Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace

Subject: Songs of Irish Interest
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 03 Jun 08 - 04:34 PM

I've put 6 songs that you might find interesting on a website: www.myspace.com/geomusicology.

"10,000 Miles Away" was a big hit on the London music hall stage but it started out its life as an Irish street song in the early 19th century and went to sea too (according to Stan Hugill) both as a ballad and a capstan shanty. John Doyle backs me with guitar and bouzouki.

The Irish Tradition (Billy McComiskey, Brendan Mulvihill, Andy O'Brien) was America's finest Irish band during the 1970s and they made 3 LPs (2 for Green Linnet and an earlier private label disc) but you probably haven't heard "The Lily of the West," which I recorded with them in 1982. This is from Irish Ballads & Songs of the Sea, Folk-Legacy CD124 (www.folklegacy.com).

Mick Moloney and Lou Killen had never met until the day we recorded "Paddy West." Mr. West was an Irish boarding house keeper in Liverpool during the second half of the 19th century. Paddy's claim was that he would teach all the "lingo" necessary for a landsman to bluff his way into a job on a ship. Also on Irish Ballads & Songs of the Sea.      

"Adieu to Old Ireland" was an old Irish broadside ballad sung by New Englanders in the timber woods milieu. This version was recorded from Sadie Syphers Harvey of Houlton, Maine by Helen Hartness Flanders. Deirdre Murtha and Bonnie Milner of The Johnson Girls join me. This is from "Irish Songs from Old New England," Folk-Legacy CD132.   

Lots of Famine escapees migrated via Liverpool but a good few didn't have the money to continue to the United States once they arrrived on Merseyside. The story of "Bold McCarthy" the stowaway is, no doubt, only too true. Tim Collins from the Kilfenora Ceili Band plays concertina with Mick Moloney mandolin and Gabriel Donahue guitar. I had seen this one in books on many an occasion but Bruce Scott was the first person I've ever heard sing it.

"Larry Maher's Big 5-Gallon Jar" is about a notorious shanghaier in New York City during the 1850s. The chorus and concertinas are by Stormalong John of Liverpool; Bob Conroy of New York plays 5-string banjo. This is from a broadside printed by Henry De Marsan about 1861. Recorded live at the Mersey River Festival.

All the best,
Dan Milner

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 03 Jun 08 - 06:23 PM

Cheers Dan, thanks -

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest
From: van lingle
Date: 03 Jun 08 - 06:52 PM

Good stuff, Dan. I especially liked "10,000 Miles Away" and "Paddy West".

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest
From: DannyC
Date: 03 Jun 08 - 10:51 PM

Dan,   

I was delighted to see the notice of your 'myspace' as I have admired your singing for a good few decades. Your days with 'The Flying Cloud' always bring 'Dunlavin Green' and (I think) 'Tibby Dunbar' to mind.   (Love the pic you've provided from to album cover --- DiMarco still looks frozen to the skin.)

My best memory of you is your singing of 'Lord Gregory' on Andy O'Brien's wedding day many years ago.   Your version that day was impeccable in delivery and beautifully phrased.

I never got to hear you at The Eagle, but I thought of you each time I had the chance to go in there - whether it was a hot summer's night of Micho Russell - or a night of young teenagers like the Mangans strutting out there stuff for the first time.   I always heard that The Eagle scene existed mainly due to your efforts and to your vision.

I find the songs on your myspace to be crisp and interesting and tasteful and --- well --- everything that you would expect from Dan Milner.

Here's a blue clicky: Dan Milner's Myspace


All the Best,

Danny

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest
From: katlaughing
Date: 03 Jun 08 - 11:22 PM

How wonderful! Good to see you and thank goodness for MySpace and youtube.

I've always loved Lily of the West. I think it was AllanC who sang Lily of the West when he and Bill/Sables made their big adventure trip way back when, but I'd heard it somewhere before that.

I really like your arrangements and singing. Thanks!

kat

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 04 Jun 08 - 05:54 AM

Are we sure Stan was correct about 10 000 Miles Away being of Irish origin?

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: katlaughing
Date: 04 Jun 08 - 07:55 PM

Just listened to these again. Really well-done and delightful to listen to, Dan. Thanks, again!

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: Big Mick
Date: 04 Jun 08 - 10:28 PM

It has been a tough week for me, so I am just getting to this thread.

Keith, if you have information to the contrary, please provide cites.

