1. |
Seventeen Come Sunday
01:54
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As I roved out on a cold, dark night
When the moon was shinging clearly
A pretty girl I chanced to spy
On a message for her mammy
Chorus:
With me too-rye-rah-faddle-doodle-dah
Too-rye-rah ‘she’s a nice wee girl’
What age are you my pretty fair maid
what age are you my honey?
Right modestly she answered me
I’ll be seventeen come Sunday
If I come down to your wee house
When the moon is shining clearly
Will you come down and let me in
So you’re mammy will not here me?
So I went down to her wee house
When the moon was shringin clearning
And she came down and she let me in
But her mammy chanced to hear me
So I took off my hob nailed boots
For in case he ma should here me
But by my soul sure I hadn’t set down
When the auld one lept upon me
With a 1, 2, 3, she soon floored me
And the bonny wee lass she caught her
And with the scailp of a hazel wand
Well she was a well-beat daughter
Come over the moor my bonny wee lass
Come over the moor my honey
Until i get a kiss out of your sweet lips
In spite of your auld mammy
With me too-rye-rah-faddle-doodle-dah
Too-rye-rah ‘she’s a right auld hag!’
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2. |
Bonny Brown Jane
02:39
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I courted a wee girl when I was but young,
Although she beguiled me with her false flattering tongue,
Although she beguiled me I would want you to know,
That I lost my own darling by courting too slow.
I loved her sincerely aye as dear as my life,
I’d no other intention but to make her my wife,
Until a young man, a stranger a courtin’ her he came,
And he soon gained the favor of my Bonny Brown Jane.
Ofttimes I think on her and at night I do dream,
That I’m rolled in the arms of my Bonny Brown Jane,
But I’m left here in sorrow by the one I adore,
I’ll pray for her welfare, what can I do more?
On a Saturday night men incline to their wives,
Young men to their sweethearts as dear as their lives,
But here I’m broken hearted and forever will remain,
For the loss of my darlin’ my Bonny Brown Jane.
So now I’m away to some strange country,
Where I will know no one nor no one know me,
Like an exile I’ll wander my heart full of pain,
For the loss of my darling, my Bonny Brown Jane.
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3. |
The Creel
01:49
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There was a women lived in the town
she’d a daughter Maryanne
and she kept her daughter locked in her room
for fear she’d away with a man
How do I get to you chamber, love
and how do I get to your bed?
My mother locks the door at night
and the keys lie under her head.
Rye-diddley-dum-dye-day
rye-diddley-dum-diddley-too-rye-aye
hurrah for the too-rye-aye
But if you get a handy ladder
made of thirty steps and three
and put it up to the chimney top
come down in the creel to me
So he’s got a handy ladder
made of thirty steps and three
and he’s put it up to the chimney top
and down in the creel to she.
No rest, no rest could the old woman get
with the thoughts running through her head
“I bet me life,” says the gay old wife,
“There’s a man in me daughter’s bed!”
No rest, no rest could the old woman get
’til she would rise and see
and her foot came against the stumbling block
and into the creel fell she.
The young man at the chimney top
and he gave the rope a haul
and he broke three ribs in the old woman’s side
and her rump came against the wall
And here’s to the Blue and the bonny, bonny Blue
and the Blue I love so well
and the old woman that’s jealous of her daughter
may she ride in the creel to hell!
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4. |
Do Me Justice
03:40
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Well here I come from Donegal
I feel quite discontented
To see the way that we're run down
And not fairly represented
for they say it is a general rule
To make out Pat a knave or fool;
But never mind we'll keep it cool
And speak up for old Ireland.
(Chorus):
Do me justice, treat me fair,
And I won't be discontented
And I won't be laughed at anywhere
But fairly represented.
Now there's Mr Punch with his literature,
He tries to hurt us badly
For whene'er he draws our caricature,
He depicts us rather badly;
With crooked limbs and villainous face,
He represents the Irish race,
I'm sure it is a great disgrace,
We think so in old Ireland.
(Chorus)
Now its when on stage I do appear,
With a thundering big shillelagh,
And with a tattered hat and ragged coat,
Ah, you'd think I'd step out gaily,
And without a word of common sense,
They don't know when they give offence,
For they carry on at Pat's expense;
Oh, just let them come to Ireland.
(Chorus)
Now they say we're lazy and dirty got,
But what's the use to grumble,
For whene'er they enter our Irish cot,
Sure, they're welcome though it's humble,
And in public works, the country round,
Or where hard work is to be found,
In a railway tunnel underground,
Sure, you'll find the boys from Ireland.
