Origins: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell)

Subject: Lyr Add: ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE (M MacConnell)
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 10 Oct 97 - 09:48 AM

A song I miss in the database. It has been recorded by many folk groups and singers. Source: Songs of Resistance 1968-1975 (kind of IRA songbook)

ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE (a.k.a.: Only our rivers, Only her rivers run free) (Michael MacConnell)

When apples still grow in November,
When blossom remains on each tree,
When leaves are still green in December,
It's then that our land will be free.
I wander her hills and her valleys
And still to my sorrow I see
A land that has never known freedom
Where only her rivers run free.

I drink to the death of her manhood,
To those men who would rather have died
Than to live in the cold chains of bondage.
To bring back the rights we're denied.
Oh, where are you now when we need you?
What burns where the flame used to be?
Are you gone like the snow of last winter
And will only our rivers run free?

How sweet is life, but we're crying,
How mellow the wine, yet we're dry,
How fragrant the rose, but it's dying,
How gentle the wind, yet it sighs.
What good is in youth, when you're aging?
What joy is in eyes that can see
That there is sorrow in sunshine and flowers
If only our rivers run free.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 10 Oct 97 - 09:30 PM

Thanx Wolfgang- I could have sworn we had this but---oh well. dick

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: Shula
Date: 11 Oct 97 - 07:32 PM

Dear Wolfgang,

This is a powerful, wonderful song. Imagine I'm not the only one that would love to have the tune. Thank you so much for posting the lyrics!

Shula

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: alison
Date: 12 Oct 97 - 06:56 AM

Hi

Words and music also available in Folksongs and Ballads popular in Ireland, (volume3), and in the "Soodlum's Irish Ballads" books.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From:
Date: 12 Oct 97 - 03:45 PM

There's also a translation of MacConnell's song into Irish Gaelic by Deausun Breatnach of Dublin And MacConnell has fairly recently recorded some interesting songs mocking politicians and aristocracy

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: Wolfgang
Date: 13 Oct 97 - 03:59 AM

Dick, I guess your memory is correct and you had it once, for if you enter "Only our rivers" into a search machine you are directed to the former DT-site in some machines. It must have been lost during transfer. Wolfgang

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: Jon W.
Date: 13 Oct 97 - 10:48 AM

I've got this song on a Planxty album and I could swear they sing in the second verse "I drink to the DEPTH of her manhood..." I only bring this up because it seems to make more sense this way. Do the books say death?

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: alison
Date: 13 Oct 97 - 06:23 PM

hi

Yes, the books say death.They died fighting (or suffering) for their country, therefore it makes sense in the context of the song.

slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: alison
Date: 13 Oct 97 - 07:09 PM

Hi Shula, Here's the tune. ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE KEY D / Time Sig. 3 / 4 D - C#/B /(D) A F# - / - - D / (A)E E E / E D C# B / (D)A F# - / - - A / (G)B B C# / (E)>D >E >D / (A)C# - - / - - >D/C# / (G)B - B/B / B A G / (D)A F# - / - - D / (A)E E E / E = octave higher. Each letter is a crotchet (because it's easier,) any fractions eg F/E are quavers. Guitar chords are in brackets. Good luck following it Slainte Alison

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: alison
Date: 13 Oct 97 - 07:15 PM

Hi

Ignore the above one, I have no idea what happened but it didn't work so here goes again.

ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE

KEY D / Time Sig. 3 / 4

(G)G G G / (D)F# - A/F# / (A)E - - / - - A /

(G)B B C# />D - C#/B /(D) A F# - / - - D /

(A)E E E / E

(G)B B C# / >D C# B / (D)A F# - / - - A /

(G)B B C# / (E)>D >E >D / (A)C# - - / - - >D/C# /

(G)B - B/B / B A G / (D)A F# - / - - D /

(A)E E E / E

For those of you who haven't seen this done before.
< = an octave lower,
> = octave higher.
Each letter is a crotchet (because it's easier,) any fractions eg F/E are quavers.
Guitar chords are in brackets.

