Lyr Req: Eighteen Years Old (from De Danann)

Subject: '18 YEARS OLD' LYRICS(De Dannan+Dolores K)
From: Anders Svensson
Date: 12 Jul 99 - 06:10 PM

Please help me out there!! I´m searching for a song called "Eighteen years old".. I have only heard one version of the song, with De Dannan sung by Dolores Keane. I have tried everywhere for about a year now to find the lyrics to that song.. (I think that the album had no name and it was a big house on it´s cover.) If anyone know where to find the lyrics, story behind the song, the origin of the song, chords etc PLEASE help me.

email me at: [e-mail] [e-mail]

Thanks for your help.

Subject: RE: '18 YEARS OLD' LYRICS(De Dannan+Dolores K)
From: Banjer
Date: 12 Jul 99 - 06:40 PM

There are several songs with the phrase "eighteen years old" in the DT. Can you supply any clue as to other lyrics in the song? In the block in the upper right hand corner type in [eighteen years old] (with the brackets) and see what come up. Does any of that look familiar?

Subject: RE: '18 YEARS OLD' LYRICS(De Dannan+Dolores K)
From: Anders Svensson
Date: 12 Jul 99 - 07:11 PM

Hello Banjer and thanks for your help, but i have already searched DT about 50 times this year for that song. The singer is (the only version i´ve heard) Dolores Keane on De Dannans First album(I think)

That version contains four verses

I tried to write down the words about 5 years ago, but it was very hard to hear every word clearly(I´m from Sweden) It goes like this:(sorry for bad spelling)

first vers:

"I´m eighteen years old today my ma, and I´m longin to be wed. So buy for me a young man, who will comfort me she said. You must buy for me a young man, who will be with me all night. When I roll him in my arms, He will be my hearts delight"

Anyone who can contribute with more verses?

Subject: RE: '18 YEARS OLD' LYRICS(De Dannan+Dolores K)
From: anders svensson
Date: 13 Jul 99 - 11:12 AM

Please folks help me with this one lyrics to "18 years old" de dannans first album singer dolores keane..

thanks

Subject: RE: '18 YEARS OLD' LYRICS(De Dannan+Dolores K)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 15 Jul 99 - 04:10 AM

Hi Anders,
here it is from my own handwritten songbook, which means that I don't know how reliable the lyrics are. They can be anything from my own transcription to a copy from a printed source (on rereading: the lyrics sound to good to be my transcription). I can't help you with all the other questions

Wolfgang

EIGHTEEN YEARS OLD

I'm eighteen years old today, mama,
and I'm longing to be wed.
So buy for me a young man
to comfort me, she said,
you must buy for me a young man
who will stay with me all night,
and I'll roll him in my arms,
he'll be my heart's delight.

Ah, hold your tongue, dear daughter then,
or folds I will pull down.
Your silks and satins I will pull down,
you must wear your morning gown.
I'll send you to the meadows
for to rake and mow the hay
with your pike and shaft all in your hands
you must earn your drink and take.

Ah, hold your tongue, dear daughter then,
I was forty before I wed,
and thought it was late, I thought it no weight
to carry my maidenhead.
That may be the way with you, mama,
but it isn't the way with me,
for I'm young and airy, light and crazy
and married I long to be.

Ah, hold your tongue, dear daughter then,
and I'll buy for you a man.
A man for me? Oh, mother, she said,
you must hasten, you must and can.
The sooner the better, oh mother, she said,
you must hasten a man to me
for I'm young and airy, light and crazy
and married I long to be.

Subject: RE: '18 YEARS OLD' LYRICS(De Dannan+Dolores K)
From: Anders Svensson
Date: 15 Jul 99 - 09:04 AM

Thank you Wolfgang!!

I´been looking for the lyrics to that song so long now.. and it took only 5 days to get it when I came here!! now it´s time to learn it and, set chords to it and maybe perform it live! Thanks again Wolfgang!

This is a great place to be!

Subject: RE: '18 YEARS OLD' LYRICS(De Dannan+Dolores K)
From: Martin _Ryan
Date: 16 Jul 99 - 04:25 PM

Well done Wolfgang! I just found a version in the Irish Traditional Music Archive. Very similar to yours:

Eighteen Years old

I am eighteen years old today mama and I'm longing to be wed
So find for me a young man to be with me, she said
Oh find for me a young man to be with me at night
And I'll roll him in my arms, he'll be my heart's delight

Oh hold your tongue, dear daughter then, or your cause I will pull down
Your silks and satins I will pull down, you will wear your morning (?) gown
I'll send you to the meadow for to reap and mow the hay
With your pike and shaft all in your hand, you will stop this drinking tea

Oh hold your tongue, dear daughter then, I was forty before I was wed
Although it was too late, I found it was no weight for to carry my maidenhead
That may be the way for you, Mama, but it isn't the way for me
For I'm young and very light and crazy, and married I long to be

Hold your tongue dear daughter then, and I'll find you a man
A man for me, Oh mother, she said, you must hasten, you must and can
The sooner the better, o mother, she said, you must hasten a man to me
For I'm young and very light and crazy, and married I long to be

Regards

Subject: RE: '18 YEARS OLD' LYRICS(De Dannan+Dolores K)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 03:31 AM

In the new 20 volumes 'Voice of the People' CD series (TOPIC) this song appears on CD 15 titled 'Sixteen years, Mama'.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: '18 YEARS OLD' LYRICS(De Dannan+Dolores K)
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 29 Nov 00 - 10:27 PM

That 20 volume Topic series, "Voice of the People," is superb! Dick has it at Camsco and I highly recommend it to all who like their folk music with the bark left on it! This is the real stuff.

