Lyr Req: Lovely Ann (from Boys of the Lough)

Subject: Lyr Req: Lovely Ann - (Boys of the lough)
From: GUEST,QRS
Date: 16 Sep 09 - 05:59 PM

Hi!

I have searched for a very long time for the lyrics to this lovely song. (I found one Lovely Ann in the database but it is not the same one!)
It can be found on the album "Farewell and remember me".

I did try to write down the lyrics but I could only do it partly and some words (and whole sentences) was too difficult for me.

Any help is appreciated!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: breezy
Date: 17 Sep 09 - 10:09 AM

is it

'I have seen the sights of all the world from Malaysia to Siam '?

John Drury

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Sep 09 - 10:42 PM

John: no :(

I have managed to write down about 75% of the song but the rest beats me. Have the text on another PC as I did 1-2 years ago. Will dig it up tomorrow, post it here and hope for the best ;)

BTW, if anyone has spotify, it is avaiable there. Just seach for "lovely ann" by Boys of the lough

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: breezy
Date: 18 Sep 09 - 05:00 AM

O K I just heard a snippet via, I Tunes, but dont ask how !

Good luck

john drury's song is in a similar mood

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: Noreen
Date: 18 Sep 09 - 07:52 AM

QRS, please do post what you have, and we will do our best.

From the short clips I found on Amazon / Barnes and Noble I don't think I know the song, but the phraseology sounds familiar :0)

I post the scraps I heard, in case it helps other searches/ jogs other memories:

...their notes to tune in praise of Lovely Ann.
Her parents were to me unkind and altogether cruel
And I could not my mind relieve unto my dearest jewel.

The reason was because I was poor
One sight of me they couldn't endure
Neither could I approach the door
Where dwells my Lovely Ann.
Now I'll go down to yonder town...

I have added this CD to my wish list as I can never have enough of Cathal's singing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: GUEST,QRS
Date: 18 Sep 09 - 10:43 PM

Noreen: Yes that is the song! I agree with you. Cathal's voice is fantastic! I once saw them live here in Sweden. I wanted to hear him sing this song but I was afraid to ask when they asked for requests! I really regret that now, as I probably will never see them live again :(
Here is what I have translated. I could only get half sentences out of the first verse but here is the rest (not sure how this will look when I paste it!):

1
(I can only understand parts of this verse!!)
2
Her parents were to me unkind and all together cruel.
… I could not my mind relief unto my dearest jewel.
The reason was because I was poor,
One sight of me, they couldn't endure.
Neither could I approach the door, where dwells my lovely Ann
3
Now I'll go down to yonder town and hang my head in mourning.
Still hoping for to gain one look, for her my heart's a yearning.
If I don't gain this lady fair,
my heart will torn into despair.
No other one shall ease my care, if I'm deprived of Ann

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: GUEST,QRS
Date: 18 Sep 09 - 10:57 PM

Doh! I forgot what I have on the first verse. Words with the "?" are wild guesses and the "...." are words I just can't hear at all:

1)
You swims? of pity I pray? .......to me a wounded? lover.
In praises of a lady fair, I mean for to discover
As she tripped over yon? .... ville?
The father ... ... ... each ...
In melody there are notes to tune
In praise of Lovely Ann

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 03:42 AM

Well, Roud has it listed as "Lovely Ann," sung by Mrs. Rose Johnson, Roud #5083. Apparently, it's on a recording called Here Is a Health from the Arts Council of N. Ireland. Here's the first line:

You swains of pity, I pray give ear to me, a wounded lover

Not much, but I hope it helps.

-Joe-

Subject: Lyr Add: LOVELY ANN (from Boys of the Lough)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 04:12 AM

Oh, I couldn't wait. I downloaded the song and gave it a try. QRS did all the work on verses 2 and 3, and I agree with almost all of that - but take a look at the few changes I made.

-Joe-

Here's my attempt:

LOVELY ANN
(as sung by Boys of the Lough)

You swains of pity, I pray draw near to me, a wounded lover.
In praises of a lady fair, I mean for to discover.
As she tripped o'er yon verdant vale, the feathered warblers on each strain
In melody, their notes do tune in praise of lovely Ann.

Her parents were to me unkind and altogether cruel,
And I could not my mind relieve unto my dearest jewel.
The reason was because I was poor; one sight of me, they couldn't endure.
Neither could I approach the door where dwells my lovely Ann.

Now I'll go down to yonder town and hang my head in mournin',
Still hopin' for to gain one look; for her my heart's a-yearnin'.
If I don't gain this lady fair, my heart will turn into despair.
No other one shall ease my care, if I'm deprived of Ann.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: Joe Offer
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 01:47 PM

Anybody else want to make a stab at transcribing that first verse?

