Discussion: Lament of the Irish Emigrant

Subject: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: A.M. Austin
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 12:47 AM

Does anyone have the lyrics for "Lament of the Irish Emigrant"? (as recorded, for example, by the Rankin Family on their first album). Thanks, Andrew

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: David Ingerson
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 01:11 AM

There's a song in Healy's Love Songs of the Irish called Lament of the Irish Emigrant. He writes that it is included in most collections of Irish lyrics, so you might be able to find them at your local music store or library. If you can't find them, email me at and I'll be glad to type them out for you. Good luck, and good singing!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: Alice
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 01:24 AM

The lyrics are in the thread The Irish Emigrant/Grammar. I refreshed the thread for you. alice

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From:
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 06:23 AM

For the verses that the Rankin Family do, I have them here:

Irish Emigrant

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: A.M. Austin
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 03:48 PM

Thank you to David, Alice and George for your speedy responses.

A.M. Austin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: Barry Taylor
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 08:46 PM

Hey George!

Any idea where the melody for the Rankin's version originated? It's quite different from (and far superior to) that set by G. Barker for Lady Dufferin's lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: Alice
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 09:13 PM

Here is a link to the thread where the lyrics were posted and we discussed this before. Does anyone have tunes to post?
click here

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From:
Date: 17 Aug 99 - 12:29 AM

I'm trying to find out the name of the person who collected it. Raylene Rankin got the words through Clary Croft. They had come from a lady that had collected the words in New Brunswick. I assume the tune came along with that. I got a message back from Clary Croft that he didn't have the woman's name. If I can get in touch with Raylene Rankin, I will get back with further information.

The tune you have is different eh? Hmmm. Interesting.

Subject: Lyr Add: LAMENT OF THE IRISH EMIGRANT
From:
Date: 18 Aug 99 - 12:04 AM

I had recently transcribed the Rankin's lyrics to sing at our local Singers' Circle. Before I could sing it, another member sang version with a couple of different verses, which I tried to insert appropriately. Here's the whole thing.

LAMENT OF THE IRISH EMIGRANT
(Lady Dufferin)

I'm sittin' on the stile, Mary, where we once sat side by side,
On a bright May morning long ago, when first you were my bride.
The corn was springin' fresh and green, and the lark sang loud and high,
And the red was on your lip, Mary, and the love-light in your eyes.

The place is little changed, Mary; the day is bright as then;
The lark's loud song is in my ear, and the corn is green again;
But I miss the soft clasp of your hand, and your breath, warm on my cheek;
And I still keep listenin' for the words you never more will speak.

'Tis but a step down yonder lane, the village (or little) church stands near,
The place (or church) where we were wed, Mary, I (can) see the spire from here.
But the graveyard lies between, Mary, and my step might break your rest,
Where (or For) I laid you, darling, down to sleep, with a (or your) baby on your breast.

I'm very lonely now, Mary, for the poor make no new friends,
But, oh, they love the better still, the few our Father sends;
For you were all I had, Mary, my blessing and my pride,
And I've nothing left to care for now, since my poor Mary died.

I thank you for the patient smile when your heart was fit to break,
When the hunger pain was gnawin' there, and you hid it for my sake;
I bless you for the pleasant word when your heart was sad and sore.
O, I'm thankful you are gone, Mary, where grief can't reach you more!

Yours was the good, brave heart, Mary, that still kept hoping on,
When the trust in God had left my soul and my arms' young strength had gone.
There was comfort ever on your lips and a kind look on your brow;
And I thank you, Mary, for the same, though you can not hear me now.

I'm bidding you a long farewell, my Mary kind and true;
But I'll not forget you, darling, in the land I'm goin' to.
They say there's bread and work for all, and the sun shines always there;
But I'll not forget old Ireland, were it fifty times as fair.

And often in those grand old woods, I'll sit and shut my eyes,
And my heart will wander back again to the place where Mary lies.
And I'll think I see that little stile, where we sat side by side,
In the springin' corn and the bright May morn, when first you were my bride.

