CELTIC CHORUS OF HOUSTON:
LYRICS / SONGSHEETS
Return to: The Celtic Chorus of Houston
(alphabetical order by song title)
A NATION ONCE AGAIN
by Thomas Davis
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 as I grew from boy to man,
I bent me to that bidding.
My spirit of each selfish plan
And cruel passion ridding.
But yet I hoped some day to aid,
Oh, can such hope be vain?
When my dear country will be made,
A nation once again!
Chorus (twice)
Annie Laurie
The song to
"Annie Laurie" was originally written by her
sweetheart, William Douglas, and amended by Lady John Scott
(1810-1900) who altered the second verse and composed the third.
This song was a favourite with Scottish soldiers during the
Crimean War.
The song is about the wife of Alexander Fergusson of
Craigdarroch.
Max Welton's braes are bonnie
Where early falls the dew
And 'twas there that Annie Laurie
Gave me her promise true.
2. Gave me her promise true
That ne'er forgot shall be
And for Bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me doon and dee.
3. Her brow is like the snowdrift
Her nape is like the swan
And her face it is the fairest
That 'ere the sun shone on.
4. That 'ere the sun shone on
And dark blue is her E'e
And for Bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me doon and dee.
5. Like the dew on the Gowan Lion
Is the fall of her fairy feet
And like winds in the summer sighing
Her voice is low and sweet.
6. Her voice is low and sweet
And she's all the world to me
And for Bonnie Annie Laurie
I'd lay me doon and dee.
Auld Lang Syne
click here for history of Auld Lang Syne
Should auld acquaintance be forgot,
and never brought to mind?
Should auld acquaintance be forgot
and days of auld lang syne?
Chorus: For auld lang
syne, my dear, For auld lang syne,
We'll take a cup o' kindness yet
For auld lang syne
And here's my hand, my
trusty friend,
And here's a hand o' thine;
and we'll take a right gude willy waught
For auld lang syne
Chorus
Black Velvet Band
(traditional song indicating the savagery of the penal code
which allowed for transportation to Van Diemen's Land,now
Tasmania,
for what can only be regarded as petty crimes)
1. In a neat little town they call Belfast,
An apprentice boy I was bound,
And many's the happy hour
I have spent in that neat little town.
But bad misfortune o'ertook me,
And caused me to stray from the land,
Far away from my friends and relations,
Betrayed by the black velvet band.
2. Oh, one evening late as I rambled,
Not meaning to go very far,
When I met with a gay young deceiver.
She was plyin' her trade in a bar.
Oh, her eyes they shone like the diamonds,
And I thought her the pride of the land,
And her hair hung over her shoulders,
Tied up with a black velvet band.
3. Oh, one evening a flashman, a watchman
She happened to meet on the sly.
I could tell that her mind it was altered,
By the roll of her roving dark eye.
Oh, that watch she took from his pocket.
She slipped it right into my hand.
Then she gave me in charge to the policeman.
Bad luck to the black velvet band.
4. Now before the Lord Mayor I was taken.
My guilt they proved quite plain,
And he said if I was not mistaken,
I should have to cross the salt main.
Now its sixteen long years have they gave me,
To plough upon Van Dieman's land,
Far away from my friends and relations,
A curse on the black velvet band.
5. So come all ye jolly young fellows,
I'll have ye take warning from me.
Whenever you're out on the liquor,
Beware of them pretty colleens.
They'll treat you to whiskey and porter,
Till you are not able to stand;
And the very next thing that you know, my lads,
You'll end up in Van Dieman's land.
Carrickfergus
to hear the melody and see Carrick Castle click here
I wish I was in Carrickfergus,
Only for nights in Ballygrant
I would swim over the deepest ocean,
For my love to find
But the sea is wide and I cannot cross over
And neither have I the wings to fly
I wish I could meet a handsome boatsman
To ferry me over, to my love and die
2. 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 is the grass, my bed is free.
Ah, to be back now in Carrickfergus,
On that long road down to the sea.
3. But in Kilkenny, it is reported,
On marble stones there as black as ink
With gold and silver I would support her,
But I'll sing no more 'till I get a drink.
For 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.
Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the
pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountain side
The summer's gone, and all the flowers are dying
'tis you, 'tis you must go and I must bide.