Subject: Lyr Add: LOVELY ANN (as sung by Len Graham)
From: Mrs Wickham
Date: 19 Sep 09 - 07:16 PM

LOVELY ANN
(From the singing of Len Graham)

Ye swains have pity, I pray draw near to me, a wounded lover
In praises of a comely fair I mean for to discover
As I tripped over the verdant plain the feathered songsters notes did change
In melody their voices range in praise of Lovely Ann

My Darling she, oh so divine is altogether charming
She far exceeds the sun that shines or the stars that go in the morning
Her neck and waist and every limb has my poor heart in cupids chains
And if you wish to know her name, she's called sweet Lovely Ann

Her parents they are so unkind, they are altogether cruel
That I dare not reveal my mind unto my darling Jewel
The reason why, because I'm poor, one sight of me they can't endure
Nor dare I ever approach the door where dwells sweet Lovely Ann

So fare you well, I must away and leave you here behind me
And if you prove a loyal love then it's constant you will find me
For did I posess the Indian store I would part with all, and ten times more
All for the girl that I adore, she's called sweet Lovely Ann.

Recorded on Len Gaham's album "Ye Lovers All" (1984) from the singing of Rose McMannus - (words from the sleeve notes)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 12:02 PM

Thanks a lot, Mrs. Wickham.
I can't believe Len's lyrics are the same in that third line I'm having trouble with, but it's very nice to have a second version.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 02:28 PM

Joe I think the third line is:

  As she tripped o'er yon verdant vale, the feathered warblers on it? strained

I'm not quite sure of on it.


Otherwise your transcription seems fine.


Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 02:55 PM

Had another listen. It may be:

  As she tripped o'er yon verdant hill, the feathered warblers on each strain


Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 04:17 PM

My final attempt for today:

  As she tripped o'er yon verdant hill, the feathered warblers on it strained
  In melody, their notes to tune, in praise of lovely Ann.

I'm still not sure of on it though.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 05:58 PM

As I tripped over the verdant plain the feathered songsters their notes did change

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 06:07 PM

I presume that's a correction to the Len Graham version?

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 06:14 PM

Yep!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Sep 09 - 09:46 PM

Ah, Guest, I wish you'd use a name when you post. People get nervous about anonymous posts. If you don't get the e-mail I sent you, please contact me.

I've added Mick's interpretations and my own to my post above. I think we're pretty close to the Boys of the Lough recording, but not 100% certain.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Boys of the lough - Lovely Ann
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 06:07 AM

Joe - my final version was on it strained (=the hill, not each).

As I was walking the dog this morning, it struck me that she should probably have tripped over the plain (as in the Len Graham version) to keep the internal rhyme scheme with strain, though he doesn't seem to sing that.

As an aside, I haven't heard Cathal sing for some time (the last time was in the 90s I think - he did a solo night at Watford FC when he wasn't playing with the Boys) and I don't think I've heard him better than on this.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Ann (from Boys of the Lough)
From: GUEST,QRS
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 07:07 PM

I just want to say THANKS to all of you who has helped me with this! I should be able to puzzle this together and finally be able to sing this one in the future!

I'm not a pro at all but I love all kinds of folk music! If I ever dare to make a version of Lovely Ann I will put it up on youtube for you.

Here you can check my youtube songs and tunes as of now:

http://www.youtube.com/user/QRS666

Mostly 5 string banjo these days but I hope to get some more tin whistle tunes up if I get a better cam. It is my main instrument.

Don't laugh :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Ann (from Boys of the Lough)
From: QRS
Date: 10 Oct 09 - 07:16 PM

I totally forgot that I had an acount here! First time I have logged in for over 7 years!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Ann (from Boys of the Lough)
From: Catamariner
Date: 23 Apr 19 - 08:48 PM

Listened to Len Graham's version, have just a few small changes from Mrs. Wickham's liner notes, due to Len's diverging from those liner notes. The internal rhymes displayed in several places are typical of Sean Nos in Gaeilge, and interesting to encounter in an English-language Sean Nos song. -- Heather

LOVELY ANN
(Directly from the singing of Len Graham)

Ye swains have pity, I pray draw near / to me, a wounded lover
In praises of a comely fair / I mean for to discover
As I tripped over the verdant plain / the feathered songsters notes did change
In melody their voices range / in praise of Lovely Ann

My Darling she, oh so divine / she’s altogether charming
She far exceeds the sun that shines / or the stars that glow in the morning
Her neck and waist and every limb / has my poor heart in cupids chain
And if you wish to know her name, she's called sweet Lovely Ann

Her parents they are so unkind, they are so together cruel
That I dare not my mind reveal / unto my darling Jewel
The reason why, because I'm poor, one sight of me they can't endure
Nor dare I ever approach the door / where dwells sweet Lovely Ann

So fare thee well, I must away / and leave you here behind me
And if you prove a loyal love / ‘tis constant you will find me
For did I possess the Indian store / I would part with all, and ten times more
All for the girl that I adore, she's called sweet Lovely Ann.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Ann (from Boys of the Lough)
From: Catamariner
Date: 24 Apr 19 - 12:38 AM

Ah, well, missed a word. "And if you wish FOR to know her name" which fits better with Len's tune as well.