Hope it works this time,

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: alison
Date: 13 Oct 97 - 07:24 PM

HI AGAIN

3rd time lucky, it keeps losing the first line and parts of some of the others.

A< / (D)D D D / (A)E - F#/E / (D)D A - / (D7)- - G /

(G)G G G / (D)F# - A/F# / (A)E - - / - - A /

(G)B B C# />D - C#/B /(D) A F# - / - - D /

(A)E E E / E (G)B B C# / >D C# B / (D)A F# - / - - A /

(G)B B C# / (E)>D >E >D / (A)C# - - / - - >D/C# /

(G)B - B/B / B A G / (D)A F# - / - - D /

(A)E E E / E slainte

alison

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: alison
Date: 13 Oct 97 - 07:34 PM

HI

If it doesn't work right this time I give up

A< / (D)D D D / (A)E - F#/E / (D)D A - / (D7)- - G /

(G)G G G / (D)F# - A/F# / (A)E - - / - - A /

(G)B B C# />D - C#/B /(D) A F# - / - - D /

(A)E E E / E < C# (G) B B C# / >D C# B / (D)A F# - / - - A /

(G)B B C# / (E)>D >E >D / (A)C# - - / - - >D/C# /

(G)B - B/B / B A G / (D)A F# - / - - D /

(A)E E E / E

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: alison
Date: 13 Oct 97 - 07:44 PM

sorry, it's leaving out a complete line every time.

My computer obviously hates me. Try finding it in a book.

I'm off for some retail therapy.

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: Wolfgang
Date: 14 Oct 97 - 04:03 AM

Depth or Death?

I enjoyed very much, Jon, to follow your hint last night:
I first took out the Planxty record. You're depthinitely not half deaf but death right: Planxty sing "I drink to the depth of her manhood" (singer: Christy Moore).
I then went to the songbooks. About six of them include "Only our rivers". All of them say "death" with one single but significant exception. The Planxty songbook unsurprisingly has "depth".
Then I remembered that Christy Moore also made another recording of this song. It is on his "Time has come by", recorded a couple of years after the Planxty recording. He sings "death" on this record.
Someone must have told him in between that he had misheard the original. So the best guess and majority vote is that "death" is the original version though I agree that "depth" could make sense.
Wolfgang

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: alison
Date: 14 Oct 97 - 07:42 AM

Hi again,

I am sheepishly returning to this thread to tell you to ignore all of my entries above. thanks to the wonderful Alan of Oz this should now work so here goes the tune for the very last time....

ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE

KEY D / Time Sig. 3 / 4

(G)G G G / (D)F# - A/F# / (A)E - - / - - A /

(G)B B C# />D - C#/B /(D) A F# - / - - D /

(A)E E E / E (G)B B C# / >D C# B / (D)A F# - / - - A /

(G)B B C# / (E)>D >E >D / (A)C# - - / - - >D/C# /

(G)B - B/B / B A G / (D)A F# - / - - D /

(A)E E E / E For those of you who haven't seen this done before. < = an octave lower, > = octave higher. Each letter is a crotchet (because it's easier,) any fractions eg F/E are quavers. Guitar chords are in brackets.

Roll on the day when we can send music files (ie notation as opposed to midi).

slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: alison
Date: 14 Oct 97 - 08:14 AM

Hey Alan,

Still not working properly.

I give up, will send Dick the midi file instead.

alison

Subject: Chords Add: ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE (MacConnell)
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 14 Oct 97 - 08:58 AM

G'day Alison,
You forgot to replace < with & lt.

Is this what you were trying to do?

ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE

KEY D / Time Sig. 3 / 4

(G)G G G / (D)F# - A/F# / (A)E - - / - - A /

(G)B B C# />D - C#/B /(D) A F# - / - - D /

(A)E E E / E (G)B B C# / >D C# B / (D)A F# - / - - A /

(G)B B C# / (E)>D >E >D / (A)C# - - / - - >D/C# /

(G)B - B/B / B A G / (D)A F# - / - - D /

(A)E E E / E For those of you who haven't seen this done before. < = an octave lower, > = octave higher. Each letter is a crotchet (because it's easier,) any fractions eg F/E are quavers. Guitar chords are in brackets.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: Jon W.
Date: 14 Oct 97 - 12:30 PM

Alison and Alan, please please please go read the thread I started on ABC notation a few days back (set filter to ABC and days to 14). It will make it so much easier to send tunes in the forum. There is free software available to convert MIDI to ABC as well as to play ABC on any PC, and it works pretty well, too. ABC can be posted to the forum just by changing newlines to < br>. I'm not going to stop talking about this.

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: Steve D.
Date: 15 Oct 97 - 06:55 AM

I always thought Christy Moore was singing 'death', not 'depth', but I guess it was just my mind playing tricks with me. It isn't always so easy to understand him though - it took me ages to work out all the words to 'Follow me up to Carlow'

Subject: Tune Add: ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE (MacConnell)
From: alison
Date: 03 Nov 97 - 11:33 PM

Hi

In an attempt to make up for my efforts earlier on, here at last is the tune. Hope it works this time.

MIDI file: ONLYRIVR.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: Only our rivers run free
TimeSig: 3/4 24 8
Key: D
Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Start
0960 1 57 032 0478 0 57 032 0002 1 62 053 0238 0 62 053 0002 1 62 057 0718 0 62 057 0002 1 62 033 0478 0 62 033 0002 1 64 046 0958 0 64 046 0002 1 66 038 0244 1 64 037 0023 0 66 038 0213 0 64 037 0054 1 62 031 0426 1 57 038 0048 0 62 031 1870 0 57 038 0002 1 67 050 0478 0 67 050 0002 1 67 050 0238 0 67 050 0002 1 67 044 0718 0 67 044 0002 1 67 049 0478 0 67 049 0002 1 66 039 0958 0 66 039 0002 1 69 034 0238 0 69 034 0002 1 66 026 0238 0 66 026 0002 1 64 044 2398 0 64 044 0002 1 69 049 0478 0 69 049 0002 1 71 065 0718 0 71 065 0002 1 71 044 0238 0 71 044 0002 1 73 044 0478 0 73 044 0002 1 74 053 0958 0 74 053 0002 1 73 032 0238 0 73 032 0002 1 71 044 0238 0 71 044 0002 1 69 040 0478 0 69 040 0002 1 66 038 1918 0 66 038 0002 1 62 040 0478 0 62 040 0002 1 64 040 0958 0 64 040 0002 1 64 049 0238 0 64 049 0002 1 64 040 0240 0 64 040 0029 1 64 048 0931 1 61 047 0023 0 64 048 0215 0 61 047 0002 1 57 027 0238 0 57 027 0002 1 59 045 2398 0 59 045 0002 1 69 044 0478 0 69 044 0002 1 71 049 0238 0 71 049 0002 1 71 029 0685 0 71 029 0275 1 73 039 0238 0 73 039 0002 1 74 048 0478 0 74 048 0002 1 73 043 0478 0 73 043 0002 1 71 044 0478 0 71 044 0002 1 69 048 0238 0 69 048 0002 1 66 044 2158 0 66 044 0002 1 69 040 0478 0 69 040 0002 1 71 034 0958 0 71 034 0002 1 71 053 0238 0 71 053 0002 1 73 039 0238 0 73 039 0002 1 74 052 0718 0 74 052 0002 1 76 042 0238 0 76 042 0002 1 74 038 0478 0 74 038 0002 1 73 048 1918 0 73 048 0482 1 74 042 0238 0 74 042 0002 1 73 034 0238 0 73 034 0002 1 71 057 0958 0 71 057 0002 1 71 046 0238 0 71 046 0002 1 71 046 0238 0 71 046 0002 1 71 045 0238 0 71 045 0002 1 69 033 0718 0 69 033 0002 1 67 043 0478 0 67 043 0002 1 69 044 0478 0 69 044 0002 1 66 040 1918 0 66 040 0002 1 62 044 0478 0 62 044 0002 1 64 054 0958 0 64 054 0002 1 64 057 0238 0 64 057 0002 1 64 044 0238 0 64 044 0002 1 64 044 0238 0 64 044 0002 1 61 044 0718 0 61 044 0002 1 57 032 0478 0 57 032 0002 1 59 050 2398 0 59 050
End

