Lyr Req: Erin Go Bragh

Subject: Lyrics needed !!!
From: Largo
Date: 01 Sep 98 - 05:20 AM

Hi !

Long time no see you all, folks. Now I need some help again. Lookin' for lyrics for "Erin Go-Brath" and "Moch 'S Mi'gErigh air Bhcagan Eislcan". The first one was sung by Dick "don't-know-what" on Brittish folk collection CD. And the second one was sung by Anna Mhoireach on Lemon Tree Event. Any comments are appriciated.

Cheers, Largo

Subject: RE: Lyrics needed !!!
From: alison
Date: 01 Sep 98 - 06:40 AM

Hi,

It's here. Just adjust the spelling to "Erin go bragh" and search the database.

Slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyrics needed !!!
From: Largo
Date: 01 Sep 98 - 07:13 AM

Thank you Alison !

For sure I will

Largo

Subject: RE: Lyrics needed !!!
From: Largo
Date: 01 Sep 98 - 07:26 AM

Eh..., Alison?....

Ah jis' looked through the base, 'tis a wee wrang ones. The one I'm looking for tells about a man which travels from Argille down to the South and faces with ugly prejudies of Southern people against 'teuchters'.

Largo

P.S. Anyway thank you for your help :-)

Subject: Lyr Add: ERIN GO BRAGH
From: Largo
Date: 01 Sep 98 - 09:00 AM

This turns into sort of monologue...

I've found "Erin go Bragh" I was lookin' for (those who interested in can find the lyrics below. But still have a problem with Anna Mhoireach (Murray) song. But I bet next post in this thread will be my one response to my own request... sigh....this looks stupid...

Largo

ERIN GO BRAGH
(Words and Music: Trad. arr. Gaughan )

Ma name's Duncan Campbell fae the shire o Argyll
A've traivellt this country for mony's the mile
A've traivellt thro Irelan, Scotlan an aa
An the name A go under's bauld Erin-go-Bragh

Ae nicht in Auld Reekie A walked doun the street
Whan a saucy big polis A chanced for tae meet
He glowert in ma face an he gied me some jaw
Sayin whan cam ye owre, bauld Erin-go-Bragh?

Well, A am not a Pat tho in Irelan A've been
Nor am A a Paddy tho Irelan A've seen
But were A a Paddy, that's nothin at aa
For thair's mony's a bauld hero in Erin-go-Bragh

Well A know ye're a Pat by the cut o yer hair
Bit ye aa turn tae Scotsmen as sune as ye're here
Ye left yer ain countrie for brakin the law
An we're seizin aa stragglers fae Erin-go-Bragh

An were A a Pat an ye knew it wis true
Or wis A the devil, then whit's that tae you?
Were it no for the stick that ye haud in yer paw
A'd show ye a game played in Erin-go-Bragh

An a lump o blackthorn that A held in ma fist
Aroun his big bodie A made it tae twist
An the blude fae his napper A quickly did draw
An paid him stock-an-interest for Erin-go-Bragh

Bit the people cam roun like a flock o wild geese
Sayin catch that daft rascal he's killt the police
An for every freen A had A'm shair he had twa
It wis terrible hard times for Erin-go-Bragh

Bit A cam tae a wee boat that sails in the Forth
An A packed up ma gear an A steered for the North
Fareweill tae Auld Reekie, yer polis an aa
An the devil gang wi ye says Erin-go-Bragh

Sae come aa ye young people, whairever ye're from
A don't give a damn tae whit place ye belang
A come fae Argyll in the Heilans sae braw
Bit A ne'er took it ill bein caad Erin-go-Bragh

Subject: RE: Lyrics needed !!!
From: Barry Finn
Date: 01 Sep 98 - 04:12 PM

You might find this recorded by Norman Kennedy too, back in the mid 70's he was doing a great job singing this, pretty much the same version. Barry

Subject: RE: Lyrics needed !!!
From:
Date: 02 Sep 98 - 12:19 AM

Trying to figure out the Lyrics to Laszio Slomovitz's "Old Lovers" as recorded by Bryan Bowers - in particular the third line of the song "She pushed her p... up her arm. We can't figure out the word, and would like to know what the term refers to if anyone out there knows. thanks, Marnie Harrison, Barry Luft, Calgary Alberta Canada email: [e-mail]

Subject: Lyr Add: ERIN-GO-BRAGH (from Robert Ford, 1899)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Oct 14 - 02:34 PM

From Vagabond Songs and Ballads of Scotland edited by Robert Ford (Paisley: Alexander Gardner, 1899), page 47:


ERIN-GO-BRAGH

My name's Duncan Campbell, from the shire of Argyle.
I've travelled this country for many a mile.
I've travelled through England and Ireland and a',
And the name I go under's bold Erin-go-Bragh.

