Lyr Req: Uncle Nobbie's Steamboat

Subject: Help lyrics needed to UncleNobbies steamboat
From: MissMac
Date: 13 Dec 98 - 09:08 PM

Help my music partner is driving me crazy by singing the first two lines of Uncle Knobbie(Nobbie)?? steamboat I need the rest of the lyrics so that I can learn enough to get it out of my head.

It starts Come for a ride on Uncle Nobbie's steam ship Where you can leave your troubles on a high float I didn't see it in the lists I don't know if it is folk or not but it is despertly needed'

MissMac

Subject: Lyr Add: UNCLE NOBBY'S STEAMBOAT
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Dec 98 - 12:26 AM

Here ya go, not much to the song. I took it from "The Wolfetones Song Book, Volume 1.

UNCLE NOBBY'S STEAMBOAT

come for a trip on Uncle Nobby's steamboat
where you can hide your worries on a high float
and we'll take a trip to leprechauns and shamrocks
and hide our minds and troubles for a while
and we're going where the grass is growing green-----
To a mystic land that no one else has seen------
where oblivion takes the mind's reality. And reality fades into a memory

I have no idea if the line breaks are right.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: UNCLE NOBBY'S STEAMBOAT
From: Bob Schwarer
Date: 14 Dec 98 - 12:55 PM

Here are two more verses from "The X Seamens Institute" Heart of Oak album.

Come for a trip on Uncle Nobby's steamboat
Where you can hide your worries on a high float
And we'll take a trip to Leprechauns and shamrocks
And hide our minds and troubles for a while
Chorus: And we're going where the grass is growing green
To a mystic land that no one else has seen
Where oblivion takes the minds reality
And reality fades into a memory

Captain Bluebeard gives a smile at the gangway plank to meet you
The firstmate by his side with a workcard if he needs you
They take you down below your cabin is cool and cosy
Full steam ahead we're ready for to go

Chorus:

Bring on the dancing girls the show is now in motion
The choo-choo train is gone it's halfway through the mountains
The fairies and the witch the banshee's drinking brandy
Uncle Nobby at last is in command.

Bob S.

Subject: RE: Help lyrics needed to UncleNobbies steamboat
From: alison
Date: 14 Dec 98 - 10:42 PM

Hi,

Any chance of a tune?

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Help lyrics needed to UncleNobbies steamboat
From: MissMac
Date: 15 Dec 98 - 01:29 AM

Thankyou

Mick and Bob for your fast replies I appreciate it.

Sorry Alison I have no idea how to put the tune in Actually I am just starting to learn the tune. Mick there is a whole lot more to the song now with your help thanks again MissMac

Subject: Lyr Add: UNCLE NOBBY'S STEAMBOAT
From: Wolfgang
Date: 21 Dec 98 - 12:31 PM

I know this song from an Irish group and they have added a fourth verse. I have many difficulties to hear what they are singing and perhaps someone who knows this verse can mend my mistakes. Here it is (mind: if you don't understand it, it's most probably my fault):

4. Oh, now we're off to Tir na nOg
the goddess Love is (growing ye?)
could pull and can't get in
in his coat he has no fur, here/hear
the leprechauns go by
in a twinkling mystic vision
the shamrock lies a-mouldering in the grave.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Help lyrics needed to UncleNobbies steamboat
From: MissMac
Date: 23 Dec 98 - 10:27 PM

Wolfgang the last verse looks like what my partner may have been attempting to sing I will see if he understands it maybe between the two of you we can get the verse straight.

Thanks for your imput

MissMac

Subject: Tune Add: UNCLE NOBBY'S STEAMBOAT
From: Snuffy
Date: 25 Apr 01 - 05:50 PM

Alison, everything comes to (s)he who waits, though 28 months is a bit of a long time.

I posted a set of words to Uncle Nobby's Steamboat from a Wolftones tape on this thread Irish songs for U.S. Elementary School yesterday, and Wolfgang linked from there to this thread. Here's an attempt at the tune - it sounds very familiar from somewhere else, but I can't place it.

---

Click to play

---

ABC format:

X: 193
T:Uncle Nobby's Steamboat
M:4/4
L:1/8
K:F
A2F G2E A2FAAB A2FF|
G>GGBAG|F4 z2||
cc|
_eBA2- A2)cc|
fBA2- A2)AA|
B/B/BBA G>GF B/B/BBA G>GF

Wassail! V

Subject: Lyr Add: UNCLE NOBBY'S STEAMBOAT
From: GUEST,Reiver 2
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 03:56 PM

Just came across this thread as I was trying to find the song where I'd heard of Tir na nOg. (The reason for this is that my wife and I have just booked a night's stay at a B&B near Cashel that's called Tir na nOg. We're doing a two week self-drive tour of Ireland next month.) I wanted to know what the translation is into (dare I say it?) English.

