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Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here

25 Feb 98 - 03:57 PM (#22231)
Subject: Lyrics needed:Irish-Australian Folk Song
From: dcurtis@monroe.lib.mi.us

I took a trip to Ireland and heard a beautiful ballad sung by an old man in a pub. The ballad was about an Irishman who lives in Australia yet misses his sweatheart back home. I can't remember much else, except it talked about an Australian bay 'becoming' an Irish one in the man's imagination (as he looked over it he thought of home). Anyone know what I'm talking about?


25 Feb 98 - 05:48 PM (#22250)
Subject: RE: Lyrics needed:Irish-Australian Folk Song
From: alison

Hi,

It could be "If we only had old Ireland over here."

The chorus goes....

"If the Blarney stone stood out on Sydney harbour

And Dublin town to Melbourne came to stay,

If the Shannon river joined the Brisbane Waters

And Killarney's lakes flowed into Botany Bay,

If the Shandon Bells rang out in old Freemantle,

And County Cork at Adelaide did appear,

Erin's sons would never roam, all the boys would stay at home,

If we only had old Ireland over here.

Does this look familiar??

Slainte

Alison


28 Feb 98 - 03:26 PM (#22550)
Subject: RE: Lyrics needed:Irish-Australian Folk Song
From: leprechaun

Where could I hear the whole thing? Is it on a CD or album? Better yet, where could I hear you sing it?


28 Feb 98 - 10:18 PM (#22593)
Subject: RE: Lyrics needed:Irish-Australian Folk Song
From: Alan of Australia

G'day,
Alison will sing it at the Penrith (Western Sydney) Gael's Club on St. Pat's day. It'll only cost you an air fare. If you can't make it she'll probably post it here.

Cheers,
Alan


01 Mar 98 - 01:59 AM (#22604)
Subject: RE: Lyrics needed:Irish-Australian Folk Song
From: Joe Offer

Wall, Alan, I can't afford the time or the air fare. Wouldn't you like to post a WAV of the song here? We'd love to hear you sing.
-Joe Offer-


01 Mar 98 - 06:08 AM (#22608)
Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: IF WE ONLY HAD OLD IRELAND OVER...
From: alison

Hi,

Here goes.....

IF WE ONLY HAD OLD IRELAND OVER HERE

I was (D)dreaming of old (G)Ireland and (D)Killarney's lakes and fells,
I was (G)dreaming of the (D)shamrock and the (E)dear old Shandon (A7)bells, ,
When my (D)memory sugg(G)ested in a (D)vision bright and clear, ,
All the (G)strange things that would (D)happen if we (A)had old Ireland (D)here. ,

CHORUS,

If the Blarney stone stood (G)out on Sydney (D)harbour, ,
And (G)Dublin town to Melbourne came to (D)stay, ,
If the Shannon River (G)joined the Brisbane (D)Waters, ,
And Kill(E)arney's lakes flowed into Botany (A7)Bay, ,
If the (D)Shandon bells rang (G)out in old Free(D)mantle,
And (G)County Cork at Adelaide did ap(D)pear,
Erin's (Bm)sons would never roam, all the (D)boys would stay at home, ,
If we only had old (A)Ireland over (D)here. ,

There are lots of lovely fairies dancing on the village green, ,
There are lots of lovely colleens, the finest ever seen, ,
Where the boys are all called Paddy and the girls called Molly dear, ,
Sure we'd wrap the green flag 'round them if we had old Ireland here. ,

CHORUS,

Sorry I haven't got Alan's knack for putting chords in the right places, that's why some of the words got a bit disjointed.

Seeing as you're not coming to hear me sing, (still trying to decide a name for that band!!!!!)……… these blokes are hard to please…… I'm off to put the tune into mid2txt.

Slainte

Alison


01 Mar 98 - 06:37 AM (#22610)
Subject: Tune Add: IF WE ONLY HAD OLD IRELAND OVER HERE
From: alison

Hi again,

Here's the tune. I found this in an old Irish book that had always been in our house, and got my Mum and Dad to teach it to me before I emmigrated, (I had never heard it before, so I don't know if there are any recordings.) I've heard it sung a few times since I've been here.

I know this is probably a stupid question but... where are you from Leprechaun?

