Lyr Add: Old Ardboe

Subject: Lyr Add: Old Ardboe
From: MartinRyan
Date: 04 Jun 09 - 06:16 PM

Just giving this one a thread of its own, as posted recently by GUESTJerryOReilly:

15 - Old Ardboe (Roud 2984)

Ye gods assist my poor wearied notion,
Ye inspired muses lend me your hand
To help my endeavours both night and morning,
To sing the praises of this lovely land.
Well situated in the north of Ireland,
Being all in the county of sweet Tyrone,
All along the banks of famed Loch Nea
Is the ancient fabric called Old Ardboe.

Oh stand awhile and view this arbour
Where purling streams roll to and fro,
Where fishes sporting both night and morning
Yield of their bounty to Old Ardboe.
No serpent lurks in its hallowed waters,
No odours poisoned infest their breeze,
But peace and plenty for sons and daughters
Abound around you, Old Ardboe.

I have travelled France and I've travelled Flanders,
And all the lands along the Rhine,
But in all my raking and undertaking
Ardboe, your equal I ne'er could find.
My course I've taken to the Indian Ocean,
To the shores of Caanan and Galilee,
But in all my raking and undertaking
Ardboe, your equal I ne'er could see.


Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Ardboe
From: GUEST,Joxer
Date: 05 Jun 09 - 05:37 AM

As far as I know, "fabric (fabrication?)" refers to the Ardboe High Cross, which dates from the 9th/10th century.

This was one of the big songs sung by the great Geordie Hanna, who came from this area of Tyrone.

I've also heard this verse:

"In summer evenings for recreation
You can careless wander along the strand
Where Bora's breezes are gently blowing
Around the spot where the fabric stands
It was St.Patrick who did ordain it
That great stone cross to be raised on high
As a reminder to simple Christians
That on the cross God's son did die"

Regards
Joxer

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Ardboe
From: MartinRyan
Date: 18 Oct 11 - 12:07 PM

Here's Geordie Hanna singing the song:

Click here

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD ARBOE / OLD ARDBOE (James Cairnes)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Oct 11 - 06:37 PM

This song appears in Sam Henry's "Songs of the People" (Athens: University of Georgia Press, 1990), page 157.

Among other notes, it says, "supposed author James Cairnes, teacher (Moortown School), assisted by Donald's Dan Devlin, c. 1820." The book consistently uses the spelling "Arboe" but I have changed it to "Ardboe."


OLD ARDBOE

Ye gods, assist my poor wearied notion.
Ye inspired muses, lend me your hand
To help my endeavour both night and morning
To sing the praises of that lovely strand.
Well situated in north of Ireland,
All in the county of sweet Tyrone,
Along the banks of famed Lough Neagh
Is that ancient fabric of Old Ardboe.

Oh, stand awhile and view that harbour
Where purling streams roll to and fro,
Where fishes sporting both night and morning
Yield of their bounty to old Ardboe.
No serpent lurks in its hallowed waters.
No odours poisoned infest the breeze,
While peace and plenty for sons and daughters
Abound around you, sweet Lough Neagh.

In the summer season for recreation
You can careless stray along the strands
Where Boreas' breezes are gently blowing
Along the shores where the fabric stands.
On the twenty-fourth [of] June and second of August
They do assemble from every part
For to petition the Queen of Heaven
To pardon sinners with contrite heart.

Humbly beseeching the Queen of Heaven
On her dear Son for to prevail
While on all occasions you'll be attended
By its dear loved pastor, priest O'Neill.
It was St. Patrick that did adorn
That great cross he placed on high
So that each spectator might well remember
How on the cross God's Son did die.

I've travelled France and I've travelled Flanders,
And all the countries beyond the Rhine,
But in all my rakings and undertakings
Ardboe, your equal I ne'er could find.
My course I've taken to Indian oceans,
To the shores of Cana and Galilee,
But in all my rakings and undertakings
Ardboe, your equal I ne'er did see.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Old Ardboe
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Aug 22 - 07:45 PM

Ancient fabric is linen, where in Tyrone, flax grew and people hand-produced the best linen fabric in the world. Sought after for strength used for a ship’s sail, and many other uses as clothing, blankets, etc.