Lyr ADD: Irish Soldier Boy^^^

Subject: LYRICS REQUEST: IRISH SOLDIER BOY
From: RoB
Date: 22 Apr 97 - 08:59 AM

Does anyone have the lyrics to "Irish soldier Boy"? or can you tell me where to look it up? It doesn't appear to be in the DT database or the Irish Folksongs DB. I have partial lyrics and would appreciate having the rest. It goes:

At a cottage door one win'try night as the snow lay on the ground/ Stood a youthful Irish soldier boy to the mountains he was bound/ His mother stood beside him saying, you'll win, my boy, don't fear/ And with loving arms around his waist, she tied his bandolier/ REFRAIN: Good-bye,God bless you, mother dear,.......

Thanks everybody, RoB PS Is this THE best site on the WEB, or what!

Subject: Lyr Add: IRISH SOLDIER BOY^^^
From: Bobby O'Brien
Date: 22 Apr 97 - 09:08 AM

IRISH SOLDIER BOY

At a cottage door one wintry night as the snow lay on the ground,
A youthful Irish soldier boy to the mountains he was bound.
His mother stood beside him saying, "You’ll win, my boy. Don’t fear,"
And with loving arms around his waist, she tied his bandoleer.

"Goodbye. God bless you, mother dear. I hope your heart won't pain,
But pray to God your soldier boy you soon will see again.
For when I'm out in the firing line, 'twill be a source of joy
To know that you're a mother proud of an Irish soldier boy."

When the fighting it was over and the flag of truce was raised,
The leaders ordered the fire to cease. All Ireland stood amazed.
His comrades came to the cottage door with a note from her pride and joy
Containing the news in sad detail of her Irish soldier boy.

"Goodbye. God bless you, mother dear. I'm dying a death so grand
From wounds received in action trying to free my native land.
But I know we'll meet in heaven above, in a land beyond the sky.
There you'll always be in company of your Irish soldier boy.

"A long farewell to Donegal, Kilkenny and Mayo,
Tipperary, Derry, and Tyrone, where the bushes green do grow,
And when at night you'll kneel and pray, 'twill be a source of joy
To know that you're remembering still your Irish soldier boy."


This is the complete version including all the verses.
Some singers omit the last verse, and it’s a pity.

---

"Irish Soldier Boy" was added to the Digital Tradition in 1998.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: LYRICS REQUEST: IRISH SOLDIER BOY
From:
Date: 22 Apr 97 - 11:34 AM

The beautiful song Irish Soldier Boy is one of the titles on my LP "IRISH REBEL SONGS", an ACE OF CLUBS record.

Singers are Enoch Kent, Diarmuid O´Neill and Patrick O´Malley.

I am very happy that I found the lyrics now. Soon I will create a thread and ask for another title: My Old Fenian Gun.

Nobby

Subject: RE: LYRICS REQUEST: IRISH SOLDIER BOY
From: RoB
Date: 22 Apr 97 - 07:11 PM

Bobby O'Brien, Somehow I knew it'd be you that had the words. Thanks a million! Regards, RoB

Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD FENIAN GUN^^^
From: Norbert Seibt
Date: 25 Apr 97 - 11:51 AM

Bobby O’Brien sent me my beloved Old Fenian Gun lyrics

THE OLD FENIAN GUN

It hung above the kitchen fire, its barrel long and brown,
And one day with a child's desire, I climbed and took it down.
My father's eyes in anger flashed. He cried, "What have you done?
I wish you'd left it where it was. That’s my old Fenian gun."

I fondled it with love and pride. I looked it o'er and o'er.
I placed it on my shoulder and I marched across the floor.
My father's anger softened and he shared my boyish fun.
"Ah, well," he said, "‘tis in your blood like that old Fenian Gun."

I placed it o'er the fire once more. I heard my father sigh.
I knew his thoughts were turning back to days now long gone by.
And then I vowed within my heart I'll be my father's son,
And if ever Ireland wants my aid, I'll hold the Fenian gun.

That's years ago. I've grown a man and weathered many a gale.
This last long year's been spent inside this gloomy English jail.
I've done my part. I'll do it still until the fight is won.
When Ireland's free, she'll bless the men who held the Fenian gun.


Bobby wrote: One of my favourite rebel songs, recorded by many Irish artists, such as
Sean Dunphy, Pat Daly, and Willie Brady.

Nobby thanks Bobby O'Brien!

---

"The Old Fenian Gun" was added to the Digital Tradition in 1998.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Soldier Boy
From: Celtaddict
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 11:55 AM

I know this thread is ten years old, but does anyone have more information, about who wrote it or when, and which war/revolution inspired it? 1916-1922? Later?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Soldier Boy
From: Big Tim
Date: 12 Jun 08 - 04:41 PM

I think there's a verse missing in Bobby's version, something like 'as tall and straight as the mountain ash'. I have the LP that Norbert referred to, will try and play it tomorrow.

No idea I'm afraid on the provenance of the song tho it's fairly obvious that it's set during the War of Independence, 1919-21.

