1. |
The Old Churchyard
04:27
|
|||
|
Come, come with me out to the old churchyard
I so well know those paths 'neath the soft green sward
Friends slumber in there that we want to regard;
We will trace out their names in the old churchyard
Mourn not for them, for their trials are o'er
And why weep for those who will weep no more?
For sweet is their sleep, though cold and hard
Their pillows lay deep in the old churchyard
And I know that it's vain when our friends depart
To breathe kind words to a broken heart;
And I know that the joy of life is marred
When we follow lost friends to the old churchyard
But were I at rest 'neath yonder tree
Oh, why would you weep, my friends, for me?
I'm so weary, so wayworn, why would you retard
The peace I seek in the old churchyard?
Why weep for me, for I'm anxious to go
To that haven of rest where no tears ever flow;
And I fear not to enter that dark lonely tomb
Where our Savior has lain and conquered the gloom
I rest in the hope that one bright day
Sunshine will burst through these prisons of clay
And old Gabriel's trumpet and voice of the Lord
Will wake up the dead in the old churchyard
|
||||
2. |
The Woodthrush's Song
04:05
|
|||
|
I walked down the hall were the woods used to stand
Concrete at my feet brick walls at every hand
And over my head steel girders so strong
Where I first felt the spell of the wood thrush's song
Chorus
Now the wood thrush has vanished
Seeking the place that’s not felt the crush of man's embrace
Oh the steep woods are gone now and
Oh how long to again feel the spell of the wood thrush’s song
Over my head just a few years ago
The poplar leaves shivered when the breezes did blow
Now the deep hum of engines drowns the soft sigh
Of the wind in the leaves of the few trees nearby
Chorus
Man is the inventor, the builder, the sage
The writer and seeker of truth by the page
But all of his knowledge can never explain
All the deep mysteries of the wood thrush's refrain
Chorus x2
|
||||
3. |
The King of Ballyhooley
03:47
|
|||
|
I'll tell yez how it was with me if to listen to me yez are willin'
'Twas in yon house behind yon hill where I had lately been distillin'
I slung a keg upon me back and started out for daylight cool-ly
Good customers I did not lack ‘n I sold it all in Ballyhooley
I thought it wiser to delay me homeward way for fear of Peelers
And in that way I spent the day a dinin' with the whiskey dealers
But as the shades of night came down and I had got me money duly
I bid goodnight to all was there and started home from Ballyhooley
My heart was light with mountain dew that I had brewed among the heather
And on me way I chanced to spy a lad and lassie walk together
Her neck was like the mountain snow with cheeks like roses blossomed newly
She'd a voice like music soft and low she was the flower of Ballyhooley
This young man quickly left her side it was afraid of me that he was
And still the lassie did not hide, it was in love with me that she was,
Then quickly up beside her came says I fair maid I love you truly
And if your parents give consent will you be my bride in Ballyhooley
I have a house behind yon hill two fine greyhounds and a ferret
Besides I have a little still the drop it makes with you I'll share it
And I have got a feather bed with sheets and blankets purchased newly
Besides I have a ring to wed if you'll be mine in Ballyhooley
Her cherry cheeks they grew more red durin’ the time that we were talkin'
And still she hung her little head and viewed the ground where we were walkin'
She says young man if you're content and if you say you love me truly
And if me parents give consent I'll be your bride in Ballyhooley
I asked her name she said it was Jane and that her second name was Cooley
And then I asked her when we'd wed she said the sooner wed the better
So I went and asked her parents glad if they were content to let me get her
They said they were they wished us luck we started out for Father Dooley
And at the hour of twelve o'clock he tied the knot in Ballyhooley
The weddin' that we had that day the people comin' uninvited
The piper played for every squad Jane she sang and I recited
The poteen flowed like a waterfall that from the still had just come newly
And in that way we gaily spent our honeymoon in Ballyhooley
The weddin' presents that we got, well none of them was mean or shabby
And me Auntie Dot she bought some cloth to make the dresses for the babby
Invitations then went round to friends that we had just made newly
A lighter heart could not be found than mine that night in Ballyhooley
It's fifteen years now since we wed and still in every way we're thrivin'
Me Jane she is a dandy yet though down the hill of life she's drivin'
The family has increased in store now fifteen daughters all unruly
And Bonny Jane she is me queen and I'm the king of Ballyhooley.
|
||||
4. |
Dyin Day
04:02
|
|||
|
Be it work or be it rite?