(Chorus)
Well it's very true that I like a glass,
For it makes my heart feel frisky,
And I'm very fond of an Irish lass,
And I'm partial to the whiskey,
I'm very quiet when left alone,
I do what I like with what's me own,
But woe be to the foe ochone,
Who runs down dear old Ireland.
(Chorus)
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5. |
Where The Moorcocks Crow
04:39
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With my dog and gun through the blooming heather
To seek for pastime I took my way,
Where I espied a charming fair one
Whose charms invited me a while to stay.
I said, “My darling, you will find I love you,
Tell me your dwelling and your name also.”
“Excuse my name and you'll find my dwelling near
The mountain streams where the moorcocks crow.”
I said, “My darling, if you'll wed a rover
My former raking I will leave aside.
Here is my hand and I pledge you my honour,
If you prove constant I'll make you my bride.”
“If my parents knew that I loved a rover
Then a grave affliction I would undergo.
I will stop at home for another season near
The mountain streams where the moorcocks crow.”
“So farewell, darling, for another season;
I hope we'll meet in some moorland vale.
There we will kiss and embrace each other,
I'll pay attention to your lovesick tale.
“Then it's arm in arm we will join together
And I'll escort you to yon valley low,
Where the linnet sings his note so pleasing near
The mountain streams where the moorcocks crow.”
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6. |
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Oh, sweet Ballymoney of fame and renown
I went to the fair being held in that town
On the first day of May in the year ’45
A very fine day for the bees for to hive
Oh I being young my fortune to advance
I went to the fair with a load of kale plant
Aye and up the Main Street before Robinson’s mart
I lowered me cart with a proud beating heart
Oh, the boys from Lough Gill and likewise Armoy
They all gathered ‘round me my plants for to buy
I addressed them with words both proper and plain
When I said forever they all said amen
There was Pamphrey and Dutch aye and Curly so sweet
Aye and rousing Drumhead that grow up like leek
Cow kale, Paul Early, boys eat while you’re able
And pickeled for dressing a gentleman’s table
Now my plants are all sold and I wish them long life
I have nothing to do but look out for a wife
The first that I view well I’ll mark all her points
For I don’t want a wife that is stiff at the joints
The first that I viewed well she wore a silk gown
With her long yellow hair and her locks hanging down
Says I to meself “Me girl, you’re a swizer!”
And I stood her a drink with the give the big measure
And then I presumed for to kiss this fair dame
And then I resumed for to ask her name
Well indeed and kind sir my name is McCloy
I’m the peat codger’s daughter for the town of Armoy
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7. |
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You rambling boys of pleasure give ear unto these lines I write:
I own I am a rover, in rambling I take great delight.
I cast my mind on a handsome girl and oftentimes she does me slight;
My mind is never easy except when my true love is in my sight.
Down by yon sally gardens where me and my true love do meet
I took her in my arms and unto her gave kisses sweet.
She bade me take love easy just as the leaves fall from the tree,
But I being young and foolish with my own true love I did not agree.
And the second time I met my love, I thought that her heart was surely mine.
But as the season changes my darling girl has changed her mind.
Gold is the root of evil, although it bears a glistening hue,
Causes many's the lad and the lass to part though their hearts like mine be e'er so true.
And I wish I was in Belfast town and my true love along with me,
And money in my pocket to keep us in good company.
Liquor to be plenty, a flowing glass on every side,
Hard fortune would ne'er daunt me for I am young and the world is wide
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8. |
The Crockery Ware
02:15
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A young man lived in Belfast town
And he courted a girl called when he was young.
A young man lived in Belfast town
And he courted a girl called when he was young.
He asked her for a favour bright
That he might sleep with her all night
Chorus
Wack fol-a-diddle fol-a-dyddle day
Wack fol-a-diddle fol-a-dyddle day
Well this fair maid she gave consent
And straight up to her room she went.
Well this fair maid she gave consent
And straight up to her room she went.
And in the room there was a chair
And under the chair was the crockery ware
The young man he got up in the night
He was looking for his heart’s delight.
The young man he got up in the night
He was looking for his heart’s delight.
His foot did slip, I do declare,
And he tumbled into the crockery ware
The auld woman she got an awful fright
And ran upstairs with a candle light.
The auld woman she got an awful fright
And ran upstairs with a candle light.
She said “Young Man, what do you there
A breaking all my crockery ware?“
She called for the police at the break of day
Fot to see what this young man would pay.
She called for the police at the break of day
Fot to see what this young man would pay.
He paid nine pounds for the crockery ware
And nine pounds ten for the damned auld chair
Come all you wild and ramblin’ sparks
That love to wander in the dark.
Come all you wild and ramblin’ sparks
That love to wander in the dark.
Don’t bang your shins against the chair
And upset the auld woman's crockery ware.
