|
06 May 09 - 04:35 AM (#2625261) Subject: Lyr Req: Down by the Liffey side From: GUEST,charlotte Hi, I'm wandering about the story of the two versions of "Down by the Liffey side". There is one with five verses and another with four verses. Is it an add from The Dubliners? |
|
06 May 09 - 05:02 AM (#2625272) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down by the Liffey side From: MartinRyan If you post the two versions (or links to them) we might be able to help. The Digital tradition has: ------------------------------------------------- DOWN BY THE LIFFEYSIDE (Peadar Kearney) 'Twas down by Anna Liffey, my love and I did stray Where in the good old slushy mud the sea gulls sport and play. We got the whiff of ray and chips and Mary softly sighed, "Oh John, come on for a wan and wan Down by the Liffeyside." Then down along by George's street the loving pairs to view While Mary swanked it like a queen in a skirt of royal blue; Her hat was lately turned and her blouse was newly dyed, Oh you could not match her round the block, Down by the Liffeyside. And on her old melodeon how sweetly could she play.; "Good-by-ee" and "Don't sigh-ee" and "Rule Brittanni-ay" But when she turned Sinn Feiner me heart near burst with pride, To hear her sing the "Soldier's Song", Down by the Liffeyside. On Sunday morning to Meath street together we will go, And it's up to Father Murphy we both will make our vow. We'll join our hands in wedlock bands and we'll be soon outside For a whole afternoon, for our honeymoon, Down by the Liffeyside. From Folksongs and Ballads Popular in Ireland, Ossian Publications ---------------------------------------------- Regards p.s. there are a few threads about the song. Search on "liffeyside". |
|
06 May 09 - 05:09 AM (#2625274) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down by the Liffey side From: GUEST Oh I've seen the other threads but none of them aswer to that. The other version have one more final verse: And we'll have little children And rear them neat and clean To shout: Up the Republic And to sing about Sinn Fein They'll do what their old fellow did Who England's power divide We'll send them off to fight The Saxon Hun Down by the Liffey side |
|
06 May 09 - 05:26 AM (#2625276) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Down by the Liffey side From: MartinRyan Frank Harte, in the first edition of his "Songs of Dublin" has the following as the (crucial) second verse of five: And up to Rabbioti's together we did go And the rapture there that filled our hearts, no poet e'er could know We started eating one and ones and Mary softly sighed "Oh I'd live for ever eating chips down by the Liffey side" He also, BTW, has some minor differences in the George's Street verse. I'd be loath to blame the Dubliners for your extra verse - I think they'd have made it scan! Regards |
|
06 May 09 - 07:11 AM (#2625313) Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Liffey side From: Leadfingers Whoever wrote it ( and I have a variation that DOES Scan and makes a bit more sense ) it refers to that delightful period that so many staunch republicans seem to deny the existence of , when the I R A declared war on the Newly Formed Irish Free State after partition ! And we'll have little children , and rear them neat and clean To shout 'Up The Republic' and to sing about Sinn Fein The'll do what their old fellows did to Englands Power defy Send them off with guns against the Free State Huns Down by the Liffey side |
|
06 May 09 - 07:52 AM (#2625341) Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Liffey side From: MartinRyan Peadar Kearney certainly wrote an additional, anti-partition verse to The Soldier's Song - so it's quite possible he wrote that civil war verse himself, I reckon. Mind you, I'd expect Harte to mention it. Regards |
|
29 Jul 11 - 03:27 PM (#3198067) Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Liffey side From: MartinRyan Click here for a recording of the inimitable Luke Cheevers singing this song. Regards |
|
16 Dec 15 - 02:47 PM (#3758869) Subject: RE: Origins: Down by the Liffey side From: GUEST,Diarmuid and that recording of Luke Cheevers skips that verse completely! |