Great, noble song.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Irish Soldier Boy^^^
From: Big Tim
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 02:06 AM

Third verse as sung by Diarmuid O'Neill (1963)

O grand it was to see him go in his youthful strength and pride,
As straight and thin as the mountain ash that grows by Inishside(?),
He left a memory in the heart that time can never destroy,
And said 'mother dear, I know you'll pray for your Irish soldier boy'.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Irish Soldier Boy^^^
From: Fiolar
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 08:21 AM

Big Tim: The second line varies a bit. In the version I know it is: "As firm and straight as the mountain ash that grows by Inny side." The "Inny" is probably the River Inny that flows into Lough Sheelin in County Westmeath.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Irish Soldier Boy^^^
From: Steve Gardham
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 02:58 PM

The song looks to be based upon the well-known 'The Faithful Sailor Boy'
It was one dark and stormy night the snow lay on the ground,
A sailor boy stood on the quay his ship was outward bound,
His sweetheart standing by his side shed many a silent tear,
And as he pressed her to his breast he whispered in her ear,
Chorus
I'll be your own true love this parting gives me pain,
I'll be your own treu guiding star when i return again,
My thoughts they'll be of you, of you when the storm is raging high,
Farewell my love remember me I'm your fathful sailor boy.

3 more verses. At a guess I'd say it was no older than about 1875.

Be interesting to see if they used the same tune.

Subject: RE: Req/ADD: Irish Soldier Boy^^^
From: Big Tim
Date: 13 Jun 08 - 04:18 PM

Ah, yes, the Inny. Have seen it: a lovely river.

Yes, looks very similar to the 'The Faithful Sailor Boy': the folk trad at work yet again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Irish Soldier Boy^^^
From: GUEST,Sean Byrne
Date: 13 Nov 12 - 05:28 PM

Big Tim, The version I have is (a crackly) 1961 Version on Beltona label. B side Tipperary Faraway.

Subject: Lyr Add: IRISH SOLDIER BOY (The McNulty Family)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Jul 13 - 09:28 PM

My transcription from the recording on YouTube. I have boldfaced the words that are different from the version that Bobby O'Brien posted back in 1997. Also note that one of those verses is omitted from this recording:


IRISH SOLDIER BOY
As recorded by The McNulty Family, 1947

At a cottage door one wintry night as the snow lay on the ground,
A youthful Irish soldier boy to the mountains he was bound.
His mother stood beside him saying, "You'll win, my boy; no fear,"
And with loving arms around his waist, she tied his bandoleer.

"Goodbye; God bless you, mother dear; I hope your heart won't pain,
But pray to God your soldier boy, your son, you'll see again,
For when I'm out on the firing line, it will be a source of joy
To know that you're a mother proud of an Irish soldier boy."

When the fighting it was over and the flag of truce was raised,
The leader ordered the fire to cease; all Ireland stood amazed,
And his comrades came to her cottage door with a note from her pride and joy,
And her aching heart cried, "God be good to my Irish soldier boy."

"A long farewell to Donegal, Kilkenny and Mayo,
Tipperary, Derry, and Tyrone, where the bushes green do grow,
And I hope we'll meet in heaven above in a land beyond the sky,
And you'll always be in company with your Irish soldier boy."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Irish Soldier Boy^^^
From: zozimus
Date: 09 Jul 13 - 09:36 PM

Singers Diarmuid O' Neill and Patrick O' Malley mentioned above on the Irish Rebel Songs L/P with Enoch Kent were actually Dominic Behan in disguise.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req/Add: Irish Soldier Boy^^^
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Jul 13 - 05:24 AM

'Dying a death so grand,' I wonder how many young idiots that sort of nonsense has roped in
to fight old men's wars.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE OLD FENIAN GUN (Phil O'Neill)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 14 Feb 23 - 09:44 AM

From Well Known Songs of Ireland (New York: Irish Industries Depot, Inc., 1924), page 46:


THE OLD FENIAN GUN
By Phil O'Neill
(Dedicated to Fergus O'Connor)

It hung above the kitchen fire, its barrel long and brown,
And one day with a boy's desire I climbed and took it down.
My father's eyes with anger flashed; he cried, "What have you done?
I wish you left it where it was; that's my old Fenian gun."

Curiosity awakened, I looked it o'er and o'er.
I placed it on my shoulder and I marched across the floor.
My father's anger softened; he shared my boyish fun.
“Ah, well,” he said, “’tis in yer breed, like that old Fenian gun."

“I remember ’sixty-seven well,” he said, “when lads like me,
We thought we'd strike another blow to set old Ireland free.
How foolish were our boyish hopes! I was months upon the run,
But it did good work for Ireland then, did that old Fenian gun.”

“I was down then in Kilmallock; ’twas the hottest fight of all.
And you see,”—he bared his arm—“there's the mark still of a ball!
I hope the boys that's going now will keep the ground we've won,
And not disgrace the cause in which I held that Fenian gun.”

I placed it o'er the fire once more; I heard my father sigh,
I knew his thoughts were turning back on days now long gone by;
And then I solemnly declared I'll be my father's son,
And if ever Ireland wants my aid, I'll hold a Fenian gun.

That's years ago—I've grown to man and weathered many a gale.
The last long year was spent inside a gloomy English jail.
I've done my part—I'll do it still until the fight is won,
When Ireland free will bless the men who held a Fenian gun.

- - -
Another copy of the lyrics can be seen in Songs of the Irish Republic (Cork: Coiste Foillseachan Naisiunta [The National Publications Committee], 1962), page 83.

Trinity College Library, Dublin, has an old broadside copy, undated, which can be seen here.

You can hear a recording of this song at the Internet Archive, sung by Thomas Hannom, in 1924.