To download the October 30 MIDItext 97 software click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Only our rivers run free
M:3/4
Q:1/4=100
K:D
A,2|DD3D2|E4F9/8E7/8|-E/8z5/24D47/24A,89/24|
-A,103/24G41/24|-G7/24GG3G41/24|-G7/24F4AF17/24|
-F7/24E-41/232|-E103/24A41/24|-A7/24B3Bc41/24|
-c7/24d4cB17/24|-B7/24A2F89/24|-F103/24D41/24|
-D7/24E4EE17/24|-E7/24z/8E95/24CA,5/8|-A,3/8B,45/8|
-B,35/8A13/8|-A3/8BB23/8z7/6c7/12|-c5/12d2c2B19/12|
-B5/12AF55/12|-F53/12A19/12|-A5/12B4Bc7/12|
-c5/12d3ed19/12|-d5/12c67/12|-c29/12z2dc7/12|
-c5/12B4BB7/12|-B5/12BA3G19/12|-G5/12A2F43/12|
-F53/12D19/12|-D5/12E4EE7/12|-E5/12EC3A,19/12|
-A,5/12B,67/12|-B,53/12||

slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: Wolfgang
Date: 04 Nov 97 - 06:21 AM

Dick,

your memory isn't playing tricks, you once had it:
look here: http://web2.xerox.com/digitrad/tune=RIVRFREE
or look here:http://underground.liquid.com/cgi-bin/dtrad/lookup?tn=RIVRFREE

The latter site looks to me like a mirror of the old Digitrad site.

Wolfgang

Subject: Chords Add: ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE (MacConnell)
From: cujimmy
Date: 23 Sep 00 - 06:49 PM

I play it in G :-

    G                 C         G
  When apples still grow in November,
   G     C        G              D
  When blossom remains on each tree.
   C                                G
  When leaves are still green in December,
          C             D            E
  Is it then that our land will be free.
          C                          G
  I've wandered her hills and her valleys,
        C                      D
  And still through my sorrow I see,
      C                         G
  A land that has never known freedom,
    C                  D          E
  And where only her rivers run free.

Hope this is helpful.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: 'Only our Rivers'
From: Brendy
Date: 24 Sep 00 - 10:02 AM

The correct second line of the first verse, is

"When blossoms remain on each tree"

B

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 09:37 AM

OK, folks, this should be definitive. Here's a website called Mickey MacConnell - Official Web Site. I don't know what it takes to designate a website as "Official" but at least this one has lots of information, the kind you'd expect an official site to have. The spelling is consistently Mickey—not Michael—MacConnell—not McConnel, McCommell, or McConnell (all of which have been seen in this thread).

There is a bit of inconsistency about the song title, though. In a couple of places it's called RIVERS and in another, ONLY OUR RIVERS (See the liner notes at the bottom of the page.), but most often, it's ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE.

That means it's wrong in the DT.

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 09:40 AM

Woops! I added that last message to the wrong thread. I meant to add it here. Oh, well, the threads needed to be linked anyway.

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: chordstrangler
Date: 03 Feb 04 - 08:05 PM

I'm sitting here blushing and both my ears are bright red with embarassment. I have to confess that Chordstrangler is Mickey MacConnell and that I'm totally gobsmacked at the interest being shown in my work.

