Lyr Req: The Land of the Gael (Garry McMahon)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Land of the Gael (Garry McMahon)
From: Felipa
Date: 07 Dec 21 - 06:53 AM

followed by Elle Marie O'Dwyer

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Land of the Gael (Garry McMahon)
From: Felipa
Date: 07 Dec 21 - 06:50 AM

and I'm listening to P.J.Murrihy https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q4CWeRZwbr0
though finding the accompaniament too lush.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Land of the Gael (Garry McMahon)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 06 Apr 17 - 12:27 PM

I happen to be listening on youtube to another singer of The Land of the Gael, Ann Marie O'Riordáin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the land of the gael
From: GUEST,Rossa McMahon
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 05:50 AM

Martin

He would be delighted to know that they are being sung and discussed. Anyone with lyric requests can email [e-mail] and I'll do my best.

Regards

Rossa.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the land of the gael
From: MartinRyan
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 06:51 AM

Thanks, Rossa.

Your father wrote many fine songs - several have been discussed in this forum over the years.

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LAND OF THE GAEL (Garry McMahon)
From: GUEST,Rossa McMahon
Date: 18 Feb 10 - 05:38 AM

These are the original lyrics:

THE   LAND OF THE   GAEL

I wish I was westward of Dingle on the golden sands of Béal Bán
Where I'd wait for the mountain of Brandon, to appear in the red light of dawn,
I'd gaze over Smerwick Harbour, see the yacht with its billowing sail,
My body is here in the Bowery, by my heart's in the Land of the Gael.

Too free with the juice of the barley it softens my will and my brain
And whenever I save a few dollars, I fall off the wagon again,
But I'm thinking of Kerry in Ireland, the Blaskets and fair Ceann Sibéal,
When the sun is a red ball of fire, as it sets on the Land of the Gael.

In my mind's eye I see every detail her mountains, valleys and seas,
The butterfly dancing a hornpipe, the thistledown flying in the breeze,
The fuschia, loosestrife and cowparsley, the primrose that blooms in the vale,
I'll pick the wild flowers in the Summer time when I'm back in the Land of the Gael.

Now the wind like a knife it goes through me and with hunger I'm ready to fall,
And the snowflakes are swirling around me as I head for the Church Mission Hall,
I hear the sweet song of the skylark, and I list to the curlew's sad wail,
As over the ocean they call me to come back to the Land of the Gael.

For it's fifty long years since I left it, a young fellow still in my teens,
Did I ever return now you ask me - I go back every night in my dreams,
Yes the call of my homelandâ's all powerful, and I'm certain this time I'll not fail,
Then I'll hear my own tongue and again I'll be young when I'm home in the Land of the Gael.

© Garry McMahon (all rights reserved)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the land of the gael
From: GUEST,Donal
Date: 17 Feb 10 - 04:50 AM

There is a site about Garry McMahon, which includes him singing Land of the Gael with a couple of different lines. HERE

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the land of the gael
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 04:24 PM

Martin, my apologies. I hadn't opened your link because I was on a machine that doesn't play stuff. I see I posted to the same video as you. OOPS.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the land of the gael
From: GUEST,999
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 07:55 PM

Here on YOUTUBE

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the land of the gael
From: Donie Mac
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 06:36 PM

Cheers lads, powerful song alright, anyone know where I could get a recording?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the land of the gael
From: MartinRyan
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 09:17 AM

Well transcribed. Three placenames causing problems - mainly 'cos they're in Irish:

Verse 1, line 2: Bealbain, (pronounced bale-bawn)
Verse 2, line 5: not sure of this one. I'll check
         line 6: The Blaskets and fair Ceann Sibeil (pronounced roughly kee-auwn shib-ale!)

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the land of the gael
From: GUEST,Donal
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 09:01 AM

This is what I make of Murrihy's version, I hope someone can fill in the blanks or amend errors. A very powerful song.

I wish I was westward of Dingle,
On the golden sands of Ferbane,
Where I'd wait for the mountain of Brandon,
To appear in the red light of dawn.
I'd gaze over Smerwick harbour,
And the yacht with its billowing sail,
My body is here in the Bowery,
My heart's in the land of the Gael.

For the curse of the drink is upon me,
It softens my will and my brain,
And whenever I save a few dollars,
I fall off the wagon again.
But I'm thinkin' of lovely ??
The Blaskets and ??
When the sun is a red ball of fire,
As it sets on the land of the Gael.

Now the wind, like a knife it goes through me,
And with hunger I'm ready to fall,
And the snowflakes are swirling around me,
As I head for the church mission hall.
But I hear the sweet song of the skylark,
And I list to the curlews sad wail,
As over the ocean they call me,
To come back to the land of the Gael.

For it's fifty long years since I left it,
A young fellow still in my teens,
Did I ever return, now you ask me?
I go back every night in my dreams.
But the call of my homeland's all-powerful,
And I'm certain this time I'll not fail,
Then I'll hear my own tongue, and again I'll be young,
When I'm home in the land of the Gael.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: the land of the gael
From: MartinRyan
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 08:23 AM

You can hear P J Murrihy singing it on Youtube HERE

Regards

--------------link fixed---------

Subject: Lyr Req: the land of the gael
From: Donie Mac
Date: 15 Feb 10 - 07:42 AM

Hey, looking for the lyrics to 'The Land of the Gael' by Gary Mc Mahon