Irish songs and traditional music
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Top of page THE IRISH NATIONAL ANTHEM (1) Amhrán na bhFiann [Translated into Irish by Liam O'Rinn from Peadar Kearneys English text] Sinne Fianna Fáil Atá Fá gheall ag Éirinn Buidhean dár sluagh tar rúinn do ráinig chughainn Fámhoídh bheírh saor Sean-tír ár sinnsear feasta Ní fágfar fá'n tíorán ná fa'n tráil Anocht a theigeamh sa bhearna baoghail Le gean ar Gaedhí chun báis nó saoghail Le gunna sgréach: Fá lamhach na piléar Seo Libh canaidh amhrán na bhFiann Seo dhibh a cháirde duan oglaidh Caithréimeach, bríoghmhar, ceolmhar Ár dteinte cnámh go buacach táid 'S an spéir go min réaltógach Is fionmhar faobhrach sinn chun gleo 'S go tiúnmhar glé roimh tigheacht do'n ló Fa ciúnas chaoimh na h-oidhche ar seol Seo libh, canaídh amhrán na bhFiann Cois banta réidhe, ar árdaibh sléibhe Ba bhuadhach ár rinnsear romhainn Ag lámhach go tréan fá'n sár- bhrat séin Tá thuas sa ghaoith go seolta Ba dhúthchas riamh d'ár gcine cháidh Gan iompáil riar ó imirt áir 'Siubhal mar iad i gcoinnibh rámhaid Seo libh, canaidh amhrán na bhFiann A buidhean nach fann d'fuil Ghaoidheal is Gall Sinn breacadh lae na saoirse Tá sgéimhle 's sgannradh í gcroidhthibh namhad Roimh ranngaibh laochra ár dtíre Ár dteinte is tréith gan spréach anois Sin luinne ghlé san spéir anoir 'S an bíodhbha i raon na bpiléar agaibh Seo libh, canaidh amhrán na bhFiann Top of page THE IRISH NATIONAL ANTHEM (2) A Soldier's Song [Written in 1907 by Peadar Kearney, an uncle of Brendan Behan. It was sung outside the GPO during the Easter Rising in 1916, and later at various camps where republicans were interned, and was officially adopted as the national anthem in 1926, replacing God Save Ireland] We'll sing a song, a soldier's song With cheering rousing chorus As round our blazing fires we throng The starry heavens o'er us Impatient for the coming fight And as we wait the morning's light Here in the silence of the night We'll chant a soldier's song Chorus: Soldiers are we whose lives are pledged to Ireland Some have come from a land beyond the wave Sworn to be free No more our ancient sire land Shall shelter the despot or the slave Tonight we man the gap of danger In Erin's cause, come woe or weal 'Mid cannons' roar and rifles peal We'll chant a soldier's song In valley green, on towering crag Our fathers fought before us And conquered 'neath the same old flag That's proudly floating o'er us We're children of a fighting race That never yet has known disgrace And as we march, the foe to face We'll chant a soldier's song Chorus Sons of the Gael! Men of the Pale! The long watched day is breaking The serried ranks of Inisfail Shall set the Tyrant quaking Our camp fires now are burning low See in the east a silv'ry glow Out yonder waits the Saxon foe So chant a soldier's song Chorus Top of page A BUCKET OF THE MOUNTAIN DEW Let grasses grow and waters flow in a free and easy way But give me enough of the rare old stuff that's made near Galway Bay And policemen all from Donegal, Sligo and Leitrim too We'll give them the slip and we'll take a sip of the real old mountain dew There's a neat little still at the foot of the hill Where the smoke curls up to the sky By a whiff of the smell you can plainlyinly tell That there's poteen boys close by For it fills the air with a perfume rare and betwixt both me and you As home we roll, we can drink a bowl Or a bucketful of mountain dew Now learned men as use the pen have writ' the praises high Of the rare poteen from Ireland green Distilled from wheat and rye Away with your pills, it'll cure all ills Be ye pagan, Christian, or Jew So take off your coat and grease your throat With a bucket of the mountain dew. Top of page A BUNCH OF THYME Come all ye maidens young and fair And you that are blooming in your prime Always beware and keep your garden fair Let no man steal away your thyme Chorus: For thyme it is a precious thing And thyme brings all things to my mind nlyme with all its flavours, along with all its joys Thyme, brings all things to my mind Once I and a bunch of thyme i thought it never would decay Then came a lusty sailor Who chanced to pass my way And stole my bunch of thyme away Chorus The sailor gave to me a rose A rose that never would decay He gave it to me to keep me reminded Of when he stole my thyme away Chorus Top of page ADMIRAL WILLIAM BROWN From a county Mayo town came a man of great renown As a sailor and a soldier was none bolder He went to America at an early age they say As a cabin boy to sail the wide world over Then adventure took him south to the De La Plata mouth San Martin was on the route in Argentina So three whaling ships he bought and Brazil and Spain he fought And freedom then he sought for Argentina Now Admiral William Brown you're a man of courage shown And in battles fought the odds were all against you But your Irish heart was strong and in memory still lives on And in Ireland there are some that don't forget you On St. Patrick's day it's told you had many victories bold You defeated all invaders thugs and bullys Then through the Pampas rose and you found a happy home "Las Islas Malvinas, Argentinas" He had heard of Irish hands in noble gallant bands That helped to free the land called Argentina He had heard with great acclaim the Patricios name and fame When in 1806 the British came for slaughter And to this very day in the Argentine they say The English ran away from Buenos Aires To the islands further down and they took them for the crown "Las Islas Malvinas, Argentinas" We remember William Brown and his land of great renown He, invader of the islands from your country When in 1833 were by pirates forced to flee And in Ireland sure we know the story fully And the people that went too to the Argentine when new To escape the English laws and wars and famine They had proved a loyal crew just like all the Irish do "Las Islas Malvinas, Argentinas" The old colonial days and cruel English ways With her thunder plunder we will teach the natives For the Brits are going to war just like Whitelocke did before With her ships and guns and drums and flags and banners In the Empire days of old when they murdered for gold And paraded it around the streets of London Oh no human rights were given to the natives dead or living "Las Islas Malvinas, Argentinas" In the Argentine he died Father Fahey by his side '57 was the year his country mourned him A hero of the nation he's remembered with elation Throughout the world where freedom still abounds And the Southern Cross take note where bold Willie Bullfin wrote The Irish still support you Argentina With the Empire tumbling down let no Paddies back the crown "Las Islas Malvinas, Argentinas" Top of page A FENIAN SONG [From Penguin Book of Canadian Folk Songs, Fowke. In 1866, some 1200 Fenian troops, mostly from Meagher's Irish Brigade, invaded Canada, crossing at Buffalo. The first Loyalist resistance came from the Queen's Own Rifles, a Toronto-garrisoned force consisting largely of young college gentlemen, and led by Colonel Alfred Booker. The Loyalists were routed, in one of the Fenian's only victories.] The Queen's Own Regiment was their name From fair Toronto town they came To put the Irish all to shame The Queen's and Colonel Booker! What fury fills each loyal mind! No volunteer would stay behind They flung their red rag to the wind "Hurrah, my boys!" said Booker Now helter skelter Ohio See how they play that "heel and toe"! See how they run from their Irish foe The Queen's and Colonel Booker! Top of page A LITTLE BIT OF HEAVEN Sure, a little bit o' Heaven fell from out of the sky one day And nestled on the ocean in a spot so far away And the angels found it, sure it looked so sweet and fair They said suppose we leave it, for it looks so peaceful there! So they sprinkled it with star dust, just to make the shamrocks grow 'Tis the only place you'll find them No matter where you go Then they dotted it with silver To make its lakes so grand And when they had it finished Sure they called it Ireland! Top of page ALL AROUND MY HAT My love she was fair, and my love she was kind And cruel the judge and jury that sentenced her away For thieving was a thing that she never was inclined to They sent my love across the sea ten thousand miles away Chorus: All around my hat, I will wear the green willow All around my hat for a year and a day And if anyone should question me the reason for my wearing it I'll tell them that my own true love is ten thousand miles away I bought my love a golden ring to wear upon her finger A token of our own true love and to remember me And when she returns again, we never will be parted We'll marry and be happy for ever and a day Chorus Seven, seven long years my love and I are parted Seven, seven long years my love is bound to stay Seven long years I'll love my love and never be false-hearted And never sigh or sorrow while she's far, far away Chorus Some young men there are who are preciously deceitful A-coaxin' of the fair young maids they mean to lead astray As soon as they deceive them, so cruelly they leave them I'll love my love forever though she's far, far away Chorus Top of page A MAN YOU DON'T MEET EVERY DAY Oh, my name is Jock Stewart, I'm a canny gaun man And a roving young fellow I've been So be easy and free, when you're drinking with me I'm a man you don't meet every day I have acres of land, I have men of command I have always a shilling to spare So be easy and free, when you're drinking with me I'm a man you don't meet every day So come fill up your glasses with brandy and wine What ever it costs, I will pay So be easy and free, when you're drinking with me I'm a man you don't meet every day I took out my dog and my gun for to shoot All down in the County Kildare