MIDI file: IFWEONLY.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: If we only had old Ireland over here
TimeSig: 4/4 24 8
Key: D
Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Start
1440 1 54 026 0238 0 54 026 0002 1 55 021 0238 0 55 021 0002 1 57 025 0238 0 57 025 0002 1 57 027 0238 0 57 027 0002 1 57 032 0238 0 57 032 0002 1 57 026 0238 0 57 026 0002 1 59 024 0238 0 59 024 0002 1 62 029 0238 0 62 029 0002 1 62 034 0238 0 62 034 0002 1 59 027 0238 0 59 027 0002 1 57 025 0238 0 57 025 0002 1 54 018 0238 0 54 018 0002 1 57 027 0238 0 57 027 0002 1 62 018 0238 0 62 018 0002 1 66 030 0478 0 66 030 0002 1 64 038 0238 0 64 038 0002 1 66 028 0238 0 66 028 0002 1 67 024 0238 0 67 024 0002 1 57 026 0238 0 57 026 0002 1 61 017 0238 0 61 017 0002 1 67 021 0238 0 67 021 0002 1 66 019 0238 0 66 019 0019 1 57 023 0223 1 62 035 0238 0 57 023 0238 0 62 035 0002 1 66 020 0238 0 66 020 0002 1 64 017 0238 0 64 017 0002 1 62 030 0238 0 62 030 0002 1 61 023 0238 0 61 023 0002 1 62 020 0238 0 62 020 0002 1 64 034 0478 0 64 034 0002 1 54 016 0238 0 54 016 0002 1 55 026 0238 0 55 026 0002 1 57 036 0238 0 57 036 0002 1 57 031 0238 0 57 031 0002 1 57 032 0238 0 57 032 0002 1 57 030 0238 0 57 030 0002 1 59 026 0238 0 59 026 0002 1 62 030 0238 0 62 030 0002 1 62 031 0238 0 62 031 0002 1 59 031 0238 0 59 031 0002 1 57 026 0238 0 57 026 0002 1 54 034 0234 0 54 034 0002 1 57 025 0238 0 57 025 0052 1 62 030 0194 1 66 028 0208 0 62 030 0478 0 66 028 0002 1 64 027 0238 0 64 027 0002 1 66 026 0238 0 66 026 0002 1 67 034 0238 0 67 034 0018 1 59 021 0191 1 64 022 0238 0 59 021 0238 0 64 022 0035 1 67 028 0238 0 67 028 0002 1 66 029 0238 0 66 029 0002 1 57 023 0238 0 57 023 0002 1 62 024 0238 0 62 024 0002 1 66 034 0238 0 66 034 0002 1 64 034 0238 0 64 034 0002 1 57 023 0238 0 57 023 0002 1 61 021 0238 0 61 021 0002 1 64 028 0238 0 64 028 0002 1 62 028 0478 0 62 028 0002 1 54 024 0238 0 54 024 0002 1 55 022 0238 0 55 022 0002 1 57 030 0354 0 57 030 0036 1 57 034 0090 1 57 043 0032 0 57 034 0291 1 57 031 0015 0 57 043 0551 0 57 031 0002 1 59 036 0338 0 59 036 0002 1 62 033 0138 0 62 033 0022 1 64 040 0338 0 64 040 0019 1 62 031 0118 0 62 031 0039 1 66 048 0441 0 66 048 0002 1 62 034 1198 0 62 034 0002 1 66 020 0238 0 66 020 0002 1 67 030 0321 0 67 030 0019 1 67 030 0138 0 67 030 0002 1 67 040 0354 0 67 040 0019 1 67 027 0107 1 67 041 0031 0 67 027 0325 1 59 029 0495 0 67 041 0122 0 59 029 0002 1 61 028 0354 0 61 028 0002 1 59 033 0122 0 59 033 0002 1 57 038 1438 0 57 038 0002 1 62 040 0338 0 62 040 0018 1 64 022 0105 0 64 022 0019 1 