Lyr Req: O'Brien of Tipperary

Subject: Lyr Req: O'Brien of Tipperary
From: GUEST,weerover
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 06:00 AM

I notice Liam's Brother mentioned a song by this title in a list of songs he sang: as the others in the list were traditional I assume this is too. I'm also assuming it's about William Smith O'Brien, transporated in 1848. Anyone got the lyrics/tune?

wr.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: O'Brien of Tipperary
From: MartinRyan
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 07:24 AM

Liam's Brother will probably reply to this himself. If not - I think i can find a copy.

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: O'BRIEN FROM TIPPERARY
From: Brían
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 10:28 PM

Here you are:

O'BRIEN FROM TIPPERARY (Roud 3105)

O'Brien from Tipperary is the subject of my tale.
Before the Civil War began, to America he came.
He was of good character, his spirits were light and free,
And by a plan he won the North against the enemy.

'Twas on a Thursday morning the Major he did swear,
'You did insult a soldier all on the barrack square'.
'You may thank your daughter,' said O'Brien, 'or else I'd have your life.'
The Major then a sword he drew and thought to end his life.

O'Brien received a pistol with an eye both sharp and keen.
Like a gallant soldier, he quickly took his aim.
In order to defend his life, he fired the fatal ball,
And he lodged it in the Major's breast, it made the tyrant fall.

As soon as the report was heard, the guards all ran around.
He was taken prisoner in irons firmly bound.
Court martial on O' Brien was held immediately.
He was sentenced to be shot, far from his friends and own country.

When O'Brien received the sentence, no fear of death did show.
Unto his execution, he manfully did go.
By a holy priest from Clonmel Town, he was prepared to die.
In hopes to get a pardon from the Lord who rules on high.

The coffin was got ready, he was ordered to kneel down.
The sergeant with a handkerchief, his eyes he firmly bound.
The soldiers on the other hand, all guns they did prepare,
And many a soldier for O'Brien shed a silent tear.

They were ordered to fix bayonets, all ready for to fire.
Before one trigger could be drawn, the Major's daughter did appear.
In a voice as loud as thunder, 'Come set the prisoner free.
I have a letter of reprieve is granted unto me'.

She quickly seized O'Brien and she took him by the hand.
'Rise up my bold Tipperary boy, you are now at my command.
It's true I am in love with you, though you took my father's life.
He had vengeance sworn against you, I would never be your wife.'

So now to conclude and finish and see what love can do.
She's married to O'Brien, she is both loyal and true.
She saved him from the fatal ball, her one and only joy.
And now she is in New York City with her bold Tipperary boy.

got it here: mustrad.org


Brían

Subject: Lyr Add: O'BRIEN OF TIPPERARY
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 11:10 PM

...and here you are again...

O'BRIEN OF TIPPERARY

You loyal hearted Irishmen attend unto my tale
These lines are true, you may depend, I'm going to reveal
About an Irish immigrant from the town of Templemore
Like many sought employment upon Columbia's shore.

William O'Brien of Tipperary is the subject of my tale
Before the cruel war began to America he came
He was of good character, his spirit light and free
And drafted was to serve the North against the enemy

In the Philadelphia regiment I mean to let you know
O'Brien many a battle fought against the Southern foe
The Major's daughter fell in love with him as you may plainly see
Her father then did resolve to prove her destiny

On March the fifth in New Orleans the Major he did swear
And did insult that soldier brave all on the barracks square
"You may thank your daughter," said O'Brien, "or else I'd end your strife."
The Major then his sword he drew and thought to take his life.

O'Brien quick a pistol took with an eye both sharp and keen
And like a gallant soldier brave he quickly took his aim.
In order to defend his life he fired the fatal ball.
He lodged it in the Major's breast which made the tyrant fall.

As soon as this report was heard the guards did him surround
He was taken as a prisoner and in irons firmly bound
Court-martial on O'Brien was held immediately.
He was sentenced to be shot far from friends and company.

When O'Brien received his sentence, no fear of death did show.
Unto the execution place he manfully did go
With a holy priest from Clonmel Town he walked out for to die
In hopes to receive pardon from the Lord that rules on high.

