(Traditional- From John Renbourne: Live in America)

Trees they grow high, and leaves they do grow green
Many is the time my true love I've seen
Many an hour I've watched him run along
He's young but he's daily growin'

Father, dear father, you've done me great wrong
You've married me to a boy who is too young
'Though I'm twice twelve, he is but fourteen
He's young but he's daily growin'

Daughter, dear daughter, I've done you no wrong
I've married you to a brave lords son
He'll be a man to you when I'm dead and gone
He's young but he's daily growin'

Father, dear father, if you'll see fit
We'll send my love to college for one year yet
I'll tie blue ribbons, all around his head
To let the ladies know, he's mine

As I was looking over my fathers castle wall
Saw the young boys, a playing at the ball
My own true love was the flower of them all
He's young but he's daily growin'

At the age of fourteen he was a married man
Age of fifteen he held his son in his hands
Age of sixteen, on his grave the grass was green
Cruel Death had put an end to his growin'

I make my love a shroud of the Harlan so fine
Every stitch I put in it the tears come a tricklin' down
Once I had a true love, but now he is gone
But I'll watch o'er his son while he's growin'

Home | Back to top

The dark eyed sailor

http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/lookup.cgi?ti=DARKEYE2

'Twas of a maid both young and fair,
Whilst walking out for to take the air.
She met a sailor all on her way,
And I paid attention, and I paid attention,
To hear what they might say.

He says, "Fair maid, why roam alone?
For the day's far spent, and the night's coming on."
While crystal tears from her eyes did flow:
"It's my dark-eyed sailor, oh, my dark eyed sailor,
That proved my overthrow."

"'Tis three long years since he left this land.
A new gold ring he took off his hand.
He broke this token, gave half to me,
While the other half's lying, the other half's lying
At the bottom of the sea."

"Oh,"he says, "Fair maid, drive him off your mind,
For as good a sailor as him you'll find!
Love turns aside, and cold does grow
Like a winter's morning, like a winter's morning,
When the hills are cover'd with snow."

"His coal-black eyes and curly hair,
His flatt'ring tongue did my heart ensnare.
Genteel he was, no rake lie you,
To advise a maiden, to advise a maiden
To slight the jacket blue!'

"A tarry sailor I'll ne'er disdain,
Always true till he comes again.
So drink his health; here's a piece of coin.
But my dark eyed sailor, but my dark eyed sailor
Still claims this heart of mine."

When William did the ring unfold
She seem'd distracted midst joy and woe.
"You're welcome, William; I have lands and gold
For my dark eyed sailor, for my dark eyed sailor,
So manly, true and bold!"

Down in a cottage by a riverside,
In peace and harmony they now reside.
So, girls, prove true whilst your lover's away.
Oft a cloudy morning, oft a cloudy morning
Brings forth a pleasant day.

Home | Back to top

The Dear Green Place

From Battlefield Band: After Hours

It was a clear mornin' down near Bann
Where it meets and runs with the river Clyde
And they tell the tale of the holy one
Who was fishing down by the riverside
The holy man, from Fife he came
His name they say was Kentirgen
And by the spot where the fish was caught
The Dear Green Place was born
Though the salmon run through the river stream
And they salted them by the banks of Clyde
And their faces glow'd as the silver flow'd
And the place that rose by the riverside
There was cloth and dye and horse to buy
the traders came from all around
And they raised a glass to the Dear Green Place
The place that was a town

CHORUS:
There is a town that once was green
And the river flow'd to the sea
The river flows forever on
But the Dear Green Place is gone

When the furnaces came to fire the iron
And folk were thrown from foreign land
And the Irishman and the Heilan' man
And the hungry man came with willin' hands
They wanted work, a place to live
Their empty bellies needed filled
And the farmyard was another world
From the diety overcrow'd mill
Now you may have heard of the foreign trade
And fortunes made by tobacco lords
But the workin' man slaved his life away
And an early grave was his sole reward
A dreary room, a crowded slum
Disease and hunger everywhere
And the price to pay was another day
And fight the anger and despair

Chorus

A thousand years have been here and gone
Since Kentiergan saw the banks of Clyde
But how many dreams and how many tears
In the thousand years of a city's life
A city hard a city proud
No mean city it has been
Perhaps tomorrow it yet may be
The Dear Green Place again...

