Lyr/Chords Req: The Flower of the County Down

Subject: The flower of the County Down
From: Asle
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 05:39 AM

Does anyone have the lyricsfor this tune? It's supposed to be the original to the more known "Star of the county down"

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The flower of the County Down
From: HåvardR
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 06:05 AM

Maybe you're looking for THE FLOWER OF MAGHERALLY, which has the phrase "... she's the Queen of the County Down...."
Asle? Sounds Norwegian....

Håvard

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The flower of the County Down
From: Arkie
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 10:11 AM

Aubrey Atwater and Elwood Donnelly are arriving in town tonight for a couple of workshops and concerts on the weekend. They have recorded a fine version of Star of the County Down and usually research their music. I'll ask them if they know of an orginal version.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The flower of the County Down
From: Magpie
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 10:15 AM

Håvard? Sounds pretty Norwegian too!

Magpie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The flower of the County Down
From: HåvardR
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 10:47 AM

Oh it is.... I'm living in Bergen >;o)> Don't know about "Magpie" though!

Håvard

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The flower of the County Down
From: QRS
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 11:14 AM

MAGPIE means SKATA in Swedish.(probably in the Norwegian laungage too. SKATA is a bird, but MAGPIE can allso mean that you are a person that "talks too much" or brings gossip all the time. NOTE to Magpie: No offense to you Magpie, just explaining the word MAGPIE!!

Regards to you all Mudcatters!!

QRS

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The flower of the County Down
From: Marion
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 11:55 AM

Asle, your thread title indicated that you were looking for chords as well as lyrics. If the music to "Flower of the County Down" music as "Star of the County Down", you can find it here:

sheet, chords, and midi for Star of the County Down

Marion

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The flower of the County Down
From: Barry Taylor
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 11:56 AM

The lyrics with my midi arrangement are here

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The flower of the County Down
From: Mían
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 12:04 PM

Niamh Parsons performs this on the Blackbirds and Thrushes CD and it is quite a lovely rendition with lyrics just slightly different from site listed above.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The flower of the County Down
From: John Moulden
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 03:46 PM

The earliest source I know of for this version of this song is a book called "Ireland Calling" edited by Richard Hayward. He doesn't claim that the song he prints as "The Flower of the County Down" is the original of the "Star of the County Down." The words he prints are very literary in sound and construction and the words and music arrangement is claimed by Hayward. I suspect he made up the variant and its provenance has been assumed.

Cathal O'Boyle gives it in his "Songs of County Down" as heard from Thomas McPoland of Newcastle Co Down. He says nothing about it being older but does point out that it is cast in a language closer to that of the people - maybe - but still in my view, not near enough. Much of Cathal's note is conjectural rather than supported by evidence.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The flower of the County Down
From: Magpie
Date: 07 Oct 99 - 05:35 PM

Jada, Håvard, det er norsk. Det betyr skjære. Kjæresten min kaller meg det.Uten at vi behøver å gå innpå årsaken her. Se thread'en Why did you choose your nickname? så finner du det ut + mye mer.

Skjæra/ Magpie

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The flower of the County Down
From: Matthew B.
Date: 08 Oct 99 - 04:34 AM

Well, Magpie, I guess that just clears everything up.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The flower of the County Down
From: HåvardR
Date: 08 Oct 99 - 05:02 AM

She was just explaining deep and intriging things about herself in Norwegian. You wish you knew.....

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: The flower of the County Down
From: Asle (Also Bergen)
Date: 11 Oct 99 - 09:34 AM

Thanks for many suggestions. The tune I have on a CD called Happy Days by Trad Lads. The cover liner says: "The flower of the county down" is from a collection called, "Songs of County Down", compiled and collected by Cathal O'Boyle and published by Gilbert Dalton Ltd. 1979. This is the original version of the better known "Star of the County Down". A tip to of the hat to Martin for bringing this song from his fathers home country.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FLOWER OF THE COUNTY DOWN
From: GUEST,JackieB
Date: 26 Sep 00 - 09:54 PM

THE FLOWER OF THE COUNTY DOWN

Close to Banbridge town in the County Down on a morning in July,
Down a loanin' sweet came a girl so neat, that I smiled as she passed me by.
She looked so bright with a step as light as the lep of a spring-time Hare,
That I closed my eyes in a wild surprise, to make sure I was standing there.

chorus---
Sure from Scrabo Hill through to Lisnadill and from Comber to Newry town,
There's no girl so neat as that damsel sweet, she's the flower of the County Down.

She'd an eye as lush as a clockin' thrush and such light in her nut brown hair,
That the words I had in my mouth went mad and I stood with my heart all square.
As I onward sped, sure I shook my head and say's I to a passer-by,
"Who's that girl so neat with the twinkling feet?" and I waited for his reply.
chorus
Sure from Scrabo Hill....

To that spot next day, sure I made my way and along came this lovely flower,
At the charming sight sure my heart took flight like a lark in the mid-day hour.
But I stood my ground and I quickly found on my smile she in no-ways frowned,
And such words I said, I will soon be wed, to my flower of the County Down.

chorus
Sure from Scrabo Hill....

This is a version I have in my collection and is suposed to be the original--- no doubt I will be challenged on this but, it is much older than the above 1930's 'board-walk' versions.

Hope this is of some help.

JackieB.

Subject: RE: Flower of the County Down
From: alison
Date: 07 Nov 00 - 02:32 AM

Thanks for posting "Flower of the county Down", Jackie....

I found it in a book when I was back on holiday... and have promised to type it into here... you've saved me the trouble....

For those who don't know... the places mentioned in it are in County Down, as opposed to all over Ireland in "Star of the County Down"....

slainte

alison