Origins: Back Home In Derry

Subject: Origins: Back Home In Derry
From: GUEST,Curious
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 05:54 PM

I was just listening to Jed Marum's
'Back Home In Derry' on Myspace - (great performance by the way).
I'm not familiar with this song, but I did notice
that the verse melody was the same as
"The Wreck Of the Edmund Fitzgerald" -
the melody of which I thought was composed by
Gordon Lightfoot. Is this melody a traditional ?

Subject: RE: Origins: Back Home In Derry
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 06:04 PM

The song was written by Bobby Sands - dunno if the tune is traditional, though...

Subject: RE: Origins: Back Home In Derry
From: Brakn
Date: 05 Sep 07 - 06:33 PM

Just type "Home in Derry" in the "Lyrics & Knowledge Search" and you'll find plenty to read.

Subject: RE: Origins: Back Home In Derry
From: Shaneo
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 05:28 AM

Here is the story as to how Christy Moore got the song
I was playing in Derry and staying with The Barrett Family. After my gig we were gathered in Chamberlain St having a banter and drinking tea when a bit of singing broke out. A lad, just home from The Blocks, sang these verses and subsequently wrote out the words for me. At the time the name Bobby Sands was not known to the world as it is today. The following night I played in Bellaghy where the same process took place when I stayed with Scullion. Later on he "sang" McIlhatton for me and told me it had been written by Bobby Sands with whom he had shared a cell while "On the Blanket". The name was becoming known to me.
He used the air of The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald from Gordon Lightfoot, an air which I suspect has earlier origins. My version of Bobby's song is shorter than the original

Subject: RE: Origins: Back Home In Derry
From: Big Mick
Date: 06 Sep 07 - 09:41 AM

I would strongly recommend you follow the advice given by Brakn a few posts back. There has been a rather extensive discussion on this song prior and it will be filled with a lot of valuable info. There are several threads and lots of ancillary discussions about the tune.

Sands original poem was called "Journey". Often I sing it using the same tune as Moore's version. Here are the lyrics to "Journey":

It was 1803 when we sailed out to sea And away from the sweet town of Derry. For Australia bound, if we didn't all drown, The marks of our fetters we'd carry.

Our ship was the Gull, fourteen days out of Hull And on orders to carry the croppy Like a ghost in the night as she sailed out of sight Leaving many a wee'an unhappy

In our rusty iron chains, we cried out for our wee'ans. Our good wives we'd left in our sorrow. As the main sails unfurled, our curses we hurled At the English and thoughts of tomorrow

At the mouth of the Foyle, bade farewell to our soil As the sea turned as blue as the heavens. The breeze filled our sails of a yellowish pale And the captain lay drunk in his cabin.

The Gull cut the sea, carving our destiny And the sea spray rose white and came flying. O'Doherty screamed, awoken out of his dreams By a vision of bold Robert dyin'.

The sun burnt us cruel as they dished out the gruel Dan O'Conner lay dying with fever 60 Rebels today, bound for Botany Bay God, how many would reach the receiver?

I cursed them to Hell as our bow fought the swell And we danced like a moth in the firelight White horses rode high, as the Devil passed by Taking souls to Hades in the twilight.

Five weeks out to sea, we were now 43 And the strongest wept bitter like children. Jesus, we screeched and our God we beseeched But all we got was a prayer from the pilgrim.

In our own slime, we were lost in the time Hoping God in his mercy would claim us, But our spirits shone high like stars in the sky We were rebels and no man would tame us.

We were all about lost, two round score was our cost When the man on the mast shouted, "Land hoe!" The crew gave a cheer as we cradled our fear And the fathoms gave up and we swam low.

Van Diemans Land is a hell for a man To live out his whole life in slavery Where the climate is raw and a gun makes the law Neither wind nor rain care for bravery.

Twenty long years have gone and I've ended my bond My comrade's ghosts walk beside me. A rebel I came, I'll die just the same It's on the cold wind at night that you'll find me.

Mick