The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #5789   Message #172442
Posted By: John Moulden
02-Feb-00 - 03:09 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: Joe Coburn the Boxer
Subject: RE: Mercier Book of Old Irish Street Ballads
I don't know of any recorded performance of these two songs.

The usual process in Ireland, and probably everywhere that ballads were printed and sold, was for each singer to sing the song to whatever tune came to mind. Sometimes there is a generic tune for certain rhythms - in Ireland nearly every hunting song can be sung to some variation of the same tune. If you are unable to think of one try the tunes for the fight songs in Colm O'Lochlainn's Irish Street Ballads or More ISB.

Ulstersongs currently has a copy of Vol 4 of the Mercier Book of Old Irish Street Ballads and a copy of More Irish Street Ballads. Proposals will be received at jmoul81075@aol.com