Lyr Req: Songs about the brehon laws

Subject: Req: Songs about the brehon laws
From: Susan-Marie
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 12:00 PM

A friend is giving a talk about the brehon laws and I'm looking for some music that might be appropriate. A forum search turned up The Stone Outside Dan Murphy's Door. Are there any other songs that refer to some aspect of the brehon laws or pre-Christian Irish culture?

Subject: RE: Req: Songs about the brehon laws
From: paddymac
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 01:39 PM

The Wolfe Tones do a piece called (I think) "Irish Laws and Irish Ways". It apparently isn't in the DT (at least not under "Irish --". I will try to transcribe it if no one else has it.

Subject: Lyr Add: IRISH WAYS AND IRISH LAWS^^
From: Amergin
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 01:47 PM

Is this it?

Irish Ways and Irish Laws

I

Once upon a time there was
Irish ways and Irish laws,
Villages of Irish blood
Waking to the morning,
Waking to the morning

II

Then the Vikings came around,
Turned us up and turned us down,
Started building boats and towns.
Try to change our living,
try to change our living.

III

Cromwell and his soldiers came,
Started centuries of shame,
but they couldn't make us turn.
We are the river flowing,
We are the river flowing.

IV

Again, again the soldiers came,
Burnt our houses, stole our grain,
Shot the farmers in the fields,
Working for a living,
Working for a living.

V

Eight hundred years we have been down.
The secret of the water sound
Has kept the spirit of a man
Above the pain descending,
Above the pain descending.

VI

Today the struggle carries on.
I wonder will I live so long
To see the gates being opened up
To a people and their freedom,
a people and their freedom.

Subject: RE: Req: Songs about the brehon laws
From: MMario
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 02:23 PM

More about Irish Laws and Ways - here

Subject: RE: Req: Songs about the brehon laws
From: Susan-Marie
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 09:44 PM

WOW! I am constantly amazed and gratified at the help I get here. Irish Laws and Ways will be perfect. Thanks so much, paddymac, Amergin and MMario. Can any of you post an abc or midi file of the melody?

Subject: RE: Req: Songs about the brehon laws
From: Sorcha
Date: 08 Jan 01 - 09:51 PM

I'll bet Big Mick has something about this, but he said he wasn't going to be around for a few days.

Subject: RE: Req: Songs about the brehon laws
From: MMario
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 09:40 AM

chords are on the ChristyMoore site but I haven't seen a melody. I don't think. checking.

Subject: RE: Req: Songs about the brehon laws
From: Wolfgang
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 09:59 AM

Old thread about Irish Ways.. also giving the author of the song.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Req: Songs about the brehon laws
From: MMario
Date: 09 Jan 01 - 10:07 AM

if you follow the link in wolfgang's posts, someone MAY have this. Not sure if "brigie" is brigid in the mountains or not. also don't know if she ever sent the file to Margaret V. You might want to check with them. It's not on the mudcat midi site yet.