Dan and I had a chance to swap a few songs a few weeks ago in Connecticut. My friend's voice, and phrasing was always at the top of the heap, and he just gets better and better. I was knocked out by a song he did which will be on the new CD. I am anxiously awaiting that one. Dan's scholarship and interpretation are major influences for me. I am absolutely thrilled that he now is using myspace to promote his music.

DannyC, I really enjoyed your post. It is wonderful when one hears reminisces such as these. Good man.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 05:23 AM

No information Mick, it's just my perception.
Does it sound Irish to you though?

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 06:37 AM

it is also in the penguin book of Australian folk songs.Perhaps its both.

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MyS
From: GUEST,Gulliver in the sun
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 08:01 AM

Keith A, your "perception" in relation to anything to do with Ireland leaves a lot to be desired. In what other country would you find the "Dublin fog" and "Liffey", as mentioned in the song?

Lovely songs, Dan. Many thanks for the link.

Don

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: MartinRyan
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 08:19 AM

Gulliver

It's the perception about the song/tune that matters, not the geography - which varies from version to version

Regards

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: Beer
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 08:24 AM

Dan,
First line into 10,0000 miles away and I'm hooked. Great great songs and enjoy your voice.
Beer (adrien)

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 08:25 AM

Dick - I heard someone call it "The Australian Book of Penguin Folk Songs" onstage one night and I've preferred that title ever since. The text therein is consistant with broadside texts and doesn't really offer anything new.

Keith - There's no way to know whether Stan was 10,000% correct. He read a lot and also made a lot of intelligent guesses that are the hallmark of a good researcher. I think this is a good research topic if you'd like to follow up and write an article on it for one of the folk publications. About one-quarter of the 160,000 prisoners brought out during the transportation period were Irish.

Danny - I've owed Andy O'Brien a phone call for the last couple of weeks. Thanks for the reminder. All I remember from his wedding was that he wore a light blue suit and looked pretty good in it. I'm planning on paying him a visit soon.

Bonnie - Hope you're well. When I see your name, I think of Packie. My wife (another Bonnie) and I have enjoyed meeting him a number of times over the last 10 years. Will you ever come up to Inishowen?

van lingle - I see you like the bouncy ones. They're harder to find.

Mick - Good to see you in Connecticut but the fishing was terrible. I only caught a few small bass, one only slightly larger than the lure he was trying the swallow. Something catastrophic has happened in that pond since the last time I was there.

Thanks, all, for your kind comments.
Dan

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 08:30 AM

Gulliver ,I have a version in front of me[which has aline Ill stay no more on Englands shore to hear the music play],this version has no mention of dublin or the liffey.
verse 5. the sun may shine though a London fog.
I think it is more likely to be English,after all it was the English government who were using Government ships to transport people to Australia,some of the convicts may have been Irish,that doesnt make it an irish song.
most of the ships sailed out of English ports.
SONGS like Skibbereen,are definitely Irish,but I doubt if Ten Thousand miles is.Dick Miles

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: MartinRyan
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 08:45 AM

p.s. to Liam's Brother

We've promised Grace that we'll return to Inishowen next year, after a run of years when other things got in the way of our favourite festival.

Regards

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: The Sandman
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 09:02 AM

Dan ,good singing.

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 10:14 AM

You'll find no scholarship from me, Dan, just thanks for the site!

I always enjoy your singing, and learning new songs!

Best,

Dani

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: Barry Finn
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 12:19 PM

Hi Dan
You look as young as ever, that's the only negitive clip you're getting out of me.
Sorry one more, I couldn't get Bold McCarthy to play until I just went back there again. I don't know if it was me of something on the site but I did note that Bold McCarthy had only 37 hits but then Paddy West only had 42 while the other 2 had upwards in the hundreds.
Anyway, hearing you again's always a pleasure. I have to say the harmonies behind you of M&M on "Adieu To Old Ireland" is very haunting (that's a good thing) you ought to hang out with them more often, I think that they may do your health some good.
Always liked your NYC version of "Larry's Bar", "makes me weather eye thirsty".
Lovely job & well done Dan, see you in a next weekend.
LOL
Barry

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 12:30 PM

Yeah, Barry, Bold McCarthy definitely deserves more attention. Dan sang it while we were sitting around swapping lies and songs, and I immediately made a mental note to codge that one. Great song. The only trouble with getting songs from Milner is that you know you will always be a poor second in interpretation. I absolutely love that man's voice, even if he is a lousy fisherman....Mick ducks below the table to avoid flying objects..... But that song is going in the repertoire post haste.