So be easy and free, when you're drinking with me I'm a man you don't meet every day So come fill up your glasses with brandy and wine What ever it costs, I will pay So be easy and free, when you're drinking with me I'm a man you don't meet every day Top of page A MOTHERS LOVE IS A BLESSING An Irish boy was leaving Leaving his native home Crossing the broad Atlantic Once more he wished to roam And as he was leaving his mother While standing on the Quay He threw his arms around her waist And this to her did say.. Chorus: "A mother's love is a blessing No matter where you roam Keep her while she's living You'll miss her when she's gone Love her as in childhood When feeble, old, and grey For you'll never miss a mother's love 'Til she's buried beneath the clay" And as the years grow onward I'll settle down in life And I'll choose a nice young colleen And take her for my wife And as the kids grow older They'll play around my knee And I'll teach them the very same lesson That my mother taught to me Top of page A MUIRSHEEN DURKIN In the days I went a courtin' I was never tired resortin' To an alehouse or a playhouse and many's the house beside But I told me brother Seamus I'd go off and be right famous And I'd never would return again 'til I'd roam the world wide Goodbye Muirsheen Durkin sure I'm sick and tired of workin' No more I'll dig the praties and no longer I'll be fooled As sure as me name is Carney I'll be off to California Where instead of diggin' praties I'll be diggin' lumps of gold I've courted girls in Blarney in Kanturk and in Killarney In Passage and in Queenstown that is the Cobh of Cork Goodbye to all this pleasure I'll be off to take me leisure And the next time that you hear from me will be a letter from New York So it's goodbye Muirsheen Durkin I'm sick and tired of workin' No more I'll dig the praties and no longer I'll be fooled As sure as me name is Carney I'll be off to California Where instead of diggin' praties I'll be diggin' lumps of gold Goodbye to the girls at home I'm going far across the foam To try and make me fortune in far America There's gold and jewels in plenty for the poor and for the gentry And when I return again I never more will say Goodbye Muirsheen Durkin sure I'm sick and tired of workin' No more I'll dig the praties and no longer I'll be fooled For as sure as me name is Carney I'll be off to California Where instead of diggin' praties I'll be diggin' lumps of gold Top of page A NATION ONCE AGAIN When boyhood's fire was in my blood I read of ancient freemen, For Greece and Rome who bravely stood, Three hundred men and three men; And then I prayed I yet might see Our fetters rent in twain, And Ireland. long a province, be A Nation once again! Chorus: A nation once again, A nation once again, And Ireland, long a province, be A Nation once again! And from that time, through wildest woe, That hope has shown a far light, Nor could love's brightest summer glow Outshine that solemn starlight; It seemed to watch above my head In forum, field and fame, Its angel voice sang round my bed, A Nation once again Chorus: A nation once again, A nation once again, And Ireland, long a province, be A Nation once again! It whisper'd too, that freedom's ark, And service high and holy, Would be profaned by feeling dark And passions vain or lowly; For, Freedom comes from God's right hand, And needs a godly train; And righteous men must make our land A nation once again! Chorus: A nation once again, A nation once again, And Ireland, long a province, be A Nation once again! Top of page AND THE BAND PLAYED WALTZING MATILDA (Written by Eric Bogle) [This song was written in 1972. Visit Eric Bogle's official homepage] When I was a young man, I carried my pack And I lived the free life of a rover From the Murray's green basin to the dusty outback I waltzed my matilda all over Then in nineteen fifteen, my country said, "Son It's time to stop ramblin' for there's work to be done" So they gave me a tin hat, and they gave me a gun And they sent me away to the war Chorus: And the band played "Waltzing Matilda" As the ship sailed away from the quay Amid all the tears, the flag-waving and cheers We sailed off for Gallipoli How well I remember that terrible day When our blood stained the sand and the water And how in that hell that they call Suvla Bay We were butchered like lambs at the slaughter Johnny Turk was ready, Lord he primed himself well He rained us with bullets and he showered us with shells In five minutes flat, we were all blown to hell Nearly blew us back home to Australia Chorus: And the band played "Waltzing Matilda" As we stopped to bury our slain We buried ours and the Turks buried theirs Then it started all over again And those who were living just tried to survive In that mad world of blood, death and, fire For ten weary weeks, I kept myself alive While around me the corpses piled higher Then a big Turkish shell knocked me ass over head And when I awoke, in a hospital bed And saw what it had done, I wished I were dead I never knew there were worse things than dying Chorus: For no more I'll go waltzing matilda All around the green bush far and near But to hunt and to pace, a man needs both legs No more waltzing matilda for me They collected the wounded, the crippled, the maimed And they shipped us back home to Australia The armless, the legless, the blind, the insane All us proud wounded heroes from Suvla And as the ship pulled into Circular Quay And I looked at the place where my legs used to be I thanked Christ there was no one there waiting for me To grieve or to mourn or to pity Chorus: And the band played "Waltzing Matilda" As they carried us down the gangway This time nobody cheered, they just stood there and stared Then they turned their faces away And now every April, I sit on this porch And I watch the parade pass before me I see my old comrades, how proudly they march Reliving their deeds of past glory I see the old men all tired, stiff, and sore The weary old heroes from a forgotten war And the young people ask, "What are they marching for?" And I ask myself the same question Chorus: And the band played "Waltzing Matilda" And the old men still answer the call But as year follows year, more old men disappear Some day no one will march there at all Waltzing Matilda, Waltzing Matilda Who'll come a-waltzing matilda with me And their ghosts can be heard, as they march by the billabong "Who'll come a-waltzing matilda with me?" Top of page A NIGHT TO REMEMBER [The Titanic went down on the night of Monday 15th April 1912, 4 days after leaving the last European port, Queenstown outside Cork (now the Cobh of Cork). She was built at Harland and Wolff shipyards in Belfast.] She left Southampton that April morn' in 1912 With more than 2000 on board on her maiden voyage to hell The largest ship the world ever had seen, an excess of luxury The unsinkable queen of the White Star Line, a place as safe as can be She crossed the rough Atlantic when on sunday approached Cape Race Where lots of ships the whole day long signalled "Beware of the ice!" But Captain Smith he didn't care, the warnings went unheard No galeforce wind, no heavy swell, no ice would make him turn She was a queen and a virgin bride, a gorgeous precious maid And the peaceful sun lay over the shelves on that glorious April day She was a queen and a virgin bride when she fought the ocean brave Until the ice cut deep in her soul and she sank to her watery grave 'Twas just before the midnight hour when passengers noticed a jerk A wave or a whale they clueless thought, but an iceberg the ship badly hurt The whole side was cut 'neath the waterline and torn apart line tin The unsinkable queen tilted up to the left and water filled her up the the brim For passengers and crew aboard the death throes now begun There were only lifeboats for half of them, the others all had to drown Ten miles away the California lay, so close to prevent the worst But her crew lay asleep in the cabins there, not far away the bulkheads burst 2.20 a.m. that misty morn' in 1912 The gleaming gem of the White Star Line sank down in her seabed to dwell 'Bout 1500 lost their lives and rest in icy grave Just 700 lucky ones remind them in their prayers Top of page AN IRISHMAN'S DREAM Sure I've roamed this wide world over But of all the lands I've seen There's no spot I'd rather dwell in Than my little isle of Green Only last night I was dreamin' Of a sight that thrilled me through But what I saw I'll see no more 'twas too good to be true Sure the shamrocks were growing on Broadway Every girl was an Irish colleen The town of New York was the county of Cork All the buildings were painted green Sure the Hudson looked just like the Shannon Oh, how good and how real it did seem I could hear me mother singin', sweet Shannon bells ringin' 'twas only an Irishman's dream Top of page THE ARMAGH SNIPER In South Armagh there was a man who had a long-range gun He said I'll show them Army boys there's nowhere they can run He was the South Armagh sniper He'd pick a spot and wait the whole day through Until a brit patrol came into view The Armagh sniper he never missed his mark He was lethal in the daytime and deadly in the dark If he gets you in his sights you'd better say your prayers So British troops go home or else beware Soon his reputation spread through Ulster like wildfire The list of British casualties just kept on getting higher It was the South Armagh sniper he made the British forces think again About wandering at night through Crossmaglen The Armagh sniper the brits were terrified They could never pin him down no matter how they tried If he gets you in his sights he'll make widows of your wives So brits go home while you still have your lives In London and in Dublin they pretend to speak