10 Oct 97 - 09:48 AM (#14395) Subject: Lyr Add: ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE (M MacConnell) From: Wolfgang Hell A song I miss in the database. It has been recorded by many folk groups and singers. Source: Songs of Resistance 1968-1975 (kind of IRA songbook) ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE (a.k.a.: Only our rivers, Only her rivers run free) (Michael MacConnell)
When apples still grow in November,
I drink to the death of her manhood,
How sweet is life, but we're crying, Wolfgang |
10 Oct 97 - 09:30 PM (#14450) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: dick greenhaus Thanx Wolfgang- I could have sworn we had this but---oh well. dick |
11 Oct 97 - 07:32 PM (#14487) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: Shula Dear Wolfgang, This is a powerful, wonderful song. Imagine I'm not the only one that would love to have the tune. Thank you so much for posting the lyrics! Shula |
12 Oct 97 - 06:56 AM (#14516) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: alison Hi Words and music also available in Folksongs and Ballads popular in Ireland, (volume3), and in the "Soodlum's Irish Ballads" books. Slainte Alison |
12 Oct 97 - 03:45 PM (#14545) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: Philippa, 97-pr@smo.uhi.ac.uk There's also a translation of MacConnell's song into Irish Gaelic by Deausun Breatnach of Dublin And MacConnell has fairly recently recorded some interesting songs mocking politicians and aristocracy |
13 Oct 97 - 03:59 AM (#14584) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: Wolfgang Dick, I guess your memory is correct and you had it once, for if you enter "Only our rivers" into a search machine you are directed to the former DT-site in some machines. It must have been lost during transfer. Wolfgang |
13 Oct 97 - 10:48 AM (#14599) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: Jon W. I've got this song on a Planxty album and I could swear they sing in the second verse "I drink to the DEPTH of her manhood..." I only bring this up because it seems to make more sense this way. Do the books say death? |
13 Oct 97 - 06:23 PM (#14643) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: alison hi Yes, the books say death.They died fighting (or suffering) for their country, therefore it makes sense in the context of the song. slainte Alison |
13 Oct 97 - 07:15 PM (#14655) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: alison Hi Ignore the above one, I have no idea what happened but it didn't work so here goes again.
ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE
KEY D / Time Sig. 3 / 4 |
13 Oct 97 - 07:24 PM (#14658) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: alison HI AGAIN 3rd time lucky, it keeps losing the first line and parts of some of the others. A< / (D)D D D / (A)E - F#/E / (D)D A - / (D7)- - G / (G)G G G / (D)F# - A/F# / (A)E - - / - - A / (G)B B C# />D - C#/B /(D) A F# - / - - D /
(A)E E E / E
(G)B B C# / (E)>D >E >D / (A)C# - - / - - >D/C# /
(G)B - B/B / B A G / (D)A F# - / - - D / |
13 Oct 97 - 07:34 PM (#14662) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: alison HI
If it doesn't work right this time I give up
A< / (D)D D D / (A)E - F#/E / (D)D A - / (D7)- - G /
(G)G G G / (D)F# - A/F# / (A)E - - / - - A /
(G)B B C# />D - C#/B /(D) A F# - / - - D /
(A)E E E / E < C# (G) B B C# / >D C# B / (D)A F# - / - - A /
(G)B B C# / (E)>D >E >D / (A)C# - - / - - >D/C# /
(G)B - B/B / B A G / (D)A F# - / - - D / |
13 Oct 97 - 07:44 PM (#14664) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: alison sorry, it's leaving out a complete line every time. My computer obviously hates me. Try finding it in a book. I'm off for some retail therapy. slainte alison |