Father, tell me
Brings us to the mountainside
Every day a dying day
Be it work or be it rite
Oh my sweet babe
We come to make a sacrifice
Every day a dying day
And who are you to understand
The ways of him who holds the blade?
And who are you to stay the hand
Of Him who made you?
Be it ox or be it ram?
Father, tell me
Please the God of Abraham
Every day a dying day
Be it ox or be it ram
Oh my sweet babe
It is the blood of the innocent
Every day a dying day
And who are you to understand
The ways of Him who holds the blade?
And who are you to stay the hand
Of Him who made you?
Be it ill or be it good?
Father, tell me
Makes you bind me hand and foot
Every day a dying day
Be it ill or be it good
Oh my sweet babe
I am doing as I should
Every day a dying day
And who are you to understand
The ways of Him who holds the blade?
And who are you to stay the hand
Of Him who made you?
|
||||
5. |
Manx Lullaby
03:31
|
|||
|
Oh hush my dove, oh hush thee my rowan
Oh hush my lapwing, my little brown bird. (x2)
Oh fold thy wings and seek thy nest now,
Oh shine the berry, on the bright tree,
The bird is home from the mountain and valley.
Oh horo hi ri ri, Cadul Gu Lo (x2)
Oh hush my dove, oh hush thee my rowan,
Oh hush my lapwing, my little brown bird. (x2)
Throughout your life there are many, many tales,
gems and stories remember these songs and these rhymes
As you grow old; I mean that the truth will,
not leave you my birdie, my pretty dearing
Oh hush my dove, oh hush thee my rowan,
Oh hush my lapwing, my little brown bird (x2)
Fold thy wing and seek thy nest now,
Oh shine the berry on the bright tree,
The bird is home from the mountain and valley.
Oh horo hi ri ri, Cadul Gu Lo (x2)
|
||||
6. |
||||
|
What will we do when we have no money?
Oh true lovers what will we do then?
Only hawk through the town for a hungry crown,
And we’ll yodel it over again.
And what will we do if we marry a sailor?
Oh true lovers what will we do then?
Only sail on his ships and we’ll play on his lips,
And we’ll yodel it over again.
And what will we do if we marry a soldier?
Oh true lovers what will we do then?
Only handle his gun and we’ll fight for the fun,
And we’ll yodel it over again.
And what will we do if we marry a tinker?*
Oh true lovers what will we do then?
Only mend a tin can and walk on with me man,
And we’ll yodel it over again.
And what will we do if we have a young daughter?
Oh true lovers what will we do then?
Only throw her on our back and walk on for the craic,
And we’ll yodel it over again.
So what will we do when we have no money?
Oh true lovers what will we do then?
Only hawk through the town for a hungry crown,
And we’ll yodel it over again.
|
||||
7. |
Cursed Be the Caller
02:47
|
|||
|
Who's that knockin' there
Who's that rappin' there
Who's that tappin' there
Can't you let us be?
We've been to work today
Diggin' our lives away
Down below the frozen clay
And out beneath the sea
Chorus
Oh cursed be the caller
With his knock, knock, knock (x2)
Well, lyin' there at 2 o'clock
To hear the caller's angry knock
Would give the devil himself a shock
As he lay fast asleep
A workin' man has not the right
To sleep is way all through the night
Clasp your dreams with all your might
'Cos dreams'll never keep
Chorus
The sky is cold, the sky is black
You struggle to get off your back
The night is always twice as dark
When you have to leave your bed
A second knock and then a third
It's no good sayin' you never heard
The gaffer won't believe a word
It's enough to wake the dead
Chorus
So curse the caller, curse him well
Let him wake the souls in hell
He'll find a place there for himself
I'm sure that it is home
Oh, but if he left us sleeping fast
Tomorrow's shift would be our last
So leave the caller to his task
But curse him all the same
Chorus
Who's that knockin' there
Who's that rappin' there
Who's that tappin' there
Can't you let us be?