Chorus
Home | Back to top

(DEAR LORD)

DEAR LORD, I SEND THIS NOTE TO YOU, TO TELL YOU OF MY PLIGHT
FOR AT THE TIME OF WRITING, I AM NOT A PRETTY SIGHT
MY BODY IS ALL BLACK AND BLUE, MY FACE A DEATHLY GREY
AND I SEND THIS NOTE TO SAY, WHY I'M NOT AT WORK TODAY

WHILST WORKING ON THE CASTLE WALL, SOME STONES I HAD TO CLEAR
TO THROW THEM DOWN FROM SUCH A HEIGHT, WAS NOT A GOOD IDEA
THE OVERSEER WASN'T PLEASED, THE BLOODY AWKWARD SOD
AND HE SAID I'D HAVE TO CART THEM DOWN THE LADDERS IN MY HOD

NOW CLEARING ALL THESE STONES BY HAND, IT WAS SO VERY SLOW
SO I HOISED UP A BARREL AND SECURED A ROPE BELOW
BUT IN MY HASTE TO DO THE JOB, I WAS TO BLIND TO SEE
THAT A BARREL FULL OF BUILDING STONES WAS HEAVIER THAN ME

AND SO, WHEN I UNTIED THE ROPE, THE BARREL FELL LIKE LEAD
AND CLINGING TIGHTLY TO THE ROPE I STARTED UP INSTEAD!
I SHOT UP LIKE AN EAGLE TIL TO MY DISMAY I FOUND
THAT HALFWAY UP I MET THE BLOODY BARREL COMING DOWN!

THE BARREL BROKE MY SHOULDER, AS TOWARD THE GROUND IT SPED
AND WHEN I REACHED THE TOP I BANGED THE PULLEY WITH MY HEADI HUNG ON
TIGHTLY, NUMB FROM SHOCK FROM THIS ALMIGHTY BLOW
AND THE BARREL SPILLED OUT HALF THE STONES SOME THIRTY FEET BELOW

NOW WHEN THOSE STONES HAD FALLEN FROM THE BARREL TO THE FLOOR
THEN OUTWEIGHED THE BARREL AND SO STARTED DOWN ONCE MORE
STILL CLINGING TIGHTLY TO THE ROPE, MY BODY RACKED WITH PAIN
WHEN, HALFWAY DOWN, I MET THE BLOODY BARREL COMING ONCE AGAIN.

THE FORCE OF THIS COLLISION, HALFWAY UP THE CASTLE BLOCK
CAUSED MULTIPLE ABRASIONS AND A NASTY STATE OF SHOCK
STILL CLINGING TIGHTLY TO THE ROPE I FELL TOWARDS THE GROUND
AND I LANDED ON THE BUILDING STONES THE BARREL SCATTERED Round

I LAY THERE. GROANING ON THE GROUND, I THOUGHT I'D PASSED THE WORSE
BUT THE BARREL HIT THE PULLEY-WHEEL AND THEN THE BOTTOM BURST
A SHOWER OF STONES RAINED DOWN ON ME, I HADN'T GOT A HOPE
AS I LAY THERE BLEEDING ON THE GROUND. I LET GO THE BLOODY ROPE!

THE BARREL WAS FREE TO FALL AND DOWN IT CAME ONCE MORE
AND LANDED RIGHT ACROSS ME., AS I LAY UPON THE FLOOR
IT BROKE THREE RIBS AND MY LEFT ARM AND I CAN ONLY SAY
THAT I HOPE YOU UNDERSTAND WHY I'M NOT AT WORK TODAY!

Home | Back to top

Death of the Cat

The trees were growing high
And the wind was in the west
When a hunter aimed his arrow
Into the Cat's broad chest.
And she died, she died.
Against her lover's breast
And we laid her in the earth
So long and narrow.

It was early, so early
In the graying of the morn,
When we sang of the days
Before the Cat was born.
And how from her mother
She was so shiftily torn,
As we laid her in the earth
So long and narrow.

Come all ye young fighting men
And listen unto me.
Do not place you affections
Upon a girl so free.
For she'll take the mortal wound
Another meant for thee,
And you'll lay her in the earth
So long and narrow.
Home | Back to top

DE LIMPIN JOCK
BY ADELLIND LE QUINTAIN
(TO THE TUNE OF "LIMBO ROCK" BY CHUBBY CHECKER.

