cares for the people and who doesn’t. This was a loud and clear statement the band has made ever since it began in 1996.
#2 – Tessie
Originally, “Tessie” came from a 1902 Broadway musical, The Silver Slipper. It became a major favorite for baseball fans, especially those who followed the Boston Red Sox. In 2004, the Dropkick Murphys kicked up “Tessie” a few notches with its own version as it highlighted how the Royal Rooters fan club helped the Boston Americans win the World Series for the first time in 1903. According to the Celtic-style rock group, the idea behind its version of “Tessie” was to rev up the spirit of the Rooters and the Red Sox.
The goal of the Boston Red Sox winning its first championship in eighty-six years was realized after the Sox defeated the Colorado Rockies during the 2007 edition of the MLB’s World Series. The second version of “Tessie” featured backing vocals from the team’s players at the time, Bronson Arroyo, Johnny Damon, and Lenny DiNardo. This became the new theme song of the Boston Red Sox and it was used in the soundtrack for the 2005 baseball-themed movie, Fever Pitch. It also became part of the tracklist belonging to MVP Baseball 2005.
#1 – I’m Shipping Up to Boston
Fans of the 2006 cult classic, The Departed, are likely to remember “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” as the song that played wonderfully paired up with a movie that benefited greatly from it. As a result, the movie also boosted the song’s popularity to make it a cult classic as well. The intro of “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” was amazing and it’s a hard riff to top as it has since become a favorite that fans will listen to over and over again without tiring. This was independently released in 2007 after the Dropkick Murphys left Hellcat Records.
The Meanest of Times became the first album the group produced with its own label, Born & Bred, and was distributed by the Alternative Distribution Alliance. During the 2007 MLB championship season that led to the World Series face-off against the National League’s Colorado Rockies, the American League’s Boston Red Sox star Jonathan Papelbon often performed a little dance to this song. He also did this when the team had its victory parade in downtown Boston. Although “I’m Shipping Up to Boston” didn’t crack into the US Billboard Hot 100, it sold enough copies to become certified platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA). It was also certified silver by the UK’s British Phonographic Industry (BPI).
Top 10 Dropkick Murphys Songs article published on Classic RockHistory.com© 2023
Classicrockhistory.com claims ownership of all its original content and Intellectual property under United States Copyright laws and those of all other foreign countries. No one person, business, or organization is allowed to re-publish any of our original content anywhere on the web or in print without our permission. All photos used are either public domain Creative Commons photos or licensed officially from Shutterstock under license with ClassicRockHistory.com. All photo credits have been placed at the end of the article. Album Cover Photos are affiliate links and the property of Amazon and are stored on the Amazon server. Any theft of our content will be met with swift legal action against the infringing websites.
They are okay but Flogging Molly blows them away.