We've been to work today
Diggin' our lives away
Down below the frozen clay
And out beneath the sea
Chorus (x4)
|
||||
8. |
Cornish Lads
03:33
|
|||
|
From Newly town we used to sail
Through rain and mist and lashing gale
The mackerel shoals we hoped to find
And soon we've left Land's End behind
I've searched the seven stones all around
But not a sign or shoal we've found
Round Island light is now in sight
But Scillies are a barren ground
Chorus
Well Cornish lads are fishermen
And Cornish lads are miners too
But when the fish and tin are gone
What are the Cornish boys to do?
The winding engines used to sing
A melody to Cornish tin
And Geevor lads they all would grin
At pay day on a Friday
The water now reclaims the mine
And young men talk of old men's time
And go to work in gold or coal
Or face a life upon the dole
Chorus
The hammer of the auction man
Is the only sound we soon will hear
And visitors will make the noise
And order drinks from Cornish boys
We'll do as we have done before
Go out to roam the wild world o'er
Wherever sea or ship are found
Or there's a hole down underground
Alternate Chorus
Well Cornish lads are fishermen
And Cornish lads are miners too
So when the fish and tin are gone
That's what the Cornish boys will do
|
||||
9. |
Oran Eile Don Phrionnsa
04:26
|
|||
|
Scots Gaelic
Sèist
Thug ho-o, laithill ho-oro
Thug o-ho-ro an aill libh
Thug ho-o, laithill ho-o
Seinn o-ho-ro an aill libh (x2)
(M)och 'sa mhaduinn's mi dusgadh
'S mor mo shunnd's mo cheol-gaire
O'n a chuala mi 'm Prionnsa
Thighinn do dhuthaich Chlann Ra'ill
Sèist
O'n a chuala mi 'm Prionnsa
Thighinn do dhuthaich Chlann Ra'ill
Grainne mullaich gach righ thu
Slan gum pill thusa, Thearlaich
Sèist
Grainne mullaich gach righ thu
Slan gum pill thusa, Thearlaich
'S ann th 'n fhior-fhuil gun truailleadh
Anns a ghruadh is mor-naire
Sèist
'S ann th 'n fhior-fhuil gun truailleadh
Anns a ghruadh is mor-naire
Mar ri barrachd na h-uaisle
'G eirigh suas le deagh-nadur
Sèist
Mar ri barrachd na h-uaisle
'G eirigh suas le deagh-nadur
Us nan tigeadh tu rithist
Bhiodh gach tighearn' 'n aite
Sèist
Us nam tigeadh tu rithist
Bhiodh gach tighearn' 'na àite,
Us nan càiricht' an crùn ort
Bu mhùirneach do chàirdean.
Sèist (x2)
English Translation
Chorus
He gave (all) ho-o, he gave ho-o
Oh-ho-ro brought you (the lands)
He gave ho-o, he gave (all) ho-o
Sing o-ho-ro for you
Early as I awaken
Great my joy, loud my laughter
Since I heard that the Prince comes
To the land of Clanranald
Chorus
Since I heard that the Prince comes
To the land of Clanranald
Thou art the choicest of all rulers
Here’s a health to thy returning
Chorus
Thou art the choicest of all rulers
Here’s a health to thy returning
His rightness of place unquestioned
Great the modesty in his visage
Chorus
His rightness of place unquestioned
Great the modesty in his visage
With nobility overflowing
And endowed with all good nature
Chorus
With nobility overflowing
And endowed with all good nature
And shouldst thou return ever
At his post would be each laird
Chorus
And shouldst thou return ever,
At his post would be each laird,
And thy friends would be joyful
If the crown were placed on thee.
