ADD: Grosse Isle / Grosse Ile

Subject: Lyr Req: Grosse Isle
From: GUEST,Dennis D'Asaro
Date: 14 Oct 21 - 02:27 PM

As sung by Don Stiffe on YouTube under difficult acoustic conditions.
Somebody managed to transcribe almost the whole thing; few words still being elusive. See Question marks.

GROSSE ISLE
(songwriter ??)

Just like the stream that flows down from a mountain,
just like the snow that melts to the earth,
our nation was scattered by greed and dictators.
Oh to land in Grosse Isle, to die in the dirt.


Their anguish and pain, they shared their belongings.
The landlords that laughed as they took to the surf.
These ships were unfit to bring beasts to their slaughter.
Oh to land in Grosse Isle, to die in the dirt.

Now their hearts would light up as the new world approached them
and weeks out at sea and suffering no more.
But lines of these ships ???
But to land in Grosse Isle was to die in the dirt.


In their thousands they died on the island of sorrow
Not from the hunger but the feverish curse.
They left pillaged behind them in the land they loved dearest
But to land in Grosse Isle to die in the dirt.

Now today the same waves flow over the Atlantic
And the Irish still cross them with ambition and ???
They don't have to face what those coffin ships sailed to
Now if you go to Grosse Isle you won't die in the dirt.

Just like the stream that flows down from a mountain,
just like the snow that melts to the earth,
our nation was scattered by greed and dictators.
Oh to land in Grosse Isle, to die in the dirt.


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iZXDX9BQfRI

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grosse Isle --- missing one word!
From: cnd
Date: 15 Oct 21 - 08:28 AM

You can find other recordings under the name "Grosse Ile" -- see this one by Seán Keane

First one sounds like: "In the St. Thames river"? Someone more familiar with the of the area geography could probably figure it out.
Second is "ambition and nerve"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grosse Isle --- missing one word!
From: cnd
Date: 15 Oct 21 - 08:29 AM

(by the way, I based those guesses off the Sean Keane recording I linked)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grosse Isle --- missing one word!
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Oct 21 - 10:01 AM

Thank you. Actually, for my purposes, I just need something to sing in those spots.
Did notice some crossover between the two songs, but didn't analyze to the degree you did.
Appreciate it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grosse Isle --- missing one word!
From: GUEST,Monaghan descendant
Date: 17 Mar 24 - 09:54 AM

I watched the video with Don Stiffe singing. I think the missing words for the two questions marks are
1) But the lines of these ships ON THE ST. LAWRENCE RIVER; and
2) And the Irish still cross them with ambition and MIRTH

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grosse Isle --- missing one word!
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 18 Mar 24 - 01:29 PM

Missing words - Ships in Sail - Sean Twiddles on the word 'in' so it's difficult to make out - hope this helps

Great song written by Don Stiff

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grosse Isle --- missing one word!
From: GUEST,Derrick
Date: 19 Mar 24 - 06:39 AM

I agree with Monaghan descendant above,listen here.

https://www.facebook.com/seankeanesinger/videos/grosse-ile-from-the-scatteringsean-keane/808335079320998/

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Grosse Isle --- missing one word!
From: GUEST,alagiven
Date: 12 Nov 24 - 02:28 AM

Just like a stream
that flows down farm mountain
Just like a snow
that melts into the earth
Our people were scattered
by greed and tater
They left for Grosse
to die in the dirt

In their anguish sampan
they share their belongings
A landlord they left
as they took to the serf
The ships were unfelt to
bring these to their slaughter
Yet they left for Grosse
to die in the dirt

Though their hearts were light up
as the new world approach them
Weeks out of the sea
now suffering no more
With line of the ships in
St. Lawrence River
To land on Grosse
to die in the dirt

There're thousands they died
on the island of sorrow
Not from the hunger
but the feverish curse
They left pillage behind them
on the land they love dearest
To go to Grosse
to die in the dirt

Now today the same ways
flow all the Atlantic
The Irish still cross them
with ambition and mirth
They don't have to face
coffinships sail to
If you go to Grosse
you won't die in the dirt

Subject: RE: ADD: Grosse Isle / Grosse Ile
From: Joe Offer
Date: 13 Nov 24 - 02:59 PM

Growing up in Detroit, I knew only the Grosse Ile in the Detroit River. This song is about Grosse Ile/Isle in the St. Lawrence River. Wikipedia says the island was the site of an immigration depot which housed predominantly Irish immigrants coming to Canada to escape the Great Famine of 1845–1849.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grosse_Isle