Origins: Edward by Lough Erne's Shore

Subject: 'by lough erin's shore' - lyrics/history
From: Rita64
Date: 08 Jun 99 - 02:00 AM

I apologise in advance for my vagueness. I know this message won't have enough information to satisfy your hunger for it ...

There is a song Dervish recorded on their "Live in Palma" CD and I don't even know what it is called. Cathy sang it unaccompanied on the CD. I assume that Lough Erin's Shore is the name. I wish you could hear me humming the tune. Does anyone know where this song is from? Anyone have the full lyrics?

Subject: Lyr Add: EDWARD BY LOUGH ÉIRN'S SHORE
From: MudGuard
Date: 08 Jun 99 - 04:04 AM

Hi Fair Youngmaid!

Hope your heart is mended by now.
The song is called Edward by Lough Éirn's Shore. At least that is the title given on the CD cover.

Here are the lyrics (as far as I could understand them by listening to the song).
Places where I am not sure are marked like this: (unsure part of lyrics ???).
Perhaps someone else can fill the missing pieces!

Andreas

EDWARD BY LOUGH ÉIRN'S SHORE

The Sun was setting behind the mountain
The dew was falling upon the leaves
And I was seated beside a fountain
(Our fathers' ???) songs to sing upon the trees.
With love and longing (is no sir sounding ???)
(Made me reminded ???) of days of yore
Went by a (bower ???) I picked a flower
And remembered Edward by Lough Éirn's shore

(The cocosnuts ???) and the air is so (din ???)
A sound so pleasing to greet (the own ???)
And (the old were peace a-bounding???)
Around (a valley ???) if he were here
(Did I just fled me and grieved as well me ???)
Why did you leave me, my (lovest door ???)
And every (doubt ???) reminds me of Edward
And makes me lonely by Lough Éirn's shore

Oh if I could move like a wind o'er the ocean
I would send this sigh o'er the distant (deem/deep ???)
Oh could I (boom ???) like a bird in motion
By my Edward's side I would ever keep
I gently (suit/sooth ???) him, with words amuse him
My love I'd prove him, and he'd sigh no more
For seven year they soon would pass over
And we'd both be happy by Lough Éirn's shore

Subject: RE: 'by lough erin's shore' - lyrics/history
From: Wolfgang
Date: 10 Jun 99 - 06:38 AM

Fair Youngmaid,
there's another song which might be the one you are looking for. It is called 'Lough Erne shore', sung among others by Andy Irvine and Paul Brady on their record. It starts like this:

one Morning as I went a fowling Bright Phoebus adorned the plain
'Twas down by the shores of Lough Erne I met with this wonderful dame
Her voice was so sweet and so pleasing, these beautiful notes she did sing
The innocent fowl of her forest theri love unto her they did bring.

If this is the one you want I'll do the rest of the typing.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: 'by lough erin's shore' - lyrics/history
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 10 Jun 99 - 06:46 AM

Wolfgang

One of my favourites!

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: EDMUND BY LOUGH ERNE'S SHORE
From: John Moulden
Date: 10 Jun 99 - 04:57 PM

According to Cathal McConnell, who got the song from the Fermanagh singer, fiddler, story teller, Mick Hoy, this song was written by a poet from Derrygonelly called Peter Magennis, a book of whose poems had been published.

Because I cannot fully make out what Cathy Jordan sings, because she leaves out eight lines, because I like to provide alternatives and because Rosie Stewart, another singer from near Derrygonnelly, sings words very similar to Cathal, I have set down the words as Cathal sings them. Where Rosie differs from Cathal is sometimes a clue as to why Cathy's words differ from Cathal's.

I have no idea where Cathy got her words from, there are no notes and no acknowledgments (except to copyright owners) but it strikes me that whoever transcribed the words didn't quite do the job.

EDMUND BY LOUGH ERNE'S SHORE

Oh the Sun was setting behind the mountain
The dew was falling behind the lea
As I was seated beside a fountain
A feathered songster sang on each tree.
With love and blisses his notes were blending
Made me reminded of days of yore
When in a bower I plucked a flower
And I dreamt of Edmund on Lough Erne's shore

A crop of sorrow my heart is reaping
My roses fade and my hopes decay
Since in the night time when all are sleeping
Awake I'm weeping for the break of day
Delight has fled me and woe has wed me
Why did you leave me my love asthore
For love compelled him and banished Edmund
Would not forsake me on Lough Erne's shore

The cuckoo's notes in the air resounding
Appeal to feelings and please the ear
And every note with bliss abounding
Are in the valley if he were near
Each step I take by the winding river
Where we have wandered in days of yore
Reminds me of Edmund, my banished lover
And makes me lonely on Lough Erne's shore

Oh could I move like a moon in motion
I'd send a sigh o'er the distant deep
Or could I fly like a bird o'er the ocean
By my Edmund's side I would ever keep
I'd fondly sooth him, with songs amuse him
I'd gently sooth him and he'd sigh no more
And seven long years aye would soon pass over
And we'd both live happy on Lough Erne's shore

Subject: RE: 'by lough erin's shore' - lyrics/history
From: Rita64
Date: 10 Jun 99 - 11:09 PM

Once again, some charming and valiant men have rescued this fair young maid. Bless you all and thanks for the history John. I love knowing "why" I am singing a song.

