Lyr Add: Boatman from Lough Key

Subject: Lyr Add: BOATMAN OF LOUGH KEY
From: Wolfgang
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 05:41 AM

One more song from the South Roscommon singers' CD. Please correct my mistakes.

Wolfgang

BOATMAN OF LOUGH KEY

In the cold and silent churchyard, in a place called Ballindoone (?),
there sleeps a famous boatman in a cold and silent tomb.
He's missed by all his many friends at home and overseas
and he's missed by all the children, the boatman of Lough Key.

On many a summer's evening and Sunday afternoon,
Jim Flynn he sailed his pleasure boat along the shores of the (Doone?),
where crowds of tourists line the pier all anxious for to see
the many lovely islands in the waters of Lough Key.

They proudly stepped on board with Jim and (feel no hurt to him?),
they know he was a sailor bold and wheathered many a storm.
He take 'em 'round the islands and McDermott's castle too
and he tell 'em all the legends as only he could do.

Next came the shores of (Rockingham?) and its lovely trees and lawns,
he tell the tragic story of the charming (?? who no warn??)
and take them to her resting place where she sleeps beneath the clay,
where the wild birds sing (in/a) requiem until the judgement day.

Jim was a great historian his likes was hard to find,
when asked for his opinion he would quickly speak his mind.
'Twas good to hear him tell the tales of Ireland long ago
that he heard from all the old folk 'round his native (Curginroe/ Kirk-in-row ??).

Now the summer sun it shines once more and the tourists line the shore,
their little boats swim o'er the waves, but Jim he is no more.
The angels came and called him home for all eternity,
for the Lord has found a better place for the boatman of Lough Key.

Subject: RE: ADD: Boatman from Lough Key
From: Wolfgang
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 05:45 AM

the 'of' in the title is correct, and not the 'from'.

Subject: RE: ADD: Boatman from Lough Key
From: Wolfgang
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 07:19 AM

after consulting a website of Roscommon:
it's Ballindoon, shores of the Doon, Rockingham.

Subject: RE: ADD: Boatman from Lough Key
From: Billy J
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 12:23 PM

like it what tune is it sung to or can you put in chords

Billy J

Subject: RE: ADD: Boatman from Lough Key
From: Wolfgang
Date: 11 Jun 99 - 12:37 PM

sorry, can't really help you, but the tune reminds me in some parts of Skibbereen (in DT). It can be sung to that tune.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: ADD: Boatman from Lough Key
From: Billy J
Date: 13 Jun 99 - 06:08 AM

Many Thanks Wolfgang

Billy J

Subject: RE: ADD: Boatman from Lough Key
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 20 Sep 99 - 03:42 PM

Wolfgang

You're right about the main placenames.

Verse 2.2. "... shores of DOon" scans better?

3.1. : They proudly step on board with Jim and feel no hurt or harm

4.2 : .... tragic story of the charming Una Bawn
We had a thread or two about that one too! 4.4. sing a requiem...

5.4. : Carrigeenroe

The tune is that used for "Banna Strand" - one or two of the lines seem to have been suggested by that, too. Not sure if we have it in the DT?

Regards

Subject: RE: ADD: Boatman from Lough Key
From: alison
Date: 21 Sep 99 - 04:57 AM

We camped once in lough Key Forest Park..... with a hideous concrete tower in the middle....... if I remember rightly it was the Rockingham estate, the tower built where the house used to be before it was destroyed in a fire.... could be wrong it was a long time ago.... there is a tunnel which links the tower with the lough shore.

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: ADD: Boatman from Lough Key
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 21 Sep 99 - 05:31 AM

Alison

Dead right! I haven't been there for a few years - there was talk of major redevelopment at one stage.

I think the tunnel led to an ice-house?

Regards

Subject: RE: ADD: Boatman from Lough Key
From: alison
Date: 21 Sep 99 - 05:40 AM

yes Martin....... I remember now.. and there's a little island with a ruined castle just off the shore...... I was about 12 last time I was there..... and spent ages wandering around with a map... looking for raths and souterrains....... unfortunately I didn't find them.

slainte

alison

Subject: Lyr Add: BOATMAN OF LOUGH KEY
From: Wolfgang
Date: 24 Sep 99 - 06:09 AM

Working my way along the threads to say thanks you, Martin, once more, for the corrections. Corrected version follows.

Wolfgang

BOATMAN OF LOUGH KEY

In the cold and silent churchyard, in a place called Ballindoone,
there sleeps a famous boatman in a cold and silent tomb.
He's missed by all his many friends at home and overseas
and he's missed by all the children, the boatman of Lough Key.

On many a summer's evening and Sunday afternoon,
Jim Flynn he sailed his pleasure boat along the shores of the Doon,
where crowds of tourists line the pier all anxious for to see
the many lovely islands in the waters of Lough Key.

They proudly stepped on board with Jim and feel no hurt or harm,
they know he was a sailor bold and weathered many a storm.
He take 'em 'round the islands and McDermott's castle too
and he tell 'em all the legends as only he could do.

Next came the shores of Rockingham and its lovely trees and lawns,
he tell the tragic story of the charming Una Bawn
and take them to her resting place where she sleeps beneath the clay,
where the wild birds sing a requiem until the judgement day.

Jim was a great historian his likes was hard to find,
when asked for his opinion he would quickly speak his mind.
'Twas good to hear him tell the tales of Ireland long ago
that he heard from all the old folk 'round his native Carrigeenroe.

Now the summer sun it shines once more and the tourists line the shore,
their little boats swim o'er the waves, but Jim he is no more.
The angels came and called him home for all eternity,
for the Lord has found a better place for the boatman of Lough Key.