And the springin' corn and the bright May morn, when first you were my bride.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 21-Mar-03.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: Alice
Date: 18 Aug 99 - 12:37 AM

Fred - click on the link I posted that says "click here". It takes you directly to the previous thread where the lyrics were posted. They are the same, except the verses "for yours was the good, brave heart" and "I thank you for your patient smile" are transposed. Source was The Library of World Poetry, edited by William Cullen Bryant.

alice

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From:
Date: 18 Aug 99 - 01:02 AM

There are several copies in the Levy sheet music collection. (Mudcats links)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: Barry Taylor
Date: 18 Aug 99 - 01:44 AM

Here are two midis that contrast the two melody lines. Here is the tune sung by the Rankins, and here is the piano arrangement by G. Barker.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: Alice
Date: 18 Aug 99 - 01:51 AM

Thanks, Barry, they are quite a contrast. -alice

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From:
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 12:59 PM

Did anyone happen to save the two versions of the tunes that Barry did up back then?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: Dicho (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 04:24 PM

The two sites by Barry Taylor are "not in service."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 04:37 PM

Have you checked with Lesley? Seems to me that she took over at least part of what Barry had been doing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: GUEST,yum yum
Date: 22 Dec 01 - 10:20 PM

Lady Dufferin did not write this ballad (as most noted colectors have quoted) she only collected it and somehow through the years was credited for the composing of it. I do have the originator's name, but at this late hour as I have enjoyed the company of Mr.Bushmills, I will look up the composer and include it (hopefully) tomorrow.

(me thinks, I must stop drinking water with this whiskey! it only slows the process down!!! oh! by the way, fib (Fibula mattock) good to see you again, have a nice Christmas. and a HAPPY XMAS to ALL in MUDCAT,

yum yum

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: leprechaun
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 02:53 AM

I too, would like to hear the tune. Merry Christmas!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From:
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 09:22 AM

I checked Lesley's site first, but only one of them is there. That's why I asked about the two of them. I got the one at Lesley's site. Will keep looking.

Yum, yum. If you mean the nom-de-plume Lady Dufferin used. That's covered.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From:
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 10:56 AM

Here it is, her nom-de-plume was Helena Selina. Her full name was:

Lady Dufferin, Helena Selina Blackwood

Her title was Lady Dufferin, and her actual name was Helena Selina (née Sheridan) Blackwood. Mr Blackwood being her husband's name, and later became Lord Dufferin.

This from previous threads on the Mudcat.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: GUEST,Steve
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 05:11 PM

Try clicking http://www.contemplator.com/tunebook/irshmidi.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From:
Date: 23 Dec 01 - 06:18 PM

Thanks Steve. It doesn't list the other tune version of Lament of an Irish Emigrant. The one there sounds like the one from the Rankin Family. I don't know what the other tune sounds like.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: Barry T
Date: 24 Dec 01 - 08:36 PM

Here's a re-post of the Lady Dufferin/George Barker version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From:
Date: 24 Dec 01 - 10:46 PM

Thanks, Barry. Much appreciated. Perhaps we could have someone at Mudcat save out both versions for future reference.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LAMENT OF THE IRISH EMIGRANT
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Feb 04 - 12:36 AM

Here's my transcription from the sheet music at Duke University's 'Historic American Sheet Music' collection: There are some slight differences in wording, and the verses are in a different order from the text above; also, the last line of every verse is repeated.

THE LAMENT OF THE IRISH EMIGRANT
A
Ballad

Poetry by
The Hon. Mrs. Price Blackwood
Music by
William R. Dempster
...
1863

I'm sitting on the stile, Mary, where we sat side by side,
On a bright May morning long ago, when first you were my bride.
The corn was springing fresh and green, and the lark sang loud and high,
And the red was on thy lip, Mary, and the love light in your eye,
And the red was on thy lip, Mary, and the love light in your eye.

The place is little chang'd, Mary, the day is bright as then;
The lark's loud song is in my ear, and the corn is green again!
But I miss the soft clasp of your hand, and your breath, warm on my cheek,
And I still keep listening for the words, you never more may speak,
And I still keep listening for the words, you never more may speak.

'Tis but a step down yonder lane, and the little church stands near,
The church where we were wed, Mary, I see the spire from here;
But the graveyard lies between, Mary, and my step might break your rest,
For I've laid you, darling, down to sleep with your baby on your breast,
For I've laid you, darling, down to sleep with your baby on your breast.

I'm very lonely now, Mary, for the poor make no new friends,
But, oh! they love them better far, the few our Father sends!
And you were all I had, Mary, my blessing and my pride;
There's nothing left to care for now, since my poor Mary died,
There's nothing left to care for now, since my poor Mary died!

Yours was the good, brave heart, Mary, that still kept hoping on,
When the trust in God had left my soul and my arms' young strength had gone;
There was comfort ever on your lip and a kind look on your brow;
I bless you for that same, Mary, though you can't hear me now,
I bless you for that same, Mary, though you can't hear me now.

I thank you for that patient smile when your heart was fit to break,
When the hunger pain was gnawing there, and you hid it for my sake,
I bless you for the pleasant word when your heart was sad and sore;
Oh, I'm thankful you are gone, Mary, where grief can't reach you more,
Oh, I'm thankful you are gone, Mary, where grief can't reach you more.

