Songs of love, courtship,& heartache

[Ceciliastar1]

The star of the COUNTY DOWN



Em C G D

1. Close to Banbridge town, in the County Down,

Em D

one morning last July,

Em C G D

down a boreen green came a sweet colleen,

Em C D Em

and she smiled as she passed me by.



G D

She looked so neat from her two bare feet,

Em D

to the sheen of her nut brown hair.

Em C G D

Such a coaxing elf, I'd to shake myself,

Em C D Em

to make sure I was really there.



G D

From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay,

Em D

and from Galway to Dublin town,

Em C G D

no maid I've seen like the brown colleen,

e C D Em

that I met in the County Down



Em C G D

2. As she onward sped I sure I scratched my head,

Em D

and I said with a feeling rare.

- Em C G D

'A?.y,' says I to a passer-by,

Em C D Em

'Who's the maid with the nut brown hair?'



















G D

He smiled at me, and then says he,

Em D

'She?s the gem of Ireland's crown,

Em C G D

young Rosie McCann, from the banks of the Bann,

Em C D Em

she's the Star of the County Down.' + CHORUS



Em C G D

3. At the harvest fair I'll be surely there,

Em D

and I'll dress in my Sunday clothes.

Em C G D

With my shoes shone bright and my head upright,

Em C D Em

and a smile from my nut-brown Rose.



G D

No pipe I smoke, no horse I yoke,

Em D

let my plough with rust turn brown,

Em C G D

till a smiling bride by my own fireside,

Em C D Em

sits the star of the County Down.



+ CHORUS + CHORUS



(Trad. / Noel McLoughlin)

[Ceciliastar1]

I love this song!

The Parting Glass

d C d C
Oh, all the money e'er I had, I spent it in good company,
d C d C d
And all the harm that e'er I've done, alas it was to none but me.
F g F
And all I've done for want of wit to mem'ry now I can't recall;
d C d C d
So fill to me the parting glass, Good night and joy be with you all.


If I had money enough to spend, and leisure time to sit awhile,
There is a fair maid in this town, that sorely has my heart beguiled.
Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips, I own, she has my heart in thrall;
Then fill to me the parting glass, Good night and joy be with you all.


Oh, all the comrades e'er I had, they're sorry for my going away,
And all the sweethearts e'er I had, they'd wish me one more day to stay.
But since it falls unto my lot that I should rise and you should not,
I gently rise and softly call, Good night and joy be with you all.

[Ceciliastar1]

Red is the Rose

D b e G
Come over the hill, my bonny Irish lass -
D b G f#
Come over the hill to your lover.
G D e A
You choose the road, love, and I'll make the vow,
D G A D
And I'll be your true love forever.


Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows;
Fair is the lily of the valley;
Clear is the water that flows from the Boyne;
But my love is fairer than any.


'Twas down by Killarney's green woods that we strayed.
The moon and the stars, they were shining -
The moon shone its rays on her locks of golden hair,
And she swore she'd be my love forever.

Chorus

'Tis not for the parting of my sister Kate;
'Tis not for the grief for my mother;
'Tis all for the loss of my bonnie Irish lass
That my heart is breaking forever.

Chorus

[Cailiosa]

Ned of the Hill, sung very beautifully by Connie Dover:

Oh, who is without, that in anger they should keep beating my bolted door?
I am Ned of the Hill, long weary and chill from long trudging over marsh and moor.

My love, fond and true, what else could I do but shield you from wind and from weather.
When the shot falls like hail, they us both shall assail, and mayhap we will die together.

Through frost and through snow, tired and hunted I go, in fear both of friend and neighbor.
My horses run wild, my acres untilled, and all of it lost to my labor.

What grieves far more than the loss of my store is there's no one would shield me from danger.
So my fate it must be to bid farewell to thee and languish amid strangers.


A little background on the song from the cd sleeve:
"The outlaw Irish patriot Edmund Ryan was born atop a high hill in County Tipperary, earning him the nickname 'Ned of the Hill.' His bold exploits inspired this Irish tradtional ballad bearing his name. Sung with captivating fervor by Connie, the ballad refers to Ned's 'beloved' -- a woman, to be sure, but perhaps also his country, Ireland, for which this renowned rapparee fought so valiently against English oppression in the late 17th century."