14 Oct 97 - 04:03 AM (#14698) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: Wolfgang Depth or Death?
I enjoyed very much, Jon, to follow your hint last night: |
14 Oct 97 - 07:42 AM (#14704) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: alison Hi again, I am sheepishly returning to this thread to tell you to ignore all of my entries above. thanks to the wonderful Alan of Oz this should now work so here goes the tune for the very last time.... ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE KEY D / Time Sig. 3 / 4 |
14 Oct 97 - 08:14 AM (#14709) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: alison Hey Alan, Still not working properly. I give up, will send Dick the midi file instead. alison |
14 Oct 97 - 08:58 AM (#14713) Subject: Chords Add: ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE (MacConnell) From: Alan of Australia G'day Alison, You forgot to replace < with & lt. Is this what you were trying to do? ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE KEY D / Time Sig. 3 / 4 |
14 Oct 97 - 12:30 PM (#14719) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: Jon W. Alison and Alan, please please please go read the thread I started on ABC notation a few days back (set filter to ABC and days to 14). It will make it so much easier to send tunes in the forum. There is free software available to convert MIDI to ABC as well as to play ABC on any PC, and it works pretty well, too. ABC can be posted to the forum just by changing newlines to < br>. I'm not going to stop talking about this. |
15 Oct 97 - 06:55 AM (#14775) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: Steve D. I always thought Christy Moore was singing 'death', not 'depth', but I guess it was just my mind playing tricks with me. It isn't always so easy to understand him though - it took me ages to work out all the words to 'Follow me up to Carlow' |
03 Nov 97 - 11:33 PM (#15695) Subject: Tune Add: ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE (MacConnell) From: alison Hi In an attempt to make up for my efforts earlier on, here at last is the tune. Hope it works this time.
MIDI file: ONLYRIVR.MID Timebase: 480 Name: Only our rivers run free To download the October 30 MIDItext 97 software click here ABC format: X:1
slainte Alison |
04 Nov 97 - 06:21 AM (#15712) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: Wolfgang Dick,
your memory isn't playing tricks, you once had it: The latter site looks to me like a mirror of the old Digitrad site. Wolfgang |
23 Sep 00 - 06:49 PM (#304034) Subject: Chords Add: ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE (MacConnell) From: cujimmy I play it in G :- G C GHope this is helpful. |
24 Sep 00 - 10:02 AM (#304354) Subject: RE: Lyr/Chords Req: 'Only our Rivers' From: Brendy The correct second line of the first verse, is "When blossoms remain on each tree" B |
03 Feb 04 - 09:37 AM (#1108132) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: Jim Dixon OK, folks, this should be definitive. Here's a website called Mickey MacConnell - Official Web Site. I don't know what it takes to designate a website as "Official" but at least this one has lots of information, the kind you'd expect an official site to have. The spelling is consistently Mickey—not Michael—MacConnell—not McConnel, McCommell, or McConnell (all of which have been seen in this thread). There is a bit of inconsistency about the song title, though. In a couple of places it's called RIVERS and in another, ONLY OUR RIVERS (See the liner notes at the bottom of the page.), but most often, it's ONLY OUR RIVERS RUN FREE. That means it's wrong in the DT. |
03 Feb 04 - 09:40 AM (#1108135) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: Jim Dixon Woops! I added that last message to the wrong thread. I meant to add it here. Oh, well, the threads needed to be linked anyway. |
03 Feb 04 - 08:05 PM (#1108665) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: chordstrangler I'm sitting here blushing and both my ears are bright red with embarassment. I have to confess that Chordstrangler is Mickey MacConnell and that I'm totally gobsmacked at the interest being shown in my work. Yes- the original word was death. This makes sense when viewed in the context of being written in 1965 - a time long before the first stone was thrown during the first civil rights march in Derry. The previous republican campaign had been a short lived one which died off at the end of the 1950's. I was born in 1947 by the way which would have made me a callow youth when the song was first penned. The song was largely inspired by the claustrophia of South Fermanagh..I was bought up on the banks of the River Erne near Enniskillen and, I'm a River Man. It is a song that has taken on more and more significance over the years and I have to admit that I'm very proud of it. I have written quite a lot of other stuff but have to say that "Only Our Rivers Run Free" was the one that attracted all the attention. Sadly so, in my view. Thanks for all the interest and if I can help any fellow Catter in any way who wants to know more, I would be delighted to do so. Mickey.....(AKA Chordstrangler) |
04 Feb 04 - 10:11 AM (#1109110) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: Wolfgang The resurfacing of this and another thread about 'Rivers' made me realise for the first time that the great song 'Peter Pan and me' has been written by the same man, too. Mickey, you are a blessed songwriter. Wolfgang |
04 Feb 04 - 12:01 PM (#1109202) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: GUEST,sorefingers What a nice treat! I remember first hearing this song from an Irish folksinger in the UK about 15 years ago. At the time nobody else was doing it and this man would do it every couple of weeks at my then local watering spot. A great song! How about posting some more of them Mr chordstrangler? |
15 Mar 05 - 05:50 PM (#1435600) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: Susanne (skw) Guest, what is your meaning? If you're looking for the lyrics of 'Follow Me Up To Carlow' you've definitely landed in the wrong thread. Try putting 'Carlow' in the 'Lyrics and Knowledge' search box (top right) and see what comes up. If it's not to your satisfaction you might start a new thread, but down here, nobody will find your request. And if you're planning to stay with the Mudcat you might do well to read the Mudcat FAQ Newcomers' Guide (top of the thread list). Good luck! |
15 Mar 05 - 07:50 PM (#1435657) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: Wrinkles Well Chordstrangler many many thanks for your post and for your wonderful song; our hearts are the richer for it. I've heard so many legends about this song; that it was a 'kesh song, that it was a lament for the loss of the sticky's honour and dignity being overwhelmed by the provies, and even that it was _really_ about the old UVF! All rubish of course because as you say it was penned before the first halfer was chucked in the present conflict! Perhaps it's just that it is such a wonderful song that everyone wants to "own" it! (and who can blame them). Only Our Rivers has given me much pleasure in the playing and the performing of it over the years, and sparked much deep reflection; for ehich I thank you. They say there's many a wise man has come from Enniskillen, and your the proof of it! Wrinkles |
16 Mar 05 - 05:18 PM (#1436380) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: chordstrangler Thanks for the kind words...M |
17 Mar 05 - 02:28 PM (#1437061) Subject: RE: ADD: Only our rivers From: Cromdubh Chordstrangler, Happy Saint Patrick`s day to You and all the clan in Listowel. Hope to see you again when I return from my travels. From the little pup that darkens your door every once in while. Playing plenty and the pignose in working well. God bless. |
14 Mar 07 - 06:30 PM (#1996929) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell) From: Genie Anyone got a link to a MIDI or a recording clip where I could hear the tune? I'm not doing so well with those ABC thingies. Thanks, Genie |
15 Mar 07 - 07:39 AM (#1997360) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell) From: GUEST Genie here you go it's a link to my own site, This song could be about any country struggling for independence as there is no mention of Ireland anywhere in the song |
17 Mar 07 - 10:35 AM (#1999476) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell) From: Genie Thanks, dear GUEST! You're right, the song could have international "legs." Genie |
17 Mar 07 - 11:01 AM (#1999490) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnel From: Stewart Hi Genie - You can hear Mickey MacConnel sing it here. Just click on the link in the lyrics. What a powerful song! Cheers, S. in Seattle |
18 Mar 07 - 02:07 AM (#1999958) Subject: Tune: Only Our Rivers Run Free (Mickey MacConnell From: Genie Thanks, Stewart. I also found an audio file of WolfeTones singing the song here. Yes, it's a beautiful song, and as has been mentioned, its lyrics can fit any nation or people who are struggling to become - or remain - free. |
