John-John

Subject: RE: John-John
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 29 Jul 06 - 04:44 AM

I heard years ago that Thomas MacDonagh was a hero of the Kennedys', and John-John Kennedy, God rest him, was named for the poem, by the way.

Subject: RE: John-John
From: katlaughing
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 10:54 PM

Thanks, JTT!! Nice ta see ya back amongst us!

Thanks, Sins, too, for letting me know!

What beautiful, poignant lyrics they are.

kat

Subject: RE: John-John
From: Stilly River Sage
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 08:26 PM

If you're nice to Joe Offer maybe he'll set you up with a new cookie. :)

Subject: RE: John-John
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 07:06 PM

Thanks, Sinsull

Subject: RE: John-John
From: SINSULL
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 05:44 PM

Done

Subject: RE: John-John
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 04:24 PM

Could someone send a message to katlaughing to say this poem is now here - I lost my password a few years ago and can't remember what lies I told in filling out the form originally, so can't get it back.

Subject: Lyr Add: JOHN-JOHN (Thomas MacDonagh)
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 28 Jul 06 - 04:07 PM

John-John
by Thomas MacDonagh

I dreamt last night of you, John-John,
And thought you called to me;
And when I woke this morning, John,
Yourself I hoped to see;
But I was all alone, John-John,
Though still I heard your call:
I put my boots and bonnet on,
And took my Sunday shawl,
And went, full sure to find you, John,
To Nenagh fair.

The fair was just the same as then,
Five years ago to-day,
When first you left the thimble men
And came with me away;
For there again were thimble men
And shooting galleries
And card-trick men and Maggie men
Of all sorts and degrees -
But not a sight of you, John-John,
Was anywhere.

I turned my face to home again,
And called myself a fool
To think you'd leave the thimble men
And live again by rule,
And go to Mass and keep the fast
And till the little patch:
My wish to have you home was past
Before I raised the latch
And pushed the door and saw you, John
Sitting down there.

How cool you came in here, begad,
As if you owned the place!
But rest yourself there now, my lad,
'Tis good to see your face;
My dream is out, and now by it
I think I know my mind:
At six o'clock this house you'll quit,
And leave no grief behind -
But until six o'clock, John-John,
My bit you'll share.

The neighbours' shame of me began
When first I brought you in;
To wed and keep a tinker man
They thought a kind of sin;
But now this three years since you've gone
'Tis pity me they do,
And that I'd rather have, John-John,
Than that they'd pity you.
Pity for me and you, John-John,
I could not bear.

Oh, you're my husband, right enough,
But what's the good of that?
You know you never were the stuff
To be the cottage cat,
To watch the fire and hear me lock
The door and put out Shep -
But there now, it is six o'clock
And time for you to step.
God bless and keep you far, John-John!
And that's my prayer.

Subject: RE: John-John
From: katlaughing
Date: 18 Jul 99 - 03:14 PM

Hi, Mcq,

When I read the name of this thread, I thought someone had started a thread for the Kennedy's and "John-John's" disappearance. I feel sorry for a fmaily so full of promise and tragedy.

Anyway, I went looking for this poem on the net. Didn't find it, BUT I did find a great site of Irish poetry,with links to more poetry where you may be able to find it. BTW, the site I found also had a category of poems set to music. Here is the link: Irish Poetry w/bodhran sound clips!

or, type in: http://www.spinfo.uni-koeln.de/~dm/eire.html

good luck,

katlaughing

Subject: John-John
From: mcq
Date: 17 Jul 99 - 04:56 PM

Does anyone have the words of the poem John-John by Thomas MacDonagh, the Irish revolutionary and founder of the Republic, that starts:

Last night I dreamed of you, John-John

and am I right in thinking someone put it to music and made a song of it?