But come you back when summer's in the meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'tis I'll be there in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so.
And if you come, when all the flowers are dying
And I am dead, as dead I well may be
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" there for me.
And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my dreams will warm and sweeter be
If you'll not fail to tell me that you love me
I simply sleep in peace until you come to me.
Donald Where's Your
Troosers?
Andy Stewart
was a popular and well known entertainer on stage and television.
He starred in "The White Heather" club, a medley of
Scottish song and dance which began life in the days of black and
white TV and lasted for many years. Andy Stewart was identified
with a number of songs, including this one about Donald and his
kilt...
I've just come down from
the Isle of Skye
I'm no very big and I'm awful shy
The lassies shout when I go by
Donald, where's your troosers?
Chorus:
[Let] the wind blow high and the wind blow low
Thru the streets in my kilt I go
All the lassies say hello
Donald where's your troosers?
To wear the kilt is my
delight
it isn't a wrong and I know it's right
and all the folks would get a fright
if they saw me wear me troosers CHORUS
A lassie took me to a
ball
and it was slippery in the hall
and I was feared that I would fall
for I had no me troosers CHORUS
I once went down to
London town
I had some fun in the underground
A lassie turned her head around saying
"Donald, where's your troosers?"
The lassies want me
every one
Just let them catch me if they can
You cannot take the brechs of a Highland man
For I don't wear no troosers
Dublin In The Rare Old Times
1980s song about Dublin before the 1960s (composer: Pete St.
John)
Raised on songs and stories, heroes of renown
The passing tales and glories,
that once was Dublin town
The hallowed halls and houses,
the haunting children's rhymes
That once was Dublin city in the rare old times
(Chorus):
Ring a-ring a-Rosie, as the light declines
I remember Dublin city in the rare old times
My name it is Sean Dempsey, as Dublin as can be
Born hard and late in Pimlico,
in a house that's ceased to be.
By trade I was a cooper, lost out to redundancy.
Like my house that fell to progress,
my trade's a memory.
(Chorus):
The years have made me bitter,
the drink has dimmed my brain,
For Dublin keeps on changing,
nothing stays the same.
The Pillar and the Met are gone,
the Royal's been pulled down,
And the gray, unyielding concrete
makes a city of my town.
(Chorus):
Fare thee well Anna Liffey, I can no longer stay,
And watch the new glass cages,
that spring out along the quay.
My mind's too full of memories,
to want to hear new chimes,
I once was part of Dublin, in the rare old times
(Chorus)
Fields of Athenry
The Fields of Athenry is a song about the The Irish Potato
Famine, which struck Ireland between 1846 and 1849;
composer: 1980s by Pete St. John
By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl call:
"Michael, they have taken you away,
For you stole Trevelyn's corn,
So the young might see the morn.
Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay."
CHORUS:
Low lie the fields of Athenry
Where once we watched the small free birds fly
Our love was on the wing
We had dreams and songs to sing
It's so lonely round the fields of Athenry.
By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young man call
"Nothing matters, Mary, when you're free
Against the famine and the crown, I rebelled, they cut me down.
Now you must raise our child with dignity."
CHORUS
By a lonely harbor wall, She watched the last star fall
As the prison ship sailed out against the sky For she lived to
hope and pray
For her love in Botany Bay It's so lonely round the fields of
Athenry.
CHORUS.
Finnegan's Wake
This musical description of an Irish wake which got out of hand
dates from the mid 1800's
and would have been familir to James Joyce who wote a book by the
same name.
Finnegan's Wake - background
Tim Finnegan lived in Walkin' Street
A gentleman, Irish, mighty odd;
He had a brogue both rich and sweet
And to rise in the world he carried a hod.
Now Tim had a sort of the tipplin' way
With a love of the whiskey he was born
And to help him on with his work each day
He'd a "drop of the cray-thur" every morn.
Chorus:
Whack fol the darn O, dance to your partner
Whirl the floor, your trotters shake;
Wasn't it the truth I told you
Lots of fun at Finnegan's wake!
2. One mornin' Tim was feelin' full
His head was heavy which made him shake;
He fell from the ladder and broke his skull
And they carried him home his corpse to wake.
They rolled him up in a nice clean sheet
And laid him out upon the bed,
A gallon of whiskey at his feet
And a barrel of porter at his head.