The song, of course was "Uncle Nobby's Steamboat." I think I found it on a (borrowed) LP by The Wolfe Tones which I no longer have. But the jacket had the words which I copied down, including the 4th verse referred to by Wolfgang, and printed with the following spelling:

4.We're off to Tir na nOg, the goddess of love is Grainne
Cuchulain can't get in, in his coat he has no fainne.
The Leprechauns go by in a twinklin' mystic vision
The shamrock lies a-mournin' in the grave.

I don't have the Gaelic but the pronunciation by the singer(s) is thus:
Tir na nOg = teer nan og
Grainne = Gran'-ya
fainne = fahn'-ya
Cuchulan = kook-lon

If anyone knows the background of this song, and the meaning or intent of some of the words or phrases and what they refer to, please post the info here. (Especially the translation of the Gaelic words!) Thanks.

Subject: RE: Help lyrics needed to UncleNobbies steamboat
From: GUEST,Reiver 2
Date: 12 Aug 01 - 04:10 PM

Just located it. It's on the album "Rifles of the I.R.A." The notes say it was written by Brian Warfield, brother of the group's leader Derek, for those of you who are familiar with the members of the Wolfe Tones -- or at least who they were at the time this recording was made which was probably sometime in the 1970s, though that's a guess. (All I know for sure is that it was after 1968.)

Subject: RE: Help lyrics needed to UncleNobbies steamboat
From: Wolfgang
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 07:07 AM

Thanks, River 2, for the last verse. We had a less complete version recently here, and you've answered a question in that thread.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Help lyrics needed to UncleNobbies steamboat
From: GUEST,Reiver 2
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 01:07 PM

Glad that I could add something. By the way, the B&B hosts-to-be emailed me that Tir na nOg is (in Irish legend or story) a land when one never grows old, or a land of eternal youth. I'm 71 now, so I'm sure glad I decided to stop there!! Any more information about the legend(s) of Tir na nOg would be welcome.

By the way, Wolfgang, I seem to keep posting to the same threads you do. Our interests must be along the same lines!

Subject: RE: Help lyrics needed to UncleNobbies steamboat
From: GUEST,Reiver 2
Date: 13 Aug 01 - 11:59 PM

Forgot to ask. Can any of you who "have the Gaelic" translate the words grainne and fainne. I think I've seen Grainne used as a first name (female)... is that right?

Subject: RE: Help lyrics needed to UncleNobbies steamboat
From: Wolfgang
Date: 14 Aug 01 - 06:10 AM

I thought the same when I saw your name, Reiver.

Since the title of this thread is not particularly attractive to our Gaelic speakers, I give it a try (from a websearch):

Grainne is a female name and a goddess. In the lyrics above I think the goddess is meant.

Fainne (Fäinne?) is (from a search) (a) a ring, circle or (b) a lapel pin indicating a Gaelic speaker. I take it in the context of the song that Cuchulain is lacking a token of admittance on his coat.

But I'd prefer to hear from someone with better knowledge.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Help lyrics needed to UncleNobbies steamboat
From: GUEST,Hutzul
Date: 06 Sep 01 - 01:35 AM

While looking for Uncle Nobbie (I thought it was "Knobby") I found the thread about Grainne, girl's name.

Now I'm going nuts trying to remember a book title: Young girl named Grainne, mother takes her to America as a child, mom dies, she is shipped back to the grandmother in Ireland. sets about to find her father.

Anybody ever stop pickin' and grinnin' long enough to read this book?

Subject: RE: Help lyrics needed to UncleNobbies steamboat
From: GUEST,fhahsufhguh
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 05:49 AM

i need help

Subject: RE: Help lyrics needed to UncleNobbies steamboat
From: The Fooles Troupe
Date: 25 Feb 04 - 07:33 PM

You obviously do, but if you are not a little more specific, there's not much to assist you with. There are lots of related threads on this song.

