Lyr Req: (Sweet) Mary of Kilmore

Subject: Lyr Req: (Sweet) Mary of Kilmore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 22 Mar 11 - 12:36 PM

Has anyone come across this song? Sarah Makem, of Keady, Armagh sang it. I see some online references to a "Sweet Mary of Kilmore" song which may or may not be the same. Interestingly, those references all seem to be Australian. (See THIS THREAD for example.

Sarah's version begins:

"Ye gods of love I pray draw near
And lend to me your aid"

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: (Sweet) Mary of Kilmore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 04:24 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: (Sweet) Mary of Kilmore
From: RunrigFan
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 04:30 AM

Is this similar to sweet rose of tralee?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: (Sweet) Mary of Kilmore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 04:40 AM

HI RunrigFan

I don't know "Sweet Rose of Tralee" - I see only a poem of that name online (not connected) and a single reference to a song.

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: PRIDE OF TRALEE TOWN
From: RunrigFan
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 05:12 AM

http://www.ireland-information.com/downloads/midi/theroseoftralee.mid

http://www.ireland-information.com/irishmusic/theroseoftralee.shtml

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=15280 - Thread about the origin ;)

Then a version called Pride Of Tralee Town

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=103305


Lyrics from video


----------------------------------------------------------------------

When I was a youth I rambled the hillsides night and day.
When I was only seventeen my heart was light and gay,
But tomorrow I am leaving from places all around,
And I'm leaving lovely Mary, the pride of Tralee town.

For I met her in the springtime at a dance near Banna Strand
To see her and her companions; they'd be dancing hand in hand.
She looked so slim and lovely in her dark green velvet gown,
And I fell in love with Mary, the pride of Tralee town.

I asked her if she'd take the floor and dance some steps with me.
We did 'The Siege of Ennis' and some polkas wild and free,
Her hair in long black tresses for her shoulders sailing down,
And I danced the feet with Mary, the pride of Tralee town.

For the summer months we courted beneath the Kerry stars.
We sang out all the old ballads in the Ballybunion bars.
For the castle green we wandered, and the silver moon beamed down,
And I kissed my darling Mary, the pride of Tralee town.

For the golden leaves of autumn gave way to winter's cold,
And another came a-courting her, and he stole her heart of gold,
For he had many acres, in the townlands all around,
And it with, he showered at Mary, the pride of Tralee town.

So farewell, my good companions. I'll take the morning train.
I'm bound for South Australia, and you won't see me again.
He's a richer but no better man, so my tears come tumbling down,
For the fair false hearted Mary, the pride of Tralee town,
For the fair false hearted Mary, the pride of Tralee town.

(p.s. I'm not sure if it's "for the fair false heart of Mary", or "fair false hearted")

----------------------------------------------------------------------

Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mCtPVLipU-A

:)

It seems to kinda go on the same route

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: (Sweet) Mary of Kilmore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 05:19 AM

Thanks but - no, it doesn't resemble any of the Rose of Tralee songs.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: (Sweet) Mary of Kilmore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 23 Mar 11 - 05:27 AM

Given the Sarah Makem connection, I suspect THIS is the Kilmore referred to.


Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: (Sweet) Mary of Kilmore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 27 Mar 11 - 12:53 PM

refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: (Sweet) Mary of Kilmore
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 27 Mar 11 - 01:58 PM

Martin,
John Maguire, Tonaydrumallard, Roslea, Fermanagh sang this. It's on the LP Come Day Go Day, God send Sunday, which you may have had from me, and in the book. I've not seen it otherwise. E-mail me for further.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: (Sweet) Mary of Kilmore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 27 Mar 11 - 02:10 PM

Thanks for that, John. I suspect I got Morton's book on John Maguire from you - whatever about the LP - and have seen that version. It's the only other trace I can find other than the Australian hints. I'm basically hoping to flush out some more detail on the latter - and anything else that might be out there.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: (Sweet) Mary of Kilmore
From: MartinRyan
Date: 05 Apr 11 - 05:57 AM

Refresh

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FORLORN DAMSEL
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Apr 11 - 01:10 PM

I haven't heard the Sarah Makem song, and have no idea what it's about or what it sounds like, but I went searching for "ye gods of love" and found this, at the Bodleian collection: Harding B 6(19):


THE FORLORN DAMSEL

Ye gods of love, who rule above,
Pity a maid that's wounded.
Of Cupid's dart I feel the smart,
And grief has me surrounded.

I sigh and moan since he is gone
Who was my chiefest fancy.
The other day he sailed away
And parted with his Nancy.

May woe attend my cruel friends
That caused his transportation.
For him I pine, lament and whine
In woeful desolation.

In frightful dreams I often screams
And wakes out of my slumber.
Then in amaze I roam and gaze
And of my dear I ponder.

My parents they sent him away
To face his foes so cruel,
All for to part from him my heart,
My dear and only jewel.

My love is tall, comely withal,
And rarely put together;
His person neat, his breath as sweet
As dew in summer weather.

His carriage neat, his limbs compleat,
And all his frame commodious.
When he doth sing, the woods do ring,
His voice is so melodious.

Guardian angels be his guide.
Defend him from all harms.
Let not bad fortune him betide
In any of war's alarms.

Should he be slain on Boston plain,
Where cannons roar like thunder,
Then death would ease me of my pain
And break my chains asunder.

Although my love has crossed the main,
'Twas what he ne'er intended.
I hope to see him once again
Whene'er the wars are ended.

Then all my grief will turn to joy
When he is in my arms;
Then I'll embrace my charming boy
And treat him with my charms.