Chorus:
3. His friends assembled at the wake
And Mrs. Finnegan called for lunch,
First they brought in tay and cake
Then pipes, tobacco and whiskey punch.
Biddy O'Brien began to bawl
"Such a nice clean corpse, did you ever see?
"O Tim, mavourneen, why did you die?"
"Arragh, hold your gob" said Paddy McGhee!
Chorus:
4. Then Maggie O'Connor took up the job
"O Biddy," says she, "You're wrong, I'm sure"
Biddy she gave her a belt in the gob
And left her sprawlin' on the floor.
And then the war did soon engage
'Twas woman to woman and man to man,
Shillelagh law was all the rage
And a row and a ruction soon began.
Chorus:
5. Then Mickey Maloney ducked his head
When a noggin of whiskey flew at him,
It missed, and falling on the bed
The liquor scattered over Tim!
The corpse revives! See how he raises!
Timothy rising from the bed,
Says,"Whirl your whiskey around like blazes
Thanum an Dhul! Do you thunk I'm dead?"
Chorus:
Flower of Scotland
the lyrics commemorate the defeat of Edward II at
Bannockburn in 1314
To learn more, click here
O Flower of Scotland
When will we see your likes again
That fought and died for
Your wee bit hill and glen,
Chorus
And stood against them
Proud Edward's armies
And sent them homewards
To think again.
Those hills are bare now
And autumn leaves lie thick and still
O'er land that is lost now
Which those so dearly held. [chorus]
Those days are passed now
And in the past they must remain
For we can still rise now
and build a nation again. [Chorus] [Chorus]
'Twas down the glen one Easter
morn
To a city fair rode I.
When Ireland's line of marching men
In squadrons passed me by.
No pipe did hum, no battle drum
Did sound its dread tattoo
But the Angelus bell o'er the Liffey's swell
Rang out in the foggy dew.
Right proudly high over Dublin town
They flung out a flag of war.
'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky
Than at Suvla or Sud el Bar.
And from the plains of Royal Meath
Strong men came hurrying through;
While Britannia's sons with their long-range guns
Sailed in through the foggy dew.
Oh, the night fell black and the rifles crack
Made "Perfidious Albion" reel
'Mid the leaden rail, seven tongues of flame
Did shine o'er the lines of steel
By each shining blade, a prayer was said
That to Ireland her sons be true
And when morning broke still the war flag shook
Out its fold in the Foggy Dew.
'Twas England bade our Wild Geese go
That small nations might be free
But their lonely graves are by Suvla's waves
or the fringe of the grey North Sea
Oh had they died by Pearse's side,
or had fought with Cathal Brugha
Their graves we'd keep where the Fenians sleep,
'neath the shroud of the Foggy Dew.
But the bravest fell, and the requiem bell
Rang mournfully and clear
For those who died that Eastertide
In the springing of the year
And the world did gaze, with deep amaze,
At those fearless men and true
Who bore the fight that freedom's light
Might shine through the Foggy Dew.
Ah, back through the glen I rode again,
And my heart with grief was sore
For I parted then with valiant men
Whom I never shall see more
But to and fro in my dreams I go
And I'd kneel and pray for you
For slavery fled, O glorious dead,
When you fell in the Foggy Dew.
Goodbye Mrs. Durkin
by The Irish Rovers
Chorus:
Goodbye Mrs. Durkin,
l'm sick and tired of workin,
No more I'll dig the praties,
No longer I'll be bored.
As sure as me name is Barney
I'll off to Californy,
Instead of diggin' praties
I'll be diggin' lumps of gold.
1. In the days that I was courtin',
I was never tired resortin'
To the alehouse and the playhouse
And the other house besides,
But I told my brother Seamus
l'll be off now and grow famous
And before that l return again
l'll roam the whole world wide, so it’s
Chorus:
2. Well I've courted girls in Blarney,
In Antrim and Killarney
In Dublin and in Kerry
Down to the Cobh of Cork.
