looking for song EXILE OF ERIN

Subject: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: JedMarum
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 03:50 PM

I'm currently reading "Kate, The Journal of a Confederate Nurse" in which she describes singing and finding accord with the sogs of Moore and Campbell. In particular she names, Tara' Halls (which I found in the DT as Tara's Harp) another song I could not find called, Exile of Erin.

Does anyone know of this second song, have info on it? Or for that matter, background info on either?

Subject: RE: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: MMario
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 04:19 PM

Jed - here is one from 1829 - but probably not the right one.

Andy Stewart does anExile of Erin

Subject: Lyr Add: THE EXILE OF ERIN ON THE PLAINS OF EMU
From: Sorcha
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 04:25 PM

The Exile Of Erin
(Alt. Title--Plains of Emu) Traditional

O, farewell my country, my kindred, my lover,
Each morning and evening is sacred to you,
While I toil the long day without shelter or cover,
And fell the tall gums, the black-butted and blue.
Full often I think of and talk of thee Erin,
Thy heath-covered mountains still fresh in my view,
Thy glens, lakes and rivers, Loch-Con and Kilkerran,
While chained to the soil on the Plains of Emu.

The ironbark, wattle, and gum trees extending,
Their shades under which rests the shy kangaroo,
May be felled by the blessed who have hope o'er them bending,
To cheer their rude toil, though far exiled from you.
But alas, without hope, peace or honour to grace me,
Each feeling was crushed in the bud as it grew
Whilst "never" is stamped on the chains that embrace me,
And endless my thrall on the Plains of Emu.

Hard, hard was my fate, far from thee to be driven,
Unstained, unconvicted, as sure was my due,
I loved to dispense of the freedom of Heaven,
But force gained the day, and I suffer for you.
For this land never broke what by promise was plighted,
Deep treason, this tongue to my country never knew,
No base earned coin in my coffer ere lighted,
Yet enchained I remain on the Plains of Emu.

Dear mother, thy love from my bosom shall never
Depart, but shall flourish untainted and true,
Nor grieve that the base in their malice should ever
Upbraid thee, and none to give malice her due.
Spare, spare her the tear, and no charge lay upon her,
And weep not, my Nora, her griefs to renew,
But cherish her age until night closes on her,
And think of the swain who still thinks but of you.

For your names shall live, through like writing in water,
When confined to the notes of the tame cockatoo,
Each wattle scrub echo repeats to the other,
Your names, and each breeze hears me sighing anew.
For dumb be my tongue, may my heart cease her motion,
If the isle I forget where my first breath I drew,
Each affection is warmed with sincerest devotion,
For the tie is unbroken on the Plains of Emu.

The Bard of Armagh/The Streets of Laredo
Performed by Vince Gill,
traditional arrangement by Paddy Moloney.
Tin whistle; Uilleann pipes; Harp.

The melody from The Bard of Armagh, an 18th century song, became The Streets of Laredo in the United States. Also known as Erin Go Bragh or The Exile of Erin, The Bard of Armagh lamented the end of a consummate Irish figure, the harper.

From:http://www.speedlink.com.au/users/usnothem/reports/revlive.htm

Subject: Lyr Add: THE BARD OF ARMAGH
From: MMario
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 04:30 PM

THE BARD OF ARMAGH

Oh list to the lay of a poor Irish harper
And scorn not the strains of his old, withered hands
But remember his fingers, they once could move sharper
To raise up the memory of his dear native land

At a fair or a wake, I could twist my shillelagh
Or trip through a jig with my brogues bound with straw
And all the pretty colleens around me assembled
Loved their bold Phelim Brady, the bard of Armagh

Oh, how I long to muse on the days of my boyhood
But four score and three years have flitted since then
But they bring sweet reflections, as every young joy should
For, the merry hearted boys makes the best of old men

And when sergeant death, in his cold arms shall embrace me
And lull me to sleep with sweet Erin go bragh
By the side of my Kathleen, my young wife then place me
Then forget Phelim Brady, the bard of Armagh

Subject: RE: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 04:36 PM

See this, in a previous discussion:  The Exile of Erin.  There's also some background information, and a few other songs including Plains of Emu.

Subject: RE: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: JedMarum
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 05:30 PM

great stuff, folks; THANKS!

(see why I love this place)??

Subject: RE: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: Joe_F
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 06:09 PM

Ambrose Bierce retailed a truly vile pun: An English sea-captain, asked if he had ever heard "The Exile of Erin", replied "No, Sir, but I should like to anchor on it."

