Subject: DT Correction: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 25 Oct 99 - 08:47 PM The original Percy French Mountains of Mourne is on the Digital Tradition all right.
But I once heard someone sing a version of it that was a sequel rather than a parody. It was Mary's letter back to her young man in exile.
@love @immigrant recorded by Kendall Morse filename[ MTMOURNE TUNE FILE: MTMOURNE CLICK TO PLAY RG
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Subject: Lyr Add: BENDEMEER'S STREAM (Thomas Moore) From: Lesley N. Date: 25 Oct 99 - 08:50 PM Thomas Moore wrote these lyrics long before Percy French. BENDEMEER'S STREAM (Thomas Moore) There's a bower of roses, by Bendemeer's Stream, And the nightingale sings 'round it all the day long. In the time of my childhood 'Twas sweet like a dream, To sit by the roses And hear the bird's song. That bow'r and its music I ne'er can forget, But of when alone In the bloom of the year I think, "Is the nightingale singing there yet?" Are the roses still bright by the calm Bendemeer?" No, the roses soon withered that hung o'er the wave, But the blossoms were gathered While freshly they shone, And the dew was distilled On the flowers, that gave All the fragrance of summer - when summer is gone. Thus memory draws from delight ere it dies, An essence that breathes of it many a year. Thus, bright to my soul as 'twas then to my eyes, Is that bow'r on the banks of the calm Bendemeer. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne From: John in Brisbane Date: 25 Oct 99 - 09:40 PM Lesley, I've seen these lyrics recently - now I realise it was probably in the DT - but did the tune pre-date French's penning of Mountains of Mourne? Regards, John |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne From: Bruce O. Date: 25 Oct 99 - 10:17 PM I don't know when Thomas Moore wrote "Bendemeer's Stream". It isn't in his "National Melodies" or in his "A Selection of Irish Melodies". I've seen the song in The Vocal Library, John Souter, London, 1818. I think I've still got an old LP with Susan Reed singing it. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne From: Lesley N. Date: 25 Oct 99 - 11:17 PM If it's in a collection of 1818 and French was born in 1854 I'd say that's conclusive! More specifically (and seriously) though, it's referred to in one source as being in Moore's Lalla Rookh, Part 1 - which was published in 1817 (and for which more received the record sum of 3,000 pounds). |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne From: paddymac Date: 26 Oct 99 - 12:09 AM I'm going on memory here, gang, but Dear Old Percy did not write the tune for "Mountains of Mourne". As best I recall, he literally wrote the lyric on the back of an envelope and sent it to his some-time collaborator (Charles Collison, or something similar) who then fitted the lyric to an existing air. I'll check back on the weekend, and if nobody else has confirmed my recollection, I'll try to dig up some documentation. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne From: Melbert Date: 26 Oct 99 - 02:47 AM The lyrics were written by Percy French (1854-1920). They were sent to Houston Collison on the back of a post card, and he set it to the ancient Irish air "Carrigdhoun". (according to "Soodlum's 100 Irish ballads, vol 1). |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 26 Oct 99 - 01:25 PM It's a great tune whoever wrote it. But I reckon Percy French's words are better than Thomas Moore's (and that's high praise). But did Percy write a sequel using the same tune, that's what I want to know. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 02 Nov 99 - 09:01 PM ??Any answers? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne From: Metchosin Date: 03 Nov 99 - 05:46 PM Hi McGrath I think you mean the version that has the lines: They don't plant potatoes or barley or wheat But there gangs o them digging For gold in the street At least when I asked That is what I was told So I just took a hand At this digging for gold So I just took a hand at this digging for gold But for all that I found there I might as well be Where the Mountains of Morin reach down to the sea I'll try to remember them or failing that find them on a record I think I have somewhere |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne From: Metchosin Date: 03 Nov 99 - 05:50 PM Oops sorry, thats the one thats on the DT |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 05 Nov 99 - 04:52 PM Yup, that's the one Percy French wrote. But I think he wrote a sequel as well. |
Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: MOUNTAINS OF MOURN (with chords) From: chico Date: 07 Jul 05 - 01:38 AM Some stupid questions. What are the "gangs" of londoners digging in the streets? I know this is a satire, but I don't get. Are they labourers digging the london subway/metro/tube? What does the "no top" to the dresses mean, is it describing strapless gowns that expose female shoulders, or actually bawdy lyric? AIR -- 'Carrigdhoun' I moved this message here from another thread on the same topic. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Mountains of Mourne (with chords) From: GUEST,Paul Burke Date: 07 Jul 05 - 04:19 AM What are the "gangs" of londoners digging in the streets? Sewers of course! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Mountains of Mourne (with chords) From: GUEST Date: 07 Jul 05 - 05:16 AM The gangs of labourers would have been digging trenches for laying gas, electricity water supplies. And yes, the "no top to their dresses" refers to strapless ball-gowns. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Mountains of Mourne (with chords) From: Steve-o Date: 07 Jul 05 - 02:14 PM Chico- definitely NOT a satire (I think you just misused the term). This was based on very real experiences of the Irish "plowboys" when they went to London to "find their fortune". |
Subject: RE: Origins: Mountains of Mourne (with chords) From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 07 Jul 05 - 03:32 PM Not a satire, but essentially a light-hearted song; it might have a serious topic at the heart of it, but it's intended to make the listener smile. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Mountains of Mourne (with chords) From: Peace Date: 08 Jul 05 - 04:23 AM Beautiful pic here of the Mountains. And another. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Mountains of Mourne (with chords) From: Genie Date: 08 Jul 05 - 07:11 AM Quote: "But I once heard someone sing a version of it that was a sequel rather than a parody. It was Mary's letter back to her young man in exile. The theme was basically that she was being a bit suspicious about all the time he seemed to be spending looking disapprovingly at these half naked ladies in the big city." Gee, I can't imagine why she was suspicious about that! LOL Genie |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: Charley Noble Date: 26 Nov 10 - 04:36 PM There is also a claim by John Edgar Mann that Cicely Fox Smith "collaborated on a children's operetta with Irish songwriter Percy French" by the title of "Mountains of Mourne," from "Cicely Fox Smith," FOLK ON TAP, Summer, 1999, p. 17. Would we be talking about the same song? Charley Noble |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: GUEST,Martin B Date: 05 Feb 20 - 02:16 AM For the 'original' words of Mary's reply to Shamus including sheet music see the link below https://www.itma.ie/digital-library/text/3156-sm |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: Richard Mellish Date: 05 Feb 20 - 03:51 AM Is this a Mudcat record: just over twenty years from when McGrath of Harlow requested the words to when GUEST,Martin B gave us a link to them? If French himself had written a sequel, I don't think he would have given a girl from the Mountains of Mourne that stage Irish accent. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: Dave Hanson Date: 05 Feb 20 - 02:35 PM Percy French taking the piss out of the English in my humble opinion, and well done too. Dave H |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: keberoxu Date: 08 Feb 20 - 09:58 AM Recorded by the original Kingston Trio on their vinyl album, The Kingston Trio sold out. Don't know which of the trio sings the lead vocal, but it sounds different than Bob Shane. Perhaps Dave Guard? From the Percy French (?) lyrics posted by chico, the Kingston Trio sings verses 1, 2, and 5.
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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: keberoxu Date: 08 Feb 20 - 12:22 PM Lesley N.'s response is correct, by the way, as I found when it was necessary to look up Thomas Moore's original. Lalla Rookh includes this lyric as a song from the Harem! It seems that Bendemir was a Persian river. Does that mean it flows through Iran today? There is a French-language translation, however, titled 'Odalisque." |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: Tattie Bogle Date: 08 Feb 20 - 06:10 PM Very appropriate that this thread should be revived after so long, as on 24th January 2020, it was the 100th anniversary of Percy French's death. This fact was mentioned by Cathy Jordan of "Dervish" on stage at Glasgow's Celtic Connections, during their concert on 19th Jan: she then sang another of his songs, Eileen Oge (or The Pride of Petravore). He was a prolific writer, and some of his songs may be well-known but people sing them without knowing who wrote them! Percy French My first impressions of "Mountains of Mourne" was that it was just another of those sentimental Irish songs, but it's full of humour, satire, irony and political comment all in one song! |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: Steve Shaw Date: 08 Feb 20 - 06:50 PM At Curliss family dos, this song was my grandad's party piece. It helped that his missus, my gran of course, was called Mary. He'd launch out, after a pint or several of Tetleys of course, with "Oh Mary, this London's a wonderful sight..." with his hand placed tenderly on gran's head. Upon which gran would call out, "Oh, sit down, you silly ould bugger..." Good times... |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: Joe Offer Date: 08 Feb 20 - 06:54 PM Somebody posted Mary's Reply back in 2001, without the "stage Irish" of the sheet music. Thread #30665 Message #394854 Posted By: Michael in Swansea 10-Feb-01 - 06:15 AM Thread Name: Lyr Add: Mary's Reply (to Mountains of Mourne) Subject: ADD: Mary's Reply (to Mountains of Mourne)^^
Idly browsing the DT, I noticed the Mountains of Mourne listed but not Mary's reply so here it is. Same tune. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: Tattie Bogle Date: 08 Feb 20 - 08:01 PM Great posts, Steve and Joe! |
Subject: RE: Origins: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: RunrigFan Date: 28 Aug 22 - 08:51 PM Oh Mary, this London's a wonderful sight, With the people here workin' by day and by night. They don't grow potatoes, nor barley nor wheat, But there's gangs of them diggin' for gold in the street. At least, when I asked them that's what I was told So I just took a hand in this diggin' for gold; But for all that I found there, I might as well be Where the Mountains o' Mourne sweep down to the sea. I believe that when writin' a wish you expressed As to how the fine ladies in London were dressed. Well if you believe me, when asked to a ball They don't wear a top to their dresses at all! Oh, I've seen them meself and you could not, in truth Say if they were bound for a ball, or a bath Don't be startin' them fashions now, Mary Machree, Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea. You remember young Peter O'Loughlin of course — Well he's over here at the head o' the Force. I met him today, I was crossing the Strand, When he stopped the whole street with one wave of his hand. And we stood there talking of days that are gone While the whole population of London looked on; But for all his great powers, he's wishful like me To be back where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea. There are beautiful girls here - Oh, never you mind - They have beautiful shapes, nature never designed. They've lovely complexions, of roses and cream But O'Loughlin remarked regard to the same Since you're a fine famile?, I give you a tip The colour might all come away on your lip' So I'll wait for the wild rose that's waitin' for me — Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea https://open.spotify.com/track/7bntW6D7bCzFQtAY1xXYQA?si=267d81bf0bed4933 |
Subject: RE: Origins: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: GUEST,jim bainbridge Date: 29 Aug 22 - 01:08 PM re the tune, I always thought it was based on the old song/tune 'Carrigdhoun' a location near Bandon in West Cork. There's a wonderful version of 'Carrigdhoun'on an LP by the McPeake family in the early 60s... |
Subject: RE: Origins: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: GUEST,Modette Date: 29 Aug 22 - 01:52 PM ... more likely 'Carraig Donn'(brown rock). |
Subject: RE: Origins: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 29 Aug 22 - 07:22 PM I've just come across this and I'm pleased to see that the song I was after has turned up. The Mudcat can take its time, but it delivers in the end. Interesting to see that the author of Mary's reply evidently wasn’t Percy French. What's missing though is the verse where Mary indicates a slight reprimand to her man's attention to the underdressed ladies in London. I'm sure I remember seeing it - I think likely in a copy of Ireland's Own. II'd guess that some singer along the way improved the song. (Maybe even Percy French himself…) Maybe it'll turn up in time. |
Subject: RE: Origins: Mountains of Mourne (Percy French) From: GUEST,jim bainbridge Date: 30 Aug 22 - 01:44 PM bit of a pseud respons Modette- I am quite ware of the meaning of the song title, having lived 20 years in Ireland. I'm pretty sure that was the spelling used by the McPeake family on the LP in question, and I'd take their version rather than yours |
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