Lyr Req: The Coolin / Oh, Give Me My Coolin

Subject: Words of irish song
From:
Date: 30 Aug 98 - 06:41 AM

A mate of mine here in Sydney is desperate to find the words of what he calles, "The Coolin". At least that's as good as I can get from him. It is an Irish song. If anyoine there can assist then at least he'd be off my back. Patrick

Subject: RE: Words of irish song
From: Barbara
Date: 30 Aug 98 - 11:43 AM

Say, um, Max et al, you might just need to do something about catching that lovely fish and putting him in a different pond, or at least one that doesn't obscure the end of the first line of the message. All I can tell about this person's request is that it starts with "The.
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: Lyr Add: OH! GIVE ME MY COOLIN
From: Bruce O.
Date: 30 Aug 98 - 12:02 PM

[A song of about 1780. For its tune see the Irish tune index on by website.]

OH! GIVE ME MY COOLIN

Oh, the hours I have passed in the arms of my dear
Can never be thought of but with a sad tear;
Oh, forbear then, forbear then, to mention her name,
It recalls to my mem'ry the cause of my pain.
How often to love me she fondly has sworn,
And, when parted from me, would ne'er cease to mourn,
All hardships for me she would cheerfully bear,
And, at night, on my bosom forget all her care.
To some distant climate together we'll roam,
And forget all the misery we met with at home.
Fate, now be propitious, and grant me thine aid,
Oh, give me my Coolin, and I am repaid.

Subject: RE: Words of irish song
From: Dave Lever
Date: 05 Sep 98 - 08:23 PM

Could be Culin, or Cullin, meaning a small bird. I know it as a Tin Whistle tune but do not know the words.....

Subject: RE: Words of irish song
From: Bruce O.
Date: 05 Sep 98 - 08:42 PM

The title is also given quite often as Coolun. I don't what it means. The early single sheet song issue by Anne Lee: Dublin, c 1780, has a heading 'Coolun with words. A much admir'd Irish song'.

I suspect the tune was Gaelic, but the words above were written later to fit the tune. There's nothing obviously Irish about the song other than the word coolin.

Subject: RE: Words of irish song
From: Barry Finn
Date: 05 Sep 98 - 09:41 PM

A friend sings this in Gaelic, I've only know her to sing in Gaelic, the songs she grew up with in Connamara. Barry

Subject: RE: Words of irish song
From: Bruce O.
Date: 05 Sep 98 - 10:05 PM

Barry, Does your friends song come out anyway similar to that above if translated to English?

P. S. Thanks to whoever for fixing my boo-boo on the bold for the text above. I guess I forgot the /b after the title. It's now the way I meant it to appear.

Subject: RE: Words of irish song
From: Barry Finn
Date: 05 Sep 98 - 10:50 PM

I've only heard her sing one song (not counting county & western) in english, Annachie Gordon, she does't perform (except at a party) although she was second (over 20 yrs ago) in the All Ireland. I don't speak or understand Irish so I have no Idea if it's close. If you're in the New England area her sister performs in Irish & English, Bridget Fitzgerald (formerly of Cherish The Ladies), although for some reason their repertoire doesn't overlap. Barry

Subject: RE: Words of irish song
From: Jack Hickman
Date: 06 Sep 98 - 08:33 PM

The tune of which you speak is likely "An Coolin." "An" is the Irish word for "the."

I've heard many versions of the title, but the one I like best suggests that "the coolin" was like a pig-tail or pony worn by Irish Farm labourers back a couple of centuries ago. When they were leaving for whatever reason, emigration, banishment, transportation, they would cut off the hank of hair and give it to their mother or their sweetheart to remember them by.

I've also heard it said that a "coolin" is a little bird, but I like the first version better.

Maybe someone with a knowledge of Irish could elaborate

Jack Hickman

Subject: RE: Words of irish song
From: JB3
Date: 07 Sep 98 - 03:13 AM

I heard a tune called "The Coolin" when in Ireland some 20 years ago. The story told about it was that a man lay dying and the priest was on his way for the last rites, but the devil, knowing how the priest loved music, waylayed him and played this tune on his fiddle. The priest, enchanted with the tune, lingered to hear it, so that the man died unshrived (sp?), and the devil got his soul.

The tune is lovely, but it doesn't seem to scan with the words above.

Cheers!

June