Chorus (x2)
|
||||
10. |
||||
|
Dear thoughts are in my mind and my soul it soars enchanted
As I hear the sweet lark sing in the clear air of day
For a tender beaming smile, to my hope has been granted
And tomorrow he shall hear, all my fond heart longs to say
I will tell him all my love, all my soul’s pure adoration
And I know he will hear my voice and he will not answer nay
It is this that gives my soul all it’s joyous elation
As I hear the sweet lark sing, in the clear air of day
Repeat verse 1
|
||||
11. |
Twa Corbies
02:48
|
|||
|
As I was walkin' all alane
I heard twa corbies makkin a mane;
Then tain untae the other did say-o,
“Where shall we gang and dine the day-o,
Where shall we gang and dine the day?"
Then int ahint yon auld fail dyke
I wot there lies a new-slain knight;
And naebody kens that he lies there-o
But his hawk and his hound and his lady fair-o,
His hawk and his hound and his lady fair.
His hound is tae the huntin gane,
His hawk tae fetch the wildfowl hame;
His lady's ta'en anither mate-o
Sae we mun mak our dinner sweecht-o,
Sae we mun mak our dinner sweecht.
And ye'll sit on his white hause-bane
And I'll pike oot his bonny blue een;
Wi ilk a lock o his gowden hair-o
We'll theek our nest when it grows bare-o,
Theek our nest when it grows bare.
There's mony a ane for him maks mane
But nane sall ken where he is gane;
And o'er his bones when they lay bare-o
The wind sall blaw for evermair-o,
The wind sall blaw for evermair.
As I was walkin' all alane
I heard twa corbies makkin a mane;
Tha tain untae the other did say-o,
“Where shall we gang and dine to day-o,
Where shall we gang and dine to day?"
|
||||
12. |
Westlin Winds
05:37
|
|||
|
Now westlin winds and slaughtering guns
bring autumn's pleasant weather
The moorcock springs on whirring wings
among the blooming heather
Now waving grain, wild o'er the plain
delights the weary farmer
And the moon shines bright as I rove at night
to muse upon my charmer.
The partridge loves the fruitful fells
the plover loves the mountains
The woodcock haunts the lonely dells
the soaring hern the fountains
Through lofty groves the cushat roves
the path of man to shun it
And the hazel bush o'erhangs the thrush
the spreading thorn the linnet
Thus every kind their pleasure find
the savage and the tender
Some social join and leagues combine
some solitary wander
Avaunt away! the cruel sway
tyrannic man's dominion
The sportsman's joy, the murdering cry
the fluttering gory pinion
But Peggy dear, the evening's clear
thick files the skimming swallow
The sky is blue, the field's in view
all fading green and yellow
Come let us stray our gladsome way
and view the charms of nature
The rustling corn, the fruited thorn
and every happy creature
We'll gently walk and sweetly talk
till the silent moon shines clearly
I'll grasp thy waist and, fondly pressed
swear how I love thee dearly
Not vernal showers to budding flowers
not autumn to the farmer
so dear can be as thou to me
my fair, and lovely charmer
|
||||
13. |
Hunting the Wren
05:31
|
|||
|
Sharp is the wind, cold is the rain
Harsh is the livelong day, upon the wide open plain
By Donnelly's hollow, under sad gorse and furze
There lies a young wren oh, by the saints she was cursed
The wren is a small bird, how pretty she sings
She bested the eagle, when she hid in its wings
With sticks and with stones, all among the small mounds
They come from all over, to hunt the wren on the wide open ground
They flock round the soldiers, in their jackets so red
For barrack room favors, for pennies and bread
The soldier is rough, in anger or fun
And he causes much bloodshed, with his big musket gun
The birds of the earth, the beasts of the field
By spite and by fury, are people revealed
Attacked in the village, spat on in town
They come from all over, to hunt the wren on the wide open ground
The wren is a small bird, though blamed for much woe
Her form is derided, wherever she goes
With cold want and whiskey, she soon is run down
Her body paraded, on a staff through the town
Her head for her ceiling, the sod was her floor
She chose the cold open plain o’er, the dark workhouse door
With two broken wings, and feathers so brown
They come from all over, to hunt the wren on the wide open ground
|
||||
14. |
Taking Flight
02:11
|
|||
|
We’ll sing out from treetops
From rooftops and cars
From buses and trollies
And lookin at stars
When we join in a chorus
Of birds taking flight
We know that the skyline
And future looks bright
There’s a rage that’s been growing
And it aches in my heart
But we’re not through with loving
Everyone’s got a part
There’s a tale that needs telling
And I’m not alone
I’ll sing out the joys
For those left when we’re gone
We’re blue ones and green ones,
There’s black, grey, and brown
We’re old ones and new ones
Some quiet, some loud
The rainbow of all birds
Is a beautiful sight
Our song fills the air
When we shake off the night
We’ll sing and remember
When we’re old, worn, and tired
Our heroes have long gone
They’ve gloried and mired
What we have together
Is a chance to make bright
A chorus together
When we rise and take flight
So sing what’s inside us
And remind of what’s true
It’s constant and turning
and helps us get through
The struggles before us
Are small when compared
To birds all together
Taking flight til we’re there
The struggles before us
Are small when compared
To birds all together
Taking flight til we’re there
|
||||
15. |
Great Big Roaming Ass
03:33
|
|||
|
Oh, to look at me would you ever think that I was in my prime?
