Lyr Req: The Flower of the Glen

Subject: LYR REQ: The Flower of the Glen
From: GUEST,eoin o'buadhaigh
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 04:31 PM

I have been asked if I could search for the words of a song and I have hit a blank, I was wondering if any mudcatters could help. The song was written around 1860 or maybe about twenty years earlier and is known by two names, The Flower of the Glen, and, The Rose of Ballydugan.
cheers eoin

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: The Flower of the Glen
From: Sorcha
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 04:38 PM

Google no help.

Subject: RE: LYR REQ: The Flower of the Glen
From: eoin o'buadhaigh-inactive
Date: 09 Sep 05 - 04:43 PM

no, not much luck I'm afraid, I've tried most sites with no joy so I'm hoping that someone may have heard of it and can help out.
    eoin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Flower of the Glen
From: GUEST,#
Date: 31 Mar 21 - 02:34 PM

https://books.google.ca/books?id=g3UDXF1x8P0C&pg=PA270&dq=%22The+Flower+of+the+Glen%22&hl=en&sa=X&ved=2ahUKEwiU44ymlNvvAhUwMlkFH

Try p.140 at that link. There it is titled "Flower o' the Glen" (if that's what the OP requested).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Flower of the Glen
From: leeneia
Date: 31 Mar 21 - 06:42 PM

Guest #, you are a wonder. That's a fine poem. All it needs is for somebody to compose a tune (I think in 3/4 time ), and a fine new song will be born.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Flower of the Glen
From: GUEST,#
Date: 31 Mar 21 - 07:17 PM

I'd love to hear it, leeneia.

Over the past ten years--and a majority of Unanswered Requests are older than that--so much has become available, material that just was not on the www back then. The Internet Archive is a real blessing. That said, I appreciate your kind remark. Thank you.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Flower of the Glen
From: Jack Campin
Date: 01 Apr 21 - 08:22 AM

Could somebody paste the words to that song here?

Could the intended tune be "The Flower of the Quern"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Flower of the Glen
From: GUEST,#
Date: 01 Apr 21 - 09:07 AM

Jack, I will post the lyrics when I can transcribe them, likely later today. I don't know how to copy/paste from that kind of file, or even if it's possible. The people who would likely be able to help with that are Jim Dixon, cnd or Joe Offer, assuming a c+p is do-able. That said, I did listen to "The Flower of the Quern" and after one time through while listening to the melody and reading the lyrics I think it's workable with a very few minor adjustments to the melody--or perhaps small adjustments in the lyric phrasing. Additionally, you have demonstrated the difference between someone who's lucky at finding stuff and someone who has a good knowledge of the materials to begin with. I would never have considered putting the two together because both the lyrics and melody are new to me. The take of the melody you have suggested that I was listening to while reading the lyrics is

The Flower of the Quern

I hope that's clear ??

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Flower of the Glen
From: GUEST,#
Date: 01 Apr 21 - 09:32 AM

Here's the first stanza from "The Flower o' the Glen"


When summer was breathing her sweets o'er yon mountains,
The broad settin' sun ha'flins hid frae the ee,
The whisperin' breezes and tinklin' fountains
Were joined by the mavis frae ilka green tree;
The mild e'enin' shower hath bath'd ilka flower
An' a' thing sae pleasant enlivens my strain;
But sweeter the blossom, mair dear to my bosom,
Is that lovely flower that blooms in the glen.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Flower of the Glen
From: Jack Campin
Date: 01 Apr 21 - 10:19 AM

That metre suggests "The Banks of the Devon" to me - it would have been well known at the time, while "The Flower of the Quern" might not have been written yet (I didn't look closely enough at the dates).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Flower of the Glen LYRIC ADD
From: GUEST,#
Date: 01 Apr 21 - 10:24 AM

"The Flower o' the Glen"


When summer was breathing her sweets o'er yon mountains,
The broad settin' sun ha'flins hid frae the ee,
The whisperin' breezes and tinklin' fountains
Were joined by the mavis frae ilka green tree;
The mild e'enin' shower hath bath'd ilka flower
An' a' thing sae pleasant enlivens my strain;
But sweeter the blossom, mair dear to my bosom,
Is that lovely flower that blooms in the glen.

How rich is the breath o' the calm summer gloamin',
When mix'd wi' the scent o' the fresh buddin' rose!
How gay is the scene, when all nature is bloomin',
And charmin' the concert around me that flows!
Yet fairer and sweeter, in feature completer',
Is that dearest lassie; how happy the swain
Wha fondly embraces, and kindly caresses,
This lovely sweet rose-bud, the flower o' the glen.

While spring shall adorn our hills and out valleys,
And Flora bespangle the banks o' ilk stream,
The reddest of roses and fairest of lilies
Maun yield to the blossom that blooms in my theme.
When nature is fading, and autumn is spreading
Her pale sickly robe o'er the fertilized plain,
This blossom shall flourish: my bosom will nourish
The lovely sweet rose-bud an' flower o' the glen.

END

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Flower of the Glen
From: GUEST,#
Date: 01 Apr 21 - 10:35 AM

The Banks of the Devon

I think you've nailed it, Jack. It works much better than TFoTQ.

As an aside, the transcription is accurate, but a few of the apostrophes and abbreviations seem unnecessary to me. Also, the 6th and 7th verses of stanza three are a bit jarring. But then, I live in farming country and perhaps I'm thinking of muck-spreading time ;-)