Origins: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell)

Subject: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell
From: GUEST,Skarpi
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 02:21 AM

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 .

Subject: RE: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell
From: Stewie
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 02:50 AM

Skarpi, Mickey is an occasional contributor to Mudcat threads using the name chordstrangler.

His website addy is: http://www.mickeymacconnell.com/

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 03:00 AM

OUR Chordstrangler wrote that? What a lovely, haunting song!

More information in the crosslinks above.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell
From: Gervase
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 05:52 AM

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.

Subject: RE: Origins: only our river runs free M.McConnell
From: GUEST,Roy McLean
Date: 17 Aug 09 - 04:46 PM

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.

Subject: Origins: Only our rivers run free Michell McConne
From: skarpi
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 06:35 PM

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

Subject: RE: Origins: Only our rivers run free Michell McConne
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 21 Sep 09 - 06:50 PM

Michael McConnell is a Mudcatter ("Chordstrangler") and will no doubt be along in the fulness of time to answer your questions, Skarpi

Subject: RE: Origins: Only our rivers run free Michell McConne
From: skarpi
Date: 22 Sep 09 - 02:59 AM

then I got his name wrong , sorry about that .

kv Skarpi

Subject: RE: Origins: Only our rivers run free Michell McConne
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 22 Sep 09 - 03:08 AM

actually, he is universally known as Mickey rather than Michael ...

Subject: RE: Origins: Only Our Rivers Run Free (M MacConnell)
From: GUEST,^&*
Date: 27 Aug 10 - 09:22 AM

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.

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It sings well, too.