But I’m tired of all this pleasure,
So now I’ll take me leisure
And the next time that you hear from me
I’ll write you from New York, so it’s
Chorus:
3. When I landed in Americay
I met a man named Burke
He told me if I’d stay awhile
he’d surely find me work
But work he didn’t find me
So there’s nothing here to bind me
I’m bound for San Francisco in Californiay
(hum)
4. Well I’m now in San Francisco
and me fortune it is made
My pockets loaded down with gold
I throw away me spade
I’ll get back to dear old Erin
Spend my fortune never caring
I’ll marry Queen Victoree
Mrs. Durkin for to spite, so it’s
Chorus:
The Heather On the Hill
from Lerner & Lowe's "Brigadoon"
Can't we two go walkin' together,
out beyond the valley of trees?
Out where there's a hillside of heather,
curtsyin' gently in the breeze.
That's what I'd like to do: see the heather--
but with you.
The mist of May is in the gloamin',
and all the clouds are holdin' still.
So take my hand and let's go roamin'
through the heather on the hill.
The mornin' dew is blinkin' yonder.
There's lazy music in the rill,
And all I want to do is wander
through the heather on the hill.
There may be other days as rich and rare.
There may be other springs as full and fair.
But they won't be the same--they'll come and go,
For this I know:
That when the mist is in the gloamin',
and all the clouds are holdin' still,
If you're not there I won't go roamin'
through the heather on the hill,
The heather on the hill.
I Belong to Glasgow
This song was written
by the music hall entertainer Will Fyfe (1885-1947),
reputedly after helping a drunk who said "The way I feel
tonight is that Glasgow belongs to me."
I've been wi' a few o'
ma cronies,
One or two pals o' ma own.we went in a hotel,
where we did very well,
then we came out once again.
Then we went into
another,
And that is the reason I'm fou,
We had six deoch an' dorises, then sang a chorus,
Just listen, I'll sing it to you.
Chorus:
I belong to Glasgow dear old Glasgow town!
But what's the matter wi' Glasgow
For it's going round and round.
I'm only a common old working chap,
As anyone here can see,
But when I have a couple of drinks
on a Saturday,
Glasgow belongs to me. (repeat )
There's nothing in
keepin’ your money,
And saving a shillin’ or two;
If you've nothin’ to spend,
Then you've nothin’ to lend,
Why that's all the better for you;
There no harm in taking a drappie,
It ends all your trouble and strife;
It gives ye the feeling that when you get home,
You don't give a hang for the wife! CHORUS
I'm looking over a four leaf clover
That I over-looked before.
One leaf is sunshine, the second is rain,
Third is the roses that grows in the lane.
No need explaining the one remaining
Is somebody I adore.
I'm looking over a four leaf clover
That I over-looked before!
1. In Dublin's fair city,
Where girls are so pretty,
I first set my eyes on sweet Molly Malone,
As she pushed her wheelbarrow
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"!
Chorus:
Alive, alive oh! alive, alive oh!
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"!
2. Now she was a fishmonger,
And sure twas no wonder,
For so were her mother and father before,
And they each wheeled their barrow,
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"! Chorus:
3. She died of a fever,
And no one could save her,
And that was the end of sweet Molly Malone.
Now her ghost wheels her barrow,
Through streets broad and narrow,
Crying, "Cockles and mussels, alive, alive oh"!
Chorus:
IRISH ROVER
by Joseph Crofts
In the year of our Lord eighteen hundred and six
We set sail from the cold quay of Cork.
We were sailing away with a cargo of bricks
For that grand city hall in New York.
We’d an elegant craft, we were rigged fore and aft
And how the trade winds drove her.
She had 23 masts and she stood several blasts
And we called her the Irish Rover.
There was Barney McGee
from the banks of the Lee
There was Hogan from County Tyrone
There was young Mick McGurk
who was scared stiff of work
And a chap from West Meath named Malone.
There was slugger O’Toole
who was drunk as a rule
And fighting Bill Tracy from Dover
And young Mick McCann
from the banks of the Bann
Was the skipper of the Irish Rover.
We had one million bags of the best Sligo rags,
We had two million barrels of stone.
We had three million bales of old nanny goat’s tails
We had four million barrels of bone.
Five million hogs, six million dogs,
And seven million barrels of porter
We had eight million sides of old blind horses hides
In the hold of the Irish Rover.
Well we sailed seven years til the measles broke out
And the ship lost her way in the fog.
Then the whole of the crew
was reduced down to two
T’was myself and the captain’s old dog.