of peace They say give us your weapons and we'll make this bloodshed cease But the south Armagh sniper he's heard their lies and double-talk before He won't be fooled or cheated anymore The Armagh sniper he hasn't gone away His rifles oiled and loaded he's just waiting for the day So if the British government should break their word well then The sniper will go back to work again I'm a-comin back boys Top of page ARTHUR McBRIDE I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride and we went a-walking down by the seaside Seeking good fortune and what might betide for it being on Christmas morning For recreation we went on a tramp where we met Sergeant Harper and Corporal Crump And a little wee drummer intending to camp for the day being pleasant and charming "Good morning, good morning" the sergeant did cry "And the same to you gentlemen" we did reply Intending no harm, we made to pass by For it being on Christmas mornin' Says he, "My fine fellows, if you will enlist it's ten guineas I quickly will shove in your fist And a crown in the bargain to kick off the dust and to drink the king's health in the morning For a soldier he leads a very fine life and he always is blessed with a pretty young wife And he pays all his debts without worry or strife and always is pleasant and charming And a soldier, he always is decent and clean in the finest of clothes he is constantly seen While other poor fellows are dirty and mean and sup on thin gruel in the morning" But says Arthur, I wouldn't be proud of your clothes for you've only the lend of them, as I suppose And you dare not remove them at night for you know if you do, you'll be flogged in the morning And although that we are single and free we take great delight in our own company And we have no desire strange faces to see although your offers are charming And we have no desire to take your advance of hazards and dangers we'll barter our chance For you have no scruples and will send us to France where we'll surely be shot without warning Oh now, says the sergeant, if I hear one more word I instantly then will draw out my sword And run through your bodies as strength can afford So now you gay devils take warning! But Arthur and me we took in the odds and we gave them no chance for to lunge out their swords Our trusty shillaleahs come over their heads and bade them take that as fair warning As for the wee drummer, we rifled his pouch We made a football of his rowdy-dow-dow Threw it in the tide for to rock and to roll and bade it a tedious returning And as for the rapiers that hung at their sides we flung them as far as would could in the tide To the devil I bid you, cried Arthur McBride and temper their steel in the morning I had a first cousin called Arthur McBride and we went a-walking down by the seaside Seeking good fortune and what might betide For it being on Christmas morning Top of page A STÓR MO CHROI A Stór Mo Chroí, when you're far away From the home you will soon be leaving And its many's the time by night and day Your heart will sorely be grieving Though the stranger's land is rich and fair And rich in treasures golden You'll pine I know, for the long, long ago And the love that's never olden A Stór Mo Chroí, in the stranger's land There is plenty of wealth and earnings Gold and gems adorn the rich and the grand And there are faces with hunger tearing Though the road is weary and hard to thread And the lights of their cities may blind you You'll turn A Stór for Erin's shore And the ones you left behind you A Stór Mo Chroí when evening sun Over mountains meadows is falling Won't you turn away from the throng and listen And maybe you'll hear me calling Though the voice you'll hear is surely mine For someone's speedy returning A roon a roon -- won't you come home soon To the one who will always love you Top of page BACK HOME IN DERRY (Bobby Sands) In 1803 we sailed out to sea Out from the sweet town of Derry For Australia bound if we didn't all drown And the marks of our fetters we carried In rusty iron chains we sighed for our wains Our good women we left in sorrow As the mainsails unfurled, our curses we hurled On the English, and thoughts of tomorrow Chorus: Oh..... I wish I was back home in Derry Oh..... I wish I was back home in Derry At the mouth of the Foyle, bid farewell to the soil As down below decks we were lying O'Doherty screamed, woken out of a dream By a vision of bold Robert dying The sun burned cruel as we dished out the gruel Dan O'Connor was down with a fever Sixty rebels today bound for Botany Bay How many will meet their receiver I cursed them to hell as her bow fought the swell Our ship danced like a moth in the firelight White horses rode high as the devil passed by Taking souls to Hades by twilight Five weeks out to sea, we were now forty-three Our comrades we buried each morning And in our own slime we were lost in a time Of endless nights without dawning Van Diemen's land is a hell for a man To live out his whole life in slavery Where the climate is raw and the gun makes the law Neither wind nor rain care for bravery Twenty years have gone by, I've ended my bond My comrades ghosts walk behind me A rebel I came - I'm still the same On the cold winters night you will find me Top of page BALLYROAN [Words by Thomas Hodge, a school master from Ballyroan, written in the late 19th century. Melody by Chris Andretti.] I love the sunny shores of France I love the Italian skies Where beauty beams o'er fields and streams And nature reigns sublime I love the Alps, the winding Rhine The classic Po and Rhone But ten times more do I adore The skies o'er Ballyroan The golden sun ne'er shone upon A sweeter little town The purling rill that runs the mill Through hazel shades runs down The moat (motte), high crowned with noble trees Its origins unknown Its silver grays illumes the place For miles round Ballyroan The chapel spire high over all Points to the crystal sky The vesper's chimes proclaim the time When evening worships night And home the hearty workman hikes His hour of toil now flown With songs of cheer and Scully's beer Enlivens Ballyroan Oh, Bally Roan, me native home With grief my heart is sore Within my breastand you oppressed I'd act the hero's part If I should fall for Ireland's cause Like Emmett and Wolfe Tone Then my last sigh to God on high Would be for Ballyroan Top of page THE BARD OF ARMAGH Oh list' to the tale of a poor Irish harper And scorn not the string of his old withered hands But remember those fingers they once could move sharper To raise up the strains of his dear native land It was long before the shamrock, dear isle's lovely emblem Was crushed in its beauty by the Saxon's lion paw And all the pretty colleens around me would gather Call me their bold Phelim Brady, the Bard of Armagh How I love to muse on the days of my boyhood Though four score and three years have fled by them It's king's sweet reflection that every young joy For the merry-hearted boys make the best of old men At a fair or a wake I would twist my shillelah And trip through a dance with my brogues tied with straw There all the pretty maidens around me would gather Call me their bold Phelim Brady, the Bard of Armagh In truth I have wandered this wide world over Yet Ireland's my home and a dwelling for me And, oh, let the turf that my old bones shall cover Be cut from the land that is trod by the free And when Sergeant Death in his cold arms doth embrace And lull me to sleep with old Erin go bragh By the side of my Kathleen, my dear pride, oh place me Then forget Phelim Brady, the Bard of Armagh Top of page BARRY'S COLUMN From East to West, from North to South, They tried to hunt the column out But the tans were forced to go without The boys of Barry's Column In armoured cars they came to stay, And wipe the Irish cowards away But oh, the lovely holiday Was stopped by Barry's Column [Chorus] Oh but isn't great to see The Tommies and the R.I.C The black and tans and the Staters flee Away from Barry's Column By, George might have some wiley tricks And have the volunteers to fix Yet all his black and tans go sick When they think of Barry's Column His ships all come in red and black, No tanks or war equipment lack Yet o'er the sea, they'll ne'er get back If caught by Barry's Column [Chorus repeat] Along the lonely road they wind Armed in front, and armed behind "We're sorry, but that bridge is mine" Said the lads of Barry's Column They stopped to rest just for a spell Some hand-grenades upon them fell "Here sort them out among yourselves" Said the lads from Barry's Column [Chorus repeat] Top of page BELFAST BRIGADE Craig Adams sent the Specials out to shoot the people down He thought the IRA were dead in dear old Belfast town But he got a rude awakening with the rifle and grenade When he met the 1st Battalion of the Belfast Brigade Chorus: Glory, glory to old Ireland, glory, glory to this island Glory to the memories of the men who fought and dies "No surrender" is the war cry of the Belfast Brigade The soldiers came from Holywood equipped with English guns They had men by the thousands, ammunition by the ton But when they got to Belfast they were seriously waylaid By the Fighting 1st Battalion of the Belfast Brigade Chorus We have no ammunition or no armoured tanks to show But we're ready to defend ourselves no matter where we go We're out for our Republic and to hell with your free state "No surrender" is the war cry of the Belfast Brigade Chorus Come all ye gallant Irishmen and join the IRA To strike a blow for freedom when there comes our certain day You know our countries history and the sacrifice it made Come join the 1st Battalion of the Belfast Brigade Chorus Top of page BELIEVE ME IF ALL THOSE ENDEARING YOUNG CHARMS Believe me, if all those endearing young charms