FIRST YOU TAKE A CRAZY MON
BITS OF METAL HE STRAP ON
IN ONE HAND A NASTY SWORD
IN THE OTHER IRONING BOARD
HE LEARN DE MOVES, HE LEARN DE WALK
HE DEN BECOME THE FIGHTIN' JOCK
ALL AROUND DE ERIC WALK
AS WE WATCH DE FIGHTIN' JOCK

HO GO TO PRACTICE EVERY DAY
SE OTHER JOCKS ALL LIKE TO PLAY
DEY HIT HIM ON HIS CRAZY HEAD
A MILLION TIMES HE FALLIN' DEAD
DEY HIT HIM MANY MANY TIME
HE TINKS DIS NOT SO VERY FINE
DE LADIES ALL BEGIN TO TALK
AND NOW DEY ALL HIM LIMPIN' JOCK

HIT HIM HARDER, MAN!
OH, BE A GOOD TIN CAN!
HOW LOW WAS THAT BLOW?
DEN HE LIMP ONTO DE FEILD
HE GET KNOCKED DOWN, HE HAVE TO YEILD
DEN HE LIMP BACK TO HIS TENT
HIS SWORD IS BROKE, HIS HELM IS BENT
HE LIMP SO HARD, HE LIMP SO QUICK
BUT HE GET HIT WITH NASTY STICK
ALL AROUND DE ERIC
AS WE WATCH DE L IMPT N' JOCK

DEN ONE DAY THE SUN COME UP
AND DE STICK JOCK GET FED UP
HE GO DOWN TO DE MERCHANT ROW
HE TRADE HIS ARMOR FOR A BOW
HE TIRED OF BRUISES ON HIS PELT
DON'T WIN NO CROWN, DON'T GET NO BELT
SO NOW AROUND THE FEILD HE WALKS
HE LAUGHIN' HARD AND SHOOTIN' JOCKS

AND NOW THE MORAL OF DIS SONG I
S YOU CAN ONLY FIGHT SO LONG
BEFORE YOUR BRAINS FALL OUT YOUR EARS
AND DEY TURN YOU INTO PEERS
IF YOU DON'T FIGHT, DEN YOU CAN PLAY
AND MEET NEW LADIES EVERY DAY
AND DEN AROUND THE ERIC WALK
AS YOU BE LAUGHIN' AT DE JOCKS.

Home | Back to top

Derry
Back Home in Derry (DERRY)
By Bobby Sands
Midi: http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/lookup.cgi?ti=BCKDERRY&tt=BCKDERRY

In 1803 we set out to sea,
Out from the sweat town of Derry.
We're Australia bound, if we didn't all drown,
The marks of our fetter's we carried
In our rusty iron chains, we cried for our way's,
Our good women we left in sorrow.
As the main sail unfurled our curses we hurled,
At the English and thoughts of tomorrow.

Woe-o-o-o I wish I was back home in Derry.
Woe-o-o-o I wish I was back home in Derry.

From out from the foil, we bid farewell to the soil,
As down below decks we were lying.
Oh God! We'd scream, woken up from a dream,
With a vision of old Robert's dying.
Well the sun burnt as cruel as they sloped out the gruel,
And O'Conner was down with the fever.
Sixty convicts that day, bound for Botany Bay,
How many would meet their receiver?

Woe-o-o-o I wish I was back home in Derry.
Woe-o-o-o I wish I was back home in Derry.

Well I cursed them to Hell, as our boat fought the swell,
The ship danced like a moth in the firelight.
White horses rode by, as the Devil passed by,
Taking souls to Hades by twilight.
By weeks out to sea, we were now forty three,
We wept bitter like children.
Oh Jesus! We shrieked, as our God we beseeched,
All we heard was the prayer of the pilgrim.

Woe-o-o-o I wish I was back home in Derry.
Woe-o-o-o I wish I was back home in Derry.

Well in that demons land, it's 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, and I've served out me bond,
Me comrades ghosts right behind me.
A rebel I came and a rebel remain,
On the cold winds of night you will find me.