66 032 0338 0 66 032 0018 1 65 030 0124 1 66 026 0138 0 65 030 0292 1 64 029 0371 0 66 026 0172 0 64 029 0002 1 62 041 0356 1 64 027 0388 0 62 041 0122 0 64 027 0002 1 62 032 0338 0 62 032 0002 1 59 031 0140 0 59 031 0000 1 57 031 0478 0 57 031 0002 1 66 040 0958 0 66 040 0002 1 61 032 0340 1 62 029 0371 0 61 032 0122 0 62 029 0018 1 64 033 0338 0 64 033 0002 1 66 043 0138 0 66 043 0002 1 64 038 0338 0 64 038 0001 1 62 038 0141 1 61 027 0172 0 62 038 0325 1 62 028 0388 0 61 027 0118 0 62 028 0002 1 61 045 0358 0 61 045 0003 1 59 029 0123 0 59 029 0000 1 57 044 1438 0 57 044 0002 1 54 032 0340 1 55 024 0371 0 54 032 0140 0 55 024 0000 1 57 042 0354 0 57 042 0002 1 57 041 0124 1 57 036 0014 0 57 041 0428 0 57 036 0019 1 57 029 0138 0 57 029 0019 1 59 049 0307 1 62 045 0338 0 59 049 0155 0 62 045 0018 1 64 038 0358 0 64 038 0002 1 62 048 0118 0 62 048 0002 1 66 028 0478 0 66 028 0002 1 62 038 1198 0 62 038 0002 1 66 029 0238 0 66 029 0002 1 67 045 0338 0 67 045 0018 1 67 043 0124 1 67 044 0031 0 67 043 0275 1 67 038 0032 0 67 044 0602 0 67 038 0002 1 67 032 0356 1 59 046 0371 0 67 032 0092 1 61 048 0122 0 59 046 0329 1 59 042 0358 0 61 048 0118 0 59 042 0035 1 57 036 1438 0 57 036 0002 1 62 052 0354 0 62 052 0018 1 64 040 0108 0 64 040 0000 1 66 038 0338 0 66 038 0052 1 59 033 0090 1 59 033 0015 0 59 033 0448 0 59 033 0002 1 57 036 0118 0 57 036 0002 1 59 037 0478 0 59 037 0002 1 62 037 0321 0 62 037 0002 1 64 034 0122 0 64 034 0035 1 66 043 0323 1 57 037 0371 0 66 043 0109 1 57 040 0015 0 57 037 0515 0 57 040 0002 1 56 022 0118 0 56 022 0002 1 57 034 0478 0 57 034 0002 1 62 029 0371 0 62 029 0002 1 64 037 0107 0 64 037 0000 1 66 040 0323 1 57 026 0371 0 66 040 0105 0 57 026 0052 1 62 029 0340 1 66 026 0388 0 62 029 0122 0 66 026 0018 1 64 039 0371 0 64 039 0019 1 57 022 0090 1 61 028 0105 0 57 022 0308 1 64 027 0388 0 61 028 0155 0 64 027 0002 1 62 037 1438 0 62 037
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the January 15 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:If we only had old Ireland over here
M:4/4
Q:1/4=100
K:D
F,G,|A,A,A,A,B,DDB,|A,F,A,DF2EF|GA,CGFA,DF|
EDCDE2F,G,|A,A,A,A,B,DDB,|A,F,A,DF2EF|GB,E3/4G5/4FA,DF|
EA,CED2F,G,|A,3/2A,/2A,3/4A,5/4B,5/4D3/4E3/2D/2|
F2D5F|G5/4G3/4G3/2G5/4G3/4B,/2C3/2B,/2|A,6D3/2E/2|
F3/2=F/2F3/2E/2D3/2E/2D3/2B,/2|A,2F4C3/2D/2|
E3/2F/2E3/2D3/4C5/4D/2C3/2B,/2|A,6F,3/2G,/2|
A,3/2A,5/4A,/2A,3/4B,3/2D/2E3/2D/2|F2D5F|
G3/2G/2G3/4G5/4G3/2B,/2C3/2B,/4A,/4|-A,6D3/2E/2|
F3/2B,3/2B,/2A,/2B,2D5/4E/2F/4|-F3/2A,3/2A,/2^G,/2A,2D3/2E/2|
F3/2A,/4D7/4F/2E3/2A,/2C3/2E/2|D6||