Which I gaze on so fondly today Were to change by tomorrow and fleet in my arms Like fairy gifts fading away Thou wouldst still be adored as this moment thou art Let thy loveliness fade as it will And around the dear ruin each wish of my heart Would entwine itself verdantly still It is not while beauty and youth are thine own And thy cheeks unprofaned by a tear That the fervor and faith of a soul can be known To which time will but make thee more dear No, the heart that has truly loved never forgets But as truly loves on to the close As the sunflower turns to her God when he sets The same look which she turned when she rose Top of page THE BIRMINGHAM SIX There were six men in Birmingham, in Guildford there's four That were picked up and tortured and framed by the law And the filth got promotion, but they're still doing time For being Irish in the wrong place and at the wrong time In Ireland they'll put you away in the Maze In England they'll keep you for several long days God help you if ever you're caught on these shores And the coppers need someone and they walk through that door You'll be counting years, first five, then ten -growing old in a lonely hell round the yard and the stinking cell From wall to wall, and back again, a curse on the judges The coppers and screws who tortured the innocent Wrongly accused, for the price of promotion and justice to sell May the judged be their judges when they rot down in hell May the whores of the empire lie awake in their beds And sweat as they count out the sins on their heads While over in Ireland eight more men lie dead Kicked down and shot in the back of the head Top of page THE BLACK AND TAN GUN It was down in the town of old Bantry Where most of the fighting was done It was there that a young Irish soldier Was shot by a Black-and-Tan gun As he raised himslef up to his elbow As the blood from his wounds ran red He turned to his comrades beside him And these are the words he said: "Won't you bury me out on the mountains So that I can see where the battle was won?" So they buried him out on the mountains 'Neath a cross that stood facing the sun They wrote: "Here lies a true Irish soldier Who was shot by a Black-and-Tan gun" And now we are back in old Dublin, our victory over and won We think of our comrades we buried under God's rising sun Top of page BLACK AND TANS! I was born on a Dublin street where the Royal drums do beat And the loving English feet they tramped all over us And each and every night when me father'd come home tight He'd invite the neighbors outside with this chorus Chorus: Oh, come out you black and tans Come out and fight me like a man Show your wife how you won medals down in Flanders Tell them how the IRA made you run like hell away From the green and lovely lanes of Killeshandra Come let me hear you tell how you slammed the great Parnell When you fought them well and truely persecuted Where are the smears and jeers that you bravely let us hear When our heros of sixteen were executed Come tell us how you slew those brave arabs two by two Like the zulu's they had spears and bows and arrows How you bravely slew each one with your sixteen pounder gun And you frightened them poor natives to their marrow The day is coming fast and the time is here at last When each yeoman will be cast aside before us And if there be a need sure my kids will sing Gods speed With a verse of two of Steven Beehan's chorus Top of page BLACK IS THE COLOUR Black is the colour of my true love's hair Her lips are like some roses fair She's the sweetest face and the gentlest hands I love the ground wheron she stands I love my love and well she knows I love the ground whereon she goes But some times I whish the day will come That she and I will be as one Black is the colour of my true love's hair Her lips are like some roses fair She's the sweetest face and the gentlest hands I love the ground wheron she stands I walk to the Clyde for to mourn and weep But satisfied I never can sleep I'll write her a letter, just a few short lines And suffer death ten thousand times Black is the colour of my true love's hair Her lips are like some roses fair She's the sweetest face and the gentlest hands I love the ground wheron she stands Top of page BLACK VELVET BAND [Van Diemen's Land was named after the Dutchman who discovered it, later it was renamed Tasmania. It is an island south of the Australian mainland. Many people were transported there by the British often for petty crimes.] In a neat little town they call Belfast Apprentice to trade I was bound And many an hour of sweet happiness I spent in that neat little town Till bad misfortune befell me And caused me to stray from the land Far away from my friends and relations To follow the black velvet band Chorus: And her eyes they shone like diamonds You'd think she was queen of the land And her hair hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band I took a stroll down Broadway, meaning not long for to stay When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid comes a tripping along the highway She was both fair and handsome, her neck it was just like a swans And her hair it hung over her shoulder, tied up with a black velvet band Chorus: And her eyes they shone like diamonds You'd think she was queen of the land And her hair hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid, when a gentleman's passing us by Well I knew she meant the doing of him, by the look in her rougish black eye A goldwatch she took from his pocket and placed it right into my hand And the very first thing that I said was bad luck to your black velvet band Chorus: And her eyes they shone like diamonds You'd think she was queen of the land And her hair hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band Before the judge and the jury, next morning I had to appear The judge he says to me: Young man, your case it is proven clear I'll give you seven years penal servitude, to be spent faraway from the land Far away from your friends and companions, betrayed by the black velvet band Chorus: And her eyes they shone like diamonds You'd think she was queen of the land And her hair hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band So come all ye jolly young fellows a warning take by me When you are out on the town me lads, beware of them pretty colleens For they feed you with whiskey and porter, 'til you are unable to stand And the very next thing that you'll know you're landed in Van Diemens land Chorus: And her eyes they shone like diamonds You'd think she was queen of the land And her hair hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band Top of page THE BOLD BLACK AND TAN Says Lloyd-George to Macpherson, "I'll give you the sack To uphold law and order you haven't the knack I'll send over Greenwood, a much stronger man And fill up the Green Isle with the bold Black and Tan" He sent them all over to pillage and loot And burn down the houses, the inmates to shoot "To re-conquer Ireland, he said, is my plan With Macready and Co. and his bold Black and Tan" The town of Balbriggan they've burned to the ground While bullets Like hailstones were whizzing around And women left homeless by this evil clan They've waged war on the children, the bold Black and Tan From Dublin to Cork and from Thurles to Mayo Lies a trail of destruction wherever they go With England to help and fierce passions to fan She must feel bloody proud of her bold Black and Tan Ah, then not by the terrors of England's foul horde For ne'er could a nation be ruled by the sword For our country we'll have yet in spite of her plan Or ten times the number of bold Black and Tan We defeated Conscription in spite of their threats And we're going to defeat old Lloyd-George and his pets For Ireland and Freedom we're here to a man And we'll humble the pride of the bold Black and Tan Top of page THE BOLD FENIAN MEN 'Twas down by the glenside, I met an old woman She was picking young nettles and she scarce saw me coming I listened awhile to the song she was humming Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men 'Tis fifty long years since I saw the moon beaming On strong manly forms and their eyes with hope gleaming I see them again, sure, in all my daydreaming Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men Some died on the glenside, some died near a stranger And wise men have told us that their cause was a failure They fought for old Ireland and they never feared danger Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men I passed on my way, God be praised that I met her Be life long or short, sure I'll never forget her We may have brave men, but we'll never have better Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men Top of page THE BOLD O'DONOHUE Here I am from Paddy's land, a land of high renown I broke the hearts of all the girls from miles of Keady town And when they hear that I'm away' they raise a hullabaloo When they hear about the handsome lad they call O'Donahue Chorus: For I'm the boy to please her and I'm the boy to tease her And I'm the boy to squeeze her up and I'll tell you what I'll do I'll court her like an Irishman with me brogue and blarney too is me plan With me rollikin', swollikin', gollikin', wollikin', Bold O'Donahue I wish me love was a red red rose grown' on yon garden wall And me to be dewdrop and upon her brow I'd fall Perhaps now she might think of me as a rather heavy dew No more she'd love the handsome lad they call O'Donahue They say that Queen Victoria has a daughter fine and grand Perhaps she'd take it into her head for to marry an Irishman And if I could only get the chance to have a word or two Perhaps she'd take a notion in the bold O'Donahue Top of page BOLD ROBERT EMMET The struggle is over, the boys are defeated Old Ireland's