Ok, so this is the only song so far that I don't actually have compltely memorized, I am still having trouble with two of the middle verses, but I should have it down pretty soon!
A superb version of the song played by the Dubliners here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VjnOp3IBqMI&feature=related
An interesting fact I have noticed about this song is that many bands omit the last verses, ending the song with "Bore the fight, that Freedom's light, might shine through the foggy dew."
I do not understand this in the least, my favorite verse of the entire song is the last one, "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."
Ah well, plenty of bands sing it the way I like, and although the Dubliners sing it wonderfully, I would have to say that my favorite version would be the one done by Celtic Cross, it's use of the the banjo and fiddle to liven the song up is simply phenomenal. Buy it from iTunes if you have a spare buck and like that sort of music, you won't regret it!
Here are the lyrics.
As down the glen one Easter morn to a city fair rode I
There Armed lines of marching men in squadrons passed me by
No fife did hum nor battle drum did sound it's dread tatoo
But the Angelus bell o'er the Liffey swell rang out through the foggy dew
Right proudly high over Dublin Town they hung out the flag of war
'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky than at Sulva or Sud El Bar
And from the plains of Royal Meath strong men came hurrying through
While Britannia's Huns, with their long range guns sailed in through the foggy dew
'Twas Britannia bade our Wild Geese go that small nations might be free
But their lonely graves are by Sulva's waves or the shore of the Great North Sea
Oh, had they died by Pearse's side or fought with Cathal Brugha
Their names we will 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, in deep amaze, at those fearless men, but few
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.
Next up, The Rocky Road to Dublin, another that I have only partly memorized, in part due to the speed with which one must shout out the unfamiliar words, then we will try some more obscure songs that while not as well known, are just as fun!
Showing posts with label Ireland. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Ireland. Show all posts
Saturday, March 20, 2010
Tuesday, March 9, 2010
GAELIC STORM
So guess what? My Dad managed to completely blindside me with my first big surprise in AGES. He took me to DC to see my grandparents, and then on the pretense of going to Old Town Alexandria to look for some sessions to play in, took me instead to Birchmere, a famous Concert Hall slash restaurant.
And you will never guess who was performing there.
Gaelic Storm. LIVE. Tickets were only $35 per person.
BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE.
Oh man it was so great! I can’t possibly explain how cool it was to see some of my favorite artists performing live. I enjoyed nearly all the songs (One had more than few obscenities in it, which bothered me) got to see BOTH types of bagpipes played MAGNIFICENTLY, and was able to talk to the artists later!
Pat Murphy seemed a little brusque to me, but the other musicians were friendly as anyone I’ve met! Jessie in particular (The fiddle player) was very sweet. They all signed my whistle bag fer me (Pat Murphy said it was the first time he has ever signed such an article) and we bought several fine T-Shirts, adorned by bottles, snails, and the new awesomely-cool Gaelic Storm Logo.
Me gots a black shirt with a green snail, the GS logo, and the words “Don’t go fer ‘th one!” on the back. EPIC!
I will be asking my dear parents if I can post some of the pictures and videos we took here on the blog, stay tuned!
And you will never guess who was performing there.
Gaelic Storm. LIVE. Tickets were only $35 per person.
BEST NIGHT OF MY LIFE.
Oh man it was so great! I can’t possibly explain how cool it was to see some of my favorite artists performing live. I enjoyed nearly all the songs (One had more than few obscenities in it, which bothered me) got to see BOTH types of bagpipes played MAGNIFICENTLY, and was able to talk to the artists later!
Pat Murphy seemed a little brusque to me, but the other musicians were friendly as anyone I’ve met! Jessie in particular (The fiddle player) was very sweet. They all signed my whistle bag fer me (Pat Murphy said it was the first time he has ever signed such an article) and we bought several fine T-Shirts, adorned by bottles, snails, and the new awesomely-cool Gaelic Storm Logo.
Me gots a black shirt with a green snail, the GS logo, and the words “Don’t go fer ‘th one!” on the back. EPIC!
I will be asking my dear parents if I can post some of the pictures and videos we took here on the blog, stay tuned!
Wednesday, February 17, 2010
Tagged by Gracie
Ok, so I am going to post another song soon, probably this friday, one from Scotland this time, Hey Johnnie Cope, but that is not the point of this post.
I don't do a lot of tags, mostly just the ones I think help give people an idea of who I am, and rather convieniantly, Gracie recently tagged me with this one, which I think helps further that end quite nicely.
BIOLOGY
Are you right-handed or left-handed? I am right handed
Have you ever had anything removed from your body? A cyst on my forhead when I was a baby, and a 1 1/2" splinter from my leg when I was 6.