Then the ship struck a rock, oh what a shock
And nearly tumbled over
She turned nine times around
and that poor old dog was drowned (whoo!)
Now I’m the last of the Irish Rover.
Loch Lomond
The Highland Scots wanted a Scottish, not
an English King to rule. Led by their Bonnie Prince Charlie
(Prince Charles Edward Stuart) they attempted unsuccessfully to
depose Britain's King George II. An army of 7,000 Highlanders
were defeated on April 16, 1746 at the famous Battle of Culloden
Moor. It is this same battle that indirectly gives rise to this
beautiful song. After the battle, many Scottish soldiers were
imprisoned within England's Carlisle Castle, near the border of
Scotland. "Loch Lomond" tells the story of two Scottish
soldiers who were so imprisoned. One of them was to be executed,
while the other was to be set free. According to Celtic legend if
someone dies in a foreign land, his spirit will travel to his
homeland by "the low road" - the route for the souls of
the dead. In the song, the spirit of the dead soldier shall
arrive first, while the living soldier will take the "high
road" over the mountains, to arrive afterwards. The song is
from the point of view of the soldier who will be executed: When
he sings, "ye'll tak' the high road and I'll tak' the low
road" in effect he is saying that you will return alive, and
I will return in spirit. He remembers his happy past, "By
yon bonnie banks ... where me and my true love were ever wont to
gae [accustomed to go]" and sadly accepts his death
"the broken heart it ken nae [knows no] second Spring
again." To learn more click here.
By yon bonnie banks
And by yon bonnie braes,
Where the sun shines bright On Loch Lomond
Where I and my true love will never meet again
On the bonnie, bonnie banks O' Loch Lomond
Chorus
Oh ye'll tak' the high road
and I'll tak' the low road,
An' I'll be in Scotland before ye',
And I and my true love will never meet again
On the Bonnie, bonnie banks O' Loch Lomond.
It was there that we
parted In yon shady glen
On the steep, steep side O' Ben Lomon'
Where purple hue The highland hills we view
And the moon comin out in the gloamin' chorus
The wee birdies sing
An' the wild flowers spring;
An' in sunshine the waters are sleepin'
But the broken heart It keens nae second spring,
Tho the woeful may cease their grievin' chorus
MacNamara’s Band
by Shamus O'Connor (composer) & John J. Stamford (lyrics)
1917
Oh1 Me name is MacNamara
I’m the leader of the band
Although we’re few in numbers
We’re the finest in the land
We play at wakes and weddings
And at ev’ry fancy ball,
And when we play to funerals
We play the march from Saul
Oh! The drums go bang
And the crystals clang,
And the horns they blaze away,
McCarthy pumps the old bassoon
While I the pipes do play,
And Hennessey Tennessee tootles the flute,
And the music is somethin’ grand;
a credit to old Ireland is MacNamara’s band.
Oh! My name is Uncle Yulius and
From Sweden I have come,
To play with MacNamara’s band
And beat the big bass drum,
And when I march along the street
The ladies think I’m grand
They shout “There’s Uncle Yulius playing with an Irish
band.”
Oh! I wear a bunch of shamrocks
And a uniform of green
And I’m the funnies looking Swede that you have ever seen
There’s O’Briens and Ryans and Sheehans and Meehans
they come from Ireland, but by Yimminy
I’m the only Swede in MacNamara’s band
Mairi's Wedding -
Lewis Wedding Song
Lyrics by Johnny Bannerman 1935 for Mary McNiven; to learn more,
including lyrics in Gaelic, click here
The tune for this song
can be found in the Marjorie Kennedy-Fraser collection of music
of the Hebrides,
published in the early 20th century. It is untitled.
1. Over hillways up and down
Myrtle green and bracken brown,
Past the sheiling through the town
All for sake of Mairi. Chorus:
Step we gaily, off we go
Heel for heel and toe for toe,
Arm in arm and off we go
All for Mairi's wedding.
2. Plenty herring, plenty meal
Plenty peat to fill her creel,
Plenty bonny bairns as weel
That's the toast for Mairi.
Chorus:
3. Cheeks as bright as rowans are
Brighter far than any star,
Fairest o' them all by far
Is my darlin' Mairi.
