Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: leeneia
Date: 27 Oct 19 - 08:57 AM

Thanks for the MIDI. I have put this beautiful tune in my notebook of music for traveling.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Oct 19 - 02:59 AM

Cúilmúir? Cúil Mór sounds more likely. I't's a great corner of the world.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Oct 19 - 08:04 PM

Hi I went to Cúilmúir - its a suburb of Derry City - to a pub there and there was not statue and noone in the bar even the locals had heard of the song !!! to my utter amazement. Anyway, I wrote a 5th verse for it - the reason being that the song is incomplete as it stands. The lyrics are really about a lost school friend of mine Helen just after I found out she had died of a young age. She certainly looked like the maid would look with auburn hair and a very Irish look like a princess. I wrote it with a sore heart. The lyrics follow the same poetic pattern as the rest of the song and the alliteration. It means the maid is returning to Erin after her voyage of emigration but she isnt really only her spirit is. And the boy besotted with her will finally join her but not in this life. This all fails if the Maid is really a ship as I read somewhere lol !!! Anyway with Irish music it can have deep and meaningful messages or no message at all and just be about the 'craic'. Anyway here it goes verse 5 of the 'Maid of Cúil Múir'.

Now the maid lies-a-waitin
And the light starts to fade
For she's bound home to Erin
To the land our Lord made
But the next time that I'll see her
I'll grieve never more
For she'll e'r be my true love
She's the Maid of Cúil Múir





'

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,Rigby
Date: 27 Feb 19 - 12:26 PM

Thanks -- I had no idea it was a real thing, I'd always assumed it was a corruption of some other word.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 19 - 03:23 AM

Hi apparently its bells rung on a festive occasion like best example would be at Christmas time - from https://www.wordnik.com/words/joy-bells#define

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,Rigby
Date: 22 Feb 19 - 07:15 AM

I've always wondered what a joybell is, any ideas?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,Guest Wellington NZ
Date: 22 Feb 19 - 06:42 AM

Hi has anyone noticed Cara Dillon's version refers to Derry while the Bothy Band refers to Londonderry. Cara is a Roman Catholic. Is that the reason ? Very interested on replies on this.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,jim mac farland guest
Date: 21 Jan 19 - 06:52 AM

The Maid of CULMORE
John Moulden and myself in a pub in Clonmany during the Inishowen singing festival recorded this version (unknown singer)

From the Diamond of Derry to sweet Movile town
theres no better harbour on earth can be found
where the childern etc etc

Corney Mcdaid sang this version
From sweet Londonderry, to the fair London Town
There is no harbour,on earth can be found
Where the children each evenin’, go by the sea shore
and the joy etc etc

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,Reinhard
Date: 21 Jan 19 - 04:41 AM

Thanks Udo, but the Bothy Band's lyrics were already posted above in July 2004.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,Steve in Wellington New Zealand
Date: 21 Jan 19 - 04:39 AM

Hi again - I'm the last guest. I thought I would just post the lyrics of the Bothy Band version. I'm really interested in the slight variations but the meaning never changes. My next task is to find out who wrote this song. Listening to Carla Dillon's version in a moment. Interestingly she has:

1. From sweet lovely Derry to fair London town .....

whereas the Bothy version has as below. Londonderry is what protestants call Derry; and Derry is what catholics call Londonderry ! Very interesting; I'm actually from Liverpool UK and the city is 1/2 of Irish descent with 1/2 protestant and 1/2 catholic. Anyway enough of my aside and here are the lyrics:

1. From sweet Londonderry, to the fair London Town
There is no other nicer harbour, anywhere to be found
Where the children each evenin’, is a-playin’ around the shore
And the joybells are ringin’, for the maid of Cúil Mór.

2. The first time that I met her, she passed me by
The next time that I met her, she bade me goodbye
But the last time that I met her, she grieved my heart sore.
For she sailed down Lough Foyle, and away from Cúil Mór.

3. If I had the power, the storm to rise
I would blow the wind higher, for to darken the skies
I would blow the wind higher, to make the salt seas to roar
On the day that my love sailed, away from Cúil Mór.

