Lyr Req: The Honest Irish Lad

Subject: I need the words/music to
From: Kelly Jo Peebles
Date: 20 Jun 97 - 12:50 PM

Dear Sir or Madam: I am looking for the words to an Irish song my Dad wants us to learn before he passes on, he has brain cancer and can't remember all the words.

It goes like this: I am an honest Irish lad and for the work I'm not afraid, but I'll do anythink I'll sing or dance if you only name the day to give an honest Irish lad a chance. Etc...

Can you help me, their anniversary is the end of this month and we thought we would surprise them with this song.

Thank you for your time and consideration.

Kelly Jo Peebles PO Box 234 Dupuyer, MT 59432

[e-mail]

Subject: RE: I need the words/music to
From: Alice
Date: 08 Jul 97 - 11:33 PM

Kelly Jo, I thought I recognized this, but can't find it in my library or in a short search for it. Hope you find it for your dad. Can anyone else out there help?

Alice, Montana

Subject: RE: I need the words/music to
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 09 Jul 97 - 04:08 PM

It sounds like a variation on the Irish Labourer or No Irish Need Apply. Try the database for @Irish @work

Subject: Lyr Add: THE HONEST IRISH LAD (from Wright)
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 04:56 AM

Kelley
This looks like the one you were looking for. Sorry about the delay.

THE HONEST IRISH LAD

My name is Tim McNair; I'm from the County Clare
In that lovely little isle across the sea
Where the mountains and the hills and the lakes and rippling rills
Are making sweetest music all the day
Our little farm was small and could not support us all
So one of us was forced away from home
So I kissed them all goodbye and with a teardrop in my eye
And I sailed from Castle Garden all alone

Chorus
I'm an honest Irish lad and of work I'm not afraid
And for your pleasure I can sing or dance
I'll do anything you say if you'll only name the day
That you'll give this honest Irish lad a chance

When I landed in New York I tried hard to find work
I travelled through the streets from day to day
I went from place to place with starvation in my face
And everywhere they have no work they say
But still I travelled on, hoping to find one
That would give a lad a chance to earn his bread
But still it's all the same for I know I'm not to blame
But oft-times sure I wish that I was dead

Chorus

Yet I know I've got one friend who a helping hand will lend
To a poor boy, so to help them out at home
I'll bring my mother here and my little sister dear
And never more again from them I'll roam
I'll try to do what's right, I'll work both day and night
I'll try to do the very best I can
And God will bless the heart that will take a poor boy's part
And make an honest Irish lad a man

Chorus

Taken from "Irish Emigrant Ballads" by Wright - who gives a Canadian and a Belfast source. I've seen a slightly different version in "Harding's Dublin Songster" (c. 1850).

Get back to me if there's any problem with this set.

Regards - and good luck

Regards

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 17-May-02.

Subject: RE: Thank you to all who helped me find the music!
From: Kelly Jo Peebles
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 12:25 PM

I want to thank all of you wonderful people, who helped me find the music to "Honest Irish Lad".

I can't tell you how much this means to me and my family, we plan to sing it to Dad shortly.

God Bless you all...

Subject: Thank you!
From:
Date: 29 Jul 97 - 12:27 PM

Thank you all so much for helping me find the music to "Honest Irish Lad"!

It means so much to my family!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you...God Bless you all!