What is the last heavy item you lifted? Our laser printer, had to take it to the basement.
FOOD-OLGY
What is your salad dressing of choice? Creamy Italian
What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Outback Steakhouse
What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it? Red meat, cooked pretty much any way.
What are your pizza toppings of choice? Pepperoni, green peppers, black olives, sausage, cheese, ground beef (or venison), broccoli, ONIONS, and pickled banana peppers.
What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? Watermelon.
RANDOM-OLOGY
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? Perhaps, it would doubtless motivate me to try harder at everything.
If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Einar, although I am fairly content with my real name (YOU will never find out! Shame on you fer askin!)
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? Most Definitely.
DUMB-OLOGY
How many pairs of flip flops do you own? Uh, I have one pair of krogs, but no flip-flops.
Last time you had a run-in with the cops? When I owned them during a training excercise involving paintball guns, long story, but the short of it is that a buddy and I got picked to play terrorists, and ten NC police officer weren't enough to take us down.
Last person you talked to in person? My sister, just now, wanting to borrow my MP3 player to transfer some music to a different computer.
Favorite Month? Probably September, still lots of critters to catch (Or hunt, nomnomnom) but the climate is cold enough I sleep better at night.
CURRENT-OLOGY
Mood? Tired
What are you listening to? Colin's Rescue, from Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess soundtrack
Watching? Nothing, we get the clichéd three channels where I live, and I don't much like TV or movies anyway.
Worrying about? The Bible tells us not to worry, but I am concerned and praying for Gracie's Aunt.
RANDOM-OLOGY
What’s the last movie you watched? I....can't remember, I don't watch movies much, the last one I FINISHES was probably Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Do you smile often? Ehh, not lately, unless talking or chatting with friends
Do you always answer your phone? I do not have a phone of my own, but I enjoy answering the family phone, and do so whenever I can
If you could change your eye color what would it be? Green
Do you own a digital camera? Used to have one that used floppy disks, not anymore
Have you ever had a pet fish? Once, a long time ago, a catfish we caught and domesticated.
Favorite Christmas song? I Saw Three Ships, by Blackmore's Night
What’s on your wish list for your birthday? A lot of completely unrelated stuff, black leather fingerless gloves, boots, and a jerkin for my Ren Fest costume, a pair of Starfire Longswords for practicing with, a practice set of Uilleann pipes (Pronounced Ill-en) and a full metal body Clarke D whistle. I doubt I will get any of these though.
Can you do push-ups? I am a ranch hand who practices melee combat with a variety of weapons in his spare time, yes I can do push-ups
Can you do a chin up? See above
Do you have any saved texts? I do not have a phone, therefore I do not text. I do have a few saved chat logs though.
Ever been in a car wreck? I do not believe so
Do you have an accent? I CAN have an accent, normally I sound mildly southern, but I prefer to sound Irish or Scottish. This confuses my friends and new people I meet because they can rarely tell when I am speaking "normal"
What is the last song to make you cry? Most likely Ilia Remembers, also from the Twilight Princess soundtrack
Plans tonight? Driver's Ed ;(
Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? Yes.
Name 2 things you bought yesterday: I did not buy anything yesterday
You ever been given roses? No, I have given quite a few however, we have a giant rosebush outside our house, and my mother loves to receive a well-arranged bouquet of them
Current hate right now? Trend Micro for messing up my computer's ability to run new programs
Met someone who changed your life? Yes
What were you doing 12 AM last night? Reading Dragonknight, a Christian Fantasy novel by Donita K. Paul
What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? "Wow, I actually slept last night"
TECHNOLOGY
How many televisions are in your house? Three, one old but big one in our den, a tiny but brand-spanking-new one in our dining room, and an ancient and decrepit one in the basement for our Wii and PS2
What color cell phone do you have? *Sigh* If I had a phone, it would probably be black, as it is, I DON'T HAVE A CELL PHONE! GOT IT?
What does the first text message in your inbox say and who sent it? *Headesk*
Who was the last person to call you? Mr. Jones, a family friend.
Remember folks, Hey Johnnie Cope, coming soon! If you like marching tunes about bagpipe-phobic Jacobite generals, stay tuned!
Oh, and I tag Bethany, Death the Criftonite, J. Shelly, The Cowgirls, and ChristianMiles!
I don't do a lot of tags, mostly just the ones I think help give people an idea of who I am, and rather convieniantly, Gracie recently tagged me with this one, which I think helps further that end quite nicely.