[greenldydragon]

Tristan and Isolt is definitely an amazing love, courtship and heartache song.

[dundee]

hi can a guy join the discussion? my favorite at this point is Siúil a rún
connie dover does it nicely and on the chieftains "tears of stone" is a nice version
i am not sure who is singing it.....here are the words:

Siúil a rún **

I wish I were on yonder hill
'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill
Til every tear would turn a mill
Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán

Siúil, siúil, siúil a rún
Siúil go socair agus siúil go ciúin
Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom
Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán

I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel
I'll sell my only spinning wheel
To buy my love a sword of steel
Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán

Siúil, siúil, siúil a rún
Siúil go socair agus siúil go ciúin
Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom
Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán

I wish, I wish, I wish in vain
I wish I had my heart again
And vainly think I'd not complain
Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán

Siúil, siúil, siúil a rún
Siúil go socair agus siúil go ciúin
Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom
Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán

Siúil, siúil, siúil a rún
Siúil go socair agus siúil go ciúin
Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom
Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán

The refrain means

Come, come, come my love
Come smoothly and quietly
Come to the door and escape with me
And may you go safely, my darling

**there is a verse missing from this it is one about dying her dress red and
her parents wishing she was dead......

[dundee]

here is the other verse.....

i will dye my petticoats i will dye them red
and around the world i will beg my bread
till my parents they would wish me dead
Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán

[Merewyn]

Another Connie Dover song, which I just love:

Laddie Lie Near Me

Long have we parted been,
Laddie, my dearie,
Now we have met again,
Laddie, lie near me.
Long have I sought thee,
Thy face to cheer me,
Dear has it cost me,
Laddie, lie near me.

Chorus
Near me, near me
Laddie, lie near me
Now we have met again
Laddie, lie near me

Here in the firelight,
What joy to see thee
All the long winter night,
Laddie, lie near me

All that I have endured,
Laddie, my dearie,
Here in thy arms is cured,
Laddie, lie near me.

My heart will never stray,
Never deceive thee,
Delight shall drive care away,
Laddie, lie near me.

18th Century Scottish
Adapted by Connie Dover
From the CD, The Wishing Well, By Connie Dover © Taylor Park Music, Inc.

From The Scots Musical Museum, published in 1790, and the third of six volumes of native Scots songs that were collected, printed and sold by an Edinburgh engraver named James Johnson. I have lengthened a version of the song which Johnson entitled simply, ?Old Words.?

[LilysApple]

My first choice was already posted Connie Dovers Laddie lie Near Me. I loves the song so much it inspired me to create a web page the links below. My other favorite is Wind That Shakes the Barley by Dead Can Dance it's an old irish tune and they do it beautifully.

Laddie Lie Near Me

The Wind that Shakes the Barley*

I sat within the valley green
I sat me with my true love.
My sad heart strove the two between
The old love and the new love.
The old for her the new
That made me think on Ireland dearly.
While the soft wind blew down the glade
and shook the golden barley.

T'was hard the woeful words to frame
To break the ties that bound us.
But harder still to bear the shame
of foreign chains around us.
And so I said the mountain glen
I'll meet at morning early.
And I'll join the bold united men
While soft winds shook the barley.

T'was sad I kissed away her tears
My fond arm round her flinging.
When a foe, man's shot burst on our ears
From out the wild woods ringing.
A bullet pierced my true love's side
In life's young spring so early.
And on my breast in blood she died
While soft winds shook the barley.

But blood for blood without remorse
I've ta'en at oulart hollow.
I've lain my true love's clay like corpse
Where I full soon must follow.
Around her grave I've wandered drear
Noon, night, and morning early.
With breaking heart when e'er I hear
The wind that shakes the barley.

