Lyr Req: Arkle (Dominic Behan)

Subject: irish song - arkle
From: GUEST,Guest - Anna
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 12:59 PM

A friend of mine gave me a cd with a lot of Irish songs. There is one I had never heard before and that I like a lot. Its title il Arkle and it's abuot a horse. Unfortunately I don't know english so well as to understand the meaning of the song. Is there somebody who can write me the words of the song? Thanks Anna

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: irish song - arkle
From: Áine
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 01:52 PM

Dear Anna,

I couldn't find the words to the song, but I did find some information about the horse, Arkle. "Arkle was more than just one of the greatest steeplechasers that Ireland ever produced; he was also a symbol of the confidence which swept this country in the boom years of the 1960's, particularly when he won three Gold Cups from 1964-1966." Arkle was put down in May of 1970.

I hope someone can find the words to the song. Do you know the name of CD or the name of the group that recorded the song? That information might help the search.

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: irish song - arkle
From: John Moulden
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 06:49 PM

The song was written by Dominic Behan to a traditional tune called, in Scotland, "Musselburgh Fair" - the words are in Behan's "Ireland Sings"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: irish song - arkle
From: Áine
Date: 08 Feb 00 - 07:23 PM

Thank you, John!

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: irish song - arkle
From: John Moulden
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 06:02 AM

I should have said that Behan called the song "Mighty Millhouse" because that was the name of a greatly praised English horse which Arkle kept beating.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: irish song - arkle
From: GUEST,Anna
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 09:26 AM

Thank you Aine and John even if I'm afraid I couldn't find Behan's "Ireland Sings" here in Italy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: irish song - arkle
From: Áine
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 09:33 AM

John,

Do you know if there's a site on the internet from which Anna could order Behan's book?

Anna,

I think your English is excellent!

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: irish song - arkle
From: John Moulden
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 01:01 PM

If you post what you can - I'll correct it - the print is too poor to scan and I haven't time to do the whole thing.

Subject: ADD: Arkle (Dominic Behan)
From: Jon Freeman
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 01:34 PM

I'm feeling geneous today so I have typed it from Ireland sings.

Jon

---

Arkle (Mighty Millhouse)
(words and music by Dominic Behan)

It happened in the spring-time of the year of sixty four,
When Englishmen were making pounds and fivers by the score
He beat them in the hollow and he beat them on the bumps
A pair of fancy fetlocks he showed them o'er the jumps.

He's English! He's English! As English as you've seen
A little bit of Arab stock and more from Stephen's Green
Take a look at Mill House and throw out your chest with pride
He's the greatest steeplechaser on the English countryside.

Then a quiet man called Dreaper livin' in the Emerald Isle
Said "That horse of yours called Mill House surely shows a bit of style,
"But I've a little fella and Arkle is his name,
"Put your money where you put your mouth and then we'll play the game."

Well the English racing gentleman laughed till fit to burst,
"You tried before Tom Dreaper and then you came off worst,
"If you think your horse could beat us you're runnin' short on brains
"It's Mill House that you want to fight and not those beastly Danes."

"Arkle now is five to two Mill House is money on,
"They're off! and dear believe I do the Champion has it won,
"There are other horses in this race to test the great chap's might
"But deary me it's plain to see the rest are out of sight."

"There are three more fences now to go he leads by twenty lengths
"Brave Arkle's putting in a show, poor chap he's all but spent
"Mill House sweeps on majestically great glory in each stride
"He's the greatest horse undoubledy within the whole word wide.

"Two to go still Arkle comes he's cutting down the lead,
"But he's beaten bar the shouting for he hasn't got the speed,
"They're up on one up to the last my God can he hold out,
"Look behind you Willie Robinson man what are you about?

"They're at the last and over Pat Taffe has more in hand,
"He's passing England's Mill House the finest in the land,
"My God he has us beaten! What can the English say?
"The ground was wrong? The distance long? Too early early in the day?"

---

Behan's note: Second battle of any significance the Irish won on English soil.

Source: Ireland Sings, Dominic Behan, 1973.
-Joe Offer, 29 Sept 2004-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: irish song - arkle
From: Áine
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 02:09 PM

Bless you, Jon!!

