Well here's another one I managed to get into the computer.

PRIDE OF PETROVAR

words by Percy French
music - traditional

Well Eileen Orr, O that's me darlin's name is
O'er the Barony her features they were famous
If we loved her, well who is there to blame us,
For wasn't she the Pride of Petrovar?
But her beauty was like to make you shy,
Not a livin' boy could look her in the eye.
Boys O boys! now there's the reason why
we're in love with the Pride of Petrovar.

refrain:
Eileen Orr, me heart is turning gray
Ever since the day you wandered far away.
Eileen Orr, There's more fish in the sea,
But there's none just like the Pride of Petrovar.

Well it's Friday at the fair at Ballintubber,
Eileen met McGraw the old horse trader
I'd like to put me hands upon the robber,
For he stole away the Pride of Petrovar
Well he never seemed to see her standing there at all
Even when she ogled him from underneath her shawl
He was big and masterful and she was looking small
Most provokin' to the Pride of Petrovar

refrain

So it is and it was in the beginning
Eileen's heart was set upon the winning
To see McGraw contentedly a grinning
To be courted by the Pride of Petrovar
Says he, "I know a girl that could knock you into fits"
At that our Eileen nearly lost her wits.
The outcome of the whole thing is that now the robber sits
With his arm around the Pride of Petrovar.

refrain

Well, argh me boys, with fate 'tis hard to grapple
Of all those girls well our Eileen was the apple;
And now to see McGraw walking toward the chapel
Arm and arm with the Pride of Petrovar.
Well all I have is just one thing to say;
If you go a courtin' then look the other way,
If you want them to come after you, just look the other way,
For they're mostly like the Pride of Petrovar.



EILEEN OGE

Eileen Oge! an' that's the darlin's name is.
Through the Barony her features they were famous,
If we loved her , who was there to blame us,
For wasn't she the Pride of Petravore.
But her beauty made us all so shy,
Not a man could look her in the eye.
Boys, O boys, that's the reason why
We're in mournin' for the Pride of Petrovore.

Eileen Oge, me heart is growin' grey
Ever since the day you wandered far away.
Eileen Oge, There's good fish in the say
But there's no one like the Pride of Petrovore.

Friday at the fair of Ballintubber,
Eileen met McGrath the cattle jobber.
I'd like to set me mark upon the robber,
For he stole away the Pride of Petrovore.
He never seemed to see the girl at all,
Even when she ogled him underneath her shawl.
Lookin' big and masterful when she was lookin' small
Most provokin' for the Pride of Petrovore.

So it went as 'twas in the beginning,
Eileen Oge she was bent upon the winning.
Big McGrath contentedly was grinning,
Being courted by the Pride of Petrovore.
Sez he, "I know a girl that could knock you into fits."
At that our Eileen nearly lost her wits.
The upshot of the ruction was that now the robber sits
With his arm around the Pride of Petrovore.

Boys, O boys, with fate 'tis hard to grapple
Of his eye 'tis Eileen was the apple;
And now to see her walkin' to the chapel
Wid the hardest featured man in Petrovore.
And now boys, this is all I have to say;
When you do your courtin' don't make a display.
If you want them to run after you, just walkd the other way,
For they're mostly like the Pride of Petrovore



The first version was recorded by Ian & Sylvia on their first album. Basically the same version was also recorded by the Mitchell Trio on "Slightly Irreverent". A second, slightly different version is found in the book "Songs of Ireland" by Jerry Silverman, 1991 Mel Bay Publications.

Either way it's a good song.


rich r