Lyr Add: The Dying Rebel

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DYING REBEL
From: Big Tim
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 02:43 PM

THE DYING REBEL

The night was dark and the battle ended,
The moon shone down O'Connell Street,
I stood alone where brave men parted,
Never more again to meet.

And the first I saw was a dying rebel,
Kneeling low I heard him cry,
'God bless my home in Tipperary,
God bless the cause for which I die'.

And the next I saw was a grey-haired father,
Searching for his only son,
I said, 'Old man, there's no use searching,
Your only son to Heaven has gone'.

'Your only son was shot in Dublin,
Fighting for his country bold,
He died for Ireland and for Ireland only,
The Irish flag, green while and gold'.

This is all I can recall of this song, which I first heard about 1963. It seems to be set during the Irish War of Independence, 1919-21, and may refer to the death of Sean Treacy who was from Tipperary and who shot dead just off O'Connell Street, Dublin, in 1920. However, it could also be simply a generalized lament.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dying Rebel
From: MartinRyan
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 02:52 PM

Various versions of this around. Most commonly refers to "dear Cork City" rather than "Tipperary" so I reckon its more generic than Sean Treacy.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dying Rebel
From: MartinRyan
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 02:56 PM

p.s.

You might enjoy the reference to the song HERE!

Regards

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: THE DYING REBEL
From: Joe Offer
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 02:57 PM

I found this at http://www.ourwholeworld.com/the_dying_rebel.html.
Let's see if I can get the chords to line up.

The Dying Rebel         C                            F         C The night was dark, the battle ended,         C                   F                         C  The moon shown down O'Connell street,    Am        C                      F                C  I stood alone where our brave men perished,            C               G               F          C  These men have gone their God to meet.    CHORUS        C                      F         C   My only son was shot in Dublin,   C                      F            C  Fighting for his country bold,       Am             C                       F           C  He fought for Ireland and for Ireland only,         C              G               F                          C  The harp and shamrock, green white and gold.           C                          F                 C  The first I met, was a grey haired father, C                          F      C  Searching for his only son,    Am         C                       F          C  I said old man, so there's no use searching,          C      G        F                 C     Your only son to heaven has gone    CHORUS:        C                            F          C  My God he cried, I am broken hearted,        C                            F         C  My God he cried, going on his knees,     Am          C            F           C  I knew my son was too kindhearted,     C            G               F        C  I knew my son would never yield     CHORUS          C                        F       C  The last I met was a dying rebel,   C                     F              C  Bending low, I heard him say,         Am           C          F               C  God bless my home in dear Cork city,         C              G             F           C  God bless the cause for which I die     CHORUS

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dying Rebel
From: Big Tim
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 08:56 AM

There's also a verse about a 'grey-haired mother' but to me it sounds like a later add-on. This version features 'Belfast city'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dying Rebel
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 09:24 AM

I have this song on an LP of Irish Rebel Songs. The title for the song here is "My only son was shot in Dublin".

There is another verse (the penultimate verse):

The next I met was a fair young maiden,
Kneeling low (could be long by her lover's side,
Praying to God her heavenly father,
Praying to God his soul to guide.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dying Rebel
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 09:26 AM

I meant
Kneeling low (could be long) by her lover's side,

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dying Rebel
From: Big Tim
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 12:05 PM

I thought I was missing a verse and it is the 'true love' one.
Except it was, 'kneeling down by her true love's side' (I think!).
The singer on that old LP was probably Willie Brady.

Martin, thanks for the link, but it's 196 pages long. I ain't reading all that!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dying Rebel
From: MartinRyan
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 01:42 PM

Of course! Just search on a phrase from the song!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dying Rebel
From: ard mhacha
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 05:18 PM

This song is on You Tube sung by Kathleen Largey, a great rendition.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dying Rebel
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 07 Jun 08 - 08:29 AM

I looked at MartinRyan's link.

I put in the phrase "My only son was shot in Dublin" and got page 121/196 (numbered 114).

The night was dark and the fight was
ended . . . The moon shone down O'Connell
Street. . . . I stood alone where brave men
perished. Those men have gone, their God to
meet. . . . My only son was shot in Dublin,
fighting for his country bold. He fought for
Ireland and Ireland only. The harp and
shamrock, green, white and gold."

You have to put in the exact phrase as written in the link. If you use the word battle instad of fight nothing comes up.

I also enjoyed Kathleen Largey (see ard mhacha's post) you tube
so I've made a link to it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dying Rebel
From: GUEST, James Molloy
Date: 29 Oct 13 - 05:50 PM

The Dying Rebel was recorded in 1961 by Patricia Blake on the Glenside Label. The song featured in ITV's 50th Anniversary of
the 1916 Rebellion. The melody is that of The Water Is Wide or
Waly Waly.The latter melody has been, mistakenly linked to
Carrickfergus. I can hear no similarity in both tunes. By the way
Joan Baez and Mark Knopfler have recorded The Water Is Wide

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dying Rebel
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Sep 21 - 05:46 PM

I sang it as a kid (along with a hundred other rebel songs) back in the early 60s. As a Shannonsider the words were always "God bless my home in Limerick City" and it scans!

I recall it being "battle" not "fight", no reference to "the moon" but saying "I stood alone in O'Connell Street".

The verses (without chorus) went, opening, dying rebel, fair haired maiden, grey haired FENIAN (searching for his only son) and the response that "your only son was shot in Dublin" (not "my only son") . No chorus and it ended on "the Harp, the Shamrock, Green, White and Gold".

But it seems the lyrics get altered and the big bucks win.....

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Dying Rebel
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 06 Sep 21 - 05:39 AM

Edith Fowke collected a version of this in Canada. I recall that this was published in a copy of 'Sing Out' magazine, possibly in the 1960's.