Lyr Req: Rambler from Clare (George Hanna)

Subject: George Hanna / Rambler from Clare
From: Young Buchan
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 06:47 PM

The 'usual' first verse of Rambler from Clare goes along the lines of:

The first of my courtship that ever was known,
I straight took my way to the County Tyrone;
Where among the pretty fair maids they used me well there
And they called me the stranger, and the Rambler from Clare.

But I'm convinced that George Hanna used to have a rather different first verse. I no longer have a copy of Shores of Loch Neagh with which to check. If I'm right,can someone supply the words of that verse?

Subject: RE: George Hanna / Rambler from Clare
From: Young Buchan
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 06:39 PM

Refresh

Subject: RE: George Hanna / Rambler from Clare
From: MartinRyan
Date: 28 Mar 12 - 06:41 PM

That'll be Geordie (rather than George) Hanna, methinks. May help searching.

Regards

Subject: RE: George Hanna / Rambler from Clare
From: GUEST,Reinhard
Date: 29 Mar 12 - 02:02 AM

I think it was Sarah Anne O'Neill, not George Hanna, who sang The Rambler from Clare on On the Shores of Lough Neagh. You can hear her on
YouTube.

And see also Roly Brown's Musical Traditions article The Rambler from Clare.

Subject: RE: George Hanna / Rambler from Clare
From: Anglo
Date: 29 Mar 12 - 11:11 PM

It was indeed Sarah. Her first verse:

The first of my journey, it was very well known,
I first made my way to the County Tyrone;
All the young men and maidens they knew me well there
And they called me the stranger, and the Rambler from Clare.

MartinRyan, He was known as Geordie, and a mighty singer, but the Topic record credits him as George.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE RAMBLER FROM CLARE
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 30 Mar 12 - 08:36 AM

Tantalisingly, we recorded a few verses from Wexford Traveller Bill Cassidy in the 1970s - he said it was very popular within his family, but he couldn't remember all of it
This is the fullest version I have come across
Jim Carroll

The Rambler From Clare
From Colm O Lochlainn's More Irish Street Ballads

The first of my courtship that ever was known,   
I straight took my way to the County Tyrone.
Where among the pretty fair maids they used me well there,
And they called me the stranger and the Rambler from Clare.

'Twas then I enlisted in the town of Ferrnoy,
But with so many masters I would not comply,
I deserted next morning, the truth I declare,
And for Limerick town started the Rambler from Clare.

I then took my way to the town of Tralee,
Where I fell a'courting young Sally Magee,
I first gained her favour, and then left her there
So now they're in search of the Rambler from Clare.

When like a deserter my case to bewail,
I was captured and taken in the town of Rathkeale
Then off to headquarters I had to repair,
And in the black hole lay the Rambler from Clare.

I took off my hat and I made a low bow,
In hopes that the Colonel would pardon me now,
The pardon he gave me was hard and severe,
'Twas' Bind him, confine him, he's the Rambler from Clare.'

My poor innocent mother got a woeful surprise
And my loving brother his shouts reached the skies,
'Brave boys,' said my father, ' your arms now prepare,
To bring me my darling—the Rambler from Clare.'

It was then we assembled in a harmonious band,
With our guns on our shoulders, we were ten thousand strong,
The firing began with our boys in the rear
We broke the gaol doors and took the Rambler from Clare.

We marched then along through the Barony of Forth
Where some of our heroes lay in camp before,
The firing began, and I can't tell you where,
But our chief commander was the Rambler from Clare.

Now that I've got the title of a United man,
I cannot stay at home in my own native land,
So off to America I must quickly repair,
And leave all my friends in the sweet County Clare.

Farewell to my comrades wherever they be,
Likewise to my sweetheart young Sally Magee,
Out ship she is ready and the wind it blows fair
He is gone, God be with him, the Rambler from Clare!

Subject: RE: George Hanna / Rambler from Clare
From: Young Buchan
Date: 30 Mar 12 - 11:36 AM

Thank you.