Woe-o-o-o I wish I was back home in Derry.
Woe-o-o-o I wish I was back home in Derry.
Woe-o-o-o I wish I was back home in Derry.
Woe-o-o-o I wish I was back home in Derry.
Home | Back to top

Devil and the Farmers Wife
http://www.chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/devil-old-woman.html

There was an old farmer and he lived on a hill;
If he ain't moved away,
He's a livin' there still.

Refrain
Sing hi diddle I diddle I fye,
Diddle I diddle I day.

The devil he came to the farmer one day,
Says, "One of your family I'm takin' away."
Refrain

"O, please don't take my eldest son,
There's work on the farm that's got to be done."
Refrain

"Take my wife with the joy of my heart,
And I hope by golly that you never part."
Refrain

The Devil put the old woman into a sack,
And down the road went clickety clack.
Refrain

And when they got to the fork of the road,
He says, "Old woman, you're a hell of a load."

And when they got to the gates of Hell,
He said, "Stoke up the fire, boys, we'll roast her well."
Refrain

Then up stepp'd a devil with ball and chain;
She upped with her foot and kicked out his brain.
Refrain

Then nine little devils went running up the wall,
Crying, "Take her back, Daddy, she'll murder us all."
Refrain

Well, the old man was peekin' through a crack,
When he seen the old Devil come a bringing' her back.
Refrain

"Here's your wife both sound and well,
If she'd stayed any longer she'd a torn up Hell."
Refrain

"I've been a devil most all of my life,
But I never knew what Hell was 'till I met with your wife."
Refrain

This proves that the women are better than the men,
They can all go to Hell and come back again.
Refrain
Home | Back to top

Dona

On a wagon bound for market
There's a calf with a mournful eye
High above him there' s a swallow
Winging swiftly through the sky
Chorus
How the winds are laughing, they laugh with all their might
Laugh and laugh the whole day through and half the summer's night
Dona, Dona, Dona, Dona Dona Dona Dona, Don
Dona, Dona, Dona, Dona Dona Dona Dona, Don

"Stop complaining" said the Farmer
"Who told you a calf to be?"
"Why don't you have wings to fly with,
Like the swallow so proud and free?"
Chorus

Calves are easily bound and slaughtered
Never knowing the reason why
But whoever treasures freedom
Like the swallow must learn to fly.
Chorus

Dona, Dona, Dona, Don
Home | Back to top

Donald MacGallivray
Version I
-Traditional
From MacColl, Folk Songs and Ballads of Scotland
http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/lookup.cgi?ti=MCGILVRY&tt=MCGILVRY

Donald's gone up the hill, hard and hungry
Donald's come down the hill wild an' angry
Donald will clear, the gauks nest cleverly
Here's tae the King an' to Donald MacGillavray

Come like a weighbauk , Donald MacGillavray
Come like a weighbauk, Donald MacGillavray
Balance them fair, and balance them cleverly
Give them full measure my Donald MacGillavray

Donalds run over the hill, but his tether man
As he were wud, on stang'd wi' either man
When he comes back there's some will look merrily
Here's tae King James and to Donald MacGillavray

Come like a weaver, Donald MacGillavray
Come like a weaver, Donald MacGillavray
Pack on your back, and illwand so cleverly
Give them full measure, my Donald MacGillavray

Donald has gotten wi' reif an' roguery
Donald has dinnered wi' banes an' beggary
Better it were for Whigs, an' Wiggery
Meetin' the Devil, an' Donald MacGillavray

Come like a tailor, Donald MacGillavray
Come like a tailor, Donald MacGillavray
Push About, an' in and out, and thimble them cleverly
Here's tae' King James an' tae' Donald MacGillavray

Donalds the callin' that brooks no tangledness
Whiggin, an priggin' an all newfangledness
They might be gone, he will not be baukit man
He might have justice, or faith he'll take it, man

Come like a cobbler, Donald MacGillavray
Come like a cobbler, Donald MacGillavray
Beat them, and bore them, And lingle them cleverly
Up wi' King James, an' with Donald MacGillavray

Donald was mumpit wi mirds, an' mockery
Donald was blinded wi' blads of property
Arles ran high but makin' were nothin, man
Lord how Donald is flightin' an' frettin', man

Come like the Devil, Donald MacGillavray
Come like the Devil, Donald MacGillavray
Skelp them an' skaud them, what proved so unbrotherly
Up wi' King James, an' with Donald MacGillavray

Version II Oldish English
Melody - around 1745
www.acronet.net/~robokopp

Donald's gane up the hill hard and hungry,
Donald's come doon th' hill, wild and angry!
Donald will clear the gouk's nest cleverly;
Here's to the King and Donald MacGillavry!

