Tune Req: Dark in a Showen song

Subject: Tune Req: Dark in a Showen song
From: GUEST,Stanislaw
Date: 10 Aug 16 - 02:01 AM

Hello,

I once heard a wonderful tune from an old friend I no longer see. I asked of her the title and she did reply "Dark in a Showen". However after all kinds of searches around the web I've gotten no closer to finding anything by that name. The melody is lost to me now too unfortunately. I was considering that perhaps there was such a tune known to those versed in folk songs but perhaps also recognized by an alternate title. This forum seems to be the most likely place to find any leads. Please help, if you can. Thank you!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Dark in a Showen song
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Aug 16 - 04:18 AM

Try "Dark Innishowen" - plenty of links including to other threads here.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Dark in a Showen song
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Aug 16 - 07:05 AM

Or, better, Dark Inishowen.

You could follow it with My Son's A Prawn.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Dark in a Showen song
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 10 Aug 16 - 07:32 AM

Several versions available on Youtube - with a range of spellings!


For one sung by a local of that area:

Click here

Regards

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Dark in a Showen song
From: Dave Hanson
Date: 10 Aug 16 - 07:49 AM

Oh Oh me ears are alight.

Dave H

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Dark in a Showen song
From: leeneia
Date: 10 Aug 16 - 09:15 AM

Hello, Stanislaw

Inishowen is a peninsula in Ireland. I thought 'inish' meant 'island,' but now I'm not sure. You can find the lyrics on this thread of the Mudcat:

http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=13326#2180478

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Dark in a Showen song
From: leeneia
Date: 10 Aug 16 - 09:22 AM

The same thread has a MIDI file of a tune for it, further down the page. On my computer, Google Chrome saves it but doesn't play it. Internet Explorer will play it for you.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Dark in a Showen song
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Aug 16 - 10:20 AM

Somewhere I have a scholarly little book of songs collected in Inishowen - it seems to have a strong and individual local tradition. Other folks will know the book I mean. I can't recall if this song is in it, though.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Dark in a Showen song
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Aug 16 - 10:20 AM

Somewhere I have a scholarly little book of songs collected in Inishowen - it seems to have a strong and individual local tradition. Other folks will know the book I mean. I can't recall if this song is in it, though.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Dark in a Showen song
From: Jack Campin
Date: 10 Aug 16 - 10:20 AM

Somewhere I have a scholarly little book of songs collected in Inishowen - it seems to have a strong and individual local tradition. Other folks will know the book I mean. I can't recall if this song is in it, though.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Dark in a Showen song
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 10 Aug 16 - 12:52 PM

You're probably thinking of Jimmy McBride/Jim MacFarland's collection of songs from that area, produced some years ago. Can't put my hand on my copy to confirm title.

Regards

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Dark in a Showen song
From: Michael
Date: 10 Aug 16 - 12:53 PM

Honestly we do believe you Jack!

Mike

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Dark in a Showen song
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 11 Aug 16 - 05:44 AM

All the songs collected in Inishowen by Jimmy McBride, and some more, are, texts, sound files, pdfs of the books and some background, are to be found in 'The Inishowen Song Project' a micro-site of itma.ie (The Irish Traditional Music Archive.)