1. |
Lady Diamond
04:40
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Oh there was a king and a very great king
And a king of birth and fame
He had not a child in the world but one
Lady Diamond was her name
He had a very bonny kitchen boy
And William was his name
And he never lay out of Lady Diamond’s bar
Till he brought her body to shame
When 20 weeks were passed and gone
She began to grow so great
Her petticoats grew short before
Her stays they would not meet
When evening birds sung and evening bells rung
And all men were laid to rest
The king came in to Lady Diamond’s bar
He was an unwelcome guest
He drew the curtains round about
And there he sat him down
"Rise up rise up Lady Diamond," he says
"For I fear you grow to round
Oh was it a duke or was it a lord
Or a barron of high degree
Or was it William my kitchen boy
Tell now the truth to me"
"Oh it wasn't a duke and it wasn't a lord
Nor a barron of high degree
But it was sweet Willam your bonny kitchen boy
Whom I love most tenderly"
"Go call to me my merry men all
That I pay meat and fee
And bid them take out this kitchen boy
And kill him presently"
They've taken out her bonny kitchen boy
And they killed him on the plain
And his hair was like the threads of gold
His eyes like crystal stones
The king’s taken out this bonny boy’s heart
Put it in a cup of gold
"Take that up to Lady Diamond," he cries
"For she’s impudent and bold"
She’s taken up this golden cup
And held it in her hands
Saying, "Better loved I my bonny kitchen boy
Than all of my father’s lands"
She's taken the cup up in her hands,
Laid it down at her bedhead
And she's washed it with the tears that ran from her eyes
At midnight she was dead
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2. |
Barbara Allen
04:33
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All in the merry month of May
When the green buds they were swellin'
Young William Green on his deathbed lay
For the love of Barbry Ellen
He sent his servant to the town
To the place where she was dwellin'
Saying "Master's sick and he send for you,
If your name be Barbry Ellen"
So slowly, slowly she got up
And slowly she came a' nigh him
And all she said when she got there
Is "Young man I believe you're dyin'"
"Oh yes I'm low, I'm very low
And death is on me dwellin'
No better, no better I never will be
If I can't have Barbry Ellen"
"Oh yes you're low, and very low
And death is on you dwellin'
No better, no better you never will be
For you can't get Barbry Ellen"
"For don't you remember in yonder stand
In yonder stand a' drinkin'
You passed your glass all around and around
And you slighted Barbry Ellen"
"Oh yes I remember in yonder stand
In yonder stand a drinkin'
I shared my health to the ladies all around
But not to Barbry Ellen"
He turned his pale face to the wall
For death was on him dwellin'
“Adieu, adieu, you good neighbors all
Adieu sweet Barbry Ellen”
As she was goin' across the fields
She heard those death bells a' knellin'
And ev'ry stroke the death bell give
Hard-hearted Barbry Ellen
“Oh Mother, oh Mother, go make my bed
Go make it both long and narrow
Young William's died for me today
And I'll die for him tomorrow”
Oh she was buried 'neath the old church tower
And he was buried all nigh her
And out of his bosom grew a red, red rose
Out of Barbry's grew a green briar
They grew and they grew up the old church tower
Until they could grow no higher
They locked in tight in a true lover's knot
Red rose around the green briar
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3. |
Black Eyed Susan
04:14
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All in the Downs the fleet lay moored
She was waiting in the wind
When black-eyed Susan came on board
Saying "Where shall I my true-love find?
Tell me jovial sailors, tell me true
Does my sweet William,
Does my sweet William sail among your crew?"