Chorus:
Notes:
o' -of
a' - all
tae - to
Bonnie bairns - beautiful children
Weel - Well
Creel - basket
sheiling - shepherds hut
rowan - tree with orange-red berrylike fruits
THE MINSTREL BOY
Thomas Moore (1779-1852) Air "the Moreen" Ancient Irish
Air
The Minstrel Boy - more info
The minstrel boy to the war is
gone,
In the ranks of death you'll find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him;
"Land of Song!" cried the warrior bard,
(Should) "Tho' all the world betrays thee,
One sword, at least, thy rights shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee!"
The Minstrel fell!
But the foeman's steel
Could not bring that proud soul under;
The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again,
For he tore its chords asunder;
And said "No chains shall sully thee,
Thou soul of love and brav'ry!
Thy songs were made for the pure and free
They shall never sound in slavery!
My Love Is Like A Red
Red Rose
Robert Burns - to learn more click here
Oh, my love is like a
red, red rose
That's newly sprung in June
Oh, my love is like a melody
That's sweetly played in tune
As fair art thou, my bonnie lass,
So deep in love am I
And I will love thee still, my lass,
Till all the seas gang dry.
Till all the seas gang dry, my love,
Till all the seas gang dry
And I will love thee still, my dear,
Till all the seas gang dry. [music]
Til all the seas gang
dry my dear
And the rocks melt with the sun
For I will love thee still, my dear
While the sands of life shall run
And fare thee weel, my only love
And fare thee weel a while
And I will come again, my love
Tho' 't were ten thousand miles
Tho' 't were ten thousand miles, my love
Tho' 't were ten thousand miles
And I will come again,
my love
Tho' 't were ten thousand mile.
My Wild Irish Rose
by Chauncey Olcott 1899; to learn more click here
My Wild Irish Rose,
The sweetest flower that grows,
You may search everywhere,
But none can compare with my Wild Irish Rose.
My Wild Irish Rose,
The dearest flower that grows,
And someday for my sake,
She maylet me take
The bloom from my wild Irish Rose.
Roamin' in the Gloamin'
Composer : Harry Lauder (Sir) 1870-1950
Chorus:
Roamin' in the gloamin'
on the bonnie banks o' Clyde,
Roamin' in the gloamin' wi' a lassie by my side,
When the sun has gone to rest,
That's the time that we love best,
O, it's lovely roamin' in the gloamin'!
I've seen lots o' bonnie
lassies travl'lin' far and wide,
But my heart is centered noo'
on bonnie Kate McBride,
And altho' I'm no a chap that throws a word away
I'm surprised mysel' sometimes at all I've got to say
Last nicht after
strolling we got hame at half past nine
Sittin at the kitchen fire I asked her to be mine
When she promised I got up
and danced the Hielan' Fling
I've just been at the jewelers
and I've picked a nice wee ring
Scotland The Brave
Lyric composed by Cliff Hanley and set to an old pipe tune.
for more info click
here
Hark when the night is
falling
Hear, hear the pipers are calling
Loudly and proudly calling Down thro' the glen.
There where the hills are sleeping
Now feel the blood a-leaping
High as the spirits of
The old Highland men.
Towering in gallant fame
Scotland my mountain hame
High may your proud standards Gloriously wave.
Land of my high
endeavour
Land of the shining river
Land of my heart forever
Scotland the Brave. (repeat)
SKYE BOAT SONG
Words by Sir Harold Boulton, Bart., 1884.
Music by Annie MacLeod.
Charles Edward Stewart, the Young Pretender, was routed by the
Duke of Cumberland on Culloden Moor in 1745. Aided by a
Jacobite heroine, Flora MacDonald, Bonnie Prince Charlie escaped
to the island of Skye in the inner Hebrides. He was finally
taken by a French vessel to Morlaix on the coast of
Bretagne. The first half of the tune is said to be an old
sea shanty; the other half is traditionally attributed to Miss
MacLeod.
Chorus:
Speed bonnie boat, like a bird on the wing,
Onward, the sailors cry
Carry the lad that's born to be king
Over the sea to skye
Loud the winds howl, loud the waves roar,
Thunder clouds rend the air;
Baffled our foe's stand on the shore
Follow they will not dare
CHORUS
Though the waves leap, soft shall ye sleep
Ocean's a royal bed
Rocked in the deep, Flora will keep
Watch by your weary head
CHORUS
Many's the lad fought on that day
Well the claymore could wield
When the night came, silently lay
Dead on Culloden's field
CHORUS
Burned are our homes, exile and death
Scatter the loyal men
Yet, e'er the sword cool in the sheath,
Charlie will come again.
