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22 Jun 07 - 11:27 PM (#2084573) Subject: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: Jim Lad Trying to remember this one. It's about an Irishman who turned to a life of crime. In the end, he gets shot, hung or thrown in prison. Something like that. Mind you, he could have been transported to one of the colonies. Not sure if that helps though. |
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22 Jun 07 - 11:40 PM (#2084579) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: Taconicus I don't think you're talking about Phil Ochs' The Highwayman based on the Alfred Noyes poem? Loreena McKennitt also did a version. |
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22 Jun 07 - 11:54 PM (#2084588) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: Jim Lad No. I remember the poem and do enjoy Loreena's version of it but that's not it. |
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23 Jun 07 - 01:53 AM (#2084615) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: harpmolly Could it be the Newry Highwayman? Solas did a great version of this on their first album, with Karan Casey. I've heard other great versions too. It's a fun song to sing. Cheers, Molly |
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23 Jun 07 - 01:55 AM (#2084617) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: harpmolly P.S. Although I'm not totally thrilled with the version of the lyrics I just linked to (but you get the general gist). |
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23 Jun 07 - 02:10 AM (#2084624) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: Jim Lad Don't know that one but the lyrics look like extracts from a couple of songs I've heard. "In Newry town, I was bread and born," ......Say what? "Bread & buttered" maybe? |
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23 Jun 07 - 02:39 AM (#2084635) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: GUEST,Jim Carroll Newry Highwayman or Ballantyne O'Hara (Scots version usually mistaken for Irish Alan Tyne of Harrow). I am a bold young highwayman, my name is Tyne of Harrow, I come from poor but honest folk, near to the hills of Yarrow, For getting of a maid with child, to England I crossed over..... etc. Jim Carroll |
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23 Jun 07 - 03:12 AM (#2084646) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: Jim Lad Somebody may have turned him in, at the end or he was ambushed. |
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23 Jun 07 - 08:51 AM (#2084793) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: Amergin Brennan on the Moor? Wild colonial boy? Any of the Ned Kelly songs? JimLad, with the vagueness of this thread...I would suspect that it was started with your tongue in your cheek. |
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23 Jun 07 - 11:40 AM (#2084867) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: Jim Lad Firmly! |
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23 Jun 07 - 12:52 PM (#2084916) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: Declan Was he not slaughtered by Captain Farrell when one of his girlfriends, Jenny or Molly or something filled his charges with water? |
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23 Jun 07 - 01:25 PM (#2084934) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: Fergie Could it be Valentine O'Hara? There is a great version of this song on youtube. Frank Harte in great voice. Have a listen Valentine O'Hara |
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23 Jun 07 - 01:54 PM (#2084961) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: Fergie WOW! I finally made a link that works. I think that the clip was put on youtube by one of our own, Mudcatter Amergin. Regarding the origin of this song, some say that it was originally English (Alan Tyne of Harrow?) other like Jim Carroll above, claim it's Scottish (Ballantyne O'Hara), but I demurr to the opinions of two excellent researchers both of whom concluded that the song is Irish. The late and much missed Mudcatter Frank Harte was one and Mudcatter John Moulden is the other. I'll post the lyrics as I sing them here. VALENTINE O'HARA I am a valiant highwayman, Called Valentine O'Hara, I come of poor, but honest folks Nigh to the hill of Tara. For getting off a maid with child For England I sailed over. I left my parents and became A wild and daring rover. Well straight to England I did go, Where I became a soldier Resolved to fight Britannia's foes, Not Hector great was bolder. They sent me to a foreign shore Where cannons loud did rattle. Believe me, boys, I do not boast How I behaved in battle. Many's the battle I fought in, In Holland and French Flanders. I always fought with a courage keen Led on by brave commanders. But a cruel ensign found me out And I was flogged and carted. Cruel abusage there I got, And so I soon deserted. Straight to England I set sail As fast as wind could heave me, Resolved that of my liberty That no one should deprive me. I slept into the woods by night, By all my friends forsaken. I dared not to walk the roads by day For fear I should be taken But I being of a courage keen And likewise able bodied I robbed Lords Louth on the King's highway With pistols heavy loaded. I clapped the pistols to his breast Which made his heart aquiver, 500 pound in ready gold To me he did deliver. With part of my new store of wealth I bought a famous gelding That over a five yard gate could jump I bought him from Ned Fielding. Lord Arkinson all his coach I robbed at Covent Garden And two hours later that same night I robbed an Earl at Warren. One night I robbed at Turner Green A revenue collector, And what I got I gave it to A widow to protect her. I always robbed the rich and great, To rob the poor I scorn it, And now in iron chains I'm bound, In doom I now lie borne at. It's now in Newgate I'm confined And by the laws convicted, To hang on Tyburn tree's my fate at which I'm much affrighted. Farewell my friends and countrymen And my native hills of Tara, Kind providence shall test the soul Of Valentine O'Hara. Fergus |
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23 Jun 07 - 02:57 PM (#2085011) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: harpmolly D'oh! That's as bad as the "Hmmmm, isn't there a song about a girl waiting on the shore" thread...Hmph. :P :) |
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23 Jun 07 - 03:13 PM (#2085023) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: GUEST,Jim Carroll Frank Harte sang the MacColl version. The only version I have been able to find in print was the one in Joyce's Ancient Irish Music. Jim Carroll |
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23 Jun 07 - 03:26 PM (#2085034) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: The Borchester Echo Well, these songs of terminal regret were 10 a penny in the 17th to 19th century. Apparently it was as a result of the inadvisability of having a girlfriend with an insatiable shopping habit. They come under the banner of Adieu, Adieu, Willow Day, The Flash Lad and various towns, Newry included. The version I like best comes from the singing of Suffolk singer Jumbo Brightwell. And I always assumed Valentine O'Hara to be just another of those Irish mondegreens (like Shores Of Erin for Shoals Of Herring). Maybe Jim could enlighten. |
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23 Jun 07 - 04:32 PM (#2085063) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thief/Highwayman? From: GUEST,Jim Carroll MacColl's version, which he said he got from a printed Scottish text, was called Alan Tyne of Harrow; this is the one he introduced into the revival. Frank adapted that version slightly, using the Joyce title, Valentine O'Hara; he also used the tune, which I suspect was MacColl's own. Many of MacColl's tunes were adaptations of traditional ones. I have heard other revival singers refer to it as Ballanyne O'Hara. Joyce (Old Irish Folk Music and Song) gives a tune (completely different to MacColl's) and two lines only. "A bold young man named Valentine O'Hara, Whose friends resided near the hills of Tara". As far as I know there are no other traditional versions; Joyce's is the only one referred to in the Roud index (unless there are others in the latest version which I have not installed yet. Jim Carroll |