The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #55686   Message #867930
Posted By: GUEST,Q
15-Jan-03 - 09:10 PM
Thread Name: Irish/USA songs before USA Civil War
Subject: RE: Irish/USA songs before USA Civil War
No one has mentioned "Over There" ("Over here"), or "Oh! potatoes they grow small over there!" This song was printed in 1844- See Thread 13830, where it was posted by Joe Offer (20 Sep 99) from the Levy Collection. See: Over There . No author, printed by Atwill, NY. This song is often taken as referring to the famine in Ireland, which it could do. Sometimes "praties" is used for potatoes, making it sound more Irish.

On the other hand, it could be totally American, the "Over There" referring to the next county or whatever. The ballad is called "One of the Olden Time," but no indication as to what this means.

Skibbereen" is about the famine, but doesn't seem to exist before 1915 (1910?). See thread 30772: Skibbereen
Nevertheless, it is beautifully sung by Sinead O'Connor in the cd "Long Journey Home."