The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #30573   Message #397714
Posted By: mcpiper
14-Feb-01 - 04:59 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: The Skies o'er Ballyroan
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ballyroan - help fill in missing words
Hi Radriao, just remembered I have the lyrics as sung by Dolores Keane, so I'll fill in where I can:
The classic Po and Rhone
The purling rill,that runs the mill...
The moat high crowned ...
Points to the crystal sky
His hour of toil now flown
With songs of cheer and Scully's beer..
With grief my heart is sore
Within my breastand you oppressed...
Like Emmet and Wolfe Tone
Then my last sigh to god on high
Would be for Ballyroan.
Just a bit more info. Thomas Hodge is given as the author on the sheet I have, he was a school master from Ballyroan. The song was written in the late 19th century, Hodge emigrated to Chicago, where he died. The text I have also says that Chris Andertti was busking one day, when an old man gave him the song, Chris composed a new melody and in turn gave the song to Dlores. It is a wonderful testament to a person's lve of his home place.
All this is off the lyric sheets that came with Dolore's album The Night Owl.
Hope this all helps as,to use a phrase I learnt off Mudcat" I have told you more than I know" Cheers.