Come like a weighbauk, Donald MacGillavry! :|
Balance them fair, and balance them cleverly!
Off wi' the counterfeit, Donald MacGillavry!

Donald's run o'er the hill but wi' his tether, man,
As he were wud, or stang'd wi'an ether, man,
When he comes back, there's some will look merrily!
Here's t' King James and Donald MacGillavry!

|: Come like a weaver, Donald MacGillavry! :|
Pack on your back, and elwand sae cleverly;
Gi' them full measure. my Donald MacGillavry!
3. Donald has foughten
wi' rief and wi' rougery;
Donald has dinner'd wi' banes and beggary,
Better it were for Whigs and Whiggery:
Meetin' the Devil, than Donald MacGillavry!

|: Come like a tailor, Donald MacGillavry!
Push about, in and out, thimble them cleverly!
Here's tae King James and Donald MacGillavry!

Donald's the callan that brooks nae tangleness;
Whigging and prigging, and a' newfangledness;
They maun be gane; he winna be baukit, man;
He maun hae Justice, or, faith, he'll take it, man!

Come like a cobbler, Donald MacGillavry!
Beat them, and bore them, and lingel them cleverly!
Up wi' King James, and Donald MacGillavry!

Donald was mumpit wi' mirds and mockery,
Donald was blinded wi' blads o'property;
Arles ran high, but makin's were naethin', man!
Lord, how Donald is flyin' and frettin', man!

Come like the devil, Donald MacGillavry!
Skelp them and scaud them that proved sae unbritherly!
Up wi' King James and Donald MacGillavry!

Home | Back to top

Donald, Where's Yuir Trowsers?
-Traditional
http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/lookup.cgi?ti=DONTROU2

CHORUS:
Let the winds blow high, let the winds blow low
Through the street in me Kilt I go
All the lassies say hello
Donald where's yuir trowsers?

I just came down from the Isle of Skye
I'm no very big, and I'm awfully shy
The lassies say as I go by
Donald where's yuir trowsers?

Chorus

A lassie took me to a ball
And it was slippery in the hall
And I feared that I might fall
Cause I had on me trowsers!

Chorus

Now I went down to London town
To have some fun on the underground
The lassies turned their heads around
Said, Donald where's yuir trowsers?

Chorus

Ah wearin' the kilt is mighty light
It is not wrong I know it's right
The islanders would get a fright
If they saw me in my trowsers

Chorus

The lassies love me every one
They have to catch me if they can
They can't take the breeks off a Heilan' man
Sayin' Donald where's yuir trowsers?

Chorus
Donald where's yuir trowsers?

Down at the Inn
By Francis of Saxony

Hey, digga din, Hey, digga din, down at the inn,
Down at the inn, Down at the inn,
Hey, digga din, Hey, digga din, down at the inn,
Down at the inn, Everyone's down at the inn,

My lady's a hosteler, hosteler, hosteler,
Such a fine hosteler she.
All day she mounts horses, mounts horses, mounts horses;
At night she comes home and drinks tea.

My lord is a jester, a jester, a jester,
And such a fine jester is he.
All day he makes jokes, makes jokes, he makes jokes;
At night he comes home and drinks tea.

. a woodworker . screws bolts .
. an armorer . bangs iron .
. a herald . blows horns .
. a mason . lays bricks .

final verse:
My Lady's a herbalist, herbalist, herbalist,
Such a fine herbalist she.
All day she drinks tea, she drinks tea, she drinks tea;
At night she does nothing but pee.
Home | Back to top

Down by the Glenside
http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/lookup.cgi?ti=GLNSFEN&tt=GLNSFEN

'Twas down by the glenside, I met an old woman
She was picking young nettles and she scarce saw me coming
I listened a while 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.

When I was a young girl, their marching and drilling
Awoke in the glenside sounds awesome and thrilling
They loved poor old Ireland and to die they were willing
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
Home | Back to top

The Dragon's Retort
words by Claire Stephens, music traditional "Irish Washerwoman"
http://chivalry.com/cantaria/lyrics/dragons_retort.html
Notes: This song is a response to that eternal question

Now, I am a dragon, please listen to me
For I'm misunderstood to a dreadful degree;
This ecology needs me and I know me place,
But I'm fighting extinction with all of my race.