Willy, who high upon the yard
Rocked by the billows to and fro
Soon as then her well-known voice he heard
He sighed and cast his eyes below
The cord glides swiftly through his glowing hands
And quick as lightning,
And quick as lightning on the deck he stands
"Oh Susan, Susan, lovely dear
My vows will ever true remain
Let me kiss off those falling tears
We only part to meet again"
The noblest captain of all that British fleet
Might envy Willy,
Might envy Willy’s lips those kisses sweet
"Believe not what the landsmen say
They'll try to tempt thy constant mind
They'll say that sailors when away
In every port a mistress find
Yes, yes, believe them when they tell thee so
For thou art present,
For thou art present wheresoe'er I go"
"If to fair India's coast I sail
Thine eyes are seen in diamonds bright
Thy breath is Africa's spicy gale
Thy skin is ivory so white
The pleasant breezes wheresoe'er they blow
They bring me memories,
They bring me memories of my lovely Sue"
The boatswain gave the dreadful word
The sails their swelling bosom spread
No longer could she stay on board
He turned, she sighed, and hung her head
Her little boat unwilling rowed to land
"Adieu," she cried,
"Adieu," she cried and waved her lily hand
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4. |
Tumblin' Through the Hay
02:37
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It being in the month of July
in the rosy time of the year,
Down by yon flowery meadows
where the water does run clear
Where the lambs and little fishes
they do merrily sport and play,
And the lads and the lasses
go a-tumbling through the hay
Chorus:
La de dee die de tol ta lee
La de dee die la de dee die
La de dee die de tol ta lee
Then up comes lovely Johnny
with a pitch fork and a rake,
And up comes lovely Molly
the hay then for to make
They timed their notes so merrily
as the nightingale did sing,
From morning until evening
they were at their haymaking
Chorus
Then up come the mowers
the hay for to cut down,
With their scythes upon their shoulders
and their hair a lovely brown
Then up came the labourers
the hay for to shake out,
And when they had it all cut down
they tossed it all about
Chorus
It being coming up to Saturday
and all would get their pay,
Aye, and all these jolly haymakers
were feeling blithe and gay
The number of these haymakers
as near as I can say,
Were five and twenty boys and girls
a-tumbling through the hay
Chorus
When nine short months were over
and all was passed and gone,
There were five and twenty boys and girls
a-making their sad moan
Singing hush-la ba-baby
these fair maids they did say,
And manys a time they wished they ne’er had tossed about the hay
Chorus x 2
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5. |
The Bold Privateer
03:19
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“So fare thee well my Polly dear,
For you and I must part
In the crossing of the seas, my love,
I’ll pledge to thee my heart”
“Our ship she lies awaiting,
So fare thee well my dear
For now I’m bound to climb aboard
This poor old privateer”
She says, “My dearest Johnny,
I hope you do forebear
And do not leave your Polly
In grief and in despair”
“You know my dearest Polly,
Your friends they do me slight
And besides you have two brothers
Who’ll take away my life”
“From then to there I’ll wander
Myself to get me clear
But for now I’m bound to climb aboard
This poor old privateer”
“And when the wars are over
If God should spare our lives
It is then we will come back again
To our sweethearts and our brides”
“And then I will be married
To me bonny Polly dear
And evermore I’ll bid adieu
To the Bold Privateer”
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6. |
Inis Dhún Rámha
03:12
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A rí na cruinne gan mé ‘s tú in Iorras nó thiar in Inis Dhún Rámha,
Ar bhruach na Finne le taobh na toinne a’ féachaint loingis thar sáile;
Dá mhéid ár dtuirse ‘s gan aon neach againn ach géag an duilliúir ár sábháil;
‘Sé déarfadh gach duine gur lách ár n-imeacht mar a d’éalaigh Diarmuid le Gráinne.
Aréir go bhfaca mé féin i m’aisling, mar a bheadh sí ar bhacán mo láimhe,
An spéirbhean mhaiseach mar aon bhrat sneachta dá mbíodh gan chascairt a dhéanamh;
Taobh na macnaí dá mbíodh im aice mar chéile leapa gan airnéis,
‘S í béilín meala a leigheasfadh mo ghalar ‘s a bhéarfadh mo cholainn chun sláinte.
Á mbínn ‘mo bharún ní dhéanfainn dabhar ar spré bó capall nó caorach,
Á bhfaighinnse an ainnir ina suí lem aice nó í ina seasamh go haerach;
Tá gné ar a craiceann míl’ uair níos taitmhí ná éirí maiseach na gréine;
‘S ní bréag a chanaim ach ‘s fíor a n-abraim gurb í a thug mais’ ar gach maighdean.