surrounded with sadness and gloom We were defeated and shamefuIIy treated And I, Robert Emmet, awaiting my doom Hung, drawn and quartered, sure that was my sentence But soon I will show them no coward am I My crime is the love of the land I was born in A hero I lived and a hero I'll die Chorus: Bold Robert Emmet, the darling of Ireland Bold Robert Emmet will die with a smile Farewell companions both loyal and daring I'll lay down my life for the Emerald Isle The barque lay at anchor awaiting to bring me Over the billows to the land of the free But I must see my sweetheart for I know she will cheer me And with her I will sail far over the sea Chorus But I was arrested and cast into prison Tried as a traitor, a rebel, a spy But no man can call me a knave or a coward A hero I lived and a hero I'll die Chorus Hark! I the bell's tolling, I well know its meaning My poor heart tells me it is my death knell In come the clergy, the warder is leading I have no friends here to bid me farewell Goodbye, old Ireland, my parents and sweetheart Companions in arms to forget you must try I am proud of the honour, it was only my duty A hero I lived and a hero I'll die Chorus Top of page BOLD TENANT FARMER One evening of late into Bandon I strayed I was bound for Clonakilty I was making me way At Ballinishcarthy some time I delayed For to wet me auld whistle with porter Chorus Tithery-ow-tow, tithery-ow-tow Tithery-ow-tow-tow-tum : Tithery-ow-tah-den, tithery-ow-tow Tithery-ow-tow-tum Tithery-ow-tah-den, doodle-e-darrow Well I spate in me fist and I picked up me stick And up the coach road like a deer I did skip For I care not for bailiff landlord or auld Nick And sang like a lark in the morning Well I scarcely had travelled one mile of the road When I heard a dispute in a farmers abode The son of the landlord an ill looking toad And the wife of the bold tenant farmer He said what the devil's come over you all? Not one penny of rent at each time that I call By next October I'll settle you all For you'll have the high road for your garden "A robber" the bold tenants wife she replied "You're as bad as your daddy on the other side But the National Land League will put down your pride For they're able to bear every storm Its branches extend to country and town Protecting the tenants, their houses and ground I owe you twelve months and I'll give you one pound If you clear our receipts in the morning When she spoke of the Land League his lips they grew pale Saying "What good have you done but be stuck into jail And the rent that you owe you must pay by next gale And believe me, we'll give you no quarter Your husband I saw in the town just last night Drinking and shouting for poor tenants rights But the month of October we'll put you to flight To follow your friends o'er the water If my husband was drinking what has that to do? I'd rather he'd drink it than give it to you Now make up you mind for you won't get a chew For wet marshy land is no bargain We all joined the Land League on last New Years Day And I think, in my heart, we're not going astray While the clergy are with us we'll carry the sway Now marshalling all in good order "Here's to Father O'Leary the pride of our isle He's the boy that can title you ruffians in style John Dillon and Davitt who rank in their file Take care you don't tread on their corns Then I stepped out from the bush where I lay And as he passed by me I heard him to say "I wish to my God I was ten miles away From the wife of the bold tenant farmer" I shouted "Hurrah" and she shouted "Huroo" He showed his back and like lightning he flew Saying "God save the Land League and old Ireland too Agus fagáimead siúd mar atá sé Top of page BONNIE KELLSWATER Here's a health to you, bonnie Kellswater For it's there you'll find the pleasures of life And it's there you'll find fishing and farming And a bonnie wee girl for your wife On the hills and the glens and the valleys Grows the softest of women so fine And the flowers are all dripping with honey There lives Martha, a true love of mine Bonnie Martha, you're the first girl I courted You're the one put my heart in a snare And if ever I should lose you to another I will leave my Kellswater so fair For this one and that one may court her But no other can take her from me For I love her as I love my Kellswater Like the primrose is loved by the bee Here's a health to you, bonnie Kellswater For it's there you'll find the pleasures of life And it's there you'll find fishing and farming And a bonnie wee girl for your wife Top of page BOOLAVOGUE (1) At Boolavogue as the sun was setting O'er the bright May meadows of Shelmalier A rebel hand set the heather blazing and brought the neighbours from far and near Then Father Murphy from old Kilcormack Spurred up the rock with a warning cry: "Arm! Arm!" he cried, "For I've come to lead you for Ireland's freedom we'll fight or die!" He lead us on against the coming soldiers And the cowardly Yeomen we put to flight 'Twas at the Harrow the boys of Wexford Showed Bookey's regiment how men could fight Look out for hirelings, King George of England Search every kingdom where breathes a slave For Father Murphy of County Wexford Sweeps o'er the land like a mighty wave We took Camolin and Enniscorthy And Wexford storming drove out our foes 'Twas at Slieve Coilte our pikes were reeking With the crimson blood of the beaten Yeos At Tubberneering and Ballyellis Full many a Hessian lay in his gore Ah! Father Murphy had aid come over The Green Flag floated from shore to shore! At Vinegar Hill, O'er the pleasant Slaney Our heroes vainly stood back to back and the Yeos at Tullow took Father Murphy and burnt his body upon a rack God grant you glory, brave Father Murphy And open Heaven to all your men the cause that called you may call tomorrow in another fight for the Green again Top of page BOOLAVOGUE (2) Come all you warriors and renowned nobles Give ear unto my warlike theme And I will sing you how Father Murphy Lately aroused from his sleepy dream Neither Julius Cesar norAlexander Nor brave King Arthur could equal him Armies formidable he did conquer Though with two gun men he did begin Camolin cavalry he did unhorse them Their first lieutenant he cut them down With shattered ranks and with broken columns They soon returned to Camolin town On the hill of Oulart he displayed his valour Where a hundred Corkmen lay on the plain At Enniscorthy his sword he wielded And I hope to see him once more again When Enniscorthy became subject to him Twas then to Wexford we marched our men And on the Three Rock took up our quarters Waiting for daylight the town to win The loyal townsmen gave their assistance We'll die or conquer they all did say The yeomen cavalry made no resistance For on the pavement their corpses lay With drums a-beating the town did echo And acclamations came from door to door On the Windmill Hill we pitched our tents And we drank like heroes but paid no score On Carraig Rua for some time we waited And next to Gorey we did repair At Tubberneering we thought no harm The bloody army was waiting there The issue of it was a close engagement While on the soldiers we played warlike pranks Thro' sheepwalks, hedgerows and shdy thickets There were mangled bodies and broken ranks The shuddering cavalry I can't forget them We raised the brushes on their helmets straight They turned about and they bid for Dublin As if they ran for a ten-pound plate Some crossed Donnybrook and more through Blackrock And some up Shankill without wound or flaw And if Barry Lawless be not a liar There's more went groaning up Luggelaw To the Windmill Hill of Enniscorthy The British Fencibles they fled like deers But our ranks were tattered and sorely scattered By the loss of Kyan and the Shelmaleers The streets of England were left quite naked Of all its army both foot and horse The highlands of Scotland were left unguarded Likewise the Hessians the seas they crossed But if the Frenchmen had reinforced us And landed transports in Bagenbun Father John Murphy would be their seconder And sixteen thousand with him would come Success attend the sweet County Wexford Throw off its yoke and to battle run Let them not think we gave up our arms For every man has a pike and gun Top of page BOTANY BAY Collected from Duke Tritton by John Meredith. Tritton learned the song while busking in Sydney early 1900's. He also wrote the last verse. Second verse is from Therese Radic's Songs of Australian Working Life Oh I'm on my way down to the quay Where a big ship now does lie For to take a gang of navvies I was told to engage But I thought I would call in for a while Before I went away For to take a trip in an emigrant ship To the shores of Botany Bay Chorus: Farewell to your bricks and mortar Farewell to your dirty lime Farewell to your gangway and gang planks And to hell with your overtime For the good ship Ragamuffin She is lying at the quay For to take old Pat with a shovel on his back To the shores of Botany Bay The best years of our life we spend At working on the docks Building mighty wharves and quays Of earth and ballast rocks Our pensions keep our lives secure But I'll not rue the day When I take a trip on an emigrant ship To the shores of Botany Bay For the boss came up this morning And he said "Well Pat hello If you do not mix that mortar fast Be sure you'll have to go" Of course he did insult me I demanded of my pay And I told him straight I was going to emigrate To the shores of Botany Bay And when I reach Australia I'll go and look for gold Sure there's plenty there for the digging Or so I have been told Or I might go back into my trade Eight hundred bricks I'll lay In an eight hour day for eight bob pay On the shores of Botany Bay Top of page THE BOYS FROM THE COUNTY ARMAGH There's one fair county in