Oh, I came to this village to better my health
Which is shockingly poor despite all my wealth,
But I get no assistance and no sympathy,
Just impertinent questioning shouted at me.

Yes, virgins taste better than those who are not,
But my favorite snack food with peril is fraught:
For my teeth will decay and my trim go to pot;
Yes, virgins taste better than those who are not.

Well, I'm really quite kind almost all through the year
Vegetarian ways are now mine out of fear,
But a birthday needs sweets as I'm sure you'll agree
And barbecued wench tastes like candy to me.

As it happens our interests are almost the same.
You see I'm really quite skillful at managing game.
If I ate just your men, would your excess decline?
Of course not, the rest would just make better time.

Now, the number of babies a woman can bare
Has limits and that's why my pruning's done there.
Yet an orphan's a sad sight and so when I much
I'm careful to eat only virgins for lunch
Chorus

KEY C

verse/chorus:
C F C G C

Home | Back to top

Drink to me only with thy eyes
By Ben Johnson

Drink to me only with thine eyes,
And I will pledge with mine;
Or leave a kiss but in the cup,
And I'll not look for wine.
The thirst that from the soul doth rise
Doth ask a drink divine;
But might I of Jove's nectar sup,
I would not change for thine.

I sent thee late a rosy wreath,
Not so much honoring thee
As giving it a hope, that there
It could not withered be.
But thou thereon didst only breathe,
And sent'st it back to me;
Since when it grows, and smells, I swear,
Not of itself, but thee.
Home | Back to top

THE DUTCHMAN
By Michael Smith
Midi and sheet http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/lookup.cgi?ti=DUTCHMN&tt=DUTCHMN

The Dutchman's not the kind of man
Who keeps his thumb jammed in the dam
That holds his dreams in
But that's a secret that only Margaret knows

When Amsterdam is golden in the morning [summer]
Margaret brings him breakfast
She believes him
He thinks the tulips bloom beneath the snow
He's mad as he can be but Margaret only sees that sometimes
Sometimes she sees her unborn children in his eyes

CHORUS: Let us go to the banks of the ocean
Where the walls rise above the Zuiderzee
Long ago, I used to be a young man
And dear Margaret remembers that for me

The Dutchman still wears wooden shoes
His cap and coat are patched with the love
That Margaret sewed in [there]
Sometimes he thinks he's still in Rotterdam
He watches [the] tug boats down canals
And calls out to them when he thinks he knows the Captain
'Til [Then] Margaret comes to take him home again
Through unforgiving streets
That trick him though she holds his arm
Sometimes he thinks that he's alone and calls her name

The windmills whirl the winter in
[The winters whirl the windmills 'round]
She winds his muffler tighter,
They sit in the kitchen
Some tea with whiskey keeps away the dew
He sees her for a moment, calls her name
She makes the bed up humming [singing] some old love song
A song Margaret learned when the tune [it] was very new
He hums a line or two, they hum [sing] together in the night [dark]
The Dutchman falls asleep and Margaret blows the candle out.
Home | Back to top

EAMONN AN CHNUIC
(NED OF THE HILL)
translation from the Gaelic by Donal O'Sullivan
Midi http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/lookup.cgi?ti=NEDHILL2&tt=NEDHILL2

"Oh who is without
That with passionate shout
Keeps beating my bolted door?"
"I am Ned of the Hill
Forspent wet and chill
From long trudging marsh and moor"
"My love, fond and true
What else could I do
But shield you from wind and from weather?
When the shots fall like hail
They us both shall assail
And mayhap we shall die together."