I'm bidding you a long farewell, my Mary, kind and true,
But I'll not forget you, darling, in the land I'm going to,
They say there's bread and work for all, and the sun shines always there;
But I'll not forget old Ireland, were it fifty times as fair,
But I'll not forget old Ireland, were it fifty times as fair.

And often in those grand old woods, I'll sit and shut my eyes,
And my heart will travel back again to the place where Mary lies,
And I'll think I see the little stile, where we sat side by side;
And the springing corn and the bright May morn, when first you were my bride,
And the springing corn and the bright May morn, when first you were my bride.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: masato sakurai
Date: 28 Feb 04 - 11:09 AM

From the Murray Collection:

Irish Emigrant (Printer: John Ross. / Address: Newcastle, Royal Arcade).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: Big Tim
Date: 28 Feb 04 - 11:35 AM

Mrs Blackwood was, of course, Lady Dufferin, Helen Selina Blackwood, nee Sheridan, (1807-67). The great 19th century Irish opera singer Catherine Hayes sang the song on tour in Australia c.1855, when it was billed as "newly composed".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 28 Feb 04 - 02:26 PM

A broadside of six verses also was printed in New York in the 19th century, by J. Andrews. A copy is on line at American Memory.

Absent in this NY printing are the verses:
Yours was the good, brave heart, Mary,
That still kept hoping on, etc.
and
I thank you for your patient smile
When your heart was fit to break,- etc.

See the eight verse Rankin-Lady Dufferin version posted by Fred... and the identical version posted by Alice in 1997 (thread 2347) from Bryant, "The Library of World Poetry.": Lament

There are too many threads on this poem; lack of cross-checking causes repetition.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: Rex
Date: 03 Mar 04 - 12:48 PM

I have a hand written songbook from Dennis D. Horgan of Killarney. It has but four songs written in it and this is one of them. He dated it July 28th 1852. A little earlier than the above dates. The words appear to be as what is posted above with a few variations.

Rex

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 03 Mar 04 - 01:45 PM

Good midi and lyrics in the Contemplator (Taylor's Traditional Tunebook) under the name "The Irish Emigrant." Lyrics Irish Emigrant
Midi Irish Emigrant

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: nutty
Date: 04 Mar 04 - 02:08 AM

The Bodleian Library has a broadside of this with full seven verses

The Irish Emigrant

Full History of the broadside is given and dated to before 1834

Printer: Walker (Durham)
Date:    between 1797 and 1834
   
          Imprint: Walker, Printer, Durham. Printer's Series: (20).
          Illus. Ballads on sheet: 2
          Note: The border and cut are coloured on Johnson Ballads            1567 and Johnson Ballads 1568

   
            
Copies: Harding B 11(239)
          Johnson Ballads 1567
          Johnson Ballads 1568
          Johnson Ballads 1569
          Johnson d.1773(p. 154v)
   
            
Ballads: 1. Ben Block ("Ben Block was a vet'ran of naval renown ..")
             Author: Collins, John
             Subject: Sailors - veterans
            2.The Irish emigrant ("I'm sitting on the stile, Mary ..")
             Author: Dufferin and Clandeboye, Helen Selina Sheridan
             Subject: Emigration - Irish

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: masato sakurai
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 11:46 AM

'The Irish Emigrant' (Robert M'lntosh, Printer, / 96 King St. Calton, Glasgow), from The Word on the Street.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: GUEST,Dale
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 12:52 PM

Go to this never finished web page for a recording of The Irish Emigrant by John McCormack from 1928, plus the one by the Rankin Family. Sources of the recordings are listed.

The site also includes a few other things some may find interesting, despite the unfinished look about the place. I always tell myself that I am going to go back and tidy things up, but I never do.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lament of the Irish Emigrant
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 22 Jul 04 - 04:41 PM

The broadside linked by Masato lacks the last (eighth) verse of Lady Dufferin's original. As noted previously in one thread, the lyrics of this popular poem also were printed on a broadside by Andrews, New York. In addition to the posting by Alice in 1997 (linked above by me), the poem is in The Oxford Book of English Verse (at Bartleby.com): Lament Irish Immigrant
I think George Seto posted the Bartleby link previously, but Mudcat is limping today.

The song is also in "Songs of the Newfoundland Outports," vol. 2, pp. 462-463, with two sets of music, one by James and Lucy Heany and the second by Nicolas Keough.
Title given is "I'm Sitting on the Stile, Mary." A note states that the Heanys learned it from "The Family Herald," a discontinued Canadian weekly. How these relate to musical settings by Barker, Dempster, and the Rankins, I do not know.