A rí na cruinne gan mé ‘s tú in Iorras nó thiar in Inis Dhún Rámha,
Ar bhruach na Finne le taobh na toinne a’ féachaint loingis thar sáile;
Dá mhéid ár dtuirse ‘s gan aon neach againn ach géag an duilliúir ár sábháil;
‘Sé déarfadh gach duine gur lách ár n-imeacht mar a d’éalaigh Diarmuid le Gráinne.
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7. |
Edward Boyle
05:56
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You tender-hearted maidens,
of a high and a low degree
Likewise you wounded lovers,
come listen unto me
Whilst here I am bewailing
a youth whom I adore
That is now going from my arms,
bound for Columbia’s shore
In the time I well remember,
it was in the month of May
When Flora’s flowery mantle
bedecked the meadows gay
The fields were decorated,
all Nature seemed to smile
It was there that I parted from my own true love,
my charming Edward Boyle
His friends and relations,
they did him then convey
To Belfast town of high renown
until he reached the quay
And with courage bold he did set sail
and he left that Shamrock Shore
All joys be with you Edward Boyle,
will I ever see you more?
In the county of Fermanagh,
in the parish of Rosslea
In the lands of Brahawaddy,
in the mountains of Trory Bay
Brought up by honest parents
whom did together toil
But sure now they are sunk in sorrows
for the loss of their Edward Boyle
This country has grown lonesome
since young Edward, he went away
He was the pride of the college land,
how sweet his flute could play
His comrades all both great and small,
they swore they’d leave the soil
In hopes once more, on Columbia’s shore
they would meet with young Edward Boyle.
My curse on you Columbus,
‘twas you found out the way
And likewise to Amerikay
that has stolen my love away
From that time down sure
we are bound
in hardship, grief, and toil
To lament and mourn
for our love’s return,
like I for young
Edward Boyle
Now to conclude and finish,
young men and maids be true
Let you never part for riches great
as some false lovers do
For if I possessed of this universe
St. Patrick’s blessed isle
I would part it all, and ten times more
for one glimpse of you, Edward Boyle
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8. |
Ghost of Willie O
04:55
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Oh here’s a health to all true lovers
And my own true love where e’er she be
This very night I shall be with her
Though many’s the mile love you are from me
And though the night being as dark as a dungeon
And not a star to be seen above
I’ll be guided without a stumble
Into the arms of the one I love
He stepped up to her bedroom window
And leaning gently upon the stone
He whispered softly through a pane being broken
Saying “My dearest dear, do you lie alone?”
She raised her head from her down soft pillow
And quietly she let him in
They kissed, shook hands, and embraced each other
Until this long night was at its end
And when this long night was passed and over
And the grey cock began to crow
This young man rose and put on his clothing
Saying “My dearest dear, now I must go”
“Oh Johnny dear, where are those blushes
That you were so many years ago”
“Oh dearest dear, the cold clay has changed them
For I am the Ghost of your Willie O”
The Wicklow mountains I must cross over
The wild, wild oceans I must roam
The Burren plains I must cross for pleasure
For I am the Ghost of your Willie O
For three long years I've been constant writing
To the far off Bay of Biscay-o
But cruel death has brought me this answer
With you the Ghost of my Willie O
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9. |
Ned of the Hill
02:59
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Oh dark is the evening, and silent the hour
Oh who is that minstrel by yon shady bower
Whose harp is so tenderly touching with skill
Oh who could it be but Young Ned of the Hill
And he sings lady love, “Won't you come with me now
Oh come and live merrily under the bow
And I'll pillow your head where the light fairies tread
If you will but wed with Young Ned of the Hill”
Young Ned of the Hill has no castle or hall
No bowman nor spearman to answer his call
But one little archer of exquisite skill
Has loosed a bright shaft for Young Ned of the Hill
And though it’s hard to escape to this young lady’s bower
For high is her castle and guarded the tower
But where there’s a will, there is always a way
And young Eileen has gone with Young Ned of the Hill
And he sings lady love, “Won't you come with me now
Oh come and live merrily under the bow
And I'll pillow your head where the light fairies tread
If you will but wed with Young Ned of the Hill”
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10. |
Willie Taylor
03:32
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Willie Taylor and his youthful lover,
full of mirth and loyalty
They were going to the church to be married,
he was pressed and sent to sea
Chorus:
Dally dilly dum dilly dum dum dum dum,
Dally dilly dum dilly dum dum dey
She dressed herself up like a sailor,
on her breast she wore a star
Her beautiful fingers long and slender,
she gave them all just a smear of tar
Chorus
On this ship there being a skirmish,
she being one amongst the rest
A silver button flew off her jacket,
there appeared her snow white breast
Chorus
Said the captain to his fair maid,
“What misfortune has took you here?”
