1. |
Blind Sheehan
04:47
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Oh my name is Patrick Sheehan, my years are thirty-four
Tipperary is my home not far from Galamore
I was born of honest parents though they are lying low
And many's the pleasant day I spent in the Glen of Aherlow
My father died, I closed his eyes outside our cabin door
The landlord and the sheriff too were there the day before
And then my loving mother, my sisters dear also
Were forced into the poorhouse so far from Aherlow
Bereft of home and kith and kin with plenty all around
I starved inside my cottage and slept upon the cold ground
And though cruel it was my fate, I never did hardship know
Till I joined the English ranks far away from Aherlow
Rise up there, cried the corporal, you lazy Irish hound
Don't you hear, you sleeping dog, the call to arms did sound
Alas I had been dreaming of a time so long ago
And I woke in Bloody Sebastapol, so far from Aherlow
I grasped then for my musket, how dark I thought the night
Oh holy mother of Jesus, it wasn't dark, it was broad daylight
It's then I found that I was blind, my tears began to flow
For never again would I gaze upon the Glen of Aherlow
Oh Holy Virgin Mary, mine is a mournful tale
A poor blind mendicant non Dublin's dreary jail
I joined my country's tyrants, my face no more I'll show
To my friends and my dear neighbors back home in Aherlow
Dear Irish youth, fellow countrymen, listen to what I say
If you join into the English ranks, you'll surely rue the day
And if you are tempted a-soldiering to go
Just remember poor Blind Sheehan of the Glen of Aherlow
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2. |
Claudy Banks
03:05
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It ws on one summer's evening all in the month of May
Down by a flowery garden where Betsy she did stray
I overheard a young maid in sorrow to complain
All about her absent lover who ploughed the raging Main
I stepped up to this fair maid and put her in surprise
I own she did not know me I being all in disguise
Said I my charming creature, my joy and heart's delight
How far have you to travel on this dark and storm night
Away kind sir to the Claudy Banks if you will please to show
Pity a poor girl distracted, it's there I have to go
I'm looking for a young man and Johnny is his name
I'm told it's there on the Claudy Banks today he does remain
If my Johnny he were here this night he'd keep me from all harm
But he's cruising the wild ocean in tempest and in storm
He's a-cruising the wold ocean for honor and for gain
I'm told his ship got wrecked all upon the coast of Spain
Now when she heard this dreadful news she fell into despair
With a-wringing of her hands and a-teraring of her hair
Since my Johnny's gone and left me, no man on earth I'll take
But it's here upon the Claudy Banks I'll wander for his sake
Now hearing her say so he could no longer stand
He fell into her arms, crying Betsy, I'm your man
I am that faithful young man who you had thought was slain
And it's now we've met on the Claudy Banks we'll never part again
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3. |
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It's of a brisk young farmer, kept sheep upon the hill
He rode out one morning until he had his fill
He looked high and he looked low and he gave an undertook
It's there he saw a pretty young maid swimming in yonder brook
Please don't touch my mantle, pray leave my clothes alone
Let me ride upon your horse and you can take me home
Now they were riding along the road when they came to the Pooks of May
Don't you think that's a jolly fine placer you and I, love, to lay?
Oh take me to my father's home there you can lay me down
And you can take your pleasure for only half a crown
Now when they reached herr father's door so quickly she ran in
Saying you're the fool who stays without and I'm still a main within
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4. |
Mountains of Mourne
03:41
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Oh Mary this London's a beautiful sight
With people out working by day and by night
They don't sow potatoes nor barley nor wheat
But there's gangs of them digging for gold in the street
At least when I asked them it's what I was told
So I took a hand at this digging for gold
But for all that I found there I might as well be
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep on down to the sea
I believe that when writing a wish you'd expressed
As to how the fine ladies in London are dressed
Well if you believe me when asked to a ball
They don't wear not tops to their dresses at all
Oh I've seen them myself and I don't know in truth
If they were going to a ball or a bath
Don't be starting them fashions now March McCree
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep oj down to the sea
There's beautiful women here, never you mind
With beautiful shapes nature never designed
And lovely complexions all roses and cream
But let me remark with regard to the same
That if those roses you ventured to sip
The color might all come away on your lip
So I'll wait for the one rose that's waiting for me
In the place where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea
You remember young Dinny McClaren of course
Well he's over here with there rest of the Force
I saw him one day as I walked down the Strand
He stopped all the traffic with a wave of his hand
As we were talking of days that are gone
The whole town of London stood there to look on
But for all of his powers he's wistful like me
To be back where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea
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5. |
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As I walked down the Bowery one evening in July
I met a maid, she asked my trade, a sailor John says I
And away you shanty, my dear Annie
Oh you New York girls, can't you dance the polka
To Tiffany's I took her, I didn't mind expense
I bought her two gold earrings, they cost me fifteen cents
She said if you're a sailor then take me home you may'But when we reached her cottage door she unto me did say
My old man he's a sailor with his hair cut short behind
My old man he's a sailor and he sails the Black Ball Line
Well never mind your old man and let us get inside
You've got just what I'm after so a while with you I'll bide
To bed we quickly tumbled and when I had my share
It's then I heard a noise outside that made me shake with fear
Her husband he got hold of me and he beat me black and blue
I ran like hell into the streets and what would you do too?
