Req: The old Dungannon oak (Dungarvon)

Subject: The old Dungannon oak
From: GUEST,Skarpi Iceland
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 04:48 AM

Hæ all, does anyone know those lyrics.

The old Dungannon oak,Pretty little girls from Omagh, and Take me back to Castlebar. Those songs are all from Ireland. Some time back I asked about the last one but with little luck,well i got three verses of five. So if any one can help . Skarpi Iceland.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: John Moulden
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 08:08 AM

I'm horrified to have to admit to never, ever having heard of any of them - and I live about 50 miles from each of Omagh and Dungannon and have been listening to and hunting out songs for nearly forty years.

Skarpi, have you any memory of how you came to hear any part of them? If I knew that I might be able to begin looking.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: GUEST,Nick
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 08:29 AM

I believe the song is the Old Dungarvan Oak.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 05:40 PM

'Ar Log' sing a song called Yr Hen Dderwen Ddu or The Old Carmarthen Oak. In the notes they explain it is a "love song loosely based on the legend of the Carmarthen Oak. Merlin, the magician, cast a spell on the tree, and should the tree fall, Carmarthen itself would be drowned". It was written by Rhydderch Jones and Frank Hennessy, an Irishman living in Wales. Could that be your first song, Skarpi? IIRR they also provide an English translation in their songsheet that I could post. - Susanne

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: Brendy
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 06:47 PM

And, 'Pretty little girl from Omagh (in the county of Tyrone), was recorded on a remarkable album (weren't they all?) by 'Big Tom and the Mainliners'/'Travellers', but not being a C/W fan, I never got around to learning it.
And I think the 'Dungarvan Oak' would be your best bet, but I forget who recorded it, except to say I heard a recent recording of it somewhere. So it is out there somewhere, along with the 'Pretty little Girl'.
Check out the songs/LP's of Bridie Gallagher.
Lykke til.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: John Moulden
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 07:21 PM

Search via Alta Vista for "Pretty little girls of Omagh" produces three results. The two of them which work lead to an album by a group, of whom I know not a thing and may not even wish to inquire, called the Wicklows. This URL may alow you to buy the album concerned - where incidentally, there is a track called "The old Dungannon Oak" - probably, I agree a derivative of "The old Dungarvan Oak"

http://www.mei.pt/offer.xmas97-cd06.pt.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: Brendy
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 07:35 PM

Apropos the pretty little girl This might help. Further, I dare not to go!
I'll go off and find the other one if I can. The band I remember doing it years ago also did a version of 'Lanigan's Ball', where 'Julia' played the bodhrán. Hios name was Dermot or something.

Subject: Lyr Add: PRETTY LITTLE GIRL FROM OMAGH
From: Brakn
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 08:44 PM

Ok I know that this a "folk" site but if you have to do an Irish night these are the songs that you will be asked for...


PRETTY LITTLE GIRL FROM OMAGH

Way up in the north in old Tyrone,
There's a girl I long to call my own
She's the sweetest flower that Ireland's ever grown
And as sure as the moon and star above
I've fallen head over heels in love
With that Pretty Little Girl From Omagh in the County of Tyrone

There's sweet little girls in old Strabane
And they're just as sweet in Monaghan
And this to every roving eye is known
But I guess that I'd be out of bounds
Because there between those northern towns
Is that Pretty Little Girl From Omagh in the County of Tyrone

Chorus
She wears my ring and tells her friends she's going to marry me
And best of all she tells them all she's happy as can be, oh lucky me
Well I don't know what she's done to me
But there's nothing else my eyes can see
But that Pretty Little Girl From Omagh in the County of Tyrone

Way down south in old Tramore
I recall that yellow dress she wore
As she strolled along the shore there all alone
And I know it was my lucky day
That she came there on holiday
That Pretty Little Girl From Omagh in the County of Tyrone


Mick Bracken

Subject: Lyr Add: OLD DUNGARVON OAK / OLD CARMARTHEN OAK
From: Brakn
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 08:53 PM

OLD DUNGARVON OAK (also called The OLD CARMARTHEN OAK)

As I roved out one morning
Going to Dungarvon Fair
I spied a pretty maiden
With the sunlight in her hair
Her way was so delightful
Her voice wrang like a bell
And as I overtook her
I asked if she was well

Chorus
Lay down your woollen shawl me love
I swear it is no joke
And I'll tell to you the story of
The Old Dungarvon Oak

As we approached Dungarvon
The girl at me did stare
And she asked me why I raised my hat
To a tree so old and bare
I told her of the legend
If the tree should e'er come down
There'd be a great disaster
And Dungarvon would be drowned