Ireland With memories so glorious and grand Where nature has lavished its beauty In the orchards of Erin's green land I love it's cathederal city Once founded by Patrick so true And it bears in the heart of it's bosom The ashes of Brian Boru Chorus: It's my own Irish home Far across the foam Although I've oft times left it In foreign lands to roam No matter where I wander Through cities near or far My heart is at home in old Ireland In the County of Armagh I've traveled that part of the County Through Newtown, Forkhill, Crossmaglen Around the Gap of Mount Norris And home by Baclwater again Where the girls are so gay and so hearty None fairer you'll find near or far But where are the boys that can court them Like the boys from the County Armagh Chorus The noble and the brave have departed from our shore They've gone off to a foreign land where the wild canyons roar No more they'll see the shamrock, the plant so dear to me Or hear the small birds singing around sweet Tralee Chorus No more the sun will shnine on that blessed harvest morn Or hear our reaper singing in a golden field of corn There's a band for every woe and a cure for every pain But the happiness of my darling girl I never will see again Chorus Top of page THE BOYS FROM THE COUNTY CORK You've in history's pages the heroes of great fame The deeds they done, the battles won and how they made their name But the boys that mad the history for the orange, white and green were the boys who died in Dublin Town in nineteen sixteen So meet the boys from Kerry and meet the boys form Clare from Dublin, Wicklow, Donegal and the boys of old Kildare Some came from a land beyond the sea from Boston and New York But the boys who beat the Black and Tans were the boys from the County Cork Now Cork gave us Mick Sweeney a martyr for to die And Wicklow gave us Dwyer in days so long gone by And Dublin gave us Padraig Pearse McBride and Cathal Brugha And America gave us de Valera to lead old Ireland through So meet the boys from Kerry and meet the boys form Clare from Dublin, Wicklow, Donegal and the boys of old Kildare Some came from a land beyond the sea from Boston and New York But the boys who beat the Black and Tans were the boys from the County Cork Top of page THE BOYS FROM THE COUNTY MAYO Far away from the land of the Shamrock and heather In search of a living, as exiles we roam But whenever we chance to assemble together We think of the land where we once had a home: But these homes are destroyed and our soil confiscated The hand of the tyrant brought plunder and woe; The fires are now quenched and our hearts desolated In our once happy homes in the County Mayo Long years have now passed since with hearts full of sorrow The of the Shamrock we left far behind; But how we would like to go back there to-morrow; To the scenes of our youth, which we still bear in mind; The days of our childhood, it's now we recall them They cling to our vision wherever we go; And the friends of our youth we will never forget them They too ar exiled from the County Mayo From historic Killala, from Swinford to Calla Ballyhaunis and Westport and old Castlebar Kiltimagh and Claremorris, Belmullet and Erris Kilkelly and Knock that's famed near and far; Balla, Ballinrobe, Ballina and Bohola Keeloges and Foxford a few miles below Newport and Cong with old Straide and Manulla Charlestown too, in the County Mayo Then on with the cause 'till our aim is accomplished Those who would fault us are cowardly and mean So stand in the fight 'till the tyrant is vanquished Expelled from our Dear little Island of Green With the foes of our land we have fought a long battle Soon they will get their last death-dealing blow When old Nick has received them, their brains he will rattle For the wrongs they have done to the County Mayo From Galway to Dublin, from Derry to Kerry New York and 'Frisco and Boston also In Pittsburg, Chicago, Detroit and Toronto There are stout-hearted men from the County Mayo Now boys, pull together in all sorts of weather Don't show the white feather, wherever you go Act each as a brother and help one another Like true hearted men from the County Mayo The Bogman's Pipe Top of page BOYS OF FAIRHILL Chorus: The smell on Patrick's Bridge is wicked How does Faher Matthew stick it? Here's up them all says the boys of Fair hill Come boys, spend a day with our Harrier Club so gay: The cry of the hounds it will make your heart thrill And, when you hear Conan Doyle say: the Amoured Car has won today," Here's up 'em all say the boys of Fair Hill First you go to Fahy's well for a drink of pure clean water The finest spot on earth sure the angels do say Where thousands came across the foam, just to view the Blarney Stone Which can be seen from the groves of Fair Hill First you go to Quinlan's pub - that is where you join our club Where around us in gallons the porter does flow First they tap a half-a-tierce and drink a health to Dashwood's race; That's the stuff to give 'em say the boys of Fair Hill Come boys and spend a day with our Hurling Club so gay The clash of the ash it will make your heart thrill; The Rockies thought that they were stars, till they meet the Saint Finbarr's Here's up 'em all say the boys of Fair Hill Top of page THE BOYS OF KILKENNY Oh the Boys of Kilkenny are brave roaring blades And if ever they meet with the nice little maids They'll kiss them and coax them and spend their money free And of all towns in Ireland Kilkenny for me And of all towns in Ireland Kilkenny for me Fal de ral de ral de ral de ral lal ra la la lo In the Town of Kilkenny there runs a clear stream In the Town of Kilkenny there lives a pretty dame Her lips are like roses, and her mouth much the same Like a dish of fresh strawberries smother'd in cream Fal de ral de ral de ral de ral lal ra la la lo Her Eyes are as black as Kilkennys large coal Which thro' my poor bosom have burnt a big hole Her mind like its river is mild clear and pure But her heart is more hard nor its marble I'm sure Fal de ral de ral de ral de ral lal ra la la lo Kilkenny's a pretty town and shines where it stands And the more I think on it, the more my heart warms For, if I was in Kilkenny I'd think myself at home For it's there I'd get sweethearts, but here I get none Fal de ral de ral de ral de ral lal ra la la lo Top of page THE BOYS OF KILLYBEGS There are wild and rocky hills on the coast of Donegal And the fishermen are hearty, brave and free and the big atlantic swell is a thing they know right well as they fight to make their living from the sea Chorus: With a pleasant rolling sea and the herring running free and our ships all gliding Gently through the foam when the boats are loaded down there'll be singing in the town when the boys of killybegs come rollin home Now you're headed out to sea and the wind is blowing free and you cast your nets as rain begins to fall and the clouds are riding high and the wind will soon blow by and today you'll amybe get your bumper haul Chorus Well the weather's very rough and the work gets plenty touth and the ropes will raise the welts upon your hands but you'll never leave the sea for whoever you may be when it's in your blood it's hard to live on land Chorus Now there's purple on the hills and there's green down by the shore and the sun has cast it's gold upon the sea and there's silver down below where the herring fishes go if we catch them there'll be gold for you and me Top of page BOYS OF KILMICHAEL [On 28th November 1920 a force of 18 Auxiliaries (military part of Royal Irish Constabulary) were killed in an ambush at Kilmichael in County Cork, by a Flying Column of the IRA, led by 22 year old Tom Barry.] On the twentyeighth day of November the day that the tans left Macroom they were loaded in two Crossley tenders not knowing that they'd meet their doom But when they came to Kilmichael they suddenly came to a stop for they met with the boys of the column who made a clean sweep of the lot Then over the hills went the echo the peal of the rifle and gun the flames from the lorries gave tidings that the boys from Kilmichael had won So here's to the boys of Kilmichael those brave lads so gallant and true who fought 'neath the green flag of Erin and conquered the red, white and blue Top of page BOYS OF THE OLD BRIGADE "Oh father, why are you so sad, on this bright Easter morn? When Irishmen are proud and glad Of the land where they were born." "Oh, son, I see sad mem'ries view Of far-off distant days When, being just a boy like you I joined the I.R.A. Chorus: Where are the lads who stood with me When history was made? Oh, gra mo chroi I long to see The Boys of the Old Brigade In hills and farms the call to arms Was heard by one and all And from the glens came brave young men To answer Ireland's call 'Twas long ago we faced the foe The old brigade and me But by my side they fought and died That Ireland might be free Chorus And now, my boy, I've told you why On Easter morn I sigh For I recall my comrades all From dark old days gone by I think of men who fought in glens With rifles and grenade May Heaven keep the men who sleep From the ranks of the old brigade Chorus Top of page BREAD AND FISHES As I went a walkin' one mornin' in spring I met with some travelers in an old country lane One was an old man, the second a maid And the third was a young boy who smiled as he said Chorus: We've the wind in the willows, and the birds in the sky We've a bright sun to warm us, where ever we lie We have bread and fishes and a jug of red wine To share on our journey with all of mankind I sat down beside them, the flowers all around And we ate on a mantle spread out on the ground They told me of prophets and princes and kings And they spoke of the one god who knows everything I asked them to tell me their name and their