Origins: Gallipoli

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gallipoli
From: GUEST,Claim To Fame Man
Date: 29 May 15 - 07:27 AM

http://www.radionz.co.nz/national/programmes/afternoons/audio/20166656/your-song-the-shores-of-gallipoli
It would appear that this is not a World War 1 song in origin but about the war and was written in the 1970's.The link is a Radio interview with Daire Doyle who was the writer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Gallipoli
From: triskelle
Date: 04 Sep 05 - 05:50 PM

I'm trying to find out when the song Gallipoli was written by Swan and Doyle. This isn't an easy question and the common surnames of the authors aren't helpful either.

I think, but this idea is merely based on gut feeling, that the song is written in the anti-recruitment tradition during the First World War.

The use of the name Dún Laoghaire however is riddling. At the time of the First World War this port near Dublin was commonly known as Kingstown (a name granted in 1821 by King George IV to honour his own visit to Ireland).
In ancient times the village was already known as Fort (Dún) of King Laoghaire. Initially the Anglo-Saxons anglicised the name to Dunlary, or Dunleary.
Hence, is the song written between the Battle at Gallipoli in 1915 and the end of the First Word War in 1918 and used the authors the ancient - Irish - name or is the song written in the 1920's?

Thanks for thinking!
Vincent

Subject: RE: Lyrics wanted: GALLIPOLI
From: ossonflags
Date: 04 Jan 05 - 04:28 AM

Many thanks for that Willa, the version posted by "Ezio" is the one I learnt. When I sing the song unaccompanied, as on Sunday, I do the chorus after each verse and do two choruses at the end.

Subject: RE: Lyrics wanted: GALLIPOLI
From: Willa
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 02:50 PM

Heard Ossonflags do a fine version of this at the Monks Walk Session in Beverley yesterday. I'd never heard it before. I think Mick sang more verses.

Subject: Lyr Add: GALLIPOLI (from The Fureys)
From: GUEST,Don
Date: 03 Jan 05 - 09:38 AM

I listened to a version I have on CD and made a couple of very minor changes to the lyrics posted above. This is what I think I heard:

GALLIPOLI


I remember the day it stands clear in my mind,
we stood down at Dun Laoghaire to wave you goodbye
Your Ma was quietly weeping, there was a tear in my eye
as they sent you to Gallipoli to die.

You looked so young as you stood there, a glint in your eye
and you sang rebel songs as the streamers flew high,
your Ma turned away, and I heard a sigh:
God, he's sailing to Gallipoli to die.

Chorus: You were all that we had, your Mammy and me,
when you marched, stood erect, you were proud as could be,
and it killed your poor Ma and it slowly killed me,
when you were blown to Kingdom come on the shores of Gallipoli.

We only got the one letter and we knew right away,
it said: 'Deepest regrets, your son was bold and he was brave.'
You were only eighteen, yet your Mommy and I
let you go to Gallipoli to die.

Chorus

You fought for the wrong country, you died for the wrong cause,
and your Ma often said, that it was Ireland's great loss
all those fine young men who marched to foreign shores to fight the wars,
when the greatest war of all was at home.

Chorus

Sung by The Fureys

___________________________________________________

Cheers

Don

Subject: RE: Lyrics wanted: GALLIPOLI
From: Ezio
Date: 22 Sep 98 - 01:56 AM

And HERE you can listen to the song. Enjoy!

Ezio

---

The sound files (RealAudio) for most of the lyrics I've posted here during the past months are available at
http://geocities.com/Nashville/Opry/7424

Subject: Lyr Add: GALLIPOLI (from The Fureys)
From: Ezio
Date: 21 Sep 98 - 08:37 AM

Nice song! I had the lyric from Wolfgang living in Germany. Here you are:

GALLIPOLI

I remember the day it stands clear in my mind,
we stood down in Dun Laoghaire to wave you goodbye
You Ma was gently weeping, there was a tear in my eye
as they sent you to Gallipoli to die.

You looked so young as you stood there, that glint in your eye
and you sang rebel songs as the streamers flew high,
your Ma turned away and I heard her sigh:
God, he's going to Gallipoli to die.

Chorus: You were all that we had, your Mommy and me,
when you marched, head erect, you were proud as could be,
but it killed your poor Ma and it's slowly killing me,
you were blown to Kingdom come on the shores of Gallipoli.

We got only one letter and we knew right away,
it said: 'Deepest regrets, your son was bold and he was brave.'
You were only nineteen, when your Mommy and I
let you go to Gallipoli to die.

You fought for the wrong country, you died for the wrong cause,
and your Ma often said, it was Ireland's sad loss
all those fine young men who marched foreign lands to fight the wars,
when the greatest war of all was at home.

Chorus

Sung by The Fureys

Subject: Lyrics wanted: GALLIPOLI
From: Harald
Date: 20 Sep 98 - 11:06 AM

I heard this song from Eddie & Finbar Furey and I only remember the words: "I remember the day ... clear in my mind, we stood down by Dun Laoghaire to wave you goodbye..." Can't find it in the DB. Thanks.