[LilysApple]

Artist: Dido
Song: Here With Me




I didn't hear you leave
I wonder how am I still here
And I don't want to move a thing
It might change my memory


Oh I am what I am
I do what I want
But I can't hide


And I won't go
I won't sleep
I can't breathe
Until you're resting here with me


And I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
Until you're resting here with me


I don't want to call my friends
For they might wake me from this dream
And I can't leave this bed
Risk forgetting all that's been


Oh I am what I am
I do what I want
But I can't hide


And I won't go
I won't sleep
I can't breathe
Until you're resting here with me


I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
Until you're resting here


I won't go
And I won't sleep
And I can't breathe
Until you're resting here with me


And I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
Until you're resting here with me


Oh I am what I am
I do what I want
But I can't hide


And I won't go
I won't sleep
And I can't breathe
Until you're resting here with me


I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
Until you're resting here


And I won't go
And I won't sleep
And I can't breathe
Until you're resting here with me


I won't leave
I can't hide
I cannot be
Until you're resting here with me

[LilysApple]

Artist: Dido
Song: White Flag


I know you think that I shouldn't still love you
I'll tell you that
But if I didn't say it
Well, I'd still have felt it
Where's the sense in that?

I promise I'm not trying to make your life harder
Or return to where we were

Well I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

I know I left too much mess
And destruction to come back again
And I caused but nothing but trouble
I understand if you can't talk to me again
And if you live by the rules of "It's over"
Then I'm sure that that makes sense

Well I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door

I'm in love and always will be

And when we meet
As I'm sure we will
All that was then
Will be there still
I'll let it pass
And hold my tongue
And you will think
That I've moved on

Well I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

Well I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be

I will go down with this ship
And I won't put my hands up and surrender
There will be no white flag above my door
I'm in love and always will be


Lily O

[LilysApple]

Artist: Dido
Song: My Lover's Gone


My lovers gone
his boots no longer by my door
he left at dawn
and as Islept i felt him go return no more
i will not watch the ocean
my lovers gone
no earthy ships will ever bring him home again
bring him home again
my lovers gone
i know that kiss wil be my last
no home his song
the tune upon his lips has passed i sing alone
while i watch the ocean
my lovers gone
no earhly ships will ever bring him home again
bring him home again

Lily O

[LilysApple]

Artist: Dido
Song: Don't Think Of Me




So you're with her
not with me
I hope she's sweet
and so pretty
I hear she cooks delightfully
a little angel beside you

so you're with her
not with me
oh how lucky
one man can be
I hear your house is smart and clean
oh how lovely with your homecoming queen
oh how lovely it must be

when you see her sweet smile baby
don't think of me
and when she lays in your warm arms
don't think of me

so you're with her
not with me
I know she spreads sweet honey
in fact your best friend I heard he spent
last night with her
now how do you feel, how do you feel?

when you see her sweet smile baby
don't think of me
and when she lays in your warm arms
don't think of me
and it's too late
and it's too bad
don't think of me
and it's too late
and it's too bad
don't think of me

does it bother you now all the mess I made
does it bother you now, the clothes you told me not to wear
does it bother you now all the angry games we played
does it bother you now when im not the-re

when you see her sweet smile baby
don't think of me
and when she lays in your warm arms
don't think of me
and it's too late
and it's too bad
don't think of me
and it's too late
and it's too bad
don't think of me...


Lily O

[LilysApple]

Artist: All About Eve
Song: Are You Lonely

Do you feel so small
On sunday afternoon
In your loveless house
Full of empty rooms
Once a place of life
Once upon a time
Flames are dying out
While ghosts move in
Crossing on the stair
Asleep in empty chairs
Tell me... are you lonely ?

And if we believe wisdom comes with years
As knowledge stings our eyes
The easier the tears
Cradled in the sadness, a heart that ever aches
I'm praying with all mine
I won't make the same mistakes
Are the dark seeds there
In the blood we share
Tell me... are you lonely ?

While love lives, while suns set
While snowmoons rise in november skies
While ties bind while souls cry
While oceans ride in an endless tide
While love grows, while blood flows
While truth is real you need never feel alone

What seems to hurt the most
Is giving up the ghost
So tell me... are you lonely ?

Lily O