Lyr Req: Three Leaves of Shamrock

Subject: Lyr Add: THE DEAR LITTLE SHAMROCK (Andrew Cherry)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 15 Aug 10 - 07:25 PM

Not to be confused with:

The Dear Little Shamrock or The Green Little Shamrock of Ireland
(Andrew Cherry)

There's a dear little plant that grows on our isle.
'Twas St. Patrick himself that sure set it ;
and the sun on his labour with pleasure did smile,
and with dew from his eye often wet it.
It shines thro' the bog. Thro' the brake and the mireland,
And he called it the dear little shamrock of Ireland;
That dear little shamrock, the sweet little shamrock,
The dear little, sweet little shamrock of Ireland.

That dear little plant still grows in our land,
Fresh and fair as the daughters of Erin ;
Whose smile can bewitch, and whose eyes can command,
In each climate they ever appear in
For they shine thro' the brake and the mireland,
Just like their own dear little shamrock of Ireland.
The dear little shamrock, the sweet little shamrock
The dear little, sweet little shamrock of Ireland.

That dear little plant that springs from our soil,
When its three little leaves are extended,
Denotes from the stalk we together should toil,
And ourselves by ourselves be befriended.
And still thro' the bog, thro' the brake and the mireland.
From one root should branch, like the shamrock of Ireland;
The dear little shamrock, the sweet little shamrock
The dear little, sweet little shamrock of Ireland.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Leaves of Shamrock
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 14 Aug 10 - 11:00 PM

There is a version by Charlie Poole here on Youtube.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Leaves of Shamrock
From: Nathan in Texas
Date: 14 Aug 10 - 10:55 PM

It's on Jim Watson's "Willie's Redemption" CD under the title "Leaving Dear Old Ireland." (2001, Barker Records, 132 Justice Street, Chapel Hill, NC 27516)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Leaves of Shamrock
From: GUEST,Jess Dickinson
Date: 14 Aug 10 - 09:22 PM

Do you know where I can get a recording of this song: "Three Leaves of Shamrock"??

Subject: Lyr Add: THREE LEAVES OF SHAMROCK (James McGuire)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 17 May 10 - 07:04 PM

The sheet music can be seen at Duke University. I have boldfaced the differences between this and the last-posted version.

"Beautiful songs as sung by Tho's J. Farron"
THREE LEAVES OF SHAMROCK
Words and music by James McGuire.
New York: Harding Bros., 1889.

1. When leaving dear old Ireland, in the merry month of June,
The birds were sweetly singing, and all nature seemed in tune.
An Irish girl accosted me, with a sad tear in her eye,
And as she spoke these words to me, she bitterly did cry:
"Kind sir, I ask a favor. Oh! grant it to me, please.
'Tis not much that I ask of you, but 'twill set my heart at ease.
Take these to my brother Ned who's far across the sea,
And don't forget to tell him, sir, that they were sent by me."

CHORUS: Three leaves of shamrock, the Irishman's shamrock,
From his own darling sister, her blessing, too, she gave.
"Take them to my brother, for I have no one other,
And these are the shamrocks from his dear old mother's grave."

2. "Tell him, since he went away, how bitter was our lot.
The landlord came one winter day and turned us from our cot.
Our troubles were so many, and our friends so very few,
And, brother dear, our mother used to often sigh for you.
'Oh! darling son, come back to me,' she used to often say.
Alas! one day she sickened and soon was laid away.
Her grave I've watered with my tears. That's where these flowers grew,
And, brother dear, they're all I've got, and them I sent to you."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Three Leaves of Shamrock
From: GUEST,Learaí na Láibe
Date: 15 May 10 - 06:47 PM

"Palm Trees"- in Ireland this refers to species of evergreen trees also commonly called cypress trees.

These are usually species of introduced Leylandii or Lawsonia. They are botanically speaking neither palm trees nor cypresses.

They became known as 'palm trees' because the foliage was used as "palm" on Palm Sunday.

Subject: Lyr Req: THREE LEAVES OF SHAMROCK (Pennsylvania)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 May 10 - 10:39 PM

From North Pennsylvania Minstrelsy, compiled by Henry W. Shoemaker (Altoona, Pa.: Altoona Tribune Company, 1919), page 65:


THREE LEAVES OF SHAMROCK

1. When leaving dear old Ireland, in the merry month of June,
The birds were sweetly singing, all nature seemed in tune.
An Irish girl accosted me, with a sad tear in her eye,
And as she said these words to me, she bitterly did cry:
"Kind sir, I ask a favor; then grant it to me, please.
It is not much I ask of you, but 'twill set my heart at ease.
Take these to my brother Ned, who's far across the sea,
And don't forget to tell him, sir, that they were sent by me."

CHORUS: Three leaves of shamrock, the Irishman's shamrock,
From his own darling sister, and her blessing, too, she gave.
"Take them to my brother, for I have no one other,
And these are the flowers from our angel mother's grave.

2. "Tell him, since he went away, how bitter was our lot.
The landlord came one winter day and turned us from our cot.
Our troubles were so many, and our friends so very few,
And, brother, dear, our mother used to often sigh for you.
'Come home again, my darling boy,' she used to often say.
Alas! one day she sickened and soon was laid away.
Her grave I watered with my tears; that's where these flowers grew,
And, brother, dear, they're all I have, and these I sent to you."

Northern Pennsylvania. Popular in lumber and railroad construction camps forty years ago.—J. C. F.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE IRISHMAN'S SHAMROCK / THREE LEAVES...
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 12 May 10 - 08:55 PM

Lyrics and notes from http://www.veteran.co.uk/vt153cd_words.htm :

THE IRISHMAN'S SHAMROCK

I was leaving dear old Ireland in the merry month of June,
How sweet the birds were singing and all nature was in time -
When an Irish girl accosted me with a sad tear in her eye,
And as these words she said to me, so bitterly she cried:

"Kind sir, oh kind sir, will you do me a favour?
It isn't much I ask you, but it would ease my heart of pain.
Take this to my brother, because I have no other,
And tell him it's the shamrock from his dear old mother's grave."