“I’m in search of my true lover,
whom you pressed on the other year”
Chorus
"If you’re in search of your true lover,
pray come tell to me his name”
“Willie Taylor they do call him,
but Fitzgerald is his name”
Chorus
“Let you get up tomorrow morning,
early as the break of day
There you’ll find your Willie Taylor,
walking along with his lady gay”
Chorus
She got up the very next morning,
early as the break of day
There she spied her Willie Taylor,
walking along with his lady gay
Chorus
She drew out a brace of pistols
that she had at her command,
There she shot her Willie Taylor,
with his bride at his right hand
Chorus
When the Captain came to hear it,
of the deed that she had done
He made her a ship’s commander,
over a vessel for the Isle of Man
Chorus x 2
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11. |
The House Carpenter
05:38
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“Well met, well met my own true love,
well met, well met,” cried he
“I am just returned from
the salt, salt sea,
and it’s all for the sake of thee...
And it’s all for the sake of thee”
“I could have married
a king’s daughter fair,
I’m sure she’d have married me
But I refused her rich crown of gold,
and it’s all for the sake of thee...
Yes it’s all for the sake of thee”
“Well, if you could have married
a king’s daughter fair,
I’m sure you are to blame
For I am married to
a house carpenter,
and I think he’s a fine young man...
And I think he’s a fine young man”
“I have six ships upon the sea,
the seventh one nigh to land
And if you’d come and go with me,
they would all be at your command...
They would all be at your command”
“Riches fine will keep thee all,
to your man and babe a store
If you become my queen of the seas,
they’ll never want for more...
They’ll never want for more”
He dressed her in such rich attire,
to exceed all the others in the town
And as she walked the streets around,
she shone like some glittering crown…
She shone like some glittering crown
Then she’d taken her baby
all in her arms,
and given it kisses three
Saying, “Stay at home
my pretty little babe,
and keep your daddy company…
Oh and keep your daddy company”
She had not been on board
but just two hours,
the ship was nigh to leave
Until this lady she began to weep,
and she wept most bitterly...
And she wept most bitterly
“Well are you weeping for your
house or your land,
or are you weeping for your store
Or are you weeping for your
house carpenter,
that you never shall see anymore?
That you never shall see anymore?”
“No, I’m not weeping for my
house or my land,
nor am I weeping for my store
But I am weeping for
my pretty little babe,
that I never shall see anymore...
That I never shall see anymore”
Her slippers bejeweled
slipped down to the deck,
her white feet stepped up to the prow
And with a splash she swam to shore,
her fine gown oh it sunk down...
Her fine gown oh it sunk down
“Farewell, farewell to all rich men,
farewell to a queenly life
You cannot take me from
my pretty little babe,
for you see she is my life...
For you see, she is my life”
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Adrienne O'Shea Saint Paul, Minnesota
Adrienne’s musicality reveals a transcontinental experience, seeped in old-world style but infused with a young, modern energy. Born in Dublin to a family steeped in Irish culture, and immigrating young to a unique Irish pocket in St. Paul, MN, Adrienne has feverishly sought and soaked up her traditional roots. ... more
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