The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #111957   Message #2364860
Posted By: GUEST,songster
13-Jun-08 - 05:46 AM
Thread Name: Orange Songs
Subject: RE: Orange Songs
Thanks everyone who has taken this request seriously, I am not trying to provoke anything or anyone by this thread. I remember reading a few threads of Conrads (I discovered mudcat just as Conrad had almost given up on the Orange Songs thing) The songs in the (well worn) pamphlet are:
The Blackman's Dream
The Orange Maid of Sligo
The Shutting of the Gates of Derry
The Protestant Emigrant (quite touching)
The Battle of the Diamond
Dollies's Bray (a very long version - about 34 verses)

The last song Dollies Bray, the pamphlet has the last three or four pages missing so I didn't get the last of it.

I remember sitting in a pub with the late Frank Harte and he told me he had a vast collection of Orange songs. When I asked him, why?
He replied, 'One Country, Two Traditions!'
Why not, the protestant songs are traditional just as much as the nationalist songs. He told me he had written to Michael Stone and sent him a copy of a song composed of him and Michael Stone wrote back to him (from the Maze Prison) sending him another one composed inside the Maze.
Now, I don't like songs from either side that 'stirs' up ill feelings
in folk and I would not learn or sing any that would offend anyone. I just was asking if anyone could point me in a direction so that I could read more of them as in the past I have not been exposed to them.
Thanks again all for your help, Wolgang I checked out that link and am looking forward to reading a few.
Many thanks.
songster