BIOLOGY
Are you right-handed or left-handed? I am right handed
Have you ever had anything removed from your body? A cyst on my forhead when I was a baby, and a 1 1/2" splinter from my leg when I was 6.
What is the last heavy item you lifted? Our laser printer, had to take it to the basement.
FOOD-OLGY
What is your salad dressing of choice? Creamy Italian
What is your favorite sit-down restaurant? Outback Steakhouse
What food could you eat for 2 weeks straight and not get sick of it? Red meat, cooked pretty much any way.
What are your pizza toppings of choice? Pepperoni, green peppers, black olives, sausage, cheese, ground beef (or venison), broccoli, ONIONS, and pickled banana peppers.
What flavor do you add to your drink at Sonic? Watermelon.
RANDOM-OLOGY
If it were possible, would you want to know the day you were going to die? Perhaps, it would doubtless motivate me to try harder at everything.
If you could change your name, what would you change it to? Einar, although I am fairly content with my real name (YOU will never find out! Shame on you fer askin!)
Would you drink an entire bottle of hot sauce for $1000? Most Definitely.
DUMB-OLOGY
How many pairs of flip flops do you own? Uh, I have one pair of krogs, but no flip-flops.
Last time you had a run-in with the cops? When I owned them during a training excercise involving paintball guns, long story, but the short of it is that a buddy and I got picked to play terrorists, and ten NC police officer weren't enough to take us down.
Last person you talked to in person? My sister, just now, wanting to borrow my MP3 player to transfer some music to a different computer.
Favorite Month? Probably September, still lots of critters to catch (Or hunt, nomnomnom) but the climate is cold enough I sleep better at night.
CURRENT-OLOGY
Mood? Tired
What are you listening to? Colin's Rescue, from Legend of Zelda: Twilight Princess soundtrack
Watching? Nothing, we get the clichéd three channels where I live, and I don't much like TV or movies anyway.
Worrying about? The Bible tells us not to worry, but I am concerned and praying for Gracie's Aunt.
RANDOM-OLOGY
What’s the last movie you watched? I....can't remember, I don't watch movies much, the last one I FINISHES was probably Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs
Do you smile often? Ehh, not lately, unless talking or chatting with friends
Do you always answer your phone? I do not have a phone of my own, but I enjoy answering the family phone, and do so whenever I can
If you could change your eye color what would it be? Green
Do you own a digital camera? Used to have one that used floppy disks, not anymore
Have you ever had a pet fish? Once, a long time ago, a catfish we caught and domesticated.
Favorite Christmas song? I Saw Three Ships, by Blackmore's Night
What’s on your wish list for your birthday? A lot of completely unrelated stuff, black leather fingerless gloves, boots, and a jerkin for my Ren Fest costume, a pair of Starfire Longswords for practicing with, a practice set of Uilleann pipes (Pronounced Ill-en) and a full metal body Clarke D whistle. I doubt I will get any of these though.
Can you do push-ups? I am a ranch hand who practices melee combat with a variety of weapons in his spare time, yes I can do push-ups
Can you do a chin up? See above
Do you have any saved texts? I do not have a phone, therefore I do not text. I do have a few saved chat logs though.
Ever been in a car wreck? I do not believe so
Do you have an accent? I CAN have an accent, normally I sound mildly southern, but I prefer to sound Irish or Scottish. This confuses my friends and new people I meet because they can rarely tell when I am speaking "normal"
What is the last song to make you cry? Most likely Ilia Remembers, also from the Twilight Princess soundtrack
Plans tonight? Driver's Ed ;(
Have you ever felt like you hit rock bottom? Yes.
Name 2 things you bought yesterday: I did not buy anything yesterday
You ever been given roses? No, I have given quite a few however, we have a giant rosebush outside our house, and my mother loves to receive a well-arranged bouquet of them
Current hate right now? Trend Micro for messing up my computer's ability to run new programs
Met someone who changed your life? Yes
What were you doing 12 AM last night? Reading Dragonknight, a Christian Fantasy novel by Donita K. Paul
What was the first thing you thought of when you woke up? "Wow, I actually slept last night"
TECHNOLOGY
How many televisions are in your house? Three, one old but big one in our den, a tiny but brand-spanking-new one in our dining room, and an ancient and decrepit one in the basement for our Wii and PS2
What color cell phone do you have? *Sigh* If I had a phone, it would probably be black, as it is, I DON'T HAVE A CELL PHONE! GOT IT?
What does the first text message in your inbox say and who sent it? *Headesk*
Who was the last person to call you? Mr. Jones, a family friend.
Remember folks, Hey Johnnie Cope, coming soon! If you like marching tunes about bagpipe-phobic Jacobite generals, stay tuned!
