To Thread - Forum Home

The Mudcat Café TM
https://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=5352
7 messages

Lyr Add: Where the Grass Grows Green (H Clifton)

13 Jun 98 - 01:37 AM (#30667)
Subject: Lyrics - Danny Blake
From:

I believe this is an Irish immigrant song. Chorus goes in part:

Then I love my native country She's the fairest ever seen ----------------------------------old Erin Where the grass grows green.


15 Jun 98 - 12:53 PM (#30818)
Subject: RE: Lyrics - Danny Blake
From: Barry Finn

Try entering into the search box ( @Irish @emigrate ), that should bring up irish immigration songs in the database. You might try, also, a post title that may draw more interest, don't know if you are Danny Blake or that's the name of the song, also the more clues you give the better your chances are. Good luck Barry


24 Jun 98 - 01:01 AM (#31258)
Subject: Want lyrics and music to
From: mim

I believe this is an Irish immigrant song. It was sung by my great uncle whose mother and father came from Ireland. In 1953 when he was 93 he sang it for the family but said he hadn't heard it in 70 years. It starts out:

I'm Danny Blake from county Clare and here at your command
To sing a song in praise of home and my own native land.
I've travelled through foreign countries and in many a clime I've been,
But my heart is with old Erin where the grass grows green.

CHORUS: Then I love my native country. She's the fairest ever seen,
And I can't forget old Erin where the grass grows green.


25 May 04 - 09:50 PM (#1194021)
Subject: Lyr Add: I CAN'T FORGET OLD ERIN (WHERE THE ...)
From: Jim Dixon

These lyrics copied from a songsheet (broadside) at The Library of Congress American Memory Collection: (No date given)

I CAN'T FORGET OLD ERIN (WHERE THE GRASS GROWS GREEN)

1. I'm Danny Black from County Clare, and here at your command,
To sing a song in praise of home, and my own native land.
I've smiled to foreign countries, and in many climes I've been,
But my heart is still with Erin, where the grass grows green.

CHORUS: I love my native country, and I'm loyal to my queen,
But I can't forget "Ould Erin," where the grass grows green.

2. Poor Pat is often painted with a ragged coat and hat.
His heart and hospitality has much to do with that.
Let slanderers say what they will, they cannot call him mean.
Sure a stranger's always welcome where the grass grows green.

3. He's foolish, but not vicious. his faults I won't defend.
His purse to help the orphan; his life to serve a friend.
I'll give without a murmur, so his follies try and screen,
For there's noble hearts in Erin, where the grass grows green.

4. 'Tis true he has a weakness for a drop of something pure,
But that's a slight debility that many more endure.
He's fond of fun. He's witty, tho' his wit 'tis not too keen,
For there's feeling hearts in Erin where the grass grows green.

5. There's not a true-born Irishman, wherever he may be,
But loves the little emerald wherever he may be,
But loves the little emerald that sparkles in the sea.
May the sun of bright prosperity, shine peaceful and serene,
And bring better days to Erin, where the grass grows green,


07 Jun 10 - 06:15 AM (#2922232)
Subject: Lyr Add: WHERE THE GRASS GROWS GREEN (H Clifton)
From: Artful Codger

This song, originally titled "Where the Grass Grows Green" was written and composed by the English music hall entertainer Harry Clifton in 1867, and published by his primary publisher Hopwood and Crew in that year or early in 1868 (judging from the publication serial number 1389). The Bodleian Library has two copies of the original sheet music, with full attribution. An American edition is available online in the Lester S. Levy Collection; from that, I have transcribed the lyrics below, and a MIDI will follow shortly. Note particularly that the fellow's name is Denny Blake, not Danny Black.


WHERE THE GRASS GROWS GREEN
Written, composed and sung by Mr. Harry Clifton
Tempo: Allegretto moderato.

I'm Denny Blake from County Clare And here at your command,
To sing a song in praise of home, And my own native land;
I've sailed to foreign Countries And in many climes I've been,
But my heart is still with Erin, Where the grass grows green.

CHORUS: I love my native Country, And I'm loyal to my Queen,
But I can't forget "Ould Erin," Where the grass grows green.

2. Poor Pat is often painted, With a ragged coat and hat,
His heart and hospitality, Has much to do with that;
Let slanderers say what they will, They cannot call him mean,
Sure a stranger's always welcome, Where the grass grows green.

3. He's foolish but not vicious, His faults I won't defend,
His purse to help the orphan, His life to serve a friend;
He'll give without a murmur, So hi follies try and screen,
For there's noble hearts in Erin, Where the grass grows green.

4. 'Tis true he has a wakness, For a drop of something pure,
But that's a slight debility, That many more endure;
He's fond of fun, he's witty, Tho' his wit is not too keen,
For there's feeling hearts to Erin, Where the grass grows green.

5. There's not a true born Irishman, Wherever he may be,
But loves the little Emerald, That sparkles on the sea;
May the sun of bright prosperity, Shine peaceful and serene,
And bring better days to Erin, Where the grass grows green.


Source: Sheet music published by Lee & Walker, 722 Chestnut St., Philadelphia; undated. Publication number 9807.5.
In the Lester S. Levy Collection.

"The Waterford Boys" is another "traditional Irish" song written by Harry Clifton.


Click to play


07 Jun 10 - 06:23 AM (#2922234)
Subject: RE: Where the Grass Grows Green (I'm Denny Blake)
From: Artful Codger

The Bodleian Library ballads site has several British and Irish broadsides of this song, notably Harding B 11(4145), published by J. Harkness in conjunction with Hopwood and Crew, where Clifton is explicitly credited.

For further information and links to Harry Clifton songs, see this thread:
"Help: Harry Clifton songwriter"


09 Jun 10 - 02:53 AM (#2923675)
Subject: RE: ADD: Where the Grass Grows Green (I'm Denny Blake)
From: Joe Offer

MIDI from Artful Codger added. See links above.
-Joe-