David Kiernan takes his turn at Able Bodied Man
By Alan Shipston for Country Music News International Magazine
David Kiernan has released, Able Bodied Man, a country music favorite first released over fifty years ago. His deep rich voice has a nice country inflection adding to the strong working man’s track. Twangy electric guitar fills the holes around the vocal with country licks and double stops, while a pedal steel highlights the background. David’s version stays true to the arrangement first penned in 1970.
Originally recorded by Charley Pride, the song was the lead off cut from his tenth album. The mid-tempo tune was written by legendary songwriting team Foster and Rice, nicknamed The Song Factory. Jerry Foster and Bill Rice were a Nashville songwriting duo, recognized as the most awarded team in ASCAP country music history. Active from the late 1960s to the 1980s, they wrote over 2,000 songs, including hits for Charley Pride, Jerry Lee Lewis and Johnny Paycheck, dominating the 1970s charts. The song speaks about the travels of a man on his way to Columbus, Ohio where he has heard of work. He leaves behind the woman he loves in search of work because he’s too broke to offer her a train ticket to join him.
And I was goin’ to lose my job in such a little while
So now we’re gonna have to change our plan
They may not hire me in Columbus but I’m pretty sure they will
Cause they’re looking for an able bodied man
Able Bodied Man was later popularized locally by Kiernan’s neighbor and friend, country music legend Noel Cassidy. Growing up inspired by Cassidy’s version, the song holds deep personal significance for David. Noel Cassidy also penned the beloved tribute to their native village, My Town Ballinamuck, which Kiernan recorded on his debut album released in 2018 at just 19 years of age. Now, with years of experience performing live shows and dances across the country, he believes Able Bodied Man showcases the strength, maturity and depth his voice has developed over time.
David Kiernan began his musical journey at just 15 years old, inspired by Irish Country music legends Cassidy, Declan Nerney and Mick Flavin. Mick then invited David to join his concert tour at the age of 16, igniting a passion for music and live performance. His debut self-penned song, Travellin’ to Flavin, co-written with Eurovision winner Charlie McGettigan, marked his entry into the music scene, reaching the top 10 on the iTunes country charts. Following this success, his hit Tiger Feet soared to number one and his album For The Love Of A Song continues to resonate with fans. David’s recent release, S.O.B, achieved remarkable success, hitting the number one spot on the iTunes country charts just nine hours post-release. With a growing fan base and a dynamic live show, David Kiernan is a rising star in the country music scene, captivating audiences across Ireland.