His coffin was got ready, he was ordered to kneel down.
A sergeant with a handkerchief his eyes he firmly bound.
The firing party in the front twelve guns they did prepare
And many a soldier for O'Brien shed a silent tear.

They were ordered to fix bayonets, present, ready and to fire
Before one trigger it was drawn the major's daughter did appear.
With a voice as loud as thunder, "Come set that prisoner free!"
She read a letter of reprieve was granted unto he.

She quickly seized O'Brien. She took him by the hand.
"Rise up my bold Tipperary boy, you're now at my command.
It's true that I'm in love with you, though you took my father's life
He had in vengeance swore to you that I ne'er should be your wife."

Now to conclude and finish, just see what love can do
She got married to O'Brien to whom she was both loyal and true
She freed him from that fateful ball her dear and only joy.
She's now in New York City with her bold Tipperary boy.

This is a broadside ballad but I wonder whether there is a factual basis. Many Irish fought in ethnic units during the American Civil War but I think O'Brien may not have.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: O'Brien of Tipperary
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 14 Jul 04 - 11:31 PM

For a broadside edition by Brereton of Dublin, see Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

William O'Brian of Tipperary and the mayjors [sic] daughter

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: O'Brien of Tipperary
From: GUEST,weerover
Date: 15 Jul 04 - 01:54 AM

Obviously not the O'Brien I thought it might be, but many thanks for this addition.

wr.

Subject: Lyr Add: WILLIAM O'BRIEN OF TIPPERARY...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 Jul 04 - 08:00 PM

Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads, Harding B 26(682). I have corrected several obvious spelling errors.

WILLIAM O'BRIEN OF TIPPERARY AND THE MAJOR'S DAUGHTER
(Printed by P. Brereton, Dublin, c. 1867.)

You loyal-hearted Irishmen, attend unto my tale.
These lines are true, you may depend, I'm going to reveal,
About an Irish emigrant from the town of Templemore.
Like many seeking for employ, went to Columbia's shore.

William O'Brien of Tipperary is the subject of my theme.
Before this cruel war began, to America he came.
He was of a good character, with spirit light and free,
Forced by draught to aid the North against the enemy.

In Philadelphia regiment, I mean to let you know,
O'Brien many a battle fought against the Southern foe.
The Major's daughter fell in love with him, as you may plainly see.
Her father then he was resolved to prove his destiny.

On March the fifth, in New Orleans, the Major he did swear,
And did insult the soldier brave all on the barrack square.
"You may thank your daughter," said O'Brien, "or else I'd end the strife."
The Major then his sword he drew and thought to take his life.

O'Brien then a pistol took, with eye both sharp and keen,
And like a gallant soldier, he quickly took his aim.
In order to defend his life, he fired the fatal ball.
He lodged it in the Major's breast, which made the tyrant fall.

When the report was heard, the guard did him surround.
Then he was taken prisoner, and in irons strongly bound.
O'Brien then made this reply: "By me he met his end.
I kill'd him lest I should be kill'd, my life for to defend."

A court-martial for O'Brien then was held immediately,
And he was sentenced to be shot far from friends and country.
"No matter," says O'Brien, "for that I will not grieve.
I know the Major's daughter will get my reprieve."

When O'Brien received his sentence, no fear of death did show.
Unto the execution place he willingly did go.
By a holy priest from Clonmel Town, he was prepared to die,
In hope he might get pardon from the Lord that rules on high.

His coffin it [was] ready, he was ordered to kneel down.
The sergeant with a handkerchief his [eyes] he quickly bound.
The firing party in the front, twelve guns they did prepare,
And many a soldier for O'Brien dropped a silent tear.

They were ordered to fix bayonets, make ready, present, fire.
Before they drew a trigger, the Major's daughter did appear.
With a voice as loud as thunder, "Come, set that prisoner free!
For here's the letter of his reprieve. It was granted unto me."

She quickly seized O'Brien and caught him by the hand,
Saying, "Rise, my bold Tipperary boy. You're at my command.
It's true, I am in love with you, although you took my father's life,
For he had in vengeance sworn against you, lest I would be your [wife]."

Now to conclude and finish, see what true love can do.
She got married to O'Brien. She was both loyal and true.
She freed him from that fateful ball. The truth I now must say.
And this couple cosy (?) lives happy now in North Americay.