Lyr Req: The Juice of The Barley

Subject: The Juice of The Barley
From: GUEST,John Davidson
Date: 17 Jun 01 - 06:52 AM

Please help.

I have the words and music for this song, which was recorded by the Clancy Brothers.

Does anyone know what the chorus means?

It is "banya na mo if angana" I'm not sure if it is Gaelic or gobbledigook!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Juice of The Barley
From: alison
Date: 17 Jun 01 - 07:27 AM

the words and tune are here

I know there was an old thread...... it is gaelic but from memory it roughly means "milk is for calves and cattle, but the juice of the barley for me"

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Juice of The Barley
From: alison
Date: 17 Jun 01 - 07:36 AM

found it... it was in an old song circle thread

Subject: RE: straight & sober song circle From: Martin Ryan Date: 23-Sep-97 - 06:50 AM

"Bainne na mbo is na ngamhna - and the juice of the barley for me."

Basically, It means " Milk is for cows and for calves - whiskey for me!"

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Juice of The Barley
From: GUEST,Annraoi
Date: 17 Jun 01 - 09:00 PM

Alison,
Nice to see you're still with us. How's your sister?
Annraoi

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Juice of The Barley
From: MarkS
Date: 17 Jun 01 - 09:18 PM

Thanks - I have wondered about that for years!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Juice of The Barley
From: Rog Peek
Date: 12 Oct 10 - 03:31 PM

Second line, second verse:
"With me turf and me primer to school I did go."

My mother in law, God rest her soul, was one of ten children growing up in North West Cork in the 1920s. She used to tell us how the children would walk, without shoes, the 3 or 4 miles to school winter and summer, and that in winter they would be expected to take a sod of turf for the fire.

Can anyone explain what the 'primer' refered to in the lyric refers to?

Rog

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Juice of The Barley
From: GUEST,^&*
Date: 12 Oct 10 - 03:42 PM

A "primer" is "an elementary textbook for teaching children to read" (Concise Oxford Dictionary).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Juice of The Barley
From: banjoman
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 07:03 AM

Also recorded by Val Doonican

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Juice of The Barley
From: GUEST,John McDonnell Dublin
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 07:15 AM

I first heard the song sung in the early 1960's by Andy Rynne Dr. now, a great man for the snip.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Juice of The Barley
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 10:28 AM

"primer"

To my surprise, when I worked in a library, I learned it is pronounced 'primmer.' At least it is here in Midwest America.

'Prymer' is what you put under a final coat of paint.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Juice of The Barley
From: Dave MacKenzie
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 10:34 AM

Here it's always pronounced to rhyme with rhymer, and if it was paint, it would go on before the undercoat.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Juice of The Barley
From: GUEST,snuffy (not at home)
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 05:38 PM

Memories of first encountering Kennedy's Shorter Latin Primer in 1957 - when it had already been on sale for 60 years!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Juice of The Barley
From: GUEST,JimI
Date: 13 Oct 10 - 06:30 PM

My wife who went to school in North Cork in the 1940s and 1950s always calls it a primmer also.