Yes- the original word was death.   This makes sense when viewed in the context of being written in 1965 - a time long before the first stone was thrown during the first civil rights march in Derry. The previous republican campaign had been a short lived one which died off at the end of the 1950's.    I was born in 1947 by the way which would have made me a callow youth when the song was first penned.

The song was largely inspired by the claustrophia of South Fermanagh..I was bought up on the banks of the River Erne near Enniskillen and, I'm a River Man.   It is a song that has taken on more and more significance over the years and I have to admit that I'm very proud of it.

I have written quite a lot of other stuff but have to say that "Only Our Rivers Run Free" was the one that attracted all the attention.   Sadly so, in my view.

Thanks for all the interest and if I can help any fellow Catter in any way who wants to know more, I would be delighted to do so. Mickey.....(AKA Chordstrangler)

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: Wolfgang
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 10:11 AM

The resurfacing of this and another thread about 'Rivers' made me realise for the first time that the great song 'Peter Pan and me' has been written by the same man, too. Mickey, you are a blessed songwriter.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 04 Feb 04 - 12:01 PM

What a nice treat! I remember first hearing this song from an Irish folksinger in the UK about 15 years ago. At the time nobody else was doing it and this man would do it every couple of weeks at my then local watering spot.

A great song! How about posting some more of them Mr chordstrangler?

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 05:50 PM

Guest, what is your meaning? If you're looking for the lyrics of 'Follow Me Up To Carlow' you've definitely landed in the wrong thread. Try putting 'Carlow' in the 'Lyrics and Knowledge' search box (top right) and see what comes up. If it's not to your satisfaction you might start a new thread, but down here, nobody will find your request. And if you're planning to stay with the Mudcat you might do well to read the Mudcat FAQ Newcomers' Guide (top of the thread list). Good luck!

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: Wrinkles
Date: 15 Mar 05 - 07:50 PM

Well Chordstrangler many many thanks for your post and for your wonderful song; our hearts are the richer for it.

I've heard so many legends about this song; that it was a 'kesh song, that it was a lament for the loss of the sticky's honour and dignity being overwhelmed by the provies, and even that it was _really_ about the old UVF! All rubish of course because as you say it was penned before the first halfer was chucked in the present conflict! Perhaps it's just that it is such a wonderful song that everyone wants to "own" it! (and who can blame them).

Only Our Rivers has given me much pleasure in the playing and the performing of it over the years, and sparked much deep reflection; for ehich I thank you.

They say there's many a wise man has come from Enniskillen, and your the proof of it!

Wrinkles

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: chordstrangler
Date: 16 Mar 05 - 05:18 PM

Thanks for the kind words...M

Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers
From: Cromdubh
Date: 17 Mar 05 - 02:28 PM

Chordstrangler, Happy Saint Patrick`s day to You and all the clan in Listowel. Hope to see you again when I return from my travels.

From the little pup that darkens your door every once in while. Playing plenty and the pignose in working well. God bless.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell)
From: Genie
Date: 14 Mar 07 - 06:30 PM

Anyone got a link to a MIDI or a recording clip where I could hear the tune?

I'm not doing so well with those ABC thingies.

Thanks,

Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell)
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Mar 07 - 07:39 AM

Genie here you go

it's a link to my own site,
This song could be about any country struggling for independence as there is no mention of Ireland anywhere in the song

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell)
From: Genie
Date: 17 Mar 07 - 10:35 AM

Thanks, dear GUEST!

You're right, the song could have international "legs."
Genie

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnel
From: Stewart
Date: 17 Mar 07 - 11:01 AM

Hi Genie - You can hear Mickey MacConnel sing it here. Just click on the link in the lyrics.

What a powerful song!

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: Tune: Only Our Rivers Run Free (Mickey MacConnell
From: Genie
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 02:07 AM

Thanks, Stewart.

I also found an audio file of WolfeTones singing the song here.   

Yes, it's a beautiful song, and as has been mentioned, its lyrics can fit any nation or people who are struggling to become - or remain - free.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnel
From: ard mhacha
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 05:47 AM

Thanks Stewart, I have many singers performing this song but I will put Mickey MacConnell`s rendering along with the very best.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnel
From: ard mhacha
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 06:14 AM

On the Site posted by Stewart is a list of songs among which is Luke Kelly`s lovely version of Bunclody, some of the verses accompanying the song are different from Luke`s singing, but nevertheless, this is a rare treat.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnel
From: ard mhacha
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 06:18 AM

Sorry that should be Genie`s link to the Wolfe Tones.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell)
From: Declan
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 06:24 AM

I know it was a while ago, but the depth/death confusion is caused by a tendency among some Irish traditional singers to sing a nasal n sound in certain vowels. Christy Moore sings in this style on the Planxty recording. So he was singing Death but sounded like Denth.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell)
From: Genie
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 09:20 PM

There are a couple errors in the lyrics as posted in the DT, in the second verse.   Most of them are simple puncutation omissions, but the word "where" is mistyped as "were."

In the second verse, it should read:
"I drink to the death of her manhood,
Those men who would rather have died
Than to live in the cold chains of bondage,
To bring back their rights where denied.
Oh, where are you now that we need you?
What burns where the flame used to be?
...

At present, it reads:
I drink to the death of her manhood
Those men who'd rather have died
Than to live in the cold chains of bondage
To bring back their rights were denied.
Oh, where are you now that we need you,
What burns where the flame used to be
Are you gone like the snow of last winter
And will only our rivers run free?

In the third verse, the word "a" is omitted in the first line:

"How sweet is life, but we're crying.
How mellow the wine, but we're dry."

Should read:
"How sweet is a life, but we're crying.
How mellow the wine, but we're (it's)* dry.

And the last lines should read:
"What good is in eyes that can't see,
When there's sorrow in sunshine and flowers
And still only our rivers run free?"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell)
From: Genie
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 09:23 PM

ETA,
I noticed that the lyrics Wolfgang posted differ slightly from what we have in the DT. I don't know which are correct.   I was basing my corrections on hearing Wolfe Tones sing it and on correcting a couple of obvious misspellings or omissions.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnel
From: Stewart
Date: 18 Mar 07 - 09:31 PM

All you need to do is follow my link above to get the words directly from the author. I presume he is the authority. But then there's the 'folk process.'

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell)
From: Genie
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 02:15 PM

Thanks, Stewart. I see now that the lyrics as posted by Wolfgang are correct, as sung by MacConnell and as posted on his website -- but with more correct punctuation.

The point is, there are some mistakes in the DT lyrics. I'd suggest just copying the lyrics as posted by Wolfgang and replacing the version in the DT with them.

(Yes, that troublesome line in the second verse is
"To bring back the rights we're denied,"

not "To bring back the rights were denied" (DT version)
or "To bring back our rights where denied" (Wolfe Tones version, which probably stemmed from seeing "were" printed and trying to make sense of it. Pesky little critters, those apostrophes. )

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnel
From: Stewart
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 03:19 PM

Yes, it's hard to sing an apostrophe.

S.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell)
From: Genie
Date: 19 Mar 07 - 06:01 PM

If you're not Victor Borge, anyway. ;-D

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell)
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Oct 07 - 05:42 PM

Where is the version with (gaelic lyrics)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell)
From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego
Date: 15 Oct 07 - 12:53 PM

Did Ronan Tynan perform this song while a member of the Irish Tenors? I seem to recall a very passionate rendering of it, if this is, indeed, the song I am remembering.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnel
From: GUEST
Date: 15 Oct 08 - 05:34 AM

The hard "t" hiberno English pronunciation of "th" could also perhaps make "death" sound like "depth". Incidentally does anyone know if the Planxty Songbook is still available anywhere?

Jeremy Price

Subject: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell
From: GUEST,Skarpi
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 02:21 AM

hi All , this song and this lyric is powerful
but does anyone know where its from , what is about , although
I have a pritty good idea , when was it written , where did Mickey live and so on .

kv Skarpi .

