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IRISH & CELTIC Tunes
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TOORA LOORA LOORA
Originally recorded by Bing Crosby, the words are by J.R. Shannon in the 1890s though the melody is thought to be much much older.
​
Over in Killarney many years ago,
Me mother sang a song to me
in tones so sweet and low.
Just a simple little ditty, in her good ould Irish way.
How l'd give the world to hear her sing
that song again day.
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, hush now, don't you cry!
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, that's an Irish lullaby.
Oft in dreams I wander
to that auld cot again,
I feel her arms a-huggin' me
as when she held me then.
And I hear her voice a -hummin'
to me as in days of yore,
when she used to rock me fast asleep
outside the cabin door.
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, hush now, don't you cry!
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, Too-ra-loo-ra-li,
Too-ra-loo-ra-loo-ral, that's an Irish lullaby.
***
WHISKEY IN THE JAR
While the song's exact origins are unknown, a
number of its lines & general plot resemble those of a contemporary broadside ballad about Irish highwayman Patrick Fleming & was executed in 1650.
As I was a goin’ over
the far Kilgarry mountain
I met with Colonel Farrell,
and his money he was counting.
I first produced me pistol,
and I then produced me rapier
Saying, stand you, and deliver,
for you were a bold deceiver.
(Chorus)
Mush-a ring
dom-a-do - dum-a da
Wack fol the daddy-o,
wack fol the daddy-o
There’s whiskey in the jar
I counted out his money, and it made a pretty penny.
I put it in me pocket, and I took it home to Jenny.
She sighed and swore that she never would deceive me.
But the devil take the women, for they never can be easy.
CHORUS
I went up to me chamber, all for to take a slumber.
I dreamt of gold and jewels, and for sure it was no wonder.
But Jenny drew me charges, and she filled them up with water.
Then sent for Colonel Farrell to be ready for the slaughter.
CHORUS
It was early in the morning, just before I rose to travel
Up comes a band of footmen, and likewise Colonel Farrell
I first produced me pistol, for she’d stolen away me rapier
I couldn’t shoot the water, so a prisoner I was taken
CHORUS
They put me in prison with the judge all a-writin'
for robbing Colonel Farrell up on far Kilgarry Mountain.
But they didn't take my fists, so I knocked the sentry down
And bid farewell to gaol, in good ol' Sligo town
CHORUS
If anyone can aid me, ‘tis me brother in the army
If I can find his station, in Cork or in Killarney.
And if he’ll go with me, we’ll go roamin’ in Killkenny
And I’m sure he’ll treat me better
than me darlin' sportin' Jenny.
CHORUS
Next mornin’ early at the barracks in Killarney
My brother took his leave, but he did not tell the army.
Our horses they were speedy - it’s all over but the shoutin.’
And now we wait for strangers - up on far Kilgarry mountain.
CHORUS
There’s some take delight - in the carriages a-rolling
And others take delight - in the hurling and the bowling
But I take delight in the juice of the barley
And courting pretty fair maids
in the morning bright and early
CHORUS
***
WILD ROVER aka: NO, NAY, NEVER
(HANDCLAPS ACCOMPANY THIS SONG)
I've been a wild rover for many a year
And I've spent all my money on whiskey and beer
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 (4 claps)
No, nay, never, no more (2 claps)
Shall l play the wild rover (1 clap)
No never, no more
I went to an alehouse I used to frequent
I told the landlady my money was spent
I asked her for credit, she answered me, "Nay"
Says, "Custom like yours, I can have any day"
CHORUS:
I took from my pocket ten sovereigns bright
And the landlady's eyes opened wide with delight
She said, "I have whiskeys and wines of the best
And the words that I told you were only in jest"
CHORUS:
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 caress me as oft-times before
I never will play the wild rover no more
CHORUS: 2 X
***
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 while the Earth was being born
And the loveliest of all was the unicorn.
CHORUS
There was green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels
and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants,
but sure as you're born
The loveliest of all was the unicorn
The Lord seen some sinning and it gave Him pain
And He says,
"Stand back, I'm going to make it rain"
He says, "Hey Noah, I'll tell you what to do
Build me a floating zoo,
and take some of those…
Green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you're born
Don't you forget My unicorns
Old Noah was there to answer the call
He finished up making the ark
just as the rain started to fall
He marched the animals two by two
And he called out as they came through
Hey Lord,
​
I've got green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels
and some chimpanzees.
Some cats and rats and elephants,
but Lord, I'm so forlorn - I just can't find no unicorns"
And Noah looked out through the driving rain
Them unicorns were hiding, playing silly games
Kicking and splashing while the rain was falling
Oh, them silly unicorns.
There was green alligators and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels and some chimpanzees
Noah cried, "Close the door
because the rain is falling -
And we just can't wait for no unicorns"
The ark started moving, 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
That's why you never see unicorns
to this very day
You'll see green alligators
and long-necked geese
Some humpty backed camels
and some chimpanzees
Some cats and rats and elephants,
but sure as you're born
You're never gonna see no unicorns
***
WILD MOUNTAIN THYME
Derived from the poem
"The Braes of Balquhidder"
by Robert Tannahill.
Oh, the summertime is coming,
And the leaves are sweetly blooming.
And the wild mountain thyme
grows among the blooming Heather...
Will you go Lassie go.
CHORUS
And we'll all go together
to pluck wild mountain thyme…
All around the blooming heather…
will ye go lassie go.
I will build my love a bower
On yon clear and crystal fountain...
And upon it I shall pile all the flowers of the mountain...
Will ye go lassie go.
CHORUS
If my true love should leave,
I shall surely find NO other...
To pluck wild mountain thyme,
All around the blooming heather...
Will you go lassie go.
CHORUS
(INSTRUMENTAL / OPTIONAL)
I will range through the wilds - And the deep land so dreary
And return with the spoils - To the bower o' my dearie...
Will ye go lassie go
CHORUS
fin: Will ye go Lassie, will ye go.
***
YE JACOBITE BY NAME
Words and music Robert Burns
(CHORUS & 1st VERSE)
Ye Jacobites by name lend an ear,
lend an ear
Ye Jacobites by name lend an ear
Ye Jacobites by name
your faults I will proclaim
Your doctrines I must blame,
ye shall hear, ye shall hear…
Your doctrines I must blame,
ye shall hear
What is right and what is wrong
by the law, by the law
What is right and what is wrong by the law
What is right and what is wrong,
a short sword and a long
A weak arm and a strong
for to draw, for to draw…
A weak arm and a strong for to draw.
CHORUS
What makes heroic strife famed afar,
famed afar?
What makes heroic strife famed afar?
What makes heroic strife,
to whet the assassin's knife
Or claim a parent's life w’ bloody war,
bloody war...
Or claim a parent's life w’ bloody war
CHORUS
Then let your schemes alone
to the state, to the state
Then let your schemes alone to the state
Then let your schemes alone,
adore the rising sun
And leave a man alone
to his fate, to his fate…
And leave a man alone to his fate
CHORUS to fin: