Lyr Add: Carrick? / Carrig River (Nolan/McGrath)

Subject: Lyr Add: CARRICK RIVER / CARRIG RIVER
From: GUEST,FolkieGirl
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 11:42 AM

I used to have a recording of Irish folk music, with this song on it. I have not since encountered it, and the lyrics don't seem to be posted anyplace on the web. Does anyone know who might have recorded it? Here are the lyrics (from memory - I've definitely got some errors).

I would appreciate any further information anyone has about this song!

(It has an extremely pretty tune, by the way!)

As I roved out one evening in the pleasant month of May,
It was down by Carrick River I carelessly did stray,
Where the hawthorn and sweet briar they would your heart illume,
And the rippling of the waters when the [clothards?] were in bloom.

I do remember long ago, when together we did roam
Through the lovely dells of Carrick where the woodcock makes his home,
Where all nature it seems smiling along each rocky side,
And the silvery stream flows down between to join the Slaney[?] tide

We oft-times go to view the place where our comrades they do lie,
Where all were joined in harmless sport in days that are gone by.
Our hearts were gold; we knew no care, as through the fields we strayed.
But, in vain the days have passed away, where oft-times we have played.

The thoughts of you, sweet Carrick, are constant in my mind.
I have roamed this wide world over; your equal I can't find.
Your lofty hills and waterfalls, it's them I do adore.
So, fare thee well, sweet Carrick; adieu for ever more.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 11:55 AM

It looks a fairly standard Irish "song of place" - though I don't recall seeing it before. The last line of Verse 2 probably refers to the River Slaney which flows mainly (all?) through County Wexford. Carrick is a common component of Irish placenames and is often locally used as shorthand for the full name.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: Fred McCormick
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 12:00 PM

There is a song listed in Steve Roud's Folksong Index as The Carrick Courtship, which opens As I roved out one morning fair, it being on the first of July. No Roud number given. It was collected by Hugh Shields in 1968 from one Miss Madge McRory, of Glencolumbkille, Donegal. The recording is held by the Ulster Folk and Transport Museum, where its index number appears to be 6830. So an enquiry to them might put the matter at rest.

BTW., There's a Carrick in Donegal, which is only about 10 miles from Glencolumbkille, so I'd guess it's a local song from round that area.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 05:39 PM

As mentioned, there are numerous "Carricks" in Ireland. Given the Slaney reference, it's quite likely that FolkieGirl's song refers to THIS one - though there are several others in the Wexford area.

Regards
p.s. I'll check out the Irish Traditional Music Archive when I get a chance.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 05:50 PM

In fact, I reckon it's a MacMorrough song from way back. Is Wolfgang about - or Mariner? They'll know.

Regards

p.s. spelling may well be carrig

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 06:01 PM

Yep - it's in Paddy Berry's book Wexford Ballads . I'll check out the words later. Title is, as I suspected, Carrig River

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 06:07 PM

Notes from Paddy's book:
-------------------------

"Carrig River" belongs to Wexford town. It was written by James "Messa" Nolan and James "Shaw" McGrath from the Hill Street area of Wexford town in 1890.
Carrig Wood was a popular area for townspeople to stroll on a Sunday aternoon before the arrival of the motor car. This quiet and pleasant rural area is scarcely considered today, but its name is well revered by the older generation of Wexford town.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 06:11 PM

And my guess re Macmorrough was right... Click here

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: GUEST,FolkieGirl
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 06:59 PM

Wow! This is an amazing resource! I've had that song in the back of my head for years, and I am so happy to have a real place to connect it to, and to know the origin. Perhaps I will be able to get the recording too.   Since you've solved the mystery of "slany" (I used to think it must mean "salty!"), do you have any thoughts on what the "clothards" are that are in bloom?
Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 07:09 PM

Ooops! Sorry - I should have checked on that for you. The text gives "fraughans" - which is an Irish ( strictly "Hiberno-English") term for blueberries.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 07:15 PM

Click here for a discussion of how that word is pronounced in Wexford and why!

Regards
p.s. and note Mariner's reference to the song...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: GUEST,FolkieGirl
Date: 17 Apr 10 - 07:21 PM

That's one mis-remembered word! I guess it was unfamiliar to me, so I made one up that fit the rythym and made an equal amount of sense.
Thanks so much!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: MARINER
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 02:48 PM

Along side Carrig River (not much of a river really, more of a stream) is the once beautiful old graveyard of Carrig.Hence the words "We often go to view the place where our comrades they do lie." Victims of the rebellion of 1798 ,from both sides are buried there.The song is still sung regularly in Wexford town, particularly among those from above the Cock of John Street at the north end of town.For that is the home of the St John's Volunteers, famous local Gaelic Football team,and the home of the two men who wrote the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 18 Apr 10 - 04:27 PM

Thanks Mariner!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: GUEST,oldtimer
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 03:27 PM