18 Mar 07 - 05:47 AM (#2000019) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnel From: ard mhacha Thanks Stewart, I have many singers performing this song but I will put Mickey MacConnell`s rendering along with the very best. |
18 Mar 07 - 06:14 AM (#2000026) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnel From: ard mhacha On the Site posted by Stewart is a list of songs among which is Luke Kelly`s lovely version of Bunclody, some of the verses accompanying the song are different from Luke`s singing, but nevertheless, this is a rare treat. |
18 Mar 07 - 06:18 AM (#2000030) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnel From: ard mhacha Sorry that should be Genie`s link to the Wolfe Tones. |
18 Mar 07 - 06:24 AM (#2000031) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell) From: Declan I know it was a while ago, but the depth/death confusion is caused by a tendency among some Irish traditional singers to sing a nasal n sound in certain vowels. Christy Moore sings in this style on the Planxty recording. So he was singing Death but sounded like Denth. |
18 Mar 07 - 09:20 PM (#2000704) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell) From: Genie There are a couple errors in the lyrics as posted in the DT, in the second verse. Most of them are simple puncutation omissions, but the word "where" is mistyped as "were." In the second verse, it should read: "I drink to the death of her manhood, Those men who would rather have died Than to live in the cold chains of bondage, To bring back their rights where denied. Oh, where are you now that we need you? What burns where the flame used to be? ... At present, it reads: I drink to the death of her manhood Those men who'd rather have died Than to live in the cold chains of bondage To bring back their rights were denied. Oh, where are you now that we need you, What burns where the flame used to be Are you gone like the snow of last winter And will only our rivers run free? In the third verse, the word "a" is omitted in the first line: "How sweet is life, but we're crying. How mellow the wine, but we're dry." Should read: "How sweet is a life, but we're crying. How mellow the wine, but we're (it's)* dry. And the last lines should read: "What good is in eyes that can't see, When there's sorrow in sunshine and flowers And still only our rivers run free?" |
18 Mar 07 - 09:23 PM (#2000706) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell) From: Genie ETA, I noticed that the lyrics Wolfgang posted differ slightly from what we have in the DT. I don't know which are correct. I was basing my corrections on hearing Wolfe Tones sing it and on correcting a couple of obvious misspellings or omissions. |
18 Mar 07 - 09:31 PM (#2000707) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnel From: Stewart All you need to do is follow my link above to get the words directly from the author. I presume he is the authority. But then there's the 'folk process.' Cheers, S. in Seattle |
19 Mar 07 - 02:15 PM (#2001249) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell) From: Genie Thanks, Stewart. I see now that the lyrics as posted by Wolfgang are correct, as sung by MacConnell and as posted on his website -- but with more correct punctuation. The point is, there are some mistakes in the DT lyrics. I'd suggest just copying the lyrics as posted by Wolfgang and replacing the version in the DT with them. (Yes, that troublesome line in the second verse is "To bring back the rights we're denied," not "To bring back the rights were denied" (DT version) or "To bring back our rights where denied" (Wolfe Tones version, which probably stemmed from seeing "were" printed and trying to make sense of it. Pesky little critters, those apostrophes. ) |
19 Mar 07 - 03:19 PM (#2001328) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnel From: Stewart Yes, it's hard to sing an apostrophe. S. |
19 Mar 07 - 06:01 PM (#2001446) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell) From: Genie If you're not Victor Borge, anyway. ;-D |
14 Oct 07 - 05:42 PM (#2171117) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell) From: GUEST Where is the version with (gaelic lyrics) |
15 Oct 07 - 12:53 PM (#2171629) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell) From: GUEST,TJ in San Diego Did Ronan Tynan perform this song while a member of the Irish Tenors? I seem to recall a very passionate rendering of it, if this is, indeed, the song I am remembering. |
