Origins: Orange Maid of Sligo

Subject: Origins: Orange Maid of Sligo
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Jul 22 - 04:55 PM

http://orangesongbook.blogspot.com/2011/05/orange-maid-of-sligo.html

Orange Maid Of Sligo (V)

On Ben Bulben's high and lofty heights
When evening sun was setting bright
It cast a shower of golden light
Across the Bay of Sligo

A tiny craft with glancing oars
And flowing sails, the wind before
It drove the tiny craft ashore
To this, the Bay of Sligo

And at the bow there sat a girl
With rosey cheeks and flaxen curls
Her tender beauty was like a pearl
The Orange maid of Sligo

And glancing o'er the vessel's side
She saw upon the water's glide
An orange lily's golden pride
Upon the Bay of Sligo

Make haste, make haste and save that flower
I prize it more than any other
No traitor must have it in his power
Around the Bay of Sligo"

An Orange youth then with a bow,
Did pluck that flower and with a vow
Bestowed it on the gentle brow
Of the orange maid of Sligo

She soon became his bonny bride
And oft he thought at evening tide
About that lily's golden pride
Upon the Bay of Sligo

So come all true blues and fill your glass
No finer toast could ever pass
So here's unto that bonny lass
The Orange Maid of Sligo

---

Traditional Ballad Index entry:

Orange Maid of Sligo, The

DESCRIPTION: A tiny boat is driven by wind onto the shore of the Bay of Sligo. "At the bow there sat a girl... the 'Orange Maid of Sligo.'" An Orange youth sees an orange lily on the water and gives it to her. They marry.
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1970 (Morton-FolksongsSungInUlster)
KEYWORDS: marriage sea ship shore flowers Ireland patriotic
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (2 citations):
Morton-FolksongsSungInUlster 34, "The Orange Maid of Sligo" (1 text, 1 tune)
DT, ORGSLIG*
Roud #2910
NOTES [67 words]: The "aisling" is common on the Green side of the Irish conflict. Here the Orange Maid stands for Orange Ireland and the Orange Lily is its symbol. See the discussion of "aisling" in the notes to "Eileen McMahon." "The Orange Lily was a symbol of the Royal House of Orange, official or not, but clearly adopted as such in Ireland." (source: John Moulden; for the full note see "The Orange Lily-o"). - BS
File: MorU034

---

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Houl Yer Whisht Folk Group: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kJOa5KIt_uo

Version by "The Bards": https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6aWJI-Eo_cw

Richard Hayward & the Loyal Sons of William: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=a95chdyQRQQ

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Orange Maid of Sligo
From: Felipa
Date: 11 Jul 22 - 06:43 PM

https://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=4525

---

ORANGE MAID OF SLIGO (DT Lyrics)

On Ben Bulben's green and lofty height
The evening sun was a setting bright
It gave a ray of a golden light
Around the Bay of Sligo

A tiny craft with glancing oars
And spreading sails, the wind before
It blew the tiny craft ashore
To this, the Bay of Sligo

And at the bow there sat a girl
With lovely cheeks and flaxen curl
Her tender beauty was like a pearl
T'was the Orange maid of Sligo

And glancing o'er the vessel's side
She saw upon the water's glide
An orange lily's golden pride
Upon the Bay of Sligo

"Make haste, make haste and save that flower
I prize it more than any other
No traitor shall have it within his power
Around the Bay of Sligo"

An Orange youth then made a vow,
Brought back that flower and with a bow
Bestowed it on the lovely brow
Of the orange maid of Sligo

She soon became his lovely bride
And oft they thought at even tide
Upon that lily's golden pride
Around the Bay of Sligo

Come all true blues and fill your glass
A better toast will never pass
We'll drink unto that lovely lass
The Orange Maid of Sligo

Air is very close to "Avondale". A real rarity!
@Irish @Protestant
filename[ ORGSLIG
TUNE FILE: ORGSLIG
CLICK TO PLAY
MR
apr97

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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Orange Maid of Sligo
From: Joe Offer
Date: 12 Jul 22 - 11:38 AM

Thread #111957   Message #4113093
Posted By: Joe Offer
12-Jul-21 - 04:18 PM
Thread Name: Orange Songs
Subject: ADD Version: Orange Maid of Sligo

As Sung by Jerry O'Neill

Orange Maid of Sligo

On Ben Bulben's high and lofty heights
The evening sun was setting bright
That spread a ray of golden light
Along the Bay of Sligo.

A bonny craft with glancing oars
And swelling sails, was seen before
The waves that bound its verdant shore
Along the bay of Sligo.

And at the prow there sat a girl
With rosy cheek and flaxen curl
and beauty tender like a pearl
The Orange maid of Sligo.

And glancing o'er the vessel's side
She spied upon the water's glide
An orange lily's golden pride
Along the Bay of Sligo.

Oh haste, oh haste and save that flower
I prize it more than rose or bower
No other hand shall have its power
Along the Bay of Sligo.

An Orange youth bent o’er the prow,
He picked the flower and with a bow
Bestowed it on her gentle brow
The orange maid of Sligo.

And soon she was his bonny bride
And oft he thought at with joy and pride
upon that golden even’s tide
Along the Bay of Sligo.

So come all true blues and fill your glass
No finer toast could ever pass
So here's unto that bonny lass
The Orange Maid of Sligo.


Version in the Digital Tradition: https://mudcat.org/@displaysong.cfm?SongID=4525

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Orange Maid of Sligo
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jul 22 - 11:41 AM

When I saw the title of the thread I thought it was about a young one in fake tan.

Subject: RE: Origins: Orange Maid of Sligo
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 14 Jul 22 - 10:19 AM

- The original Digital Tradition posting (MR) is mine, prompted, I think, by hearing Brian Mullin of Derry sing it many years ago.
- The tune is that used by Dominic Behan for "Avondale".
To my generation, an "Orange Maid" was a type of ice lolly!

Regards

MR

Subject: RE: Origins: Orange Maid of Sligo
From: GUEST,Mandy sleightholme
Date: 08 Sep 23 - 12:11 AM

This song is so beautiful .its one of my favorites

Subject: RE: Origins: Orange Maid of Sligo
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 12 Sep 23 - 08:26 AM

It was in print in a Belfast printed book of 1907 - A collection of Orange and Protestant songs / compiled and arranged by William Peake