So gather round you sailors and listen what I say
If her old man sails the Black Ball Line, you'd best keep you away
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6. |
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7. |
Love And Freedom
03:15
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Hey Donal, oh Donal
Dirrum-a-diddle-aye day
A maid went to the market place and what do you think she's seen
A bonny piper laddie playing out on the green
He played a reel and he played a jig and he played a sweet strathspey
he set her heart a-beating with the tunes that he did play
I have nothing to offer you the young man he did say
But I'll give you love and freedom if you come with me away
Well he filled up his chanter and he began to play
And she chose love and freedom to wander all her days
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8. |
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9. |
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A nobleman's fair daughter was walking down the lane
When up comes Captain Dixon the keeper of the game
Says he until his serving man, if were not for the law
I'd have that maid inside my bed and she'd like next to the wall
Go away young man she said and do not me perplex
Before I spend there night with you you'll answer questions six
Six questions you will answer and I will make them all
Before you and I in the same bed lie and I'll lie next to the wall
What is rounder than a ring, wha's higher than a tree
What is worse than womankind, what's deeper than the sea
What tree blooms first, what bird sings best, from where do dew drops fall
Then it's I in the one bed lie and I'll lie next to the wall
A globe is rounder than a ring, sky higher than a tree
A girl is worse than womankind, hell deeper than the sea
The yew blooms first, the thrush sings best, from heaven the dewdrops fall
So you and I in the one bed lie and you'll lie next to the wall
Fetch me some winter fruit that in December grew
And fetch for me a mantle a welt it never went through
A sparrow's horn, a priest unshorn, a bird without a gall
Then it's you and I in the one bed lie and you'll lie next to the wall
My father had some winter fruit that in December grew
My mother has a mantle a welt it never went through
A sparrow's horn's not hard to find, there's one on every claw
Melchizedik is a priest unshorn and he pushed her up against the wall
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10. |
The Burglar
03:47
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I come home one evening after working hard all day
I found the fire had gone out, my wife and child run away
It was then I took to drinking, what else could I but do
I mixed with bad companions and became a burglar too
I went out one evening to rob a mansion grand
My tools were in my pocket, revolver in my hand
As I crept through a window a gentle voice cried stay
I squeezed the trigger fired a shot watched a young life slip away
Standing in that front room I threw my gun down on the floor
Staring at the body I swore I'd steal no more
I knelt down beside her, tears half drove me wild
I stared into her eyes and cried good god I've shot my own child
Sitting in the prison waiting in my cell
Tomorrow will come the hangman to send me off to hell
If there's a god in heaven listen to my plea
When I arrive tomorrow send me daughter back to me
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11. |
One Starry Night
04:09
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One starry night as I lay sleeping
One starry night as I lay in bed
I dreamed I heard wagon wheels creaking
When I awoke my own love had fled
I'll search there highways, I'll search the byways
I'll search the bohereens, the camping places too
I will enquire of all our people
Have the tide or tidings or signs of you
Many is the mile love we have traveled
Many is the hour love together we've spent
I dreamed our love would last forever
Now I find love you wee only lent
I'm drunk today but oft times I'm sober
A constant rover from town to town
When I'm dead and my traveling's ended
Molly Ban astoirin won't you lay me down
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12. |
Lord Franklin
03:46
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One starry night as I lay sleeping
One starry night as I lay in bed
I dreamed I heard wagon wheels creaking
When I awoke my own love had fled
I'll search there highways, I'll search the byways
I'll search the bohereens, the camping places too
I will enquire of all our people
Have the tide or tidings or signs of you
Many is the mile love we have traveled
Many is the hour love together we've spent
I dreamed our love would last forever
Now I find love you wee only lent
I'm drunk today but oft times I'm sober
A constant rover from town to town
When I'm dead and my traveling's ended
Molly Ban astoirin won't you lay me down
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13. |
Molly Durkin
02:38
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It was homeward bound one night on the deep
Swinging in my hammock I fell asleep
I dreamed a dream and I thought it true
Concerning Franklin and his gallant crew
With one hundred seamen he sailed away
To the frozen ocean in the month of May
To find a passage around the pole
Where we poor seamen sometimes must go
Through cruel hardships they sailed on
Till their ships on mountains of ice were drawn
Where the Eskimo in his skin canoe
Is the only one to ever come through
In Baffin's Bay where the whale fishes blow
The fate of Franklin no man may know
The fate of Franklin no tongue can tell
Lork Franklin along with his sailors does dwell
And now my burden it brings me pain'
For my long lost Franklin I'd cross the Main
Ten thousand pounds I wold freely give
To know that on earth my Franklin still lives
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14. |
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I;m a decent honest working man as you will understand
I'll tell you the reason why I left old Ireland
'Twas Molly Durkin done it when she married Jim O'Shea
To keep my heart from breaking I sailed to Americay
Arrah goodbye Molly Durkin I'm sick and tired of working
My heart is nearly broken and no longer I'll be fooled
Oh sure my name is Cooney I'm bound for Californey
Instead of digging mortar I'll be digging lumps of gold
Well I came to Castle Garden where I met a man named Burke
He told me to remain in New York until he got me work
But he hasn't got it for me so tonight I'll tell him plain
For San Francisco in the morning I'm going to take a train
I'm out in California and my fortune it is made
My pockets full of gold I'll throw away my pick and spade
Go back to dear old Ireland the Castle out of sight
I'll marry Miss O'Kelly Molly Durkin for to spite
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Jamie O'Brien Tucson, Arizona
Jamie O'Brien comes from a London-Irish family. Before arriving in Tucson, Arizona, he lived in Pennsylvania for many years. And before that, Germany was home. He's been singing and playing all through his life, enjoying many different styles as a solo performer and with various bands. Along with performing his original songs, he also enjoys playing Celtic and Hawaiian music. ... more
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