CHORUS: "It's only a shamrock, the Irishman's shamrock,
From his own darling Nora, far across the sea,
And if you meet him, kindly please tell him,
It's the shamrock from his dear old mother's grave."

Tell him since he's been gone, how bitter has been our lot:
The agent came and turned us from our little humble cot.
We had no place to shelter and friends but few,
So you see, dear brother, all I have is you.

Chorus


Although THE IRISHMAN'S SHAMROCK sounds like an Irish song, it was actually written in 1889 (as THE THREE LEAVES OF SHAMROCK) by an American, albeit of Irish ancestry, called James McGuire. The song was popularised in America by singers Lester McFarland & Robert A. Gardner, who recorded it in 1928 and 1931 (this latter recording being issued on no fewer than eight separate labels), and by Charlie Poole & The North Carolina Ramblers, who recorded it in 1929 under the title LEAVING DEAR OLD IRELAND.

Subject: RE: THREE LEAVES OF SHAMROCK
From: Wolfgang
Date: 04 Aug 98 - 03:25 AM

Mick,

in this thread I added Green Hills of Kerry. It starts with a line on palm trees.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: THREE LEAVES OF SHAMROCK
From: dale
Date: 28 Jul 98 - 11:03 PM

thanks mick wolfgang&brack& thats a start now i have my thinking cap on i recall having a piece of this song on tape somewhere?? my great uncle sings about a line not much to go on but all i have now sadly we los t him todayremember he said he heard his dad sing this to him when he was very young mick may be on right track i dont know if the title is correct there is an ancestor on my uncles side that was exiled from england to anisland in atlantic ocean(no palm trees here) and then to north carolina could be this song meant something to my ancestors ill keep looking thanks dale

Subject: RE: THREE LEAVES OF SHAMROCK
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 28 Jul 98 - 06:03 PM

Either I'm getting Shamrock Happy, or I seem to recall the mention of the three leaves of shamrock on a tape someone did for me, though it was all about a chap being exiled from Ireland and by listening to it, I got the impression that "the three leaves etc." wasn't the title of the song.
My mind may be playing tricks but I seem to recall there being mentioned palm trees in this song. Now there can't be many irish songs with palm trees, being exiled and three leaves of shamrock in them. Come on everyone get your thinking caps on.
Mick

Subject: RE: THREE LEAVES OF SHAMROCK
From: Brack&
Date: 28 Jul 98 - 04:44 AM

OK Wolfgang Thanks Mick Bracken

Subject: RE: THREE LEAVES OF SHAMROCK
From: Wolfgang
Date: 28 Jul 98 - 04:17 AM

Brack&,

at that site where I found the bit of information I posted, "Three leaves of Shamrock" and "The three-leaved Shamrock" were different songs. But even if that''s true, we need them both here.

Wolfgang

Subject: Lyr Add: THREE-LEAFED SHAMROCK
From: Brack&
Date: 28 Jul 98 - 03:59 AM

Three Leafed Shamrock

In the dock a ship was anchored
On a bright St. Patrick's Day
On the quay a lass was sighing
For her lover going away

In her hand she held an emblem
And it's small green leaves were three
And her parting words were darling
Look at these and think of me

Three leafed shamrock I adore thee
Your three leaves I love to see (or long to free)
When there's brighter days in Ireland
I'll come home and marry thee

Just before the ship had started
As she laid her hand on mine
Just before we had parted
She looked with loving eyes so kind

To my coat she pinned an emblem
And it's small green leaves were three
And her parting words were darling
Look at these and think of me

But tonight I am an exile
Far from home and far from thee
Next to my heart I'll wear your token
No matter where I be

And although the seas divide us
And your face I might never see
When there's brighter days in Ireland
I'll come home and marry thee

Three leafed shamrock I adore thee
Your three leaves I love to see (or long to free)
When there's brighter days in Ireland
I'll come home and marry thee

Subject: RE: THREE LEAVES OF SHAMROCK
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 28 Jul 98 - 03:35 AM

Hi Dale,

not the lyrics here, but I found a bit of information on a web search like that an alternative title is "Leaving dear old Ireland". Here's all I found:

Leaving Dear Old Ireland - McQuire, James At - Three Leaves of Shamrock

1.Fraley, J. P. and Annadeene. Another Side of the Fraleys, Road's End 001, Cas (1995), cut#A.01 (Three Leaves of Shamrock) 2.Poole, Charlie; and the North Carolina Ramblers. Legend of Charlie Poole, County 516, LP, cut# 8 3.Ward, Fields. Bury Me Not On the Lone Prairie, Rounder 0036, LP (1974), cut# 5

Hope that helps you or somebody else.

Wolfgang

Subject: THREE LEAVES OF SHAMROCK
From: dale
Date: 28 Jul 98 - 12:39 AM

lyrics requested for three leaves of shamrock my great uncle heard this when just a boy he is 92 yrs now all he remembers is three leaves of shamrock i give to thee?take these to my brother ned whos far across the sea " if anyone out there knows anything about this song please reply please desperate in illinois

Subject: three leaves of shamrock
From: dale hanna
Date: 06 Jul 98 - 12:10 PM

i am search for words to a song i think its called Three Leaves of Shamrock one line goes "take these to my brother ned whos far across the sea" dont know any more. My uncle who is 93 remembers hearing this from his father when he was 9 or 10 help! id like to play it for him again