race So I might remember their kindness and grace "My name is Joseph, this is Mary my wife And this is our young son, our pride and delight" We travel the whole world, by land and by sea To tell all the people how they might be free Sadly, I left them, in an old country lane For I knew that I never would see them again One was an old man, the second a maid And the third was a young boy who smiled as he said: Top of page BRENNAN ON THE MOOR 'Tis of a brave young highwayman This story I will tell His name was Willie Brennan And in Ireland he did dwell It was on the Kilwood Mountain He commenced his wild career And many a wealthy nobleman Before him shook with fear Chorus: It was Brennan on the moor Brennan on the moor Bold, brave and undaunted Was young Brennan on the moor One day upon the highway As young Willie he went down He met the mayor of Cashiell A mile outside of town The mayor he knew his features And he said, Young man, said he Your name is Willie Brennan You must come along with me Chorus: It was Brennan on the moor Brennan on the moor Bold, brave and undaunted Was young Brennan on the moor Now Brennan's wife had gone to town Provisions for to buy And when she saw her Willie She commenced to weep and cry Said, Hand to me that tenpenny As soon as Willie spoke She handed him a blunderbuss From underneath her cloak Chorus: It was Brennan on the moor Brennan on the moor Bold, brave and undaunted Was young Brennan on the moor Now with this loaded blunderbuss The truth I will unfold He made the mayor to tremble And he robbed him of his gold One hundred pounds was offered For his apprehension there So he, with horse and saddle To the mountains did repair Chorus: It was Brennan on the moor Brennan on the moor Bold, brave and undaunted Was young Brennan on the moor Now Brennan being an outlaw Upon the mountains high With cavalry and infantry To take him they did try He laughed at them with scorn Until at last 'twas said By a false-hearted woman He was cruelly betrayed Chorus: It was Brennan on the moor Brennan on the moor Bold, brave and undaunted Was young Brennan on the moor Top of page BRIDGIT O'MALLEY Oh Bridgit O’Malley, you left my heart shaken With a hopeless desolation, I’d have you to know It’s the wonders of admiration your quiet face has taken And your beauty will haunt me wherever I go The white moon above the pale sands, the pale stars above the thorn tree Are cold beside my darling, but no purer than she I gaze upon the cold moon till the stars drown in the warm sea And the bright eyes of my darling are never on me My Sunday it is weary, my Sunday it is grey now My heart is a cold thing, my heart is a stone All joy is dead within me, my life has gone away now For another has taken my love for his own The day it is approaching when we were to be married And it’s rather I would die than live only to grieve Oh meet me, my Darling, e’er the sun sets o’er the barley And I’ll meet you there on the road to Drumslieve Oh Bridgit O’Malley, you’ve left my heart shaken With a hopeless desolation, I’d have you to know It’s the wonders of admiration your quiet face has taken And your beauty will haunt me wherever I go Top of page BRING THEM HOME In the jail that held McSwiney, in that prison where he died There lie two daughters of old Ireland and they fill my heart with pride For I know England wishes that we'd let them die alone But the voice of Dear old Ireland cries for us to bring them home Chorus: Here it ring in the air, it's the voice of my country so fair Can't you feel? Can't you see? Irishmen will set them free 'Twas for loving dear old Ireland brought them to their prison hell But the ghost of Pearse and Connolly fill there lonely prison cell Clarke and Plunkett stand beside them McDonagh, McDermott and Wolfe Tone But the voice of Dear old Ireland cries for us to bring them home So I pray young men of Ireland Don't betray our daughters true Proudly stand behind our heroes blessed they died for you and me Though the tyrant would deny us we can break their hearts of stone And all the voices will be singing when we bring our daughters home Top of page BROAD BLACK BRIMMER There's a uniform that's hanging In what's known as Father's room A uniform so simple in it's style It has no braid of gold or silk no hat with feathered plumes Yet Mother has preserved it all the while One day she made me try it on a wish of mine for years "In memory of your father, Sean" she said. And when I put the Sam Browne on she was smiling with the tears As she placed the broad black brimmer on my head. Chorus: It's just a broad black brimmer With its ribbons frayed and torn By the careless whisk of many a mountain breeze An old trench coat that's battle stained and worn And breeches almost threadbare at the knees A Sam Browne belt, with a buckle big and strong A holster that's been empty many a day... but not for long! And when men claim Ireland's freedom The one they'll choose to lead 'em Will wear the broad black brimmer of the IRA It was the uniform been worn by my father years ago When he reached me mother's homestead on the run It was the uniform me father wore in that little church below When oul' Father Mac he blessed the pair as one And after Truce and Treaty and the parting of the ways He wore it when he marched out with the rest And when they bore his body down the rugged heather braes They placed the broad black brimmer on his breast Top of page BUACHAILL ÓN ÉIRNE Buachaill ón Éirne mé's bhréagfainn cailín deas óg Ní fhiarfainn bó spré léi, táimse féin saibhir go leor 'S liom Corcaigh dá mhéad é, is dhá thaobh a' ghleanna, 's Tír Eoghain 'S mura n-aithraigh mé béasa's mé an t-aidhir ar chontae Mhuigheo Rachfaidh mé amárach ag déanamh leanna fán choill Gan coite, gan bád, gan gráinín breac ar bith liom Ach duilliúr na gcraobh mar éadaigh leaba ós mo chionn 's óró sheacht m'anam déag thú, 's tú ag féachaint orm anall Buachailleacht bó, mo leo, nár chleacht mise riamh Ach ag imirt 's ag ól le h-ógmhná deasa ón sliabh Má chaill mé mo stór, ní móide gur chaill mé mo chiall Is ní mó liom do phóg ná an bhróg atáim ag caitheamh le bliain A chúisle 's a stór, ná pós an seanduine liath Ach pós an fear óg, mo leo, mura maire sé ach bliain Nó beidh tú go fóill gan uadh nó mac ós do chionn A shílfeadh aon deor ort tráthnóna nó ar maidin go trom Top of page CARRICKFERGUS (1) I wish I was in Carrickfergus, only for nights in Ballygran I would swim over the deepest ocean, the deepest ocean for my love to find But he sea is wide and I cannot swim over and neither have I wings to fly If I could find me a handsome boatman to ferry me over to my love and die My childhood days bring back sad reflections of happy times I spent so long ago My boyhood friends and my own relations have all passed on now like melting snow But I'll spend my days in endless roaming soft sit the grass my bed is free Ah to be back in Carrickfergus on that long road down to the sea And in Kilkenny it is reported there on marble stones as black as ink With gold and silver I would support her, but I'll sing no more now till I get a drink I'm drunk today and I'm seldom sober, a handsome rover from town to town Ah, but I'm sick now, my days are numbered so come all ye young men and lay me down Top of page CARRICKFERGUS (2) I wish I was in Carrickfergus only for nights in Ballygran I would swim over the deepest ocean only for nights in Ballygran. But the sea is wide and I cannot swim over, and neither have I the wings to fly I wish I had a handsome boatman to ferry me over my love and I. Now in Kilkenny, it is reported they have marble stones there as black as ink With gold and silver I would support her but I'll sing no more now till I get a drink I'm drunk today, and I'm seldom sober, a handsome rover from town to town Ah, but I'm sick now my days are numbered come all you young men and lay me down. Top of page THE CLIFFS OF DONEEN You may travel far far from your own native land Far away o'er the mountains, far away o'er the foam But of all the fine places that I've ever been Sure there's none can compare with the cliffs of Doneen Take a view o'er the mountains, fine sights you'll see there You'll see the high rocky mountains o'er the west coast of Clare Oh the town of Kilkee and Kilrush can be seen From the high rocky slopes round the cliffs of Doneen It's a nice place to be on a fine summer's day Watching all the wild flowers that ne'er do decay Oh the hares and lofty pheasants are plain to be seen Making homes for their young round the cliffs of Doneen Fare thee well to Doneen, fare thee well for a while And to all the kind people I'm leaving behind To the streams and the meadows where late I have been And the high rocky slopes round the cliffs of Doneen Top of page COAST OF MALABAR Far away across the ocean, underneath an Indian star Dwells a dusky little (dark eyed lovely) maiden on the coast of Malabar In the harbour, where we anchored, I can see her shy and sweet With a bunch of wine-red roses and the wild waves at her feet Chorus: Fare thee well, my little dark eyed queen fare thee well, my Indian star In my heart you'll live forever on the coast of Malabar Many a happy night I spent with her, 'neath the palm trees green and tall Many a happy night I danced with her down in yonder city hall She would raise her misty little face and gaze across the bay She would whisper "If you love me, why do you sail away?" Come to me, I hear her calling across the ocean wild and far Come to me again and love me on the coast of Malabar And my thoughts keep ever turning to that far-off distant shore And to that dark eyed girl who loved me, but I'll see her never more Top of page COMICAL GENIUS (The Guard) O a comical genius was thinking one day How he'd jack up his job and receive handy pay