LOUGH ERNE

Traditional (?)

I am a rambling Irishman
In Ulster I was born in
And many's the happy hours I spent
By the banks of sweet Lough Erne
For to live pooor I could not endure
Like others my station
To America I'sailed away
And left this Irish nation

The night before we went on board
I spent it with my darling
For four 'clock in the afternoon
Till the break of day next morning
But when that we were going to part
We fell in each other's arms
And you may be sure and very sure
That it wounded both our charms

But the first night that we spent on board
I dreamed about my Nancy
I dreamed I held her in my arms
And well she pleased my fancy
But when I woke out of my dreams
And I found my bosom empty
Well you may be sure and very sure
That I lay discontented

And when we arrived on the other side
We were both stouth and healthy
We cast our anchor in the bay
Going down to Philadelphia
Let every lad link with his lass
Blue jacket and white trousers
And let every lass link with her lad
Blue petticoat and white flounces

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Sung by Dick Gaughan on «Handful of Earth» (1981)

BACKGROUND: like 'The snows they melt the soonest', I didn't know that I knew this until I thought that the tune might sound nice after it. I learned it from Cathal McConnell; he used to sing it when we were in Boys of the Lough together (quite a long time ago now!). Dick.

(submitted by EB)

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I've collected most of the lyrics I've posted here during the past months.
These lyrics, along with the .RA audioclips, are available at
http://geocities.com/Nashville/Opry/7424
Ezio