My clothes are torn and me shoes are worn and me age is forty nine.
Oh, I had friends and pals galore but alas, those days are past,
And the only one that I have left is a poor old, shook old ass.
Chorus: I've a kind old friend and a true old pal was this old ass to me.
Many's the night he brought me home when I was on the spree.
Though he's highly bred and he’s badly fed for I don't own much grass,
He's a hare-um scare-um divil-may-care-um great big roaming ass.
I bought this ass for a half a crown some many years ago.
We chanced to meet upon the street at the fair of Ballinasloe.
He took me high and he looked so fly with his skin as smooth as glass.
And sure I put down with a bad half- crown and sailed home with that ass.
Chorus
Oh, I'll ne'er forget, for sure the day we met, was at the fair of Ballinasloe.
Up and down through street and town (Spoken) Go on! Click, click!
Sure, the pair of us did go.
And to depart 't would break my heart, for no one could take his place,
And tell all of what I think of him, sure I think it's no disgrace.
Chorus
|
||||
16. |
Red-winged Blackbird
04:18
|
|||
|
He'll be there beside the river,
When Winter finally breaks its bones,
He'll be king among the rushes,
He'll be master of his home.
Chorus: Thought I heard a red winged blackbird,
Red winged blackbird down my road. (x2)
Safe as Moses in the rushes,
Builds his home on the river wide,
Every time I hear him singing,
Makes me feel like Spring inside.
Chorus: x2
He'll be in there singing his heart out,
He'll be telling me stories too,
Of where he went to winter last year,
Of how he's going back there too.
Chorus: x2
He'll be there beside the river,
When Winter finally breaks its bones,
He'll be king among the rushes,
He'll be master of his home.
Chorus: x3
Repeat verse 1, Chorus x4
|
||||
Amelia Hogan San Francisco, California
Amelia Hogan sings traditional Irish, Scottish, British American, and Contemporary folk music with lilting graces and
powerful subtlety. You’ll be transported by her singing,
She has enchanted audiences from Oregon to New York, Dublin to San Francisco and back again.
... more
If you like Amelia Hogan, you may also like:
supported by 4 fans who also own “Taking Flight”
go to album
supported by 4 fans who also own “Taking Flight”
go to album
supported by 4 fans who also own “Taking Flight”
Wonderful music. Great playing by all. There is so much great traditional music around today and this is amongst the best of them. Ensemble playing like this is the best.
go to album
Would the Light Hold Me
by Oceanique
Celtic-inspired instrumentation, delicate harmonies, and reflective lyrics abound on the sisterly indie-folk duo's debut album.
go to album
Scottish harpist and singer Rachel Newton brings an innovative, intensely emotional touch to traditional music on this dreamy LP.
go to album
Wealth of Sorrow
by Cahalen Morrison
Bright and skipping songs that foreground the sound of the banjo and fingerstyle guitar in music that feels timeless.
go to album
April 25th, 2020: An Evening of Songs Performed at Home
by Aoife O'Donovan
supported by 4 fans who also own “Taking Flight”
Listened to this live during the pandemic, and it was some much needed light amidst the darkness.
go to album