Then she started laughing
My face grew very red
And she said that only fools believed
What those old legends said
Her laughter was contagious
For the truth to you I'll tell
By the time I reached the market place
I began to laugh as well

As I sit here by my fireside
It's the autumn of my life
And the darling girl I met that day
Is now my darling wife
I have a lovely daughter
And a son to push my yoke
And all because I raised my hat
To the Old Dungarvon Oak


Mick Bracken

Subject: Lyr Add: TAKE ME BACK TO CASTLEBAR
From: Brakn
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 08:58 PM

There is another verse but I can't remember it

TAKE ME BACK TO CASTLEBAR

I waiting for John Murphy's van to take me to the site
I've been working seven days a week, from morning to dark night
And as I step inside the van and gently close the door
The first thing that they ask me's What I did the night before?

Chorus
Take me back To Castlebar, in the county of Mayo
It's the only place in Ireland, I'm longing for to go
Where they greet you with a friendly smile and they bid you time of day,
When I set me foot in old Mayo I never more will stray

Dirty Jack the ganger man, he talks about the times
Himself and old John Murphy worked deep down in the mines
He says he meets him often at the Dorchester Hotel
If you want to make promotion boy, get down and dig like hell

Mick Bracken

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: Brakn
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 09:02 PM

Hey Skarpi......I do all these songs....book me for Iceland!!!LOL

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: Brendy
Date: 25 Jan 00 - 11:30 PM

Good man Mick. I was called away to something else, and didn't get a chance to search for the words much. But Hey, Skarpi, why notBuy the Album!. Not a bad song really.
And Mick, still waiting for the words of that other song to come down the wire. It will though, I'm sure of it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: GUEST,Skarpi Iceland
Date: 26 Jan 00 - 07:36 AM

Hallo all , many thanks to you all.I might have heard the word Dungannon wrong?. I still need three verses of the song Take me back to castlebar, does anyone have them?. Brakn Why dont you connact the pup Dubliners In Reykjavík?. If you need any Info please connact me on the personal page. All the best to you all Skarpi Iceland.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: AKS
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 05:37 AM

Skarpi, maybe this explains it: I have a cd (collection, various artist, cheap stuff) where there's "Dungannon" printed on the sleeve, but more than clearly enough for me it's sung "Dungarvan".

AKS

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: GUEST,Skarpi Iceland
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 07:26 AM

Yes I think you right , it is Dungarvan oak. All the best skarpi Iceland.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: Brakn
Date: 27 Jan 00 - 08:28 PM

The last verse to Take me back To Castlebar, start

At the Duke of York on a Saturday night..............

Mick Bracken

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: MARINER
Date: 18 Feb 01 - 05:44 PM

It's a bit late to be getting in on this thread but I might be able to help on the story of The Dungarvan Oak v. The Carmarthen Oak. One of Frank Hennessy's early songwriting success'was a recording of his song The Gypsy by an Irish singer called I think, Dermot Henry. Another Hennessy song was requested for his follow up. At the time he hadn't a suitable Irish flavoured song, but he did have The Carmarthen Oak, which tells of a local legend. So,the title was changed to Dungarvan Oak, because it fitted and Hennessy had conections with the area, a couple of words of the chorus were changed, and hey presto, another big Irish hit!. It has since been recorded by The Bards, that too was a hit.The strange thing is that some people now believe that there is a legend about an Oak tree in Dungarvan. Out of this legends are born!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: GUEST,dulcimer
Date: 19 Feb 01 - 01:15 PM

John M. I was given a CD of Irish songs by the Wicklows--one of those cheaper CD's you see in the "almost bargain area." I too sometimes wonder, who are the Wicklows?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The old Dungannon oak
From: MARINER
Date: 19 Feb 01 - 01:41 PM

Dulcimer, Regarding The Wicklows, I'd say your guess would be as good as anyone else's. There must be dozens of groups who recorded stuff for those cheap Records and C.D.s. Some of them weren't too bad, others?, well you get what you pays for.Something that annoys me about the bigger, well known groups is that when albums are reissued on C.D., the companys charge full price. It doesn't seem fair practice to charge full whack for something that was recorded, issued and well paid for years ago.

Subject: Lyr Add: TAKE ME BACK TO CASTLEBAR
From: Brakn
Date: 19 Mar 01 - 06:50 AM

Skarpi
Last verse to "Take Me Back To Castlebar"

At the Duke Of York on a Saturday night John Murphy does relate
He says he first came over here in 1938
That is the year before the war, if my memory serves me clear
'Cos written on the factory was "No Irish wanted Here"!