Well done Jolly Jack Mariner & you too Martin.Another happy enquirer.But Im still waiting to see if anyone has any knowledge of the 1st Carlist War & on which side did the Irish mercenaries support ? Queen Isobella was defending the self proclaimed & under attack, royal right to royal sucsessionship & thats all I know .It was circa 1860 bfeidhir ?Hows things in Shelmalier Jack ? You going to Cavan ?
Oldtimer

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 19 Apr 10 - 07:43 PM

Oldtimer: I'm intrigued by the Carlist question - and have some sources that might help. But..... I'm busy with exams for the next two weeks and am afraid to start looking!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick River (Rare Song)
From: GUEST,OLD TIMER
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 04:30 AM

Thanks Martin , at your leisure, no panic
Louis

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick/Carrig River (Rare Song)
From: MARINER
Date: 20 Apr 10 - 05:26 PM

Hiya oldtimer, The Bold Shelmaliers are fine. I walk in the area every day in the steps of my forefathers. Just thinking of what the North Cork did to us back in '98 keeps the blood boiling.It's comforting to know that we still have the pikes hidden in the thatch!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick/Carrig River (Rare Song)
From: GUEST,OLD TIMER
Date: 21 Apr 10 - 04:59 AM

Yeh & we might need the pikes again before long with the way the thing is looking now.On the subject of pikes i was recently presented with an original 98 pike by a guy from Edenderry in part payment for work done.He has a lot of original 98 memorabilia.Its in fairly good nick.
I might have some forensic tests done on it to see if there is any North Cork   D N A attached.
Enjoy your sunshine walks ---see you in Cavan

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick/Carrig River (Rare Song)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Apr 10 - 03:32 PM

From Tumbling Down by Billy Roche (Dublin: Wolfhound Press, 1994.), page 32; also in The Penguin Book of Irish Comic Writing by Ferdia MacAnna (London: Penguin, 1995), page 228:

'Oh no,' my father complained, throwing his eyes to heaven. 'I wouldn't mind but he knows all twenty-seven verses.'

The hawthorn and sweet briars
They would your heart illume,
And the rippling of the waters when
The fraochals were in bloom.

Old Willy crawled from word to word as my father paraded through the crowd like a policeman, shouting at the top of his voice, 'Come on now gentlemen, have you no homes to go to?...'

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick/Carrig River (Rare Song)
From: GUEST,Mariner
Date: 24 Apr 10 - 12:41 PM

"Tumbling Down " was based on Billy's experience working in his father's bar, the late lamented "Shamrock Bar" on Anne St. in Wexford town.A fine hostelry where the singing of "Carrig River" was not unusual.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick/Carrig River (Rare Song)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 26 Apr 10 - 07:39 PM

CARRIG RIVER is sung by the band MacMurrough (formerly known as Shades of MacMurrough) on "Carrig River" (1972) and on the various-artists album "A Feast of Irish Folk" (Polygram LP 2475605, 1977; reissued CD 5571812, 1998).

You can hear a sample from the latter album here.

I was able to transcribe this much:


...Where the hawthorn and the sweet briar they would your heart illume,
With the rippling of the waters when the crachans [? Cruachans? Cruachains?] were in bloom.

'Tis often that with vain regrets we think of things we've seen.
We have lived the past, but can't forget or mourn what might have been.
As we strayed along, the birds' sweet song was ringing in the sky
For the lonely church of Carrig where our Ninety-Eight men lie.

I do remember long ago....

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick/Carrig River (Rare Song)
From: GUEST,^&*
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 12:23 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick/Carrig River (Rare Song)
From: GUEST,^&*
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 12:35 PM

Thread creep warning!

GUESTOldtimer asked:

But Im still waiting to see if anyone has any knowledge of the 1st Carlist War & on which side did the Irish mercenaries support ?

Wonder if THIS was what he had in mind? Note that Evans was Irish.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick/Carrig River (Rare Song)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Feb 11 - 12:31 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick/Carrig River (Rare Song)
From: GUEST,Wexican
Date: 03 Apr 11 - 11:31 AM

The only place I have heard it was on a cassette tape of songs by the Wild Swans in 1996 with other wexford songs like "The Purple and Gold" and "Dancing at the Crossroads" to celebrate the All Ireland Hurling win. The singing is unreal!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick/Carrig River (Rare Song)
From: GUEST,P.Laverty
Date: 18 Mar 12 - 05:37 PM

Wexican, you're right, Carrig River is definitely on the Wild Swans cassette from 1996. Surely a lot of Wexfordians still have this tape, anyone out there able to create a digital version for us?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick/Carrig River (Rare Song)
From: GUEST,Titch1955
Date: 31 May 12 - 07:13 AM

And the rippling of the waters
When the frochans were in bloom.

frochans is the name used in Ireland for a wildflower known as bilberry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick/Carrig River (Rare Song)
From: GUEST,Anita McGrath-O'Hara
Date: 19 Jun 14 - 04:54 PM

The song Carrig River is indeed a Wexford song written by James Nolan and my great great uncle James McGrath. These men would walk to Carrig every evening and sit for a while by the river. Carrig is about 3 miles outside Wexford town and was a very popular walk for the towns people on a Sunday. there is a river carrig which flows into the Slaney at Ferrycarrig. Lovely song
Regards. Anita McGrath-O'Hara

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick/Carrig River (Rare Song)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 19 Jun 14 - 05:12 PM

Thanks, GUEST Anita

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick/Carrig River (Rare Song)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Jun 14 - 03:56 PM

Spotify has a recording of Michael Londra singing CARRIG RIVER on his album "Danny Boy: The Songs of Ireland" (2013).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick? / Carrig River (Nolan/McGrath)
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Aug 18 - 03:36 PM

One more verse in Carrig River
   It is often now with vain regret we think of things we've seen
   We view the past and can't forget and mourn what might have been
   As we strayed along the sweet birds song was ringing in the sky
   O'er the lonley graves of Carrig where the ninty eight man lies

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick? / Carrig River (Nolan/McGrath)
From: leeneia
Date: 05 Aug 18 - 08:54 AM

Here's a YouTube video where you can hear this song and learn the melody:

carrig

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick? / Carrig River (Nolan/McGrath)
From: leeneia
Date: 06 Aug 18 - 01:26 PM

I decided to transcribe this song, thinking it would be easy. NOT! I started by listening to the MacMurray version on YouTube. They do it in 4/4. Listen to the accompaniment, and you can clearly hear it playing a "four" pattern. And it was in some hard key or other.

So I went to the Michael Londra recording. It was still in a hard key _ E, which is not really so bad. But it's in 3/4 time, which went much more smoothly for me. I've written it down and changed it to D for easier playing. If any trusted Mudcatters want the sheet music, PM me.

It's a lovely tune, but it has many measures with a half note on one chord and a third beat which doesn't go. I suggest letting the acc. die away when the third beat comes along, otherwise you have a lot of busy chord changes which don't seem to go with the languid melody.

There's also a video of men fishing where you can see what the Carric River is like today.

Subject: Lyr Add: CARRIG RIVER (Shades of MacMurrough)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 13 Aug 18 - 05:05 PM

My transcription from the the recording on YouTube:


CARRIG RIVER
As recorded by Shades of MacMurrough on "Carrig River" (1972)

As I roamed out one evening in the pleasant month of May,
It was down by Carrig River I carelessly did stray,
Where the hawthorn and the sweet briar they would your heart illume,
With the rippling of the waters when the fraughans* were in bloom.

'Tis often that with vain regrets we think of things we've seen.
We have lived the past, but can't forget or mourn what might have been.
As we strayed along, the birds' sweet song was ringing in the sky
For the lonely church of Carrig where our Ninety-Eight men lie.

I do remember long ago when together we did roam
Through the lonely dells of Carrig where the woodcock makes its home.
All nature it was smiling along each rocky side
And the silvery stream go down between to join the Slaney tide.

Oh, the thoughts of you, sweet Carrig Hill, are ever on my mind.
I have roamed the wide world over, your equal could not find;
With your lofty cliffs and waterfalls, 'tis them I do adore.
So fare thee well, sweet Carrig Hill; adieu for ever more.


* Spelling as given in Wikipedia, along with the Irish spelling fraochán

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick? / Carrig River (Nolan/McGrath)
From: GUEST,Kathryn
Date: 18 Oct 18 - 06:09 AM

This is the version currently sung by Noelle Bowe from Wexford - as it happens she'll be teaching it at a Comhaltas workshop in Tullamore this weekend.

As I roamed out one evening in the pleasant month of May,
It was down by Carrig River I carelessly did stray,
Where the hawthorn and the sweetbriar they would your heart illume,
And the rippling of the waters when the fraughans* were in bloom.

I do remember long ago when together we did roam
Through the lovely dells of Carrig where the woodcock makes its home.
All nature it was smiling along each rocky side
And the silvery stream flows down between to join the Slaney tide.

'Tis oft times that with vain regrets we think of things we've seen.
We have lived the past, but can't forget and mourn what might have been.
As we stroll along, the sweet birds’ song was ringing in the sky
O’er the lonely graves of Carrig where our Ninety-Eight men lie.

We oft-times go to view the place where our comrades they do lie,
Where oft we joined in harmless sport in days that are gone by.
Our hearts were young; we knew no care, as through the fields we strayed.
But, in vain the days have passed away, where oft-times we have played.

Oh, the thoughts of you, sweet Carrig, are constant in my mind.
I have roamed this wide world over, your equal could not find;
With your lofty trees and waterfalls, 'tis them I do adore.
So fare thee well, sweet Carrig; adieu for ever more.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Carrick? / Carrig River (Nolan/McGrath)
From: GUEST
Date: 28 May 21 - 07:42 AM

My Grandfather, Thomas Nolan, said he wrote it with his friend Tom McGrath. Thomas Nolan lived from 1877-1964. He wrote it before he left Ireland to fight in the first World War. He was born in Wexford but had strong family connections with Carlow. [e-mail]