Robin

Subject: RE: elloxx
From: GUEST,ciara
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 04:07 AM

ello there laddies howz ya duin?im grand n id just like 2 say dat i fink ure tunes r great and weneva i trow parties i always play ure songs =)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Nobbie's Steamboat
From: GUEST,Gary O Rourke
Date: 03 Jun 08 - 07:50 AM

Cuchulan, Cúchulainn is an irish mythological hero, name literally meaning Hound of Culann pronounced " cho-cull-an " . At a very young age
he killed culann's guard dog in self defense and offered to take its place untill a replacement could be raised. known for his ferociousness   
and almost invincibility in battle , can be compared with other mythical heroes such as Achilles or Persian hero Rostam.

Grainne is an Irish name derived from the name of a goddess.

Fainne , means gold or a gold ring.

hope that helps

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Nobbie's Steamboat
From: Reiver 2
Date: 03 Jun 08 - 02:31 PM

I've enjoyed this song (which I supposed was a "nonsense" song for children) ever since I first heard it on a Wolfe Tones recording, "Rifles of the IRA." (I thought it rather odd that a children's song was included on an album with that title!) So I couldn't resist opening this thread when I noticed it here today. It had been so long that I'd forgotten that I'd posted to the thread about 7 years ago, and even more surprised to see it listed currently. Thanks to the more recent posters for the additional information on the Gaelic (Irish) names, words and meanings. BTW, we thoroughly enjoyed our stay with Joan Brett Moloney and her husband at Tir na nOg B&B near Cashel. And for any of you who might be planning a trip to Canada's Vancouver Island, there's also a great B&B there called Tir na nOg, operated by Patrick and Patricia DeGabrielle who perform live Irish music as a duo called Celtic Reflections. It's just outside Sooke, which is an hours drive or so from Victoria on the southern tip if the Island. My wife and I will be stopping by there in August.

R2

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Nobbie's Steamboat
From: GUEST,Gweltas1
Date: 03 Jun 08 - 11:41 PM

To : Wolfgang and Reiver 2,
Wolfgang,

You are correct in your surmisings regarding the fáinne/ring, pronounced "fawn-yeh".

Connradh na Gaeilge (a national organisation which promotes the learning and use of Irish) established a format where speakers of the Irish language wear a lapel pin (fáinne) both to indicate their level of competence in the language and to signify their willingness to converse in the language. A ring pin with a coloured centre was for beginners, a silver ring with an open centre for more advanced learners, and a gold ring for completely fluent Irish speakers.

Gráinne (pronounced "Grawn-yeh") is the Irish form of the female christian name "Grace", and was the name of a goddess, and also the name of a famed west of Ireland pirate queen, Gráinne Ní Mháile (Grace O'Malley) and a contemporary of Queen Elizabeth the first of England.

The reference to Cúchulainn (pronounced "Ku-kullin") has been adequately explained by Guest Gary O'Rourke.

Tír na nÓg ("Teer nan Ogue") is the Irish mythical land of eternal youth, where time passes far more slowly than time as we know it. The Irish legend tells of Oisín ("Usheen") who not only lost his family and friends, but also his true love. One day while out hunting Oisín encounters a beautiful lady called Níamh ("Neev") with long flowing golden hair, riding on a white horse, and he instantly falls in love with her. She tells him she comes from a far off land called Tír na nÓg and invites him to come stay a while with her on her return there. So he happily agrees and joins her on her horse and soon they arrive in this magic land where nobody grows old, or ill, and hunting and feasting and all the good things of life are the order of the day.

Having dallied there with Níamh for what seemed to him like just a few weeks, Oisín becomes restless and longs to return for a visit to his family and companions in Ireland. Níamh tries to persuade him not to leave, but he insists and she reluctantly agrees, and gives him her white horse for the journey, but extracts a solemn promise that, no matter what happens, he must NOT dismount from the horse or set foot on Irish soil during his visit there. He vows to comply and is quickly transported back to Ireland where he finds to his dismay that his family and friends are all long dead and that three hundred years have in fact passed while he was in Tír na nÓg ! He notices that the men of Ireland are much smaller and weaker than those of his own time and he encounters a group of men on the roadside struggling to move a large boulder. Knowing his own strength to be far superior to theirs, and remembering his promise to Níamh, he leans down from the saddle to scoop the stone into one hand and move it, but as he does so, the saddle girth snaps and he falls to the ground. The horse bolts and heads back to Tír na nÓg without him. To Oisín's horror he rapidly ages and turns into a 300 year old man. He is said to have lived for a very short time thereafter, and the Catholic version of the story says that he became converted to Christianity in the brief time before he died.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Uncle Nobbie's Steamboat
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 09:44 PM

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