One night in Auld Reekie, as I walked down the street,
A saucy policeman by chance I did meet.
He glowered in my face and he gave me some jaw,
Saying, "When came ye over, bold Erin-go-Bragh?"

"I am not a Paddy, though Ireland I've seen,
Nor am I a Paddy, though in Ireland I've been;
But though I were a Paddy, that's nothing ava.
There's many a bold hero from Erin-go-Bragh."

"I know you are a Pat by the cut of your hair,
But you all turn Scotchmen as soon's you come here.
You have left your own country for breaking the law.
We are seizing all stragglers from Erin-go-Bragh."

"Though I were a Paddy, and you knew it to be true,
Or were I the devil—pray, what's that to you?
Were it not for the baton you have in your paw,
I would show you a game played in Erin-go-Bragh."

Then a switch of blackthorn that I held in my fist.
Across his big body I made it to twist,
And the blood from his napper I quickly did draw,
And paid him stock and interest for Erin-go-Bragh.

The people came round like a flock of wild geese,
Crying, "Stop, stop the rascal; he has killed the police,"
And for every friend I had, I'm sure he had twa.
It was very tight times with bold Erin-go-Bragh.

But I came to a wee boat that sails on the Forth.
I picked up my all, and I steered for the North.
Farewell to Auld Reekie, policeman and a'.
May the devil be with them, says Erin-go-Bragh.

Now, all you brave fellows that listen to my song,
I don't care a farthing to where you belong.
I come from Argyle, in the Highlands so braw,
But I ne'er take it ill when called Erin-go-Bragh.

Not an Irish song this, as the title would make the novice infer. But natives of the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland have a good deal in common—in accent and otherwise—with the people of the North of Ireland; and the verses describe only how "Duncan Campbell, from the Shire of Argyle," suffered in Edinburgh, in the "No Irish need apply" days, by being mistaken for a son of Saint Patrick. Many will recognise the song as an old and common favourite in Scotland.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Erin Go Bragh
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 05 Oct 14 - 03:02 PM

Erin go Bragh* (Laws Q20; Roud 1627)
Tom Lenihan, Knockbrack, Miltown Malbay, Recorded 1976
Carroll Mackenzie Collection

My name is Old Paddy from the town of Athy,
I have traveled this country for many a mile.
I have traveled through England, through Scotland and all
And the name that I go by is Erin go Bragh.

One night as Old Paddy went out for a walk
He chanced for to meet with a saucy police.
He clouted his face and he gave him some jaw,
Saying: When come you over from Erin go Bragh?

'I know you're a Paddy by the cut of your hair,
And I know you're a Paddy by the clothes that you wear;
And you have come over for breaking the law.
Oh we're taking bold heroes from Erin go Bragh.'

'Well if I was a Paddy and that to be true,
And if I was the Devil, well – what's that to you?
And but for that baton you hold in your claw
I would show you a game played in Erin go Bragh!'

With a stick of blackthorn I held in my fist
And around his ould napper I made it well twist.
The blood from his temples I quickly did draw
With a sprig of shillelagh from Erin go Bragh.

They all gathered around me like a flock of wild geese,
Saying, 'Take that bold rascal that has hit our police.'
The only friend I have, he's gone far awa'
And Paddy got six months from Erin go Bragh.

*Ireland Forever

Ballad anthologist Robert Ford wrote of this in 1899:
"Not an Irish song this, as the title would make the novice infer. But natives ot the Western Highlands and Islands of Scotland have a good deal in common —in accent and otherwise—with the people of the North of Ireland, and the verses describe only how 'Duncan Campbell, from the Shire of Argyle,' suffered in Edinburgh in the 'No Irish need apply' days by being mistaken for a son of Saint Patrick. Many will recognise the song as an old and common favourite in Scotland."
The song was certainly popular in Scotland and was found widely sung by Travellers there. In Ireland, P.W Joyce noted a version in 1850s Limerick and published an 'improved' text of it in his 'Ancient Music of Ireland' and James N Healy include it in volume one of 'Old Irish Street Ballads' indicating that it was a broadside. In theme, it reflects the same sentiment as another song of Scots origin concerning the Irish, Hot Asphalt, where a policeman accusing a crowd of navvies of being 'Tipperary scamps', is thrown into a barrel of melted tar and, when his assailants fail in their efforts to clean him up, ends up:

"….in the Kelvin Grove Museum, a-hanging by his belt,
As a monument to the Irish stirring hot asphalt".   

Ref:
Vagabond Songs and Ballads of Scotland Vol. 1, Robert Ford, Edinburgh, 1899