CHORUS
THESE ARE MY
MOUNTAINS
Words and music by James Copeland
For fame and for fortune I wander’d the earth
And now I’ve come back to this land of my birth
I’ve brought back my treasures but only to find
they’re less than the pleasures I first left behind
Chorus:
For these are my mountains and this is my glen
The braes of my childhood will know me again
No land’s ever claimed me tho’ far did I roam
For these are my mountains and I’m going home
Kind faces will meet me and welcome me in
And how they will greet me my ain kith and kin
This night from the ingle old songs will be sung
At last I’ll be hearing my ain native tongue. Chorus
The Unicorn
The Unicorn Song - Shel Silverstein
A long time ago when the earth was green
There was more kinds of animals than you’ve ever seen.
They’d run around free when the earth was being born
But the loveliest of all was the Unicorn.
Chorus: There were green alligators and long necked geese,
Some humpty-back camels and some chimpanzees,
Some cats and rats and elephants,
but as sure as you’re born, The loveliest of all was the
Unicorn.
Now God seen some sinning and it gave him pain
And he said, “Stand back, I’m goin’ to make it
rain.”
He said, “Hey brother Noah, I’ll tell you what to do,
Build me a floating zoo….
and take some of them,green alligators and long necked geese,
Some humpty-back camels and some chimpanzees, Some cats and rats
and elephants,
but as sure as you’re born, Don’t you forget my unicorn
Old Noah was there to answer the call
And he finished up making the ark just as the rain started to
fall.
He marched in the animals two by two
And he called out as they went through,
“Hey lord, I got your Green alligators and long necked
geese,
Some humpty-back camels and some chimpanzees, Some cats and rats
and elephants,
But Lord I’m so forlorn, I just can’t see no unicorn
Then Noah looked out through the driving rain,
Them Unicorns were hiding and playing silly games.
Kicking and a-splashing while the rain was pouring
Oh them silly Unicorns!
There were green alligators and long necked geese,
Some humpty-back camels and some chimpanzees,
Noah cried, “Close the door! Cause the rain is pourin’
And we just can’t wait for no Unicorns.
The Ark started moving and it drifted with the tide.
The Unicorns looked up from the rocks and they cried.
And the waters came down and sort of floated them away,
“And that’s why, you’ve never seen a Unicorn - to
this very day!”
Chorus: You’ll see green alligators and long necked geese,
Some humpty-back camels and some chimpanzees,
Some cats and rats and elephants,
but as sure as you’re born,
You’re never gonna see no unicorn
WALTZING WITH BEARS
The history of the song is somewhat controversial. Most trace
its origins to a Dr. Seuss composition called My Uncle Terwilliger Waltzes with
Bears (The Cat in The Hat Songbook, Random House, 1967) with words by Dr. Seuss and
music by Eugene Poddany. Songwriter Dale Marxen claims it is an
original composition. To learn more click here
I heard a strange sound in the middle of the night,
I tiptoed inside and I turned on the light.
But to my surprise there was no one in sight,
We’re afraid Uncle Walter’s out waltzing at night.
Chorus:
He goes wa, wa, wa, wa, wa, waltzing with bears,
Raggy bears, shaggy bears, baggy bears too,
There's nothing on earth Uncle Walter won't do,
So he can waltzing, wa, wa, wa, waltzing
So he can go waltzing, go waltzing with bears.
We gave Uncle Walter a new coat to wear,
But when he comes home it’s all covered with hair.
And lately I've noticed there's several new tears,
Now we’re sure Uncle Walter's out waltzing with bears.
Chorus
We told Uncle Walter that he should be good,
And do all the things that we said that he should.
We knew that he'd rather be out in the woods
But we’re afraid that we'll lose him, we’ll lose him
for good.