"Through forest and through snow
Tired and hunted I go
In fear both from friend and from neighbor
My horses run wild
My acres untilled
And they all of them lost to my labor
But it grieves me far more
Than the loss of my store
That there's none who would shield me from danger
So my fate it must be
To fare eastward o'er sea
And languish amid the stranger"

"Ce-h-e sin amuh
Go bhfuil faor ar a ghuth
A' reaba mo dhoruis dunta?"
"Mise Eamonn a' Chnuic
Ta baidhte fuar fliuch
O shior-shuil sleihbte is gleannta"
"A lao ghil's a chuid
Cad do dheannfainn-se dhuit
Mara gcuirfinn ort beinn dom ghuna?
'S go mbeidh pudar dubh
Is go mbeimis araon muchta"
"Is fada mise amuh
Faoi shneachta is faoi shioc
Is gan danacht agam ar einne
Mo bhranar gan cur
Mo sheisreach gar sgur
Is gan iad agam ar aon chor
Nil caraid agam
(Is danaid liom san)
Do ghlacfadh me moch na deanach
Is go gcaithfe me dul
Thar fairrge soir
O's ann na fuil mo ghaolta"
Home | Back to top

EARLY ONE MORNING
English Traditional
Midi http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/lookup.cgi?ti=EARLY1AM&tt=EARLY1AM

Early one morning,
Just as the sun was rising,
I heard a maid sing,
In the valley below.

Chorus:

Oh, don't deceive me,
Oh, never leave me,
How could you use
A poor maiden so?

Remember the vows,
That you made to your Mary,
Remember the bower,
Where you vowed to be true,
chorus:

Thus sang the poor maiden,
Her sorrows bewailing,
Thus sang the poor maid,
In the valley below.

chorus: (slowly)
Home | Back to top

Edrics Song
-Edmound Bernhard
(To the tune of "The Bucket Song" by Harry Bellafonte and Ella Fitzgerald[I think?])

Will you drink with us Edric,
Squire Edric, Squire Edric
Will you drink with us Edric,
Squire Edric my dear?

I cannot said Edric, said Edric, said Edric
I cannot said Edric,
I've had too much Beer

We drink to the Outlands,
Squire Edric, Squire Edric,
We drink to the Outlands,
Will you drink with us now?

I cannot said Edric, said Edric, said Edric,
I cannot said Edric,
I've had too much beer

We drink to the King, Squire Edric, Squire Edric,
We drink to the King,
will you drink with us now?

I cannot said Edric, said Edric, said Edric
I cannot said Edric,
I've had too much beer

We drink to the Queen, Squire Edric, Squire Edric
We Drink To The Queen,
Will You Drink With Us Now?

I... Cannot, said Edric, said Edric, said Edric
I cannot said Edric,
I've had too much beer!

(Well Then!)
We Drink To The Queens Brown Eyes,
Squire Edric, Squire Edric,
We Drink To The Queens Brown Eyes,
WILL YOU DRINK WITH US NOW?

(Well, if I gotta....)
I'll drink to the Queens Brown Eyes, said Edric, said Edric
I'll drink to the Queens Brown Eyes, said Edric the dear

Don't drink so fast Edric, Squire Edric, Squire Edric,
Don't drink so fast Edric,
you've had too much beer

BLEEARRRGGGH, said Edric, said Edric, said Edric,
BLEEARRRGGGH, said Edric, Squire Edric, Our Dear
Home | Back to top

Edward
Traditional (From Steeleye Span; Back In Line)

What's that blood on your sword Edward?
It is the blood of my greyhound
Your greyhound's blood was never that red Edward
You're telling lies, you're telling lies

What's that blood upon your sword Edward?
It is the blood of my grey mare
Your grey mare's blood was never that grey Edward
You're telling lies, you're telling lies

What's that blood upon your sword Edward?
It is the blood of my grey hawk
Your grey hawk's blood was never that grey Edward
You're telling lies you're telling lies

CHORUS:
And the sun will never shine Edward
And the moon has lost it's light
And the sun will never shine Edward
You're telling lies, you're telling lies

What's that blood on your sword Edward?
It is the blood of my brother
Why did you kill your own brother Edward?
For telling lies, for telling lies

Chorus

What will you do, where will you go Edward?
What will you do, how will you die?

I'll sail away, I'll sail away Mother
And you'll never see more of me

What of your wife, what of your son, Edward?
And what will you leave your mother dear?
The curse of Hell t burn her with Mother
For telling lies, for telling lies

Chorus
Home | Back to top

Eileen Aroon
General: words translated by Gerald Griffin (1803-1840).from the Irish of Carrol O'Daly (14th Century)
tune: Robin Adair by Lady Caroline Keppel
Midi: http://sniff.numachi.com/~rickheit/dtrad/lookup.cgi?ti=EILAROON&tt=EILAROON;EILAROON.2

Version 1
Melody - Lady Caroline Keppel; Seq. by Barry Taylor
Gerald Griffin (1803-1840), from the Gaelic of Carrol O'Daly (1300's)

When, like the dawning day, Eileen Aroon
Love sends his early ray, Eileen Aroon
What makes his dawning glow
Only the constant know, Eileen Aroon.