Happy singing

slainte

Alison


02 Mar 98 - 12:16 AM (#22700)
Subject: RE: Lyrics needed:Irish-Australian Folk Song
From: Joe Offer

Nice tune, Alison, but I wanna hear it SUNG! C'mon! Make us a WAV file. Please?
-Joe Offer-


22 Oct 03 - 08:42 PM (#1040035)
Subject: RE: Lyrics needed:Irish-Australian Folk Song
From: GUEST

it was a good song but i'm still young and have different taste!


22 Oct 03 - 08:45 PM (#1040039)
Subject: RE: Lyrics needed:Irish-Australian Folk Song
From: McGrath of Harlow

There's an American version of that, with various American places mentioned. But the Aussie version is the original, I'm pretty sure.


24 Oct 03 - 09:45 PM (#1041389)
Subject: RE: Lyrics needed:Irish-Australian Folk Song
From: Jim Dixon

An American version of "If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here" is sung by Connie Foley on the compilation album "Irish American Music of the 50's." Another American version, with somewhat different lyrics, is sung by Al Logan on the compilation "Irish Ballads, Vol. 1." Here's a composite transcription of 2 sound samples, found at Barnes&Noble:

If the Blarney Stone stood out in New York harbor,
And Dublin town to Boston came to stay,
If the River Shannon joined the Rio Grande [or "the Mississippi"],
And Killarney's lakes flowed into Frisco Bay,
If the Shannon bells rang out in Kansas City,...

The Czech Luma-Electronic site doesn't give lyrics, but it says "If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here" was recorded by Hank Locklin on "Irish Songs Country Style" in 1964. Authorship is attributed to "Fallon," copyright 1963.

One site referred to "If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here" as a Bing Crosby song, but I have been unable to find any confirmation of that.


25 Oct 03 - 08:26 AM (#1041562)
Subject: RE: Lyrics needed:Irish-Australian Folk Song
From: GUEST

I'm pretty sure that an Irish baritone by the name of Sean Mooney sang the Australian version of this on a record back in the 1950s, it might even have been the original recording. Sorry I don't have the record myself.


27 Mar 06 - 12:21 AM (#1703561)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: GUEST,Ken Boatfield....from Orlando, Florida USA

What a beautiful song...and I just enjoy singing it....and I particularly enjoy the USA lyrics as well.....what a beautiful song.

I thoroughly also enjoy singing the ISLE OF INNISFREE....absolutely embedded in my heart...
I come from a family of McGrath's and O'neils and I love my Irish heritage....
Anyone wish to chat please email me at nurseman1951@yahoo.com and let me know who you are. Love to talk.

THANKS KEN


27 Mar 06 - 05:21 PM (#1704105)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: GUEST,beachcomber

Yes, I believe also that Dublin Baritone , Sean Mooney, made the original 1950s recording of this song. It was, I feel sure, on the Walton Record Lable. I heard it, only very recently on Ronan Collins' show on RTE Radio 1. So it is still extant.


17 Oct 07 - 12:48 PM (#2173058)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: GUEST

I know the song from long ago when the portable movies came to the village hall and the song was played after the show. It's a nice tune and it does capture the essence of being gone.

   Ned


17 Oct 07 - 10:55 PM (#2173372)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: Beer

I sing this song quit often at Senior homes and such. One of my favorites.
Beer (adrien)
From Quebec, Canada


18 Oct 07 - 05:32 AM (#2173474)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: joseph

This song was recorded by the late Josef Locke and it is on one of his Cd's


10 Feb 08 - 03:30 PM (#2258694)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: GUEST

if we only had old ireland over here, can be found on FOSTER & ALLEN ,A TASTE OF IRELAND. TRACK 16


10 Feb 08 - 04:23 PM (#2258791)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: Jon Bartlett

Below is the set collected by Phil Thomas from James Flynn in Vancouver BC in 1970 (PJT#312). As you can see, it's localized to the BC coast. Dead Horse Creek (to the southeast of Kelowna) is where Jim's from.

I was dreamin' of old Erin and Killarney's lakes and dells
I was dreamin' of the Shannon and the dear old Shannon bells
And in my memory it suggested a vision bright and clear
Of the strange things that would happen if we had old Erin here.

Now if the Blarney Stone stood out in Vancouver Harbour
Dublin town to Victoria came to stay
If the river Shannon joined the Fraser waters
And Killarney's lakes flowed into Queen Charlotte Bay.
Sure we'd have those little colleens the fairest ever seen
Sure we'd have those dainty fairies dancing on the village greens
Every boy we would call Patsy and the girls all Molly dear
Ah sure you'd think you were in heaven if we had old Erin here..