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9. |
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10. |
True Lover John
02:38
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It happened for to be
On a cold winter's evening
A fair maid sat waiting alone
She was thinking of her father
Likewise her aged mother
And also her true lover John
Young Johnny he was sweet
And he promised for to meet
But he tarried an hour to long
He met with great delay
Which caused him for to stray
Aye, and I weary waiting all alone
Young Johnny came at last
And he found the door was fast
So he slowly slowly tinkled at the pane
This fair maid she arose
And hurried on her clothes
In order to let young Johnny in
He took her in his arms
Aye, and off to bed they went
And it's there they lie talking of their plans
"I wish," this maid said she
"This night would prove to be
Aye, as long since the world first began!"
"Fly up, oh fly up
My pretty little cock
And don't crow until it breaks day
And your cage it shall become
Of the very shiny gold
And your wings of a silvery gray."
But this pretty little cock
So cruel as he was
He crowed out an hour too soon
And sent my love away
Before the break of day
It being only the light of the moon
This fair maid she arose
And quickly followed after
Saying, "When will you come to see me?"
"When the fishes they do fly
And the seas they all run dry
And seven moons shine brightly o'er yon lea."
There was once I thought my love
Was as constant unto me
As the stones that lie under yon ground
But now since I do find
He has altered his mind
I would rather live single as be bound.
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11. |
Don't Come Again
02:02
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Oh, the first place that I met my love it was at a ball,
I looked on her, I gazed on her, oh, far above them all
;
But aye she lookéd on me with scorn and disdain
And the bonnie wee lasses answer was to no come again,
Was to no come again,
And the bonnie wee lasses answer was to no come again.
The next place that I met my love it was at a wake,
I looked on her and I gazed on her and I thought my heart would break;
But aye she looked on me with scorn and disdain
And the bonny wee lass’s answer was to no come again, &c.
It being in six months after, a little or above,
When Cupid shot his arrow aye and he wounded my true love;
He wounded her severely and it caused her to complain
And she wrote to me a letter saying, – You might come again, &c.
I wrote her back an answer all for to let her know
While life was in my body aye and it’s there I wouldnae go,
While life was in my body aye and while it did remain
I would aye mind the girl that said – Don’t come again, &c.
So come all you pretty fair maids, a warning take by me,
Never slight a young man whomever he may be,
For if you do you’re sure to rue, and he’ll cause you to complain
And you’ll aye mind the day that you said, – Don’t come again,
You said – Don’t come again,
And you’ll aye mind the day you said – Don’t come again!
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12. |
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Chorus:
Happy are we all together,
happy are we one and all.
May we lead a life of pleasure,
may we rise and never fall.
Times are hard we have no fortune
but good health we have for sure.
This to us is more important
than any wealth or worldy store.
chorus
Though how humble is our dwelling;
hardships we have shared a few.
Happy the day of our meeting—
you to me and me to you.
chorus
See the miser with his riches
watching o’er with cautious eyes.
We’ll have fun and social pleasure
and spend our time in harmony.
chorus
Friendship makes the heart grow fonder,
friendship makes us all unite.
Friendship brings up all togehter.
’Twas friendshp brought us here tonight.
chorus
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13. |
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Come all ye jolly fellows and listen to me song,
It's about a drunken tinker, and I'll won’t detain you long.
The tinker had a loving wife and he loved her sincere,
And at every opportunity, he went upon the beer.
Chorus:
Singing fal-da-dal-da-dare-o
right-fal-da-day
Oh, the tinker and his loving wife through Newry town did pass.
The tinker he got drunk and left the wife to mind the ass.
The ass was starved with hunger, aye, and couldn't hold his feet,
So she sold it to your candy man that lived on Market street.
When John he got up out of his drunken sleep,
To his loving wife Judy, to her he now did creep.
Put his hand into his pocket, aye, and it was short of brass,
Saying “Go and get a stone of hay and feed it to the ass!”
Oh she says, ‘Dear John, the ass won't trouble you,
For I have sold the ass and I have drunk the money too.”
He up with his tin mallet and he hit her o'er the brain,
Saying, “B’garra you will never sell an ass on me again.”
Then Judy she got up and she gave him such a clout.
John roared like a bull, blood gushing from his snout.
“Who needs an ass?” says she, she grabbed him by the throat.
“And b’garra aren’t I married to a silly billygoat?”
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Brian Ó hAirt Portland, Oregon
Brian is a singer, musician, dancer, and Irish Gaelic speaker. His artistry draws from his youth spent among the Irish diaspora of the upper Midwest and his coming of age in the vibrant Gaelic communities of Ireland’s west coast. He teaches and performs at many of the most prestigious festivals and cultural gatherings in North America with Chicago-based ensemble Bua and singing legend Len Graham. ... more
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