4. To the north of America, my love I'll search for
For there I know no one, nor no one knows me
But should I not find her, I'll return home no more
But like a pilgrim I will wander, for the maid of Cúil Mór.

5. [2 repeats]?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jan 19 - 04:27 AM

Hi everyone if this thread is still going Ive put the lyrics on youtube. I actually prefer Carla Dillon's version but the Bothy Band version is growing on me ! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySnJyHjbca4. See under my comment - currently the top one. I'm surprised little is known of this haunting song but I really like it and I am definitely going to Cúil Mór when I finally for the first time in my life get to Northern Ireland. I've been to the Republic 3 times but have two failed EasyJet flights to the north - don't ask ! I'm now in Wellington NZ just about as far on Earth you can get from Cúil Mór but planning my next trip to Europe. I was in a Celtic band playing bass but this song was never even mentioned. Cheers to all and happy 2019.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: ScotsIrishLass
Date: 05 Nov 12 - 11:49 AM

I sang this with Norah Rendell at Celtic College in Goderich, Ont. a couple of years ago. Slight difference in lyrics:

If I had the power the storms for to rise,
I would blow the winds higher to darken the skies;
I would blow the winds higher to make salt seas roar
for the day that my darling sailed away from Culmore.

lovely melody- very like A Health to the Company

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 12 Mar 12 - 10:56 AM

Thanks for the MIDI and the lyrics.

This is a good tune for the flute or whistle in D.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,Joe Layde
Date: 11 Mar 12 - 11:17 PM

On further close listening, I think that the last line of the chorus in the Bothy Band's version is indeed:

For she sailed down Lough Foyle and away from Coolmore.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 11 Sep 10 - 08:46 PM

What's not right about the first verse? seems sorted to me :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Sep 10 - 08:49 PM

from sweat londonderry to the fair london town
there's no other nicer harbour anywhere to be found
where the children each evening is a-playing round the shore
and the joybells are ringing for the maid of coolmore

the first time that i met her she passed me by
the next time that i met her she bade me goodbye
but the last time that i met her she grieved my heart so
for she sailed down loch foyle and away from coolmore

if i had the power the storm to rise
i would blow the wind higher for to darken the sky
i would blow the wind again to make the salt sea roar
on the day that my love set sail away from coolmore

to the land of americay my love i set for
for the day i land that i know no one knows me
for if i should not find her i'll return no more
but like a pilgrim i will wonder for the maid of coolmore

this song has haunted me for 26 years, as has most of the things that the bothy band did,,,, but that is what life is really all about
the first verse is not right but we're getting there, a few wee drams and we'll crack it. love to you all and fuck polliticians nick

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,Triona Ni Domnaill
Date: 25 Aug 05 - 04:01 AM

There is no finer harbour anywhere to be found

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,Jim McGrath
Date: 24 Aug 05 - 07:06 AM

Rather than

From sweet Londonderry to the fair London town,
There is not a nicer harbor, anywhere to be found,

could it be that Triona Ni Dhomhnaill sang

From sweet Londonderry to the fair London town,
There is not the likes of her there, anywhere to be found

It's what my ears hear at any rate and seems to make more sense than a lyric worthy of a clerk of works!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Aug 05 - 08:23 AM

hallo tobi wie geht es dir

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,Ryan Moore
Date: 28 Apr 05 - 01:00 PM

Does anyone have the chords to the song? That would be awesome if someone could assemble a chord sheet (chords over the words).

Also, there is an awesome version of the song on Tommy O'Sullivan's "Legacy" album.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAID OF COOLMORE (from Bothy Band)
From:
Date: 03 Jul 04 - 12:21 AM

After years of listening to Triona's singing and comparing versions of the song, I think these are the lyrics to the Bothy Band's version of the song:


THE MAID OF COOLMORE


From sweet Londonderry to the fair London town,
There is not a nicer harbor, anywhere to be found,
Where the children each evenin' is a-playin' 'round the shore,
And the joy bells are ringin' for the Maid of Coolmore.

The first time that I met her, she passed me by,
The next time that I met her, she bade me goodbye,
But the last time that I met her, she grieved my heart sore,
For she sailed down Lough Foyle away from Coolmore.