Now If the Shannon bells rang out in New Westminster
And County Cork to Coquitlam would appear
Why Eileen Doon would never roam and poor old Jim Flynn he'd stay at home
in Dead Horse Creek
If we only only had old Erin over here.


Jon Bartlett


08 Apr 10 - 04:28 AM (#2881935)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: GUEST,Greg'sGreats

You may be interested to know that I am putting a near mint copy of the original 78 by Sean Mooney (with trio) up on ebay today.

It was in fact on the HMV label cat no IP910

The B side is "My Father's Cabin"


06 Jul 10 - 01:49 PM (#2940744)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: GUEST,Ger

My mother has told me that it was her grand uncle who wrote the original in Boston.It's the american version. his name was Matt Cahill.I wanted to the album 'Irish American music of the 50s, which has Connie Foley singing it, for her birthday, but Amazon won't let the shipping go through.Is ther any way of contacting the seller directly. I will appreciate any suggestions.
   Gerry from Kerry


25 Jul 19 - 09:00 AM (#4001998)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: GUEST,Alistair B

Many people have laid claim to the writing of this song. It has been given variously as Rodell, Ruddell, Fallon, Traditional, Gilligan. There seem to be various versions in Canada, America, Australia and so on, so maybe each time it is re-written the adapter claims ownership. Leastways, it's difficult to work out who performed it first (was it Sean Mooney?) and who actually wrote the prototype?


25 Jul 19 - 11:02 PM (#4002085)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: GUEST

Okay - it's time to reveal the truth to everyone. This song dates from 1915 and was written by a great (now-forgotten) songwriter called Joe Slater, written under the pseudonym Felix Le Roy (music) with words by William Henry Fitzgerald (aka John E. Nugent). The reason that no one has ever discovered this earlier is because everyone assumes that the title is "If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here". The published title is "We'll Fly the Green Above Us", and you can find a link to the original 1915 sheet music at the National Library of Australia here:

https://trove.nla.gov.au/work/19210060?selectedversion=NBD6162644

The story of this song and the rest of Joe Slater's life and career are covered in my upcoming book on Australian popular songwriters of the early 20th century.
Peter D


26 Jul 19 - 10:04 AM (#4002140)
Subject: Lyr Add: IF THEY’D ONLY MOVE OLD IRELAND OVER HERE
From: Jim Dixon

Lyrics below are from the sheet music at Mississippi State University. You can hear a recording by Ada Jones from 1914 at the Internet Archive.


IF THEY’D ONLY MOVE OLD IRELAND OVER HERE
Words by Jamie Kelly and Lou Klein, music by Frank Gillen, ©1913.

1. My thoughts are often turning to a land across the sea
Where all the scenes of bygone years come plainly back to me;
And now my heart is yearning for that little isle so grand.
I’d be happy could they move it to dear old Yankee land.

CHORUS: If Blarney Castle stood in dear Chicago,
If Muckross Abbey stood upon Broadway,
If Shandon Bells rang out in Philadelphia,
And Killarney’s lakes flowed into Frisco Bay—
If the River Shannon only ran through Boston,
For my native land I’d never shed a tear.
Ev’ry fellow would be seen with a charming sweet colleen
If they’d only move old Ireland over here.

2. This country’d save a fortune could they move old Ireland here.
We wouldn’t have to import good policemen ev’ry year.
With all our politicians we have half of Ireland now,
And if someone spoke to Wilson the rest he’d move somehow.

CHORUS: We’d put the Donnybrook in dear old Brooklyn,
And shamrocks you would find in Herald Square.
Along Broadway you could pick Dublin daisies.
Ev’ry German band would play an Irish air.
“Erin go bragh” we would find on silver dollars.
Tetrazzini then would sing Bedelia Dear.
Maggie Cline would feel at home; so would little Georgie Cohan,
If they’d only move old Ireland over here.

3. We wouldn’t need two green flags on the rear end of a train
To let you know the engineer has got an Irish name.
“Would Germans be elected?” somebody said to me.
I said: “You bet they would, sir, in dear old Germany.”