15 Oct 08 - 05:34 AM (#2466069) Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnel From: GUEST The hard "t" hiberno English pronunciation of "th" could also perhaps make "death" sound like "depth". Incidentally does anyone know if the Planxty Songbook is still available anywhere? Jeremy Price |
17 Aug 09 - 02:21 AM (#2702036) Subject: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell From: GUEST,Skarpi hi All , this song and this lyric is powerful but does anyone know where its from , what is about , although I have a pritty good idea , when was it written , where did Mickey live and so on . kv Skarpi . |
17 Aug 09 - 02:50 AM (#2702037) Subject: RE: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell From: Stewie Skarpi, Mickey is an occasional contributor to Mudcat threads using the name chordstrangler. His website addy is: http://www.mickeymacconnell.com/ --Stewie. |
17 Aug 09 - 03:00 AM (#2702039) Subject: RE: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell From: Joe Offer OUR Chordstrangler wrote that? What a lovely, haunting song! More information in the crosslinks above. -Joe- |
17 Aug 09 - 05:52 AM (#2702091) Subject: RE: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell From: Gervase Mickey has written some fantastic songs and sings them pretty well too. Check out Peter Pan & Me, The First Good Friday and Famous Five on his website; they're all brilliant. |
17 Aug 09 - 04:46 PM (#2702489) Subject: RE: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell From: GUEST,Roy McLean I believe this song was written in the late 60s early 70s and was inspired by the growing Civil Rights movement at that time. I think it was written by a guy called McConnell from somewhere around Enniskillen. I seem to remember it was recorded by Planxty on one of their earlier albums. Im sure Mr. McConnell, aka. "Chordstrangler" (see above posts), can enlighten you more about his song, though hes pretty guarded about what he actually says in the song, restricting himself to two themes: [1] A prevailing sense of a general lack of freedom abroad; [2] Bemoaning the lack of leaders who can help us in this situation, eg. "Where are you now when we need you? What burns where the flame used to be?". There are various interpretations of the song. Some see it as being a general comment on N.Ireland society at that time. Others see it as relating to the internal power struggles which were going on within the Civil Rights Movement. Yet others see it as being about both these issues. |
21 Sep 09 - 06:35 PM (#2728409) Subject: Origins: Only our rivers run free Michell McConne From: skarpi hallo all , what lay behind these words ?? Only our rivers run free ?? where are the rivers ? in N Ireland ?? and why " Only her rivers run free " her is that N-Ireland ?? and who are the men , " are they Irish ??? and many more questions ? all the best skarpi Iceland |
21 Sep 09 - 06:50 PM (#2728418) Subject: RE: Origins: Only our rivers run free Michell McConne From: Murray MacLeod Michael McConnell is a Mudcatter ("Chordstrangler") and will no doubt be along in the fulness of time to answer your questions, Skarpi |
22 Sep 09 - 02:59 AM (#2728601) Subject: RE: Origins: Only our rivers run free Michell McConne From: skarpi then I got his name wrong , sorry about that . kv Skarpi |
22 Sep 09 - 03:08 AM (#2728603) Subject: RE: Origins: Only our rivers run free Michell McConne From: Murray MacLeod actually, he is universally known as Mickey rather than Michael ... |
27 Aug 10 - 09:22 AM (#2973935) Subject: RE: Origins: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell) From: GUEST,^&* Just came across the Irish translation referred to by Alison many years ago: ------------------- Chomh saor leis an Sruth ar an Sliabh (Only her rivers run free) (Deasún Breatnach) Nuair a fhásas na húllaí mí na Samhna Is na bláthanna go trom ar na crainn, Nuair is glas fós duilleoga faoin Nollaig Is ansin a bheas an tír saor arís. Siúlaim thar chnoca 's thar ghleannta Agus fós tríd an mbrón tchím í – An tír seo nárbh eol di riamh saoirse, Is níl saor ach an sruth ar an sliabh. Ólaim gradam na bhfear atá básaí' Na laochra arbh fhearr leo an t-éag Mar rogha ar náire 's ar dhaoirse Is chinnteoidís ár gcearta 'tá i léig. Cá bhfuil sibh nuair atá sibh de dhíth 'rainn? 'Bhfuil dé fós sa ngríosach 'bhíodh fial? Ar thréig sibh muid mar 'rinne an sneachta? Is níl saor ach an sruth ar an sliabh. Nach breá í an bheatha 'tá muid a' caoineadh? Cén mhaith 'tá sa rosc atá caoch? Nuair is dubh é ár mbrón is ár ndobrón, Is níl saor ach an sruth ar an slaibh. ---------------------------------- It sings well, too. |