If I had the power the storm to rise,
I would blow the wind higher, for to darken the skies.
I would blow the wind higher, to make the salt seas to roar
On the day that my love sailed away from Coolmore.

To the north of Amerikay, my love I'll sail for,
For there I know no one, for no one knows me.
But should I not find her, I'll return home no more,
But like a pilgrim I will wander for the Maid of Coolmore.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: ard mhacha
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 08:31 AM

Strange you should say that Guest, I remember a very drunk man getting up to sing The Charladies Ball, and somehow The Charladies Bollocks didn`t sound right. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: Declan
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 05:28 AM

They don't matter at all, and there's never a 'right' and 'wrong' in any of this - just different versions. I just find it a bit irritating when someone sings the non-rhyming words when there's an easy rhyme available. But each to his/her own.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Nov 02 - 05:24 AM

why do these tiny differences in wording matter?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: ard mhacha
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 01:35 PM

Declan, In Cara Dillon`s CD she has "my love i`ll go and see" and "no- one knows me".
If only Cara would lay off with the background music making her words very hard to understand, I took the above from the notes on the CD. Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: Declan
Date: 12 Nov 02 - 07:19 AM

I'm delighted to see that everyone is posting "My love I'll go see" in the last verse. There are a number of recordings around that use "My love I'll search for" which obviously doesn't rhyme with "no-one knows me". I know songs don't always have to rhyme (or the rhymes can be internal), but why use words that don't when there's a set that does. Or is it because "search for" rhymes (more or less) with Coolmore ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: alison
Date: 10 Nov 02 - 02:50 AM

that's it Joe, thanks.... just needs to be a tadge slower... otherwise perfect

thanks agin

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: sharyn
Date: 07 Nov 02 - 01:59 PM

Listen to your records again, folks. The version Joe posted above is nearly identical to what Triona sings, except she sings "children" instead of "childer" and "it grieved my heart sore" in the second verse. I was going to post her verses, but Joe has saved me the trouble. Also, she repeats the "first time I met her" verse at the end after "To the far lands of America..."

Subject: Lyr ADd: THE MAID OF CULMORE (from Sam Henry)^^
From: Joe Offer
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 08:09 PM

Here's a slightly different version from Sam Henry's Songs of the People. Yes, Alison, I have obediently posted a MIDI. Is is the same tune the Bothy Band uses?
-Joe Offer-

THE MAID OF CULMORE

From sweet Londonderry to fair London town,
There is no better harbour all round to be found,
Where the childer each evening go down to the shore
And join in the dance with the maids of Culmore,

The first time I saw her, my love passed me by,
The next time I saw her, she'd a tear in her eye,
The third time I saw her, her heart grieved full sore;
She sailed down Lough Foyle and away from Culmore.

If I had the power the storms for to rise,
I'd blow higher and higher and darken the skies,
I'd blow higher and higher and the seas cause to roar
For the day that my love sailed away from Culmore.

To the far lands of America my love I'll go see,
It's there I know no one and no one knows me;
If I do not find her, I'll return home no more,
Like a pilgrim I'll wander for the maid of Culmore.^^

The Sam Henry book noted that another version was "Maid of Coolmore."

---

Click to play

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: alison
Date: 05 Nov 02 - 07:06 PM

has anyone got the tune / midi / mp3 of this one?

thanks

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: toadfrog
Date: 05 Jun 01 - 10:32 PM

Hi Zhenya! I have, "To the North of America," without the "y"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: Zhenya
Date: 05 Jun 01 - 02:20 PM

This is a great thread! I thought I had this song puzzled out and I'm still finding things here. '

I do have a slightly different line in the last verse. Instead of "to the back parts of Amerikay", how about "to the North of Amerikay"? (This is the "old Hag" version.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: Maryrrf
Date: 04 Jun 01 - 02:49 PM

There is a good rendition of this song by a friend of mine at this site: http://www.chivalry.com. Click on the "Cantaria" section and do a search for "Maids of Culmore". Glad the lyrics surfaced here - I'd had that song on my list to work on!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: toadfrog
Date: 04 Jun 01 - 02:29 PM

I found my tape of Belle Stewart singing this. Aside from the fact she sings "Kilmore," (apparently a mispronunciation of Culmore or else a town in Australia) and in the last verse, "America" instead of "Americay" and "eagle" instead of "pilgrim," her version is v. similar to this one.