Subject: RE: 'by lough erin's shore' - lyrics/history
From: MudGuard
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 02:38 AM

John, I am sorry that my English is not good enough for a perfect transcription. It took me about one hour to get the above results, and I did never say it was perfect. And sometimes I have to do other things than writing down lyrics...

Andreas

Subject: RE: 'by lough erin's shore' - lyrics/history
From: John Moulden
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 03:52 PM

I'm sorry Andreas, I didn't mean any criticism of your attempts at transcribing from Cathy Jordan's singing - that's actually q difficult job for anyone, her diction is not that clear. I was criticising whoever transcribed the words which Cathy used for her version - they did not take the care the song deserved.

Subject: lough erin's shore' - lyrics/history
From:
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 10:45 AM

I am looking for the words to the rest of this song, lough Erin shore, as sung by Andy Irvine and Paul Brady in that incredible album of theirs titled the same. Mark Kane, Hollywood Florida.

By the way, this site is amazing and the work you do is eqally,if not more amazing. Thank you

Subject: RE: 'by lough erin's shore' - lyrics/history
From: GUEST,Declan
Date: 22 Apr 05 - 11:25 AM

They are here
courtesy of Malcolm Douglas.

Subject: RE: Origins: Edward by Lough Erne's Shore
From: GUEST,noel
Date: 22 Mar 10 - 06:19 AM

Hi, I would be very grateful if anyone could tell me who the characters are and the story behind this song.

Subject: RE: Origins: Edward of Lough Erne's Shore
From: GUEST,catherine
Date: 09 Feb 12 - 04:35 AM

Hi folks, I am searching for the fullest translation of the version one that begins (in these threads)

Oh the Sun was setting behind the mountain
The dew was falling behind the lea
As I was seated beside a fountain
A feathered songster sang on each tree.

I have a recording from Claddagh records of Gabriel Mcardle (1990) album an anthology of Irish music. If anyone else has any words, tune or gem to add I would be most grateful. Great site, always return to it.

Thankyou

Catherine

Subject: RE: Origins: Edward by Lough Erne's Shore
From: GUEST,Joe O'Connor Cois na hAbhna archive
Date: 29 Aug 15 - 09:36 PM

Originally known as Edward on Lough Melvin's Shore . Written by The Bard Of Derrygonnally.

Subject: RE: Origins: Edward by Lough Erne's Shore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 30 Aug 15 - 01:41 AM

Thanks, Joe. Any dates, sources for that version?

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: Edward by Lough Erne's Shore
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 01 Sep 15 - 12:24 PM

The song was published in Magennis, Peter Poems by Peter Magennis Enniskillen, Geo. B. White, Townhall-Street and all booksellers. No Date but Preface dated Sept 1887 and Postscript dated 1888.

The song is titled 'Song' directed to be sung to the 'Air- "Youghal Harbour", begins "The sun is setting behind the mountain,". It has 4, 8-line stanzas and in located at Lough Melvin. The text in the book confuses Edmund and Edwin but more often uses Edwin; Edward is never mentioned.

According to a note by D. J. O'D (Denis J. O'Donoghue - compiler of the 'Poets of Ireland' in Irish Book Lover Vol2 p. 123 (March 1911) - Magennes died in 1910. He is described as "The Bard of Derrygonnelly", that he was born near there, where he died and was a National School Teacher. The catalogue of the Library of the Ulster University gives his dates as 1817 - 1905 but O'Donoghue specifies his age at death as 93.

He wrote and published prolifically and edited the Poems of Edward Flanagan, the poet of the Moy.

Subject: RE: Origins: Edward by Lough Erne's Shore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 01 Sep 15 - 02:02 PM

Thanks, John.

Regards

Subject: RE: Origins: Edward by Lough Erne's Shore
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Feb 20 - 06:18 PM

The subject of this song is Edward Cassidy who was transported with his two brothers having been convicted of throwing a clergyman's horse off a cliff in County Fermanagh in 1830. he returned to Fermanagh in 1849. Peter Magennis tells his story as a sub-plot in his short novel 'The Treasurer' serialised in the Lisbellaw Gazette in 1880 and includes a version of the song in the tale.

Subject: RE: Origins: Edward by Lough Erne's Shore
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 24 Feb 20 - 04:48 PM

Guest, (might I know you if I had a name?) - The information regarding "The Treasurer" is very interesting - where might I find a copy?
Thanks.

Subject: RE: Origins: Edward by Lough Erne's Shore
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 25 Feb 20 - 09:37 AM

GUEST,John Moulden:

I don't know if the following link is that to which the Guest of 22 Feb 20 - 06:18 PM speaks, but it contains similar information.

https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-northern-ireland-40850664

Subject: RE: Origins: Edward by Lough Erne's Shore
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 25 Feb 20 - 10:22 AM

And more information here: Stephen Cassidy or ‘Captain Rock’? My 3rd Great Grandfather. 52 Ancestors #2

Mick