Lyr Add: Donald of Glencoe (from Cara Dillon)

Subject: Lyr Add: DONALD OF GLENCOE
From: Pete Jennings
Date: 08 Aug 02 - 08:33 AM

Heard Cara Dillon sing this one at the Cambridge Folk Festival last weekend and it was pure magic. If you get the chance to see her or buy her CD, do it. Her material can be a bit "samey" at the moment, but she has a wonderful voice and delivery, together with a band of musicians who support her well.

The lyrics aren't in the Digitrad - I don't know how to add it so can someone do the honours, please?

Pete

PS. Don't know if the line breaks will come out okay, but the rhyming couplets show where they are.

Donald Of Glencoe (Traditional)

As I was a-walking one evening of late
Where fragrant file flowers the fields decorate
I carelessly rambled where I did not know
By the fair crystal fountain that falls in Glencoe

And on her who the prize on Mount Ider was won
Then approached me a lassie as bright as the sun
And the ribbon and the tartan around her did flow
That welcomed young Donald the pride of Glencoe

Said I, my fine creature, your charming sweet smile
And your comely fine features my heart has beguiled
And if your kind affection on me you'll bestow
I'll bless the happy hour we met in Glencoe

Kind sir, she made answer, your love I'll disdain
For I have a young sweetheart and Donald by name
And he went to the wars about ten years ago
And a maid I'll remain 'till he returns to Glencoe

Ah, perhaps your young Donald regards not your name
And has placed his affection on some foreign dame
He may have forgotten for all that you know
That bonny young creature he left in Glencoe

From his promise my Donald would never depart
For love, truth and honour stand firm in his heart
And if I never see him then single I'll go
And mourn for my Donald the pride of Glencoe

Then seeing her constance he drew out a glove
Which in parting she gave him in token of love
She clung to his arms and the tears down did flow
Ah, you welcome my Donald the pride of Glencoe

Come cheer up my Flora your sorrows are o'er
And since we have met love we'll never part more
And the loud blast of battle far distant may blow
Whilst in peace and contentment we'll live in Glencoe

---

Line breaks - <br> - added, and message retitled with "Lyr Add:" so harvesters can find it. --JoeClone

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Great song from Cara at Cambridge (UK)
From: Jeri
Date: 08 Aug 02 - 09:29 AM

Similar (but definitely different) to The Pride of Glencoe

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Great song from Cara at Cambridge (UK)
From: Julie B
Date: 08 Aug 02 - 09:37 AM

Pete,
I have this CD too; good isn't it? Will maybe learn one of the songs and do at St. Neots one month
Julie

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Great song from Cara at Cambridge (UK)
From: MMario
Date: 08 Aug 02 - 09:47 AM

Is it the same tune?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Great song from Cara at Cambridge (UK)
From: radriano
Date: 08 Aug 02 - 11:33 AM

I heard Cara Dillon for the first time on my local Public Radio Station last Saturday. Her voice is exquisite. How old is she? She sounds fairly young but it's hard to tell. What is the title of her CD and who distributes it?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Great song from Cara at Cambridge (UK)
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 08 Aug 02 - 01:49 PM

Roud Folk Song Index number 515, Laws N39.

The Pride of Glencoe, [Mac]Donald's Return to Glencoe, The Banks of Glencoe, and so, on was widely popular throughout Britain and Ireland during the 19th century, probably due in no small regard to broadside distribution (there are a number of examples of Donalds Return to Glencoe at the Bodleian, for instance). It has been found quite often in tradition in Canada, the USA and Australia as well. Many of the published tunes are obviously related, but show noticeable variation. The DT example isn't typical of those I've looked at, though it's certainly related to the tune Brigid Tunney used (which I've only heard via Ray Fisher's arrangement of it), though in the DT the Gs are sharpened and the phrasing is a little odd.

The DT file names no source for either text or tune, which is a pity; texts don't seem to vary very much (as witness that quoted from Cara Dillon's recording, which is very close to the DT example), largely because of the broadsides (and later printing in newspapers, too), and so aren't much help in identification. Does Cara Dillon name her source? She uses the same tune as Brigid Tunney, it would seem.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Great song from Cara at Cambridge (UK)
From: GUEST,andymac
Date: 08 Aug 02 - 07:24 PM

Two other versions of the same song: Donal Maguire on "the Clergyman's Lament" (recently re-issued CD on Rossendale Records), and Ray Fisher on an album titled the Bonny Birdy. If you want a bit more info on the song's provenance than the Cara Dillon CD, try the book on Willie Scott titled "Herd Laddie of the Glen" ed. Alison McMorland. It contains full lyrics and some more on where he learned the song from.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Great song from Cara at Cambridge (UK)
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 08 Aug 02 - 07:42 PM

Cara Dillon has her own website www.caradillon.co.uk

She was born in 1975, so I suppose that means she is young. Younger than me, anyway. Prettier, as well ....

Murray

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Great song from Cara at Cambridge (UK)
From: nager
Date: 09 Aug 02 - 01:00 AM

She is drop dead gorgeous and only around 27 years old I believe.... but enough of that.. I have heard her CD and it is magnificent. Her voice is sensational and she is from a family with a rich background in Irish music. I first heard her voice as the credits went up on one of those Bily Connolly tv shows.. world tour of Ireland or something. It stopped me dead in my tracks and I went straight to the Net to find out what I could..go to the web site which Murray (above) has linked to it has a fair bit of info there.