Lyr Req: The Hills of Donegal

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hills of Donegal
From: Maryrrf
Date: 27 May 01 - 10:56 PM

Malcolm, you are truly amazing. Thank you! That's it exactly.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE HILLS OF DONEGAL (Boys of the Lough)
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 27 May 01 - 09:50 PM

THE HILLS OF DONEGAL

(Traditional; from Willie McElroy of Brookborough, County Fermanagh.)

When I was young and in my prime
My mind being free from care
Whilst leaving all in Donegal to wander far away
Whilst leaving all in Donegal to wander far away
That I might plough the raging main, going to Amerikay.

In Creeslough town my friends stood round
And I bad adieu to all
In Creeslough town my friends stood round
And I bad adieu to all
And down Lough Foyle and away I went from the hills of Donegal.

The night being dark and stormy
And loud the waves did roar
Our captain cries, "Hold off, me boys- our vessel's going ashore!"
Our captain cries, "Hold off, me boys, to deck you one and all!"
And I rued the day I sailed away from the hills of Donegal.

My father he's a farmer -I mean to tell you all-
Between Moville, near Derry, and the hills of Donegal.
I, being like many's the foolish young lad, I thought I'd sail away
That I might plough the raging main, Going to Amerikay.

Here's farewell unto Castlerock, likewise unto Downhill,
And to that spot where we sailed by, they call it sweet Moville.
From sweet Culmore to that foreign shore where waves do rise and fall
Adieu adieu to my wee lass on the hills of Donegal.

As recorded by The Boys of the Lough (sung by Christie O'Leary), Sweet Rural Shade (Shanachie 79068, 1988).  Lyrics as given in the sleevenotes.  The tune is basically the same as Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore.

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hills of Donegal
From: Noreen
Date: 27 May 01 - 06:50 PM

Transcribe what you can, Mary, and post it here. Then we'll have a go of making sense of the gaps, as has been done before with other songs. We enjoy a challenge!

Noreen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hills of Donegal
From: Maryrrf
Date: 27 May 01 - 06:39 PM

That doesn't appear to be the same lyrics as sung by BOTL. I've got the song but some of the words are a little tricky to understand. I'll sit down and listen to it and try to figure them out and transcribe. Anyway thanks for the help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hills of Donegal
From: nutty
Date: 27 May 01 - 11:43 AM

Their website is here

BOYS OF THE LOUGH

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Hills of Donegal
From: Sorcha
Date: 26 May 01 - 11:10 PM

If you can deal with the lack of line breaks, I think they are here, in this thread.

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Line Breaks added - JoeClone

Subject: The Hills of Donegal
From: Maryrrf
Date: 26 May 01 - 10:32 PM

I'm looking for the lyrics to this song as sung by Boys of the Lough. Couldn't find them in the data base - does anybody know them? I can't get that song out of my head.