Origins: I Wish I Was in England (Christy Moore)

Subject: RE: Origins: I Wish I Was in England - C. Moore
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 11:22 AM

Tim

"Amhrain Mhuige Seola" is the title of a collection published by a Mrs. Costello, early in the last century. Songs collected in the East Galway/Mayo hinterland around Tuam, as far as I recall. Can't check quickly - I'm in the middle of moving house these days - so all my books are boxed!

The entire contents were also published in the Journal Of the Irish Folk Song Society - which you may have library access to.

I think the link between the Irish song and Christy's is as tenuous as it seems!

Regards
p.s. I think thre's a modern reprint still available. The original turns up in bookshops fairly often.

Subject: RE: Origins: I Wish I Was in England - C. Moore
From: Big Tim
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 11:16 AM

Thanks Brian.

Well, CM's version is very similar to the above. Of his six verses, one verse is identical, two are very similar and two are quite similar.

"white" love (verse 1) - is the Irish original"ban"?: meaning "fair".
"Knochnashee" means "fairy hill" so Christy should have left it as "fairy" wind, rather than "howling" wind. Maybe he found the superstitious hangover a bit embarressing!

Any clues to geographical origin? There is a specific hill in Mayo of that name, but it could also be being used in a general sense.

What's "Amhrain Mhuige Seola?", and what does it mean?

Thanks again.

Subject: RE: Origins: I Wish I Was in England - C. Moore
From: Strupag
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 08:11 AM

Akenaton I think thats a different song ye ken and not the Christie one.
Rab's song was written during his drinking years, I agree about his stuff and I used to play that song a lot when I was involved with Lochbroom fm.
We were lucky enough to see Rab perform about once a year in the Chelidh Place - absolutely brilliant!

Subject: RE: Origins: I Wish I Was in England - C. Moore
From: Brían
Date: 22 Sep 03 - 08:10 AM

Here is the translation in Amhrain Mhuighe Seola. The traslation departs somewhat from the Irish language version. I could add that as well if you're interested:

A PITY I'M NOT IN ENGLAND

I would I were in England
I Spain or merry France,
Or in the West on Indian shores,
To meet my white love's glance.

O Maure! of the plaited locks
If you were here with me,
Sure, 'tis myself would woo you, love,
Till morning came to see.

I lay me on my bed of pain,
I lay me not to rest,
My heart it is a bleeding heart,
A wound is in my breast.

The leeches of the world all
Would pity my sad plight;
There's no lance to probe my wounds
Save May's glance of light.

'Tis long I have been roving
In country and in town,
But never in my wanderings met
A maid of such renown;

Until I saw my white love
On the slopes of Knock-na-shee
Her tresses in the fairy wind
A streaming wild and free.

My true love she did promise me
Two thousand ambling kine,
And on here amblind pasture-lands
To rear a mansion fine.

I swear me by the midnight moon,
And by the noonday sun,
I'd leave the seas behind me
Ere another year is done.

O I would you were in England,
And I in sunny Spain,
That I might rise and speed me thence,
To woo my love again.

Brían

Subject: RE: Origins: I Wish I Was in England - C. Moore
From: Brían
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 10:35 PM

I'll try to add the words tomorrow. Christy's words which are ubiquitous on the 'net only seem to have a couple of similarities to the translaton.

Brían

Subject: RE: Origins: I Wish I Was in England - C. Moore
From: Hrothgar
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 06:53 AM

I wish I was in England, I do, I do,
I'd go down to Trafalgar Square and say to old Lord Nelson:
"Get stuffed! Get stuffed!
"You one-eyed Pommy bastard!"

Rule Britannia, marmalade and jam ...

Oops, this might not be the one.

:-)

Subject: RE: Origins: I Wish I Was in England - C. Moore
From: Big Tim
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 04:49 AM

IF, it is in fact an old Co. Mayo song, then it would almost certainly have been in the Irish language, as most of the County still spoke Irish well into the second half of the nineteenth century.
(Michael Davitt, from nearby Straide, was a native speaker). So Brian, the translation, yes please!)

Subject: RE: Origins: I Wish I Was in England - C. Moore
From: akenaton
Date: 20 Sep 03 - 07:42 PM

I think this great song was written by Rab Noakes.Its on his "standing up" CD,under "Noakes --Jackdaw music".
Rab is a very under rated songwriter,Iv got most of his stuff from way back .Seen him perform in Glasgow Hotel Dunoon Early 70s.
Sorry Iv no more info on the song.   Aw Ra   Ake...

Subject: RE: Origins: I Wish I Was in England - C. Moore
From: Folkiedave
Date: 20 Sep 03 - 07:26 PM

John Leonard and John Squire had it on their LP RUB 018 A broken Down Gentleman. The attribute it "from the singing of Christy Moore".

Dave

www.collectorsfolk.co.uk

Subject: RE: Origins: I Wish I Was in England - C. Moore
From: Brían
Date: 20 Sep 03 - 06:15 PM

That is the song. The words and the translation are in the book Amhrain Mhuigh Seola. I'll see if I can add them later.

Brían

Subject: RE: Origins: I Wish I Was in England - C. Moore
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Sep 03 - 03:16 PM

Discussion of possible origin in thread 1184: I wish I were
Perhaps something there.

Subject: Origins: I Wish I Was in England - C. Moore
From: Big Tim
Date: 20 Sep 03 - 01:08 PM

Christy Moore rewrote this from an old song. Anybody know of the original song?

I was in Mayo recently and noticed a hill there called "Knocknashe" (which is referred to in the song), NE of Tobercurry. I wonder if this means the song is from Mayo?