req:You Are Come of Gentle Blood/Lesson in Heroism

Subject: RE: Mudcat FAQ - Newcomer's Guide
From: GUEST,Seán Reid
Date: 22 Aug 16 - 09:48 AM

I am not a member of Mudcat but I'm trying to help my wife, Monica, in her efforts to find the words of a song her father had.
Her recollection of the Air would make it very close but not identical to that of "The Bantry Girl's Lament" as sung by Mary Black.
The only lyrics she can remember are as follows ( and they might not be 100% accurate)

Boy you have come of gentle blood
But now of poor degree
Where e're you go may God the good
Smile on your destiny

What e're the future, dark or bright,
In life's ---------- span
When Fortunes glows and darkest night
Still prove yourself a man.

I previously gave Mudcat the lyrics of an old song called Absent (by Metcalfe circa 1890) so you might look favourably on this request for help.
I did not join Mudcat because I was fearful of getting extra mail.

Yours sincerely
Seán Reid
Ireland

Subject: RE: Mudcat FAQ - Newcomer's Guide
From: Rain Dog
Date: 22 Aug 16 - 11:15 AM

Is this what you are after?

LESSON IN HEROISM by Robert D. JOYCE


Boy, you are come of gentle blood,
Though now of poor degree,
Where'er you go, may God the Good
Smile on your destiny
What'er your future, dark or bright
Through life's bechequered span,
In fortune's glow or blackest night
Still prove yourself a MAN.

When toiling up life's mountains rude,
O'er pathways insecure,
A kindly bond of brotherhood,
Should bind you to the poor.
Whom'er you see misfortune grip,
And wither 'neath her ban,
Go, grasp his hand in fellowship
And prove yourself a MAN.

What'er you sow in heedless youth
In Manhood you will reap;
Then walk in virtue's path of truth,
And God's commandments keep.
For Virtue is the surest sign
Since life and time began
Then with her arms you soul defend,
And prove yourself a MAN.

O Wealth, it is a faithless thing,
And false are pride and fame
For death may snap the human string,
When loudest throats acclaim,
Then, n'er let wealth, no fame nor pride
Your youthful heart trepan,
Let Christian honour be your guide
And prove yourself a MAN.

Subject: RE: Mudcat FAQ - Newcomer's Guide
From: RTim
Date: 22 Aug 16 - 11:30 AM

There is a whole Mudcat thread devoted to this song!!

Tim Radford

Subject: RE: Mudcat FAQ - Newcomer's Guide
From: RTim
Date: 22 Aug 16 - 11:34 AM

thread.cfm?threadid=83746

Subject: Lyr Req: You Are Come of Gentle Blood
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Aug 16 - 12:58 AM

transferred from the FAQ

Subject: RE: req:You Are Come of Gentle Blood/Lesson in Heroism
From: GUEST,Seán Reid
Date: 23 Aug 16 - 12:04 PM

I am so grateful to you for finding the words of this song for my wife. Her father had a wealth of lovely old songs, most of which went with him to his grave.
I made several attempts to find those lyrics using Mudcat and should have found them but it is likely that I'm not using the website properly.
Míle Buíochas (A thousand thanks)

Subject: RE: req:You Are Come of Gentle Blood/Lesson in Heroism
From: GUEST,Seán Reid
Date: 23 Aug 16 - 12:09 PM

Can you say if the air of "The Bantry Girl's Lament) as sung by Mary Black is correct for "LESSON IN HEROISM".

Seán

Subject: Lesson in Heroism
From: GUEST,Guest: Sean Reid
Date: 23 Aug 16 - 03:01 PM

Hi RTim,
You said there is an entire Mudcat Thread devoted to this song but I have failed to find it. Would you be so good as to post a link to that thread in a reply. The song title "Lesson in Heroism" is not listed in the songs index.
Thanking you,
Seán

Subject: RE: req:You Are Come of Gentle Blood/Lesson in Heroism
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 23 Aug 16 - 06:03 PM

There's absolutely no need to worry about getting extra mail if you join the Cat. It just doesn't work like that.

Welcome here.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE LESSON (Robert Dwyer Joyce)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 29 Aug 16 - 03:36 PM

The poem posted by Rain Dog above can be found in Ballads of Irish Chivalry by Robert Dwyer Joyce (Boston: Patrick Donahoe, 1872), page 273, where it has 3 additional verses. I can well understand someone not wanting to sing those verses, though.


THE LESSON.
TO MY SON.

1. Boy, you are come of gentle blood,
   Though now of poor degree, —
Where'er you go, may God the Good
   Smile on your destiny;
Whate'er your future, dark or bright,
   Through life's becheckered span,
In fortune's glow, or blackest night,
   Still prove yourself a MAN!

2. While toiling up life's mountain rude,
   O'er pathways insecure,
A kindly bond of brotherhood
   Should bind you to the poor;
Whome'er you see misfortune grip
   And wither 'neath her ban,
Go, grasp his hand in fellowship,
   And prove yourself a MAN!

3. Whate'er you sow in heedless youth,
   In manhood you will reap;
Then walk in virtue's path of truth,
   And God's commandments keep,
For virtue is the surest friend
   Since life and time began;
Then with her arms your soul defend,
   And prove yourself a MAN.

4. Whene'er you see some coward slave
   To foreign rule incline;
For foreign gold, the sordid knave,
   His native land malign;
From peasants born, or nobly sprung,
   Howe'er his life-stream ran,
Go, curb the dastard's villain tongue,
   And prove yourself a MAN!

5. His native land! Our native land!
   I hear the warning hum,
Along the plains, from strand to strand,
   Of dangerous days to come;
But soldier poor, or general high,
   To lead her battle's van,
On danger look with steady eye,
   And prove yourself a MAN!

6. For Ireland oft your fathers dreed
   Misfortune's doomful wrath,
But yet in Ireland's darkest need
   Still tread the patriot's path;
A day shall come, whose glorious wind
   Her victor flags will fan,
With Christian soul and patriot mind,
   Then prove yourself a MAN!

7. O! wealth it is a faithless thing,
   And false are pride and fame;
For death may snap the human string
   While loudest throats acclaim;
Then ne'er let wealth, or fame, or pride,
   Your youthful heart trepan, —
Let Christian honor be your guide,
   And prove yourself a MAN!

Subject: RE: req:You Are Come of Gentle Blood/Lesson in Heroism
From: Maoildeirg
Date: 09 Sep 16 - 07:58 AM

The first four verses only, complete with melody in tonic-sol-fa were published in 'The Irish Minstrel No. 1 - A Collection of Songs for Use in Irish Schools Selected and Arranged by P. Goodman'. Goodman states that the Petrie Collection is the source of the given melody. I agree with you that the additional three verses are best left out.