Subject: Lyr Add: THE BLUE TAR ROAD
From:
Fergie
Date: 18 May 07 - 10:35 AM
Johnny's funeral mass was a memorable occasion. The clergyman was well acquainted with Johnny and his family (his wife, three daughters, ten sons and countless grandchildren) and was well able to describe Johnny and his unique personality. This familiarity gave a rare human and personal touch to the proceedings. There was some very nice traditional music played by some musician friends of the family, but the highlight was Nellie Weldon's magnificent and heartfelt rendition of Johnny's favourite song The Blue Tar Road
THE BLUE TAR ROAD
I am a true-born Irishman, a traveller am I,
My home the road, no fixed abode, I must travel till I die.
For few men give me camping space, aye and fewer call me friend.
The hard road for the traveller, I must travel till the end.
CHORUS: Hunger, hardship and poverty are the travellers' weary load,
Hunger, hardship and poverty and the blue tar road.
I came to Dublin city fair, in the year of fifty nine,
And I camped in Landsdowne's green valley, with others of my kind,
But Dublin's Corporation, good Christians to a man,
Broke down our camps uprooted us, dragged out our caravans
Out here in Cherry Orchard, where no cherry blossoms bloom.
We're forgotten and unwanted, in dirt and muck and gloom.
But the man above who died for love and was nailed unto a tree,
Sure wasn't he a traveller the same as you and me.
And please God in his own good time, He'll lift the travellers' load,
And we'll bid farewell to poverty and the blue tar road.
Nellie the singer of this song is widow of the composer Liam Weldon. Liam who died about 1997 was a good friend of Johnny's. As the last note issued from her lips the congregation spontaneously rose to its feet and issued a standing ovation that echoed loud and long throughout the large church. As I looked around I could see that everybody was very moved emotionally. There were tears streaming down the faces of travellers and buffers alike. I felt such a lump in my throat and was so overcome by the depth of feeling that I couldn't speak for a full ten minutes.
At the end of the ceremony the coffin was carried on the shoulders of his sons out of the church where they were greeted by a large group of traditional musicians flaking out some mighty jigs and reels. I would have loved to go to the burial in Edenderry but alas I had to go back to work. All in all it was a sad but uplifting experience.
Slán leat Slabber, mó lon dubh.
Fergus Russell
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