Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta (Jimmy McCurry)

Subject: The Coleraine Regatta
From: Lars Raap
Date: 15 Oct 99 - 06:34 AM

Hi, folks (or 'folkies'), a friend of mine is looking for the lyrics of the song 'The Coleraine Regatta' as performed by The Johnstons (vocals & guitar: Paul Brady; tenor banjo: Mick Moloney - great player !). Has anyone the lyrics ? I didn´t find it in this collection, and the song is too long and too complicated to get the words out of it.

Thanks

Lars

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: Philippa
Date: 15 Oct 99 - 06:04 PM

the lyrics are in Sam Henry's "Songs of the People"

Subject: Lyr Add: THE COLERAINE REGATTA (James McCurry)
From: Philippa
Date: 15 Oct 99 - 06:38 PM

from John Moulden, ed. Songs of the People: Selections from the Sam Henry Collection, part one. Belfast. Blackstaff Press, 1979
. "Composed a century ago, this is one of several songs by James McCurry, the blind fiddler from Myroe, Limavady, Co Derry, who, according to local tradition, was the itinerant fiddler from whom Miss Jane Ross of Limavady obtained the Londoinderry Air. sam Henry however in an unpublished typescript states her informant's name to have been McCormick."

Paul Brady's singing was inspired by Eddie Butcher's version of the song. The reference to "Newtown" comes from the time the town of Limavady was known as Newtownlimavady.

THE COLERAINE REGATTA

Good folks I'll tell you true, now my song commences,
In the year of '72, one day of my adventures,
The 'Derry Standard' [newspaper] came to us; it bore the special motto,
That on July the 31rst, comes off Coleraine regatta.

chorus:
Whack fal ol di da, Whack fal ol di daddy;
Whack fal ol di da,
Right toorin intan addy

The morning being fine as I prepared for starting,
I was led along the line by a man whose name was Martin;
In coming to the junction I heard two engines whistle,
The points were drawn together by a man called Frank McCrystall

The ladies shook their dress, and stood there with compunction,
Until the guard expressed - 'Take seats at Newtown Junction,'
When I obtained my seat, my fiddle began a-playing;
The engine she did beat, and the people fell hurra-ing

Many a rosy cheek was there, and many an ugly bundle;
And many a lass received a smack as the train wnt through the tunnel.
One of the bandboys sat by us, I heard his name called Lowry,
The fifes and drums struck up a tune which we called Kate fa Gowrie.

--- see also Sam Henry collection bibliographic info.

anyone know how that tune 'Kate fa Gowrie' [from Gowrie] goes?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: zander (inactive)
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 05:30 AM

can anyone please supply the tune to Coleraine Regatta

many thanks, Dave [ Zander ]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 23 Jan 00 - 10:16 PM

Just played my Johnstons tape (Ye Jacobites By Name). The version of Colraine Regatta on that tape is a little different and has a lot more verses than the version Phillipa has given.

I certainly haven't got time to write it down now and I'm not sure that I fancy having a go a this one. Perhaps somebody has got their lyrics written down already and could supply them.

Jon

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: Stewie
Date: 24 Jan 00 - 01:19 AM

The Johnstons first 2 albums for Transatlantic in 1968 - 'The Johnstons' and 'The Barley Corn' which had 'Coleraine Regatta' - have been reissued on a single CD 'The Johnstons' Essential/Castle ESM CD 410. It's great value. As Jon said, their version of 'CR' has many more verses than that posted by Phillipa, but I too do not have the inclination to struggle with a transcription of them.

Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: zander (inactive)
Date: 30 Jan 00 - 04:28 AM

HELP, anyone out there, please supply the tune for Coleraine Regatta. many thanks, Dave { zander } email. [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 07:24 AM

G'day,
Somebody posted the sheet music to Alison who played into her computer & saved as a MIDI. The tune can be found here at the Mudcat MIDI site.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: alison
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 09:05 AM

Thanks alan.. and thanks to whoever sent me the tune.... there was no name to give credit.....

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 11:30 AM

I'll e-mail our guest a note to come back if he hasn't come back by dinnertime.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 06:57 PM

Alison, you may have got it from 'Zander'; I snail-mailed him a photocopy (he lives in England) and asked him if he could send it to you via computer

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: wysiwyg
Date: 15 Feb 00 - 07:05 PM

Dave { zander } [e-mail]:

I wasn't sure if you are already an active 'Catter or would be sure to check back here so I sent you a long note at your personal e-mail address.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: alison
Date: 16 Feb 00 - 01:09 AM

It came (snail mail) from the UK... someone called Dave (got an email)...... he sent a copy of what you had sent him Philippa... but no name... anyway thanks to him for sending it...

the reference on the tune.. says that it came from John Moulden's "songs of the people - selections from the Sam Henry collection" Belfast 1979..

slainte

alison

Subject: Tune Add: The Coleraine Regatta
From: alison
Date: 28 Mar 00 - 03:20 AM

Here is another version of the tune which was on the tape Dave sent me (thanks Dave)..... this is the arrangement done by the Johnstones (Paul Brady and Mick Moloney). the time signature swaps around between 4/4 and 3/4 ... you can hear it at Mudcat MIDIs

slainte

alison

Subject: Coleraine Regatta
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 07:52 AM

Hello

I'm looking for the lyrics for "The Coleraine Regatta", recorded by Paul Brady on the Johnstons' "The Barleycorn" album. I can't find them on the web. Can anyone help me? Thanks in advance Ula

Subject: Lyr Add: COLERAINE REGATTA (Jimmy McCurry)
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 08:57 AM

In response to a recent enquiry, here is the longer version sung by Eddie Butcher which Phillippa refers to above.  I found it at Victor M McCurry's website:  The Songs of Jimmy McCurry

COLERAINE REGATTA

(By Jimmy McCurry of Myroe, Co. Derry; this version from Eddie Butcher of Magilligan, North Derry.)

Oh, kind folks, I'll tell you true and now my song commences,
On the year of seventy-two, the first of my adventures.
The Derry Standard came to us; it bore a special motto
Saying that on July the thirty-first comes of Coleraine Regatta.
Wack for all the da, oh, right for all the daddy
Wack for all the da tooren inten addy.

The morning it being fine and I prepared for starting,
I was led along the line by a man his name was Johnny Martin.
Going up into the Junction there I heard two engines whistle
And the points were drew together by a man named Frank McCrystle.
Wack for all the da, etc.

Oh, the ladies shook their dress and they sat there with compunction,
When I heard the guard express, "Take seats at Newtown Junction."
When I obtained my seat the fiddle began a-playing,
The engine she did beat and the people began hurraying.

The sparks were flying high as we passed through Carrymuddle
And I couldn't resist temptation so Sarah I gave a cuddle.
Manys a rosy cheek was there and manys an ugly bundle,
And manys a-lass received a smack as the train passed through the tunnel.

Oh, near Coleraine we drew where there my journey ended,
Sweet Portrush to view each lad and lass intended.
But I stood on the platform amid the whole narration,
And soon the din began to cease as the Portrush train left the station.

Oh, crowd by crowd did strive for to pass one another,
Husbands lost their wives and daughters lost their mothers.
And lads lost their lasses there, when passing by the inspector,
When I heard a fellow calling out, "Great God, I've lost my sister".

Then I walked through the gates exposed to every danger,
I feared to walk straight and worse, I was a stranger.
The multitudes were great and thousands passed me by,
When I heard a fellow call out, "Play-up McDonald's Strathspey".

Oh, some were selling matches there and others good bootlaces,
And some were calling, " Who will buy the true list of the races?"
There were lumps oh groups of boys and such as we call ladies,
But Harbison made me rejoice when he hooked me up to Fadys.

I thought my time was long, I thought every hour was Heaven
Till the band began to play and the clock she struck eleven.
One of the bands-men passed me by, and I heard his name was Lowery,
When the fife and drum struck up the tune we call "Kate from Gowrie".

They led me to the train, although my coat was muddy,
There was whisky in my brain and my senses they were fuddy.
And when we came to Castlerock the rum began to caper,
I was mocked, and being mocked by a black bird of a waiter.

From the carriage I was hauled like a wet sack at the Junction,
They set me on a seat where I sat with compunction.
Oh, a short time there I stayed, my conduct was not civil,
For the stationmaster prayed and he wished me to the divil.

There on the boards I lay, as I suppose, contented,
Some people with me stayed and for my case lamented.
But I got lying there till I had my slumber finished,
And safely homewards I was taken by the sons oh Tom McSkimmins.

Now I have sung my song that I have sung to please ye,
The more I kept you long, I didn't mean to tease ye.
But lads and lasses be aware and keep it as a motto,
Neither drink too much o' rum and beer when you go to Coleraine Regatta.


Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: Wolfgang
Date: 12 Dec 00 - 10:09 AM

That's a treat to see the long version whether it is close to the Johnstons' singing or not.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: GUEST,Taylor
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 04:17 PM

Looking For A Song About Coleraine I Think It's called 'The Road By The River That Flows Threw Rathene'.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: ard mhacha
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 04:24 PM

The version by The Johnstons Paul Brady doing the vocals,
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ncsj95E8mRU

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: ard mhacha
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 04:37 PM

Taylor, I don`t think the song you refer to, The road by the river, has any connection with Coleraine, here it is, Teresa Clifford recorded this on a single in the 1950s,
The Road By the River The Road By the River Sure, I've walked along Broadway, I've been down the Strand, And I've seen the gr

Subject: Lyr Add: THE ROAD BY THE RIVER
From: ard mhacha
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 04:41 PM

Sorry here are the lyrics
The Road By the River

Sure, I've walked along Broadway, I've been down the Strand,
And I've seen the great highways of every land,
But in all the big cities, The like I've not seen,
Like the road by the river that flows through Raheen.

I can see meself now as a gossoon of four,
As I climbed to look over the creakin' half-door,
For to see the sun shine on the valley so green,
And the road by the river that flows through Raheen.

I had only one brother, a gay lad and droll,
He was killed in an ambush, Now God rest his soul.
On the spot where he fell, A white cross can be seen,
On the road by the river that flows through Raheen.

I recall when I started in strange lands to roam,
Sure, 'tis little I thought how I'd miss me old home,
Miss me old folks, the village, the valley so green,
And the road by the river that flows through Raheen.

After that the returnin' expectin' to find
The familiar old scenes as they lived in me mind
Ah, forgettin' the years that had passed since I'd seen
The old road by the river that flows through Raheen.

Rows and rows of new houses are built on the green
And a cinema stands where me cottage had been.
Oh, the river is there, but no trace can be seen,
Of the road by the river that flows through Raheen.

And so everything changes, and we change as well
And I'm sure that you, too, If the truth you would tell,
Wander back to some well beloved spot in your dreams,
Like the road by the river that flows through Raheen.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Coleraine Regatta
From: ard mhacha
Date: 05 Dec 09 - 04:48 PM

The road by the river is also on the Mudcat DT.