30 May 00 - 06:44 AM (#235749) Subject: Sarah Jane From: Wolfgang Yes, I know there's already a Sarah Jane in the database, but the song here is completely different sharing nothing but the title. I know it from Frank Harte and from the Voice Squad. The notes below the song are from Frank Harte (CD Daybreak and a candle-end). Wolfgang
SARAH JANE |
30 May 00 - 07:26 AM (#235756) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sarah Jane From: John Moulden Oddly, all three of the songs - Sarah Jane, Star of Moville and Coleraine Regatta were all made by Jimmy McCurry of Myroe, Co Derry in the last part of the 19th century. |
30 May 00 - 12:06 PM (#235867) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sarah Jane From: Kim C Thanks! I was wanting that. |
31 May 00 - 06:13 AM (#236279) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sarah Jane From: Wolfgang You're welcome, Kim. John, I wondered which time the song was from. My guess would have been early 20th century. Thankks for the information. Wolfgang |
31 May 00 - 11:13 AM (#236358) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sarah Jane From: radriano Thanks, Wolfgang! I've had a partially transcribed version of this for ages and could never figure out what some of the words actually were. radriano |
02 Jun 00 - 08:08 AM (#237336) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sarah Jane From: GUEST,rhj Does anyone know the meaning of the word "Forninst," and "Scutch?" I did find the word "Scut," which is the tail of a rabbit or a deer. |
02 Jun 00 - 02:56 PM (#237513) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sarah Jane From: MartinRyan "fornenst" means "opposite". "scutch" nowadays means "rough grass" - but I'll leave it to those further North to nit-pick on it! Regards |
24 Oct 02 - 02:04 PM (#810329) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sarah Jane From: GUEST Hmmmm....just stopping by and read: "she can call at Liza Kealey's as she passes through Myroe," I always heard: "She can call out lies at ceilidhs As she passes through my row" Cheers, David de la Barre |
14 Jun 09 - 10:20 PM (#2656561) Subject: RE: Sam Henry's Songs of the People From: GUEST Hello! I am looking for The Star of Moville. Can anyone help? Kathleen heartsong101@hotmail.com |
15 Jun 09 - 02:50 AM (#2656639) Subject: Lyr Add: The Star of Moville (James McCurry) From: Joe Offer Hi, Kathleen- Can you tell us what you know of the song? Sam Henry doesn't really say much about it. Since these two songs are by the same songwriter, I thought I'd move the request here and post "Star" here. -Joe- THE STAR OF MOVILLE (James McCurry) You folk of this nation that hear my oration, Come listen with patience and I won't keep you long, There is no false pretension in what I here mention, It is now my intention for to sing you a song. I belong to a village where boatmen have knowledge Of rowing and sailing, experience and skill, They all took their places, as yearly the case is, To witness the races this day at Moville. My notion was bent, so to Blackburn's I went To obtain his consent for a sail o'er Lough Foyle, My friends and my neighbours had ceased from their labours To obtain the day's pleasure, forsaking their toil. My petition he granted, I got what I wanted, He freely consented and said nothing ill, He says, 'Get you ready and keep yourself steady, Beware of your conduct this day at Moville.' Without further warning, for the morning was charming, I set out on my journey, to the waters I strayed, When I came to the Run, I found the boat it was gone; Till another would come, with Montgomery I stayed. I soon left the spot, when I got in a cot, There I knew my conductor would drive her with skill, Though the water was low, to the boat I did go Where the crew had their frigate prepared for Moville. I need not narrate, they began to debate; For a damsel I waited, but she kept her word, And when they viewed her, as soon as they knew her, A party went to her and brought her on board. No storm seemed to tease us, but all seemed to please us With soft gentle breezes our sails for to fill, From Blackburn's that morning, with Davis and Torrens The fiddler and Margaret, set sail for Moville. We did not sail free till we passed the Black Gwee, When I thought I could see to the opposite shore. Some sails at a distance in the sunbeams did glisten, Which seemed to extend from the Point to Culmore. As we drew nearer, the scene became clearer, The lough with boats crowded like sheep on a hill, As fast as a streamer we passed by the steamer, And shortly our vessel was moored at Moville. I profess not to show it, for indeed I don't know it To tell you in plain how the races were run, Suffice it to say, about twelve in the day The boats went away like the shot of a gun. Some cheering for Allen and others for Blackburn, Some for McCormick with cheers loud and shrill, Surprised as by thunder, my heart leapt like wonder When I met with Mary, the star of Moville. My senses were frisky by means of some whiskey. Says I, 'My fair lassie, how sweetly you sing.' Some swaggering and roystering while others kept cursing, Sly Cupid kept whispering, 'Slip round her your wing.' Says I, 'Ma'am, excuse me and do not refuse me, A wee drop of whiskey your sorrow would kill.' She freely consented, so I was contented When I had gained Mary, the star of Moville. I says to my pet, 'Let us now have a wet, Let us never forget that I play and you sing, For that we'll not quarrel, for the poor of the world Had always a winter before they have spring.' She said, 'Sir, to cheer you, my name is called Mary, From sweet Carndonagh I ramble at will. Therefore excuse me my speech, don't abuse me, I sing to gain pence on the streets of Moville.' Then her I enlisted and of her requested A promise of marriage to give me her hand. 'If on me you'll smile, we'll cross o'er Lough Foyle And reside in the village called Ballymacran.' She said, 'I've consented if that's all that's wanted.' Says I, 'I'm contented for good or for ill; In my heart I'd be willing to share the last shilling And spend it with Mary, the star of Moville.' I supplied her with pence to meet her expense, And to taste we commenced, for her throttle was dry. She entered a shop where she did not long stop Till she came with a drop where I waited hard by. She said, 'Sir, don't slight me and do not deride me, Some people would slight me, of me would speak ill.' She was brown as a berry, her lips like the cherry, Then I kissed Mary, the star of Moville. She was not neglected, but highly respected, For a coach was erected to bear her away, 'Mid parlours and cellars, 'mid equals and fellows She was requested some time for to stay. To explain I'm not able how grand was the table, Well covered with nothing her joys to fulfil. With my senses afloat I went to the boat To lament for my Mary, the star of Moville. So now to conclude and to finish these verses, I hope an offence I have given to none, But I wish I could fly or the ground would rise high, Or the waters would dry, I might reach Innishowen. I'll promise you here, if you're over next year At Elizabeth's or Jacob's your glasses to fill, And like a canary I'll sing loud and cheery, If you bring me Mary, the star of Moville. Source: Sam Henry's Songs of the People, page 276 [H68: 28 Feb 1925] Singer: Matthew Quinn, 84, fiddler (Bellarena) Author/Composer: James McCurry, blind fiddler (Myroe) Played on the fiddle by Matthew Quinn, whose hands were twisted with rheumatism. He learnt the air and words from the author and composer. [tune available on request, but not tonight] Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song: Star of Moville, TheDESCRIPTION: The singer sails to Moville to watch the races. Enlivened by whiskey, he meets Mary, "the star of Moville." He courts her, and buys her a drink. The girl, after spending some time, rejects him and goes home. He wishes that someone would bring her to himAUTHOR: James McCurry EARLIEST DATE: 1925 (Sam Henry collection) KEYWORDS: love courting racing rejection drink music FOUND IN: Ireland REFERENCES (1 citation): SHenry H68, pp. 276-277, "The Star of Moville" (1 text, 1 tune) Roud #7968 Notes: A long and highly complex mix: Is it a boat-racing song, a courting song, a rejection song, a drinking song, a song of getting delayed along the shore? I'm not sure. - RBW File: HHH068 Go to the Ballad Search form The Ballad Index Copyright 2007 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. |
20 Sep 19 - 10:49 AM (#4009719) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sarah Jane/Star of Moville (McCurry) From: Richard Mellish I've just been revising this song, having not sung it out for some time. Looking back at this thread I see that no-one has ever suggested what seems to me an obvious minor tweak to the words. Instead of "When the skylark sings well her wings she spreads" I sing "When the skylark sings she spreads her wings" thus restoring the internal rhyme and improving the metre. |
20 Sep 19 - 12:16 PM (#4009723) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sarah Jane/Star of Moville (McCurry) From: Vic Smith Good point, Richard. I sing this song but I missed that line. I will change it in future |
01 Oct 20 - 04:45 AM (#4073841) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sarah Jane/Star of Moville (McCurry) From: Richard Mellish Although I contributed to this thread a year ago, I didn't mention what particularly appeals to me about it, the many odd turns of phrase. Frank Harte's notes, quoted above, mention some of them, but here are some others that catch my fancy. "Near the dwelling of a gentleman". What's remarkable about this is that neither the gentleman nor his dwelling play any further part in the story. "the north wind breeze". Winds and breezes are often mentioned in songs, but not together like this. "if I had Aladdin's wondrous lamp, it would shine supremely grand". Most of us think of Aladdin's lamp having a quite different function, not as a source of light. "by building castles in the air, great pleasure I might obtain". That is not the usual idea about castles in the air. |
11 Jun 22 - 04:42 PM (#4144029) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sarah Jane/Star of Moville (McCurry) From: GUEST,Gabriel Late in the day, but I thought I'd just add that 'fornenst' (as it should be) means 'adjacent to', 'next to', right beside'. Also, Scutch' means flax. |