Sandy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eighteen Years Old (from De Danann)
From: GUEST,scovill john
Date: 20 Nov 12 - 06:51 AM

Also on the cd "Women of Ireland" by Ceolteori

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eighteen Years Old (from De Danann)
From: GUEST,Mette
Date: 17 Jan 13 - 01:06 PM

I think that is "hold him in my arms" not roll him and also "drinking tale" not tea!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eighteen Years Old (from De Danann)
From: GUEST,Mette
Date: 17 Jan 13 - 01:11 PM

Oh ps. And "I was courted" not I was forty ; D

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eighteen Years Old (from De Danann)
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 18 Jan 13 - 06:14 AM

"drinking tale" not tea!"
"Tay" (tea), which doesn't make semse
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eighteen Years Old (from De Danann)
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 18 Jan 13 - 06:23 AM

Sorry
Should read:
"drinking tale" not tea!"
"Tay" (tea), not "tale" which doesn't make sense (just like my first posting)
Our recording of Traveller Mary Delaney can be found on VoP
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eighteen Years Old (from De Danann)
From: GUEST,Kees
Date: 05 Jun 14 - 02:18 AM

The song is now also on the new album of Cara Dillon.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eighteen Years Old (from De Danann)
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 05 Jun 14 - 03:21 AM

Wonder if this is what happened to the girl in later life.
jIM cARROLL

Only Nineteen Years Old (Roud 4792) Sung by Tom Lenihan, Knockbrack, Miltown Malbay, Recorded 1982
Carroll Mackenzie Collection   

As I walked out early one evening last May,
A charming young damsel I met on my way.
She had jewelry and riches, she had diamonds and gold,
And she said she was a virgin only nineteen years old.

I quickly fell in love with this beautiful dame,
I asked where she came from and she told me that same.
In three weeks we were married and the church bells they tolled.
I was married to a virgin only nineteen years old.

When the wedding party scattered we retired for to rest.
I thought I would die when this maid she undressed.
For a cartload of padding from her breast she unfold,
Oh says I: 'You're a daisy only nineteen years old.'

When awaking next morning I thought I would faint
When she scraped from her two cheeks a full pound of paint.
And on her left shoulder a hump I behold.
'Oh good God almighty, only nineteen years old.'

She pulled out her fingers 'till she left only three,
She screwed off her right leg right over the knee.
She pulled out her glass eye, on the carpet it rolled.
'Oh bad luck and damnation to your nineteen years old!'

Well now you young fellas, when for marriage you go,
Examine your true love from the top to the toe.
If you don't do that, well, like me you'll be sold
To a damsel not nineteen, but a ninety year old!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Eighteen Years Old (from De Danann)
From: Ross Campbell
Date: 05 Jun 14 - 07:05 AM

I always liked Dolores Keane's version of "Eighteen Years Old". Couldn't quite hear it in my voice, somehow!
Jim Carrol's "sequel" above is very similar to this version collected in Newfoundland(?) by Helen Creighton.

Nineteen Years Old

Oh, as I was a-walking way down by the strand,
I espied a fair damsel so handsome and grand.
She had buckles and brooches of silver and gold;
Says I, "Now what a dandy, and only nineteen years old."

Well, I courted her truly while keeping her fed
(in two weeks)
The weeks went by and finally we were wed.
And when we were married and the wedding bells tolled.
I'd married me a dandy only nineteen years old.

Well, the wedding being over we retired to rest.
You can bet I was astonished when my wife did undress.
Such an armload of paddings as my wife did unfold --
Says I, "Now what a dandy, and only nineteen years old."

Well, she took off her cork leg right off to her knee,
She unbuttoned her (fingers) blouse until I counted three,
Then she plucked out her glass eye on the floor it did roll
Says I, "Now what a dandy, and only nineteen years old."

Well, she took off her eyebrows, I thought I would faint;
(For) She took from her face a good bucket of paint,
Then she took off her false wig and her bald head soon told
She was handier ninety than (to) nineteen years old.

Now, come all you young fellows when courting you go,
Examine your true love from her head to her toe,
For if you don't do it, you're bound to be sold
(To) a patched up old geezer about ninety years old.

Fred Redden – collected Helen Creighton

Bracketed additions/alternatives from Ray Johnson of Newfie band Buddy Wasisname and the other Fellas

I first found this on a Youtube clip
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5Lo4T8V6G0
Ray Johnson does it as a monologue towards the end of the set (You may want to fast-forward)

I put a tune to it which seems to work.

Ross