Chorus
We kept Uncle Walter at home for the day,
But his bear friends barged in and they took him
away,
They left us a note and on it did say,
We must see Uncle Walter at least once a day, to go
Chorus twice
"When Irish Eyes Are
Smiling"
The lyrics to When Irish Eyes Are Smiling were
written by Chauncey Olcott and George Graff, Jr. and set to the
music of Enerst Ball for Olcott's production of The Isle O'
Dreams. The music was published in 1912. To hear the melody and
learn more click here
Chorus:
When Irish eyes are smiling
Sure it's like a morning spring.
In the lilt of Irish laughter,
You can hear the angels sing.
When Irish hearts are happy,
All the world seems bright and gay.
And when Irish eyes are smiling,
Sure, they steal your heart away.
There's a tear in your eye, and I'm wondering why,
For it never should be there at all.
With such power in your smile, sure a stone you'd beguile,
So there's never a teardrop should fall.
When your sweet lilting laughter's like some fairy song,
And your eyes twinkle bright as can be,
You should laugh all the while and all other times smile,
And now smile a smile for me.
Chorus:
Whiskey in the Jar
Traditional (popular in Colonial America)
As I was a-goin' over Gilgarra Mountain
I spied Colonel Farrell, and his money he was countin'.
First I drew my pistols and then I drew my rapier,
Sayin' "Stand and deliver, for I am your bold
deceiver."
Musha ringum duram da,
Whack fol the daddy-o,
There's whiskey in the jar.
2. He counted out his money and it made a pretty penny;
I put it in my pocket to take home to darlin' Jenny.
She sighed and swore she loved me and never would deceive me,
Bu the devil take the women, for they always lie so easy!
Musha rungum duram da .
3. I went into me chamber all for to take a slumber,
To dream of gold and girls, and of course it was no wonder:
Me Jenny took me charges and she filled them up with water,
Called on Colonel Farrell to get ready for the slaughter.
Musha rungum duram da .
4. Next mornin' early, before I rose for travel,
A-came a band of footmen and likewise Colonel Farrell
. I goes to draw my pistol, for she'd stole away my rapier,
But a prisoner I was taken, I couldn't shoot the water.
Musha rungum duram da .
5. They put me into jail with a judge all a-writin':
Robbin' Colonel Farrell on Gilgarra Mountain.
But they didn't take me fists and I knocked the jailer down
And bid a farewell to this tight-fisted town.
Musha ringum duram da .
6. I'd like to find me brother, the one who's in the army;
I don't know where he's stationed, be it Cork or in Killarney.
Together we'd go roamin' o'er the mountains of Kilkenny,
And I swear he'd treat me fairer than my darlin' sportin' Jenny!
Musha ringum duram da .
7. There's some takes delight in the carriages and rollin',
Some takes delight in the hurley or the bollin',
But I takes delight in the juice of the barley,
Courtin' pretty maids in the mornin', o so early!
Musha ringum duram da .
Wild Rover
(traditional)
I've been a wild rover for many a year
And I spent all my money on whiskey and beer,
And now I'm returning with gold in great store
And I never will play the wild rover no more.
Chorus:
And it's no, nay, never,
No nay never no more,
Will I play the wild rover
No never no more.
2. I went to an ale-house I used to frequent
And I told the landlady my money was spent.
I asked her for credit, she answered me "nay
Such a custom as yours I could have any day."
Chorus:
3. I took from my pocket ten sovereigns bright
And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight.
She said "I have whiskey and wines of the best
And the words that I spoke sure were only in jest."
Chorus:
4. I'll go home to my parents, confess what I've done
And I'll ask them to pardon their prodigal son.
And if they forgive* me as ofttimes before
Sure I never will play the wild rover no more.
Chorus:
Will You Go Lassie Go (Wild
Mountain Thyme)
(traditional)
Oh the summer time is coming and the trees are sweetly
bloomin’
And the wild mountain thyme grows around the bloomin’
heather.
Chorus:
Will you go lassie go? And we’ll all go together,
To pluck wild mountain thyme All around the bloomin’
heather.
Will you go lassie go?
If my true love she was gone, I would surely find another
Where the wild mountain thyme grows around the bloomin’
heather.
Chorus:
I will build my love a tower near yon pure crystal fountain
And on it I will pile all the flowers of the mountain.
Chorus:
LINKS:
RETURN TO SCOTTISH
COUNTRY DANCING AND MORE
This page maintained by Dianna
Shipman.
Page updated April 27,
2004