Subject: RE: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: JennieG
Date: 07 Mar 02 - 06:22 PM

Emu Plains is the last stop before crossing the Blue Mountains, if you are travelling from Sydney - I suppose the original writer thought "The Plains of Emu" was more poetic! It may have been lovely once but is just about all built on now and even has a prison.
Cheers
JennieG

Subject: RE: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 03:55 AM

JennieG

"I've been a prisoner at Port Maquarie, at Norfolk Island and Emu Plains.."!
.. from "Moreton Bay"

Regards

Subject: RE: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 06:29 AM

G'day,

Sorcha,

I doubt that the Exile of Erin / Plains of Emu I raise in the 1999 thread could be the one that Jed Marum is after ... but I suspect our Irish convict in Australia had read that one and "parodied" its form.

I did see the earlier one in a thread (the 1999 one?) and the original has southern aspects, whereas the Australian one seems to have northern connections. ( ... Or was that the other way round ... ?)

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 06:40 AM

Given the conjunction with Moore's The Harp that once, the Exile referred to may well be "There came to the beach". Now hwo wrote that? Lady Dufferin?

Regards

Subject: RE: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan.
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 06:42 AM

Thomas Campbell! Here we go!

Regards

Subject: RE: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: JedMarum
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 10:21 AM

Martin - that does indeed look like the one Kate was referring to.

There came to the beach a poor exile of Erin The dew on his thin robe was heavy and chill For his country he sigh'd, when at twilight repairing To wander alone by the wind-beaten hill.

In her journal, when she and her Confederate friends were singing the sonsg of Moore and Campbell - they were feeling most alone, vulnerable and heavy at the loss of their 'country' - their world had been shattered by war. many times during the telling of her tale, Kate likened her situation to those of her Scottish ancestors and Irish cousins - as told in song and poem.

Hers is a remarkable story. For those who may have an interest, here's a bit more about the book.

Subject: RE: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: JedMarum
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 10:24 AM

Sorry - format error. I'll try again with that passage:

There came to the beach a poor exile of Erin
The dew on his thin robe was heavy and chill
For his country he sigh'd, when at twilight repairing
To wander alone by the wind-beaten hill.

Subject: RE: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: MMario
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 10:30 AM

so the Andy Stewart one would probably be the song.

Subject: RE: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: JedMarum
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 10:45 AM

Yes Mario - and itlooks like in the thread that Malcolm posted the lyrics to the song are posted:

The Exile of Erin

There came to the Beach,an Exile of Erin,
The Dew on His Robe was heavy and Chill;
For His Country He Sighed,when at Twilight Repairing,
To Wander alone,by the Wind-beaten Kill.

But the Day-Star attracted His Eye's sad Devotion,
For It rose on It's Own Native Isle of the Ocean,
Where once,in the Flow of His Youthful Emotion,
He Sang the Bold Anthem of Erin-go-bragh.

Oh!Sad is My Fate,said the Heart-broken Stranger,
The Wild Deer and Wolf to Cover can Flee,
But I have no Refuge from Famine or Danger,
A Home and a Country remains not for Me.
Where My Forefathers Lived,shall I spend the Sweet Hours,
Or Cover My Harp with the Wild-woven Flowers,
And Strike the Sweet Numbers of Erin-go-bragh.

Oh!Erin My Country,though Sad and Forsaken,
In Dreams I revisit Thy Sea-beaten Shore;
But Alas!in a far Foreign Land I awaken,
And Sigh for the Friends that can Meet Me no more.
An Thou,cruel Fate,wilt Thou never Replace Me
In a Mansion of Peace,where no Perils can chase Me?
They Died to defend Me,or Lived to Deplore.

Where now is My Cabin Door so fast by the Wildwood?
Sisters and Sire did Weep for It's Fall,
Where is the Mother that Looked on My Childhood?
And Where is My Bosom Friend--Dearer than All?
Ah!My Sad Soul,Long abandoned by Pleasure,
Why did It Dote on Fast Fading Treasure?
Tears like the Rain.may Fall without Measure,
But Rapture and Beauty They cannot recall.

But yet all It's Fond Recollections Supressing,
One Dying Wish My Fond Bosom shall Draw,
Erin,an Exile Bequeaths Thee His Blessings,
Land og My Father's Erin-go-bragh.

Buried and Cold,when My Heart Stills It's Motion,
Green be Thy Fields,Sweet Isle in the Ocean;
And the Harp-striking Bards Sing aloud with Devotion,
Erin Manoureen,Sweet Erin-go-bragh.

Subject: RE: looking for song EXILE OF ERIN
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 08 Mar 02 - 11:51 AM

MMario

Yes that's it alright - I hadn't checked out that link.

Regards