Spansel Hill

Subject: Spansel Hill
From: GUEST,davidc
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 02:42 PM

I am looking for someone who can fill in the blanks for the American/Irish folk song, "Spansel Hill" Spansel is a locale in Ireland, but my search for the song or even a hill named Spansel Hill have been in vain. Here are the words I know:

Last night, as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by
My mind bein' bent on ramblin', to Ireland I did fly.
I stepped on board a vision and I followed with the will.
When the next I came to anchor at the cross at Spansel Hill.

Bein' on the ____________, the day before the fair.
When Ireland's sons and daughters in crowds assembled there.
The young, the old, the brave and the bold their duties to fulfill
At the parish church near _____Gloaming?) a mile from Spansel Hill

I went to see me neighbors, to see what they might say.
The old ones were all dead and gone, the young ones turning gray.
I went to the tailor Quigley, he's as bold as ever still
Oh, he used to make me britches when I lived at Spansel Hill.

I went to see me Jenny, my first and only love.
She's fair as any lilly, as gentle as a dove.
She threw her arms around me, saying "Johnny, I love you still"
Oh, she's yet the farmer's daughter, and the pride of Spansel Hill.

I dreampt I knelt and kissed her, as in the days of yore.
"Oh, Johnny, your only joking, as many the times before".
The cock, he crew in the morning, he crew both loud and shrill.
When I woke in Califoriay many a mile from Spansel Hill.

Subject: RE: Spansel Hill
From: Jean(eanjay)
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 02:47 PM

Bein' on the twenty third of June, the day before the fair.

Subject: RE: Spansel Hill
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 02:47 PM

Just type 'spancil hill' (note spelling) into the onsite search engine that you will find at the top of every page here. It has been discussed at great length many times over the years.

Subject: RE: Spansel Hill
From: irishenglish
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 02:48 PM

Wrong spelling-it's Spancill Hill

Subject: RE: Spansel Hill
From: Nigel Parsons
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 03:15 PM

Come on, be nice to the guests!
It's here Spancil Hill

Cheers
Nigel

Subject: RE: Spansel Hill
From: catspaw49
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 03:37 PM

Now linked at top of thread. Try "Where is Spancil Hill".......great thread.

Spaw

Subject: RE: Spansel Hill
From: irishenglish
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 03:39 PM

Here I go, correcting your spelling David, and I get it wrong myself!
I blame it on that part of the day after you've had your last coffee, but before you have the libation of your choosing! Good song by the way!

Subject: RE: Spansel Hill
From: GUEST
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 03:43 PM

http://www.spancilhillfair.com/

Subject: RE: Spansel Hill
From: trevek
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 04:22 PM

Look up Spancill Hill on wikipedia. It has the original lyrics and a number of variations

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spancill_Hill

Subject: RE: Spansel Hill
From: GUEST,davidc
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 07:01 PM

Well, now, I certainly got my comeupance, didn't I! Usually pretty good about checking all possible spellings, I guess I was lulled by the fact that there is a Spansel Hill in County Claire,and that there is a google link that mentions a song named Spansel Hill, but no lyrics under that spelling. I also notice that it is sometimes spelled with 2 l's and sometimes 1 word. Anyway, thanks for the wealth of information, and fwiw, the next person who looks up Spansel in the forum will find all the threads just because of my misspelling.

Subject: RE: Spansel Hill
From: GUEST,cStu
Date: 11 Jun 08 - 07:14 PM

they'll find their way to Co. Clare, too LOL

There's some lovely surprises in those threads, David. Enjoy.

Subject: RE: Spansel Hill
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Jun 08 - 06:55 PM

I did that on purpose, don't you know?

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Subject: RE: Spansel Hill
From: GUEST,cStu
Date: 14 Jun 08 - 07:17 PM

LOL ... it was perfectly pitched :~D

Subject: RE: Spansel Hill
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Jun 08 - 02:24 AM

Spancil - is spelt Spancil - if you know what I mean, but, becausse of the annual horse fair, the name is derived from a hobble used to immobilise a horse, which is a spancel (according to the dictionary of Hiberno-English) - take your pick!
Jim Carroll (County Claire - whoops Clare)