He did not like begging and work was too hard So he got a bright notion to join up the guard Diddly-i-dum diidly-i-dum diddly-i-dum dum day Well he went up to Dublin, to the depot went in Got a new suit of blue as bright as new pins They drilt him, they drilt him, they drilt him so hard The old sergeant proclaimed him a full fledged guard Diddly-i-dum diidly-i-dum diddly-i-dum dum day He was stationed somewhere near the town of Athy On the roads of the district he kept a close eye The girls they admired him as all brassers do Fell in love with the guard and his new suit of blue Diddly-i-dum diidly-i-dum diddly-i-dum dum day Well the girls they would wink and they'd nod as he passed O but this itchy guard had his eye on one lass And this little colleen, she being a die-hard She made it quite clear that she wanted no guard Diddly-i-dum diidly-i-dum diddly-i-dum dum day Well one time while on duty on a cold winter's night Sure he caught her out cycling without any light Where's your light, miss? says he; for an answer says she It's next to me liver, where you'll never be Diddly-i-dum diidly-i-dum diddly-i-dum dum day Top of page COURTIN' IN THE KITCHEN Come single belle and beau, unto me pay attention Don't ever fall in love, tis the devil's own invention For once I fell in love with a maiden so bewitchin' Miss Henrietta Bell down in Captain Kelly's kitchen Chorus: With me too-rah-loo-rah-lay, me too-rah-loo-rah-laddie With me too-rah-loo-rah-lay, me too-rah-loo-rah-laddie At the age of seventeen I was 'prenticed to a grocer Not far from Stephen's Green where Miss Henri used to go sir Her manners were so fine, she set me heart a twitchin' When she invited me to a hooley in the kitchen Sunday being the day we were to have the flare up I dressed meself quite gay and I frizzed an oiled me hair up The captain had no wife and he'd gone off a fishin' So we kicked up the highlife below the stairs in the kitchen With me arms around her waist, she slyly hinted marriage When to the door in haste came Captain Kelly's carriage Her looks told me full well and they were not bewitchin' That she wished I'd get to hell, or somewhere from the kitchen She flew up off my knees, full five feet up or higher And over head and heels threw me slap into the fire! My new Repealer's coat, that I bought from Mr. Stichen With a thirty-shilling note, went to blazes in the kitchen I grieved to see my duds, all besmeared with smoke and ashes When a tub of dirty suds right in my face she dashes As I lay on the floor still the water she kept pitchin' 'Till the footman broke the door, and marched down into the kitchen When the Captain came downstairs though he seen me situation Despite all me prayers I was marched off to the station For me they'd take no bail though to get home I was itchin' And I had to tell the tale how I came in to the kitchen I said she did invite me, but she gave a flat denial For assault she did indite me and I was sent for trial She swore I'd robbed her house in spite of all her screechin' And I got six months hard for me courtin' in the kitchen Top of page THE CRACK WAS NINETY IN THE ISLE OF MAN Well, weren't we the rare oul stock spent the evening getting locked Up in the Ace o hearts where the high stools were engaging Over the Butt Bridge down the dock the boat she sailed at 5 o'clock "Hurry boys, now" said Whack or before we're there we'll all be back Carry him if you can the crack was ninety in the Isle of Man. Before we reached the Alexander base the ding dong we surely did raise In the bar of the ship we had great sport As the boat she sailed out of the port Landed up in the Douglas head enquired for a vacant bed The dining room we soon got shown by a decent woman up the road Lads, eat it if you can and the crack was ninety in the Isle of Man Next morning we went for a ramble round viewed the sights of Douglas town Then we went for a nighty session in a pub they call Dick Darbies We must have been drunk by half past three To sober up we went swimming in the sea Back to the digs for the spruce up and while waitin' for the fry We all drew up our plan The crack was ninety in the Isle of Man. That night we went to Texas Bar Came back down by horse & car Met Big Jim & all went in to drink some wine in Yate's The Liverpool Judies it was said were all to be found in the Douglas head McShane was there in his suit & shirt Them foreign girls he was trying to flirt Sayin "Here girls, I'm your man" & the crack was ninety in the Isle of Man Whacker fancied his good looks, on an Isle of Man woman he was struck But a Liverpool lad was by her side & he was throwin' the jar into her Whacker thought he'd take a chance he asked the quare one out to dance Around the floor they stepped it out And to Whack it was no bother Everything was goin' to plan the crack was ninety in the Isle of Man The Isle of Man woman fancied Whack your man stood there till his mates came back Whack! They all whacked into Whack & Whack was whacked out on his back The police force arrived as well Banjoed a couple of them as well Landed up in the Douglas jail Until the Dublin boat did sail Deported every man The crack was ninety in the Isle of Man Top of page THE CREGGAN WHITE HARE In the lowland of Creggan there lives a white hare As swift as the swallow that flies through that air You may tramp the world over but none can compare With the pride of low Creggan white hare One clean autumn morning as you may suppose The red golden sun o'er the green mountain rose Barney Conway came down and he did declare This day I'll put an end to that bonnie white hare He searched through the lowlands and down through the glens And among the wild bushes where the white hare had ends Till at last coming home o'er the heather so bare From behind a wild thistle jumped out the white hare Bang bang went his gun and his dog it slipped too As swift as the wind over the green mountain flew But the dog soon came back which made poor Barney sigh For he knew that the white hare had bid him again We're some jolly sportsmen down here from Pomeroy From Cookstown, Dungannon and likewise the Moy With our pedigree greyhound we've travelled afar And we've come down to Creggan in our fine motor car Away to the lowlands there huntsmen did go In search for the white hare they look high and low Till at last Barney Conway on a bog bank so bare Shouted out to these huntsmen there lies the white hare They call up their greyhounds from off the green lea And Barney and the huntsmen they jumped high with glee For three on the turf bank all gathered around Seven dogs and nine men did that poor hare surround Now wonder the white hare did tremble with fear As she stood on her toes and would raise her big ears But she stood on her toes and with one gallant spring She cleared over the greyhounds and broke through the ring Well the case i went on 'twas a beautiful view As swift as the wind o'er the green mountains flew But with pedigree greyhound they didn't go far They come back and went home in their motor car There come another man and you all know him well His name is Pat Devlin and Bonnie Black Nell In search of the white hare he says I'll have fun here's fifty to one that Black Nell does her turn Five turns the hare got then from Bonnie Black Nell and the sixth one was given around John Haughey's well 'Twas there we lost sight of the white hare and the dog And ten minutes later they came o'er the bog Well the chase it went on it was great for to see The white hare and the greyhound they roamed light and free Till she travelled to Esker where she knew the land well And to Bonnie Black Nell she soon bid farewell And now to conclude and finish its time I hope you'll forgive me for singing this rhyme If there's any amongst you in Carrick more fair Let's drink up a health to the bonnie white hare Top of page THE CROPPY BOY It was early, early in the spring The birds did whistle and sweetly sing Changing their notes from tree to tree And the song they sang was "Ould Ireland Free" It was early early in the night The yeoman cavalry gave me a fright The yeoman cavalry was my downfall And taken was I by Lord Cornwall 'Twas in the guard-house where I was laid And in a parlour where I was tried My sentence passed and my courage low When to Dungannon I was forced to go As I was passing my father's door My brother William stood at the door My aged father stood at the door And my tender mother her hair she tore As I was going up Wexford Street My own first cousin I chanced to meet My own first cousin did me betray And for one bare guinea swore my life away As I was walking up Wexford Hill Who could blame me to cry my fill? I looked behind, and I looked before But my aged mother I shall see no more And as I mounted the platform high My aged father was standing by My aged father did me deny And the name he gave me was the Croppy Boy It was in Dungannon this young man died And in Dungannon his body lies And you good people that do pass by Oh shed a tear for the Croppy Boy Top of page THE CURRAGH OF KILDARE The winter it has passed And the summer's come at last The small birds are singing in the trees And their little hearts are glad Ah, but mine is very sad Since my true love is far away from me Chorus: And straight I will repair To the Curragh of Kildare For it's there I'll finds tidings of my dear The rose upon the briar And the clouds that float so high Bring joy to the linnet and the bee And their little hearts are blessed But mine can know no rest Since my true love is far away from me All you who are in love Aye and cannot it remove I pity the pain that you endure For experience lets me know That your hearts are filled with woe It's a woe that no mortal can cure -------------------------------------------------------------- Top of page