Oh, and I tag Bethany, Death the Criftonite, J. Shelly, The Cowgirls, and ChristianMiles!
Saturday, February 6, 2010
Eireann go Bragh!
Ok, so since there hasn't been a whole lot to post about lately (aside from out electricity going out for while) I am going to start posting the lyrics to some of my favorite Irish or Scottish folk songs for any wannabe celts out there!
Most of these I can sing passably, and they are quite fun to roar at the top of yer lungs whilst doing the dishes or folding laundry, startling all nearby family members and wildlife into submission.
The first, Nell Flaherty's Drake, I like because of the wonderful imagination the singer apparently has for torments to inflict upon his enemy.
Oh my name it is Nell and the truth for to tell
I come from Cootehill which I'll never deny
I had a fine drake and I'd die for his sake
That me grandmother left me and she goin' to die
The dear little fellow his legs they were yellow
He could fly like a swallow or swim like a hake
Till some dirty savage to grease his white cabbage
Most wantonly murdered me beautiful drake
Now his neck it was green almost fit to be seen
He was fit for a queen of the highest degree
His body was white, and it would you delight
He was plump, fat, and heavy and brisk as a bee
He was wholesome and sound, he would weigh twenty pound
And the universe round I would roam for his sake
Bad luck to the robber be he drunk or sober
That murdered Nell Flaherty's beautiful drake
May his spade never dig, may his sow never pig
May each hair in his wig be well trashed with the flail
My his door never latch, may his roof have no thatch
May his turkeys not hatch, may the rats eat his meal
May every old fairy from Cork to Dun Laoghaire
Dip him snug and airy in river or lake
That the eel and the trout they may dine on the snout
Of the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake
May his pig never grunt, may his cat never hunt
May a ghost ever haunt him the dead of the night
May his hens never lay, may his horse never neigh
May his coat fly away like an old paper kite
That the flies and the fleas may the wretch ever tease
May the piercin' March breeze make him shiver and shake
May a lump of the stick raise the bumps fast and quick
On the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake
Well the only good news that I have to infuse
Is that old Paddy Hughes and young Anthony Blake
Also Johnny Dwyer and Corney Maguire
They each have a grandson of my darlin' drake
May treasure have dozens of nephews and cousins
And one I must get or me heart it will break
For to set me mind easy or else I'll run crazy
So ends the whole song of Nell Flaherty's drake!
The song can be heard here: http://free.napster.com/player/?play_id=24897567&type=track
Most of these I can sing passably, and they are quite fun to roar at the top of yer lungs whilst doing the dishes or folding laundry, startling all nearby family members and wildlife into submission.
The first, Nell Flaherty's Drake, I like because of the wonderful imagination the singer apparently has for torments to inflict upon his enemy.
Oh my name it is Nell and the truth for to tell
I come from Cootehill which I'll never deny
I had a fine drake and I'd die for his sake
That me grandmother left me and she goin' to die
The dear little fellow his legs they were yellow
He could fly like a swallow or swim like a hake
Till some dirty savage to grease his white cabbage
Most wantonly murdered me beautiful drake
Now his neck it was green almost fit to be seen
He was fit for a queen of the highest degree
His body was white, and it would you delight
He was plump, fat, and heavy and brisk as a bee
He was wholesome and sound, he would weigh twenty pound
And the universe round I would roam for his sake
Bad luck to the robber be he drunk or sober
That murdered Nell Flaherty's beautiful drake
May his spade never dig, may his sow never pig
May each hair in his wig be well trashed with the flail
My his door never latch, may his roof have no thatch
May his turkeys not hatch, may the rats eat his meal
May every old fairy from Cork to Dun Laoghaire
Dip him snug and airy in river or lake
That the eel and the trout they may dine on the snout
Of the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake
May his pig never grunt, may his cat never hunt
May a ghost ever haunt him the dead of the night
May his hens never lay, may his horse never neigh
May his coat fly away like an old paper kite
That the flies and the fleas may the wretch ever tease
May the piercin' March breeze make him shiver and shake
May a lump of the stick raise the bumps fast and quick
On the monster that murdered Nell Flaherty's drake
Well the only good news that I have to infuse
Is that old Paddy Hughes and young Anthony Blake
Also Johnny Dwyer and Corney Maguire
They each have a grandson of my darlin' drake
May treasure have dozens of nephews and cousins
And one I must get or me heart it will break
For to set me mind easy or else I'll run crazy
So ends the whole song of Nell Flaherty's drake!
The song can be heard here: http://free.napster.com/player/?play_id=24897567&type=track
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)