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: irish song - arkle
From: GUEST,Anna
Date: 09 Feb 00 - 02:37 PM

Thank you for your offer John. I spent three hours listening to the songs and trying to write the words. Than I discovered than Jon had already done the whole work for me. So thank you too, Jon. (And Aine of course) May I make you a question? Are you Irish or only fond of Irish music? I really like Irish music, jigs and reels of course, but all the traditional songs too. I've been studying the lirics of Irish songs for eight years (it's one of my hobby) and I think they are really interesting, and a lot are funny too. Bye Anna

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: irish song - arkle
From: GUEST,Lol Donnigan
Date: 28 Sep 04 - 12:26 PM

I wrote this song in Bradford in 1974. I am going to sue you, Jon Freeman, for breach of copyright.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: irish song - arkle
From: Joe Offer
Date: 11 Jan 06 - 02:05 AM

I was intrigued by this song when I first saw it posted, but seeing it isn't the same as hearing it. This is the first song on Seamus Kennedy's new CD, Party Pieces. As usual, Seamus does a great job of it.
Thanks, Seamus!
-Joe Offer-

Don't be taken aback by the photo of Seamus on his Website, http://www.seamus-kennedy.com/. He doesn't wear a tux often...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: irish song - arkle
From: GUEST,karen
Date: 03 Mar 07 - 07:18 PM

hi Anna I have been searching for this song for ages was one of my dads favourites and he died 9 years ago would very much appreciate if u could send me this song pls thanks xx

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: irish song - arkle
From: Effsee
Date: 03 Mar 07 - 08:39 PM

Eh?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arkle (Dominic Behan)
From: GUEST,derry mcevoy
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 02:07 PM

domonic recorded this song himself does anyone have it

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arkle (Dominic Behan)
From: Snuffy
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 03:08 PM

Behan's note: Second battle of any significance the Irish won on English soil.

Behan's work owes something to the example of the 19th century Master McGrath. At the start of the Dubliners' recording (which pre-dates Behan's song) , Ronnie Drew says "this is a song about probably the only victory we've ever had on English soil"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arkle (Dominic Behan)
From: GUEST,Jim McLean
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 05:41 PM

Snuffy,
Dominic wrote Arkle pre 1965 when it was published. This was before the Dubliners recorded Master McGrath.
His comment on Master McGrath which is also in Ireland Sings is 'The first battle of any importance the Irish won on English soil' hence his comment on Arkle.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arkle (Dominic Behan)
From: Snuffy
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 07:53 PM

You're right of course, Jim. I was taking Joe Offer's 1973 date of "Ireland Sings" as the date of composition.

So Ronnie got the "first battle" line from Dom, not the other way round.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arkle (Dominic Behan)
From: GUEST,Jim McLean
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 04:26 AM

I would think so Snuffy, but one can't be sure. I am only going by the dates. It was Dominic who introduced the Dubliners to Major Minor in 1966 so there was obviously a lot of 'cross pollination' before and during that peroid.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arkle (Dominic Behan)
From: stallion
Date: 12 Nov 07 - 04:30 AM

Arkle, probably the greatest steeplechase racehorse that ever lived, completely wrecked the handicap for any race he was in, he was top weight (approx 12st 10lb) and the others rock bottom (10st 4lb), named after a mountain in Scotland, as was another two year old in the same stable, Foinaven, it was thought as two year olds that Foinaven would be better than Arkle, both became legendary, Arkle for his prowess on the course and Foinaven for surviving the carnage at 23rd fence in the "National" and going on to win it with jockey Johnny Buckingham

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arkle (Dominic Behan)
From: GUEST,Derek wasson
Date: 30 Jun 12 - 05:56 PM

Forty odd years ago I heard that song on a scratchy tape recorder I can remember some of the lyrics , at last I know them alll I go to my grave a happy man.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Arkle (Dominic Behan)
From: GUEST
Date: 01 Jul 12 - 12:17 PM

Seamus Kennedy does a great job of this song on his CD "Party Pieces". I believe it was his party piece when he was younger.