Subject: RE: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell
From: Stewie
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 02:50 AM

Skarpi, Mickey is an occasional contributor to Mudcat threads using the name chordstrangler.

His website addy is: http://www.mickeymacconnell.com/

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 03:00 AM

OUR Chordstrangler wrote that? What a lovely, haunting song!

More information in the crosslinks above.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell
From: Gervase
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 05:52 AM

Mickey has written some fantastic songs and sings them pretty well too. Check out Peter Pan & Me, The First Good Friday and Famous Five on his website; they're all brilliant.

Subject: RE: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell
From: GUEST,Roy McLean
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 04:46 PM

I believe this song was written in the late 60s early 70s and was inspired by the growing Civil Rights movement at that time. I think it was written by a guy called McConnell from somewhere around Enniskillen. I seem to remember it was recorded by Planxty on one of their earlier albums. Im sure Mr. McConnell, aka. "Chordstrangler" (see above posts), can enlighten you more about his song, though hes pretty guarded about what he actually says in the song, restricting himself to two themes: [1] A prevailing sense of a general lack of freedom abroad; [2] Bemoaning the lack of leaders who can help us in this situation, eg. "Where are you now when we need you? What burns where the flame used to be?". There are various interpretations of the song. Some see it as being a general comment on N.Ireland society at that time. Others see it as relating to the internal power struggles which were going on within the Civil Rights Movement. Yet others see it as being about both these issues.

Subject: Origins: Only our rivers run free Michell McConne
From: skarpi
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 06:35 PM

hallo all , what lay behind these words ??
Only our rivers run free ??

where are the rivers ? in N Ireland ??
and why " Only her rivers run free " her is that N-Ireland ??
and who are the men , " are they Irish ???
and many more questions ?

all the best skarpi Iceland

Subject: RE: Origins: Only our rivers run free Michell McConne
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 06:50 PM

Michael McConnell is a Mudcatter ("Chordstrangler") and will no doubt be along in the fulness of time to answer your questions, Skarpi

Subject: RE: Origins: Only our rivers run free Michell McConne
From: skarpi
Date: 22 Sep 09 - 02:59 AM

then I got his name wrong , sorry about that .

kv Skarpi

Subject: RE: Origins: Only our rivers run free Michell McConne
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 22 Sep 09 - 03:08 AM

actually, he is universally known as Mickey rather than Michael ...

Subject: RE: Origins: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell)
From: GUEST,^&*
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 09:22 AM

Just came across the Irish translation referred to by Alison many years ago:

-------------------

Chomh saor leis an Sruth ar an Sliabh
(Only her rivers run free)
(Deasún Breatnach)

Nuair a fhásas na húllaí mí na Samhna
Is na bláthanna go trom ar na crainn,
Nuair is glas fós duilleoga faoin Nollaig
Is ansin a bheas an tír saor arís.

Siúlaim thar chnoca 's thar ghleannta
Agus fós tríd an mbrón tchím í –
An tír seo nárbh eol di riamh saoirse,
Is níl saor ach an sruth ar an sliabh.

Ólaim gradam na bhfear atá básaí'
Na laochra arbh fhearr leo an t-éag
Mar rogha ar náire 's ar dhaoirse
Is chinnteoidís ár gcearta 'tá i léig.

Cá bhfuil sibh nuair atá sibh de dhíth 'rainn?
'Bhfuil dé fós sa ngríosach 'bhíodh fial?
Ar thréig sibh muid mar 'rinne an sneachta?
Is níl saor ach an sruth ar an sliabh.

Nach breá í an bheatha 'tá muid a' caoineadh?
Cén mhaith 'tá sa rosc atá caoch?
Nuair is dubh é ár mbrón is ár ndobrón,
Is níl saor ach an sruth ar an slaibh.

----------------------------------

It sings well, too.