When, like the early rose, Eileen Aroon
Beauty in child hood blows, Eileen Aroon
When like a diadem Buds blush around the stem
Which is the fairest gem Eileen Aroon.

I know a valley fair, Eileen Aroon
I know a cottage there, Eileen Aroon
Far in the valley shade I know a tender maid
Flow'r of the hazel glade, Eileen Aroon.

Who in the song so sweet, Eileen Aroon
Who in the dance so fleet, Eileen Aroon
Dear are her charms to me, dearer her laughter free
Dearest her constancy, Eileen Aroon.

Is it the laughing eye,
Eileen Aroon
Is it the timid sigh, Eileen Aroon
Is it the tender tone, soft as the stringed harps note
Oh, it is truth alone, Eileen Aroon.

When like the rising day, Eileen Aroon
Love sends her early ray, Eileen Aroon
What makes her dawning gleam, changeless through joy or woe
Only the constant know, Eileen Aroon.

Were she no longer true, Eileen Aroon
What would her lover do, Eileen Aroon
Fly with a broken chain, far o'er the sounding main
Never to love again, Eileen Aroon.

Youth will in time decay, Eileen Aroon
Beauty must fade away, Eileen Aroon
Castles are sacked in war, chieftains are scattered far
Truth is a fixed star, Eileen Aroon.

www.acronet.net/~robokopp
EILEEN AROON
VERSION 2

I KNOW A VALLEY FAIR, EILEEN AROON.
I KNOW A COTTAGE THERE EILEEN AROON.
FAR IN THE VALLEY SHADE, I KNOW A TENDER MAID.
FLOWER OF THE HAZEL GLADE, EILEEN AROON.

WHO IN THE DANCE SO FLEET?
EILEEN AROON. WHO IN THE SONG SO SWEET?
EILEEN AROON.

DEAR ARE HER CHARMS TO ME,
DEARER HER LAUGHTER FREE,
DEAREST HER CONSTANCY, EILEEN AROON.

WERE SHE NO LONGER TRUE, EILEEN AROON.
WHAT WOULD HER LOVER DO? EILEEN AROON.
FLY WITH A BROKEN CHAIN, FAR O'ER THE SOUNDING MAIN,
NEVER TO LOVE AGAIN, EILEEN AROON.

YOUTH WILL IN TIME DECAY, EILEEN AROON.
BEAUTY MUST FADE AWAY, EILEEN AROON.
CASTLES ARE SACKED IN WAR,
CHIEFTAINS ARE SCATTERED FAR,
TRUTH IS A FIXED STAR, EILEEN AROON.

VERSION 3

WHEN I AM FAR AWAY, EILEEN AROON.
BE GAYEST OF THE GAY, EILEEN AROON.
TOO DEAR YOUR HAPPINESS FOR ME TO WISH IT LESS.
LOVE HATH NO SELFISHNESS, EILEEN AROON.

AND WHEN WE MEET ALONE, EILEEN AROON.
UPON MY BOSOM THROWN, EILEEN AROON.
THAT HOUR WITH LIGHT BEDECKED,
SHALL CHEER US AND DIRECT.
A BEACON TO THE WRECKED, EILEEN AROON.

AND IT MUST BE OUR PRIDE,
EILEEN AROON. OUR TRUSTING HEARTS TO
HIDE, EILEEN AROON.
THEY WISH OUR LOVE TO BRIGHT,
WE'LL WAIT FOR FORTUNE'S LIGHT.
THE FLOWERS CLOSE UP AT NIGHT, EILEEN AROON.

FORTUNE THUS SOUGHT WILL COME, EILEEN AROON.
WE'LL WIN A HAPPY HOME, EILEEN AROON.
AND AS IT SLOWLY ROSE 'TWILL TRANQUILITY REPOSE.
A ROCK 'MID MELTING SNOWS, EILEEN AROON.

Home | Back to top