CHORUS: Chief Meyers then would be an Irish Indian.
Merkle then would call himself McGann,
And Matty they would call the Irish wonder,
John McGraw the leader of the Irish clan.
For the pennant they would use a great big shamrock,
And the Irish Giants would bring it home each year.
Murry Doyle and all the gang sure they’d lick the whole shebang
If they’d only move old Ireland over here.

- - -
Things mentioned:
Blarney Castle
Muckross Abbey
Shandon, Cork
Lakes of Killarney
River Shannon
Donnybrook
Luisa Tetrazzini
Bedelia
Maggie Cline
George M. Cohan
Chief Meyers
Fred Merkle
Christy “Matty” Mathewson
John McGraw
New York Giants
Unidentified: Murry Doyle.


26 Jul 19 - 11:49 AM (#4002161)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: Stringsinger

If we only had old Ireland with us now,
The Firbolgs and Melitians would make a row.
The warlike Celts would slaughter
Every father, son and daughter
the DeDannon tribe could surely show us how.

Saint Paddy would bring the wrath of Rome to bear
On unsuspecting spalpeens who’d declare
“They wouldn’t be so frisky,
With a glass of Irish whiskey
They’d lay about enjoying a peaceful aire.”

If we only had old Ireland with us now,
We’d have every one behind a farmer’s plough.
To replace the U.S.A.
We’d form the I.R.A.
And only flashing pikes we would allow

If we only had old Ireland of course
We’d have more cops than ever on the force.
The Washers would be Women
With The politicians skimmin'
And we’d outlaw every vestige of divorce

So let’s here it for good old Innisfael
Let’s put all the Proddies into jail
For none of us are fans
Of the notorious Black and Tans
Let’s go back in time where violence can prevail


26 Jul 19 - 11:52 AM (#4002162)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: Stringsinger

I would like to offer a disclaimer.
I've been to Ireland three times and found the Irish people
to be kind, generous, welcoming and intelligent.
I just wanted to have some fun.


25 Sep 19 - 10:41 AM (#4010453)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: GUEST

I had a look at the American song "If They'd Only Move Old Ireland Over Here" by Kelly, Klein and Gillen which is very similar to "We'd Fly the Green Above Us". It does appear that the former came out first as the copyright date of 1913 is clearly written on the sheet music. The earliest date I can find for the Joe Slater song is a newspaper ad from his publishing company on 1st April 1915, mentioning it as a new song.
But compare the verses and the melody lines. They are totally different. Here is what I think happened:

The Kelly, Klein & Gillen song was published and used in the show "When Claudia Smiles", introduced by Blanche Ring and subsequently recorded by Ada Jones. In Australia, Joe Slater (whose publishing company put out large folios of songs performed on the Tivoli vaudeville circuit throughout Australia) had reciprocal arrangements with publishers in England and the U.S. and he almost certainly would have become familiar with the song. Slater had written many Irish songs himself, and the fantasy of importing Ireland to the new world would have appealed to him. He would have seen the applicability to Australia and may have been tempted to simply replace the U.S. place names with Australian ones. William Henry Fitzgerald, who is credited with the lyrics of the Australian version, may have been a real person or he may have just been a pseudonym for Slater, as was Felix Le Roy who gets credit for the music. Either way, he chose to use the American song as a basic blueprint for the content and structure of the chorus, with Australian place-names substituted, but wrote totally different verses. "Felix Le Roy" gave it a new melody, then claimed full authorship. He probably felt that it was unlikely that anyone would ever know - after all, most popular songs were disposable items with a few months' life at best.
What is interesting is that it is the Australian version which made it back to Ireland and which survived there for many decades. Not only that, the American versions which were recorded in the 1950s and later were adaptations of the Australian version, rather than going back to the Kelly, Klein and Gillen song, which seems to have been forgotten. Listen to the versions by U.S. singers Connie Foley (1957) and Hank Locklin (1964).
It does seem unfair that the American original gets no credit for being the forerunner of this popular song, but then the Americans got their revenge when they stole the Australian song "A Pub With No Beer" and changed it to "A Bar With No Beer" giving no credit to the original.
Peter D


25 Sep 19 - 10:57 AM (#4010456)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: If We Only Had Old Ireland Over Here
From: GUEST,Starship

Joe Slater wrote using many names.