As none of these is marked with golden arches, I nominate this song for a place in the DT.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,Angun
Date: 28 Mar 00 - 09:59 AM

Thanks a lot Annraoi! I was wondering what the real names was! Thanks

Angun

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,Annraoi
Date: 27 Mar 00 - 07:54 PM

Angun, Two points,

1. The place is "an Cúl Mór" anglicised as "Coolmore", a good approximation to the pronunciation.

2. There is no such place as "Lough Foylen" it is properly "Lough Foyle" at whose head stands Derry City just outside of which is Coolmore.

Annraoi

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,Annraoi
Date: 26 Mar 00 - 08:30 PM

What's a masked guest ? Annraoi

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: p.j.
Date: 26 Mar 00 - 01:45 PM

Wow! That was great! Who was that masked guest? Thank you GUESTarchivist. Is this your silver bullet?

pj

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,archivist
Date: 26 Mar 00 - 01:36 PM

previous thread

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: p.j.
Date: 26 Mar 00 - 01:01 PM

Angun,

Thank you so much for these clear words! I had 2 versions where people had guessed from the "Old Hag" CD and neither made any sense. These clearly are the correct words. What a relief!

The third version was supplied by someone who had posted to an Irish language website, he referred me to a URL which has words that don't bear much resemblance to the Bothy Band version, and they're not as pretty as these. If you're interested, the URL is www.people.fas.harvard.edu/~ndrose/texts Yours definitely are the words for me. Thanks again!

pj

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAID OF COOLMORE
From: GUEST,Angun
Date: 26 Mar 00 - 06:02 AM

This is the version I´ve got:

From sweet Londonderry, to fair London town
There is no finer harbour, anywhere to be found
Where the children each evening go down to the shore
And the joybells are ringing for the maid of Coolmore

The first time I saw her she passed me by
And the next time that I saw her she bid me goodbye
The last time that I saw her she grieved my heart sore.
For she sailed down Loch Foylen and away from Coolmore

If I had the power the storms for to rise
I would make the wind blow high and darken the skies
I would make the wind blow high and the salt seas to roar.
To the day that my darling sailed away from Coolmore

To the back parts of Americay my love I´ll go see
And it´s there I know no-one and no-one knows me,
And If I don´t find her I´ll return home no more
Like a pilgrim I wander for the maid of Coolmore

I don´t remember where I found the words, but I think this is the version that Triona Ni Dhomhnaill sings with The Bothy Band.

So, what versions have you got pj?

All the best,
Angun

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Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: p.j.
Date: 25 Mar 00 - 06:19 PM

I can't believe how often I'm working on something, take a break from it, and come to find it's being discussed on the 'Cat at the moment! This place is amazing.

I'm working on Maid of Coolmore today. In the last 2 days I've found 3 versions of the words, and none of them were complete! Thanks for another version of the 4th verse, gang. What do your sources say about the first 3?

By the way, is it Coolmore or Culmore?

pj

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,Angun
Date: 25 Mar 00 - 04:36 PM

The last line might be : "Like a pilgrim I wander for the maid of Coolmore"

Angun

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Maid of Coolmore
From: GUEST,Annraoi
Date: 25 Mar 00 - 04:31 PM

It goes something like this. I got it from Kevin Mitchell years ago and my memory might play tricks. But then, that's traditional !

To the back parts of Amerikay, my love I'll go seek;
For it's there I know no-one and no-one knows me.
And if I don't find her I'll return home no more,
Like a poor lonesome wanderer far away from Culmore.

I have my doubts about the "lonesome".

Annraoi

Subject: The Maid of Coolmore
From:
Date: 25 Mar 00 - 01:04 PM

Greetings, I am missing the last verse of the Bothy Band song The Maid of Coolmore. Does anyone have it? Please email us/me and I would appreciate it very much. Valerie Cardill Suzanne Michell