The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #66364   Message #1102918
Posted By: Sandy Mc Lean
27-Jan-04 - 06:50 PM
Thread Name: Songs about the Devil
Subject: RE: Folklore: Songs about the Devil
The Devil is no match for Kelly in Charlie MacKinnons song:

(THE LEGEND OF) KELLY'S MOUNTAIN*

Kelly was an Irishman, there is no doubt of that;
His mother's name was Bridget, his father's name was Pat.
Now Kelly came from Ireland then was lured back home again.
He left us Kelly's Mountain to perpetuate the name.

(Chorus)
Oh, that green and lofty mountain by the waters of Bras d'Or
Has stood for many, many years and will stand for many more.
It was the home of Kelly and beside its waters blue,
Because he was so lonely, Kelly made his Irish brew.

One day the wily Devil climbed to the mountain top.
Said he to Mr. Kelly, "I would like a little drop."
"And begorra, sir, you'll get it!" Kelly opened wide the door;
He dropped the poor old Devil in the waters of Bras d'Or.

Kelly dearly loved the Highlands but he couldn't live alone
For the breezes used to whisper, "Kelly, boy, you must come home."
The breezes kept a-callin', kept a-callin' night and day
Till from the lofty mountain top they lured him far away.

Now the government is building a causeway o'er Bras d'Or;
The top of Kelly's Mountain will make a splendid floor.
The rock and gravel are so good and very handy too;
They are blasting down the mountain where old Kelly made his brew.

*(these Lyrics are Charlie MaeKinnon's adaptation of Lillian Crewe Walsh's poem."Kelly's Mountain" available on the following albums:
Charlie MacKinnon, The Best of Charlie MacKinnon, Arc ASC 5029
The Rise and Follies of Cape Breton island (1), CCBP 1002
Cape Breton's Greatest Hits, College of Cape Breton Press, CCBP 1005
Harold Maclntyre, Audiograph, AG 7797 (dist. by Arc Sound Ltd.)
Jim Martin, Bay Born Bye, Boot Records, BOS 7239
Albert Dean, On the Shores of Labrador, Audat 477-9065
Eddy Coffey, Oh! That Newfoundland Screech, Country CS—6024