Dan, perhaps if I hadn't left 4 dozen of Michigan's very finest nightcrawlers sitting on the kitchen table with my fishing rods (an error for which I paid dearly for once the formidable and dangerous MaryLou realized what they were) before I left for Connecticut, those piscatorial layabouts that pass for bass in the Eastern precincts could have been coaxed to the hook. Next time. I think we need to plan a camping/singing/fishing trip to that lovely land to the North of us. Maybe we could get Finn to leave the comforts of home?

Chit chat aside, I am very anxious for the new CD. Is it available yet?

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 07:11 PM

Martin - See you in Ballyliffin. Grace and Brian arrive here shortly, by the way.

Dick - The music hall version is English and is localized to London. What Stan was indicating is that an earlier Irish song was adapted for the music hall stage.      

Barry - I very much enjoy singing with Bonnie and Deirdre but they are busy elsewhere with the Johnson Girls. I look forward to seeing you and them in Mystic next weekend.

Mick - Do they have more fish in Canada? I fished Bounday Waters once and got 4 fish in 4 days, none bigger than I would've caught in Connecticut... and I was armed with crawlers, etc. CD is still under construction but thanks for asking.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: Marc Bernier
Date: 05 Jun 08 - 08:48 PM

Great stuff Dan. I know Bonnie will be in town, but will we have the pleasure of your presence also?

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MyS
From: MARINER
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 09:30 AM

Great site Dan . Yourself and Bob were missed in Cobh this year,but I did enjoy the Johnstone Girls, Four'N'Aft and Johnie and Jim .Next year perhaps ??

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Jun 08 - 12:53 PM

Marc - I'm scholarizing at the Mystic Seaport Sea Music Festival Symposium on Saturday. That is a challenging 9:30 AM start for partying types like you and me. I'm also doing "forcastle songs" and "Irish Influence" workshops. But this is a "best behavior" weekend for me because I've also got a Bloomsday breakfast at the Irish consulate in Manhattan on Monday morning... a long weekend of early gigs. Look forward to seeing you.

Mariner - I told Bonnie to be on watch for you. I missed being in Cobh too but the Girls could not have gone if we had and I'm sure they were very well received. Next year, why not?

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 09 Jun 08 - 08:46 PM

Martin - I look forward to seeing Josephine and her Napoleon before too long. Grace Toland and Brian Doyle will be singing with us in NYC tomorrow.

Beer - I'm a brown ale man.

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: Beer
Date: 09 Jun 08 - 09:04 PM

Well Liam, I'll about drink anything from Light which is a training beer to Lager and I really like some of that special stuff with the thick head. But I think I would pass on Porter unless there wasn't anything else around. all the best and just finished learning the song Ten Thousand Miles Away and plan to sing it at this year's festival here in Quebec.

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 10 Jun 08 - 12:04 AM

Beer -

Ste-Jean-Port-Joli?

They have good lagers in Quebec. Porter from bottles, which is all I've had in Canada, has never excited me much. I like Murphy's stout quite a bit but you have to get it on draught. The stuff they sell in the States in nitrogen bomb cans is brewed somewhere in England rather than Cork and it is nothing like the real thing.

Enjoy the song and enjoy the summer. It's 88F (31C) at 11 PM in NYC. I put the A/C on 15 minutes ago. Think the bedroom is cool enough now. Good night.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: Beer
Date: 10 Jun 08 - 09:17 AM

Dan,
Any chance of writing out the lyrics to the verse?
Here is what I have but not sure if they are correct.
Thanks.


Chorus:
       Then blow, ye winds I ho!
       A-rovin' I will go.
       I'll stay no more on Laren's shore
       To hear the fiddlers play
I mocked on the bound and mainland
I won't be back again
       For I'm on the move to me own true love
       Ten thousand miles away.

Subject: RE: Songs of Irish Interest from Dan Milner on MySpace
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 06:39 AM

Beer,

Here's the chorus...

Then blow, ye winds high ho!
       A-rovin' I will go.
       I'll stay no more on Erin's shore
       To hear the fiddlers play
I'm off on the bounding main
I won't be back again
       For I'm on the move to me own true love
       Ten thousand miles away.

Sing it in good health.

All the best,
Dan