Lyr Req: Back Home in Derry (Bobby Sands)

Subject: Take me home to Derry
From: Gypsy
Date: 22 May 00 - 10:31 PM

This is the original set of lyrics to the tune that is now known as "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald" Similar idea, but instead, the man is on a prison ship bound for (i believe) Botany Bay. Heard Around the Hearth perform it, and really want to get the lyrics. Will email them if i must, but with their schedual....Any help would be greatly appreciated

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Take me home to Derry
From: Bugsy
Date: 22 May 00 - 10:38 PM

I think the song is called "I wish I was back home in Derry".

Recorded by Christie Moore.

Cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Take me home to Derry
From: Bugsy
Date: 22 May 00 - 10:44 PM

Yes, It's called Back Home In Derry, by Christy Moore from his 1984 album "Voyage".

Try the webpage below for mor info.

http://www.ceolas.org/artists/Christy_Moore/cdiscog.html#cm9

cheers

Bugsy

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Take me home to Derry
From: Pene Azul
Date: 23 May 00 - 12:57 AM

There are lyrics to a song called "I Wish I Was Back Home In Derry" in this message (click) contained in this thread (click).

PA

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Take me home to Derry
From: GUEST,Bex McK
Date: 23 May 00 - 01:48 PM

The lyrics to Back Home in Derry were actually written by the hunger striker Bobby Sands (and MP elect), from Derry in Northern Ireland. Christy Moore set it to Gordon Lightfoot's tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Take me home to Derry
From: Gypsy
Date: 23 May 00 - 08:30 PM

Thanks guys! I really appreciate the help in getting the lyrics for this wonderful song. Now if i may impose further, i was told that the tune was quite old, and predated Gordon Lightfoot. Is this so, or is it one of those sets of lyrics with a lost tune set to current music?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Take me home to Derry
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 23 May 00 - 09:12 PM

Probably not; Bobby Sands was born in 1954.  I have no idea, though, if he had a particular tune in mind when he wrote the words; could anyone help with that?

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Take me home to Derry
From:
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 06:02 PM

Not downgrading Gordon Lightfoot ,he is a great singer., However, I believe he took the tune or music from the tune "The Edmund Fitzerald
(Wreck of the Edmund Fitzerald) & matched it to Bobby Sands lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Take me home to Derry
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 06 Apr 03 - 08:49 PM

Another old thread resurrected from the dead for no apparent reason; probably it is the only one on the subject here that doesn't contain substantive information. For more up-to-date information, very easily found through the onsite search engine, see, among a great many other discussions:

Origins: Puzzle:Edmund Fitzgerald and Bobby Sands

...where it is explained quite clearly that Bobby Sands' poem was set to the tune of The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald, which Gordon Lightfoot wrote.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Take me home to Derry
From: GUEST,mick chick
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 06:22 PM

For a modern rendition you should check out the Jeff Greer Band's version, simply called "Derry." They changed it up for their 2001 CD and have since made it even better. Until their new CD comes out you can check out a decent video of it on their website, www.jeffgreerband.com.
They are a celtic alternative (celternative) band but this isn't too in your face if you are all trad!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Take me home to Derry
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 07 Apr 03 - 07:07 PM

"celternative" - what a label to stick on anybody!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Back Home in Derry (Bobby Sands)
From: GUEST,Fabian
Date: 19 Jul 22 - 04:25 PM

After reading all your great information and searching the web a lot, I‘m still not able to understand one line of the first verse:

In our rusty iron chains we ......... sighed/ cried...... for our.....

wanes/ wains/ weans?
wee‘ans (from „Voyage“ poem)??

Can anyone help and explain the meaning? I‘m not a native speaker and just can‘t figure it out....

Thanks!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Back Home in Derry (Bobby Sands)
From: The Sandman
Date: 19 Jul 22 - 04:40 PM

children?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Back Home in Derry (Bobby Sands)
From: mayomick
Date: 19 Jul 22 - 07:42 PM

wains are children . Fromm wee'uns?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Back Home in Derry (Bobby Sands)
From: Felipa
Date: 21 Jul 22 - 07:45 PM

agree about weans, and most people spell it wains (the way the word is pronounced); but I suspect the real origin can be seen in the way I spell the word, as in a weanling

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Back Home in Derry (Bobby Sands)
From: GUEST,Fabian
Date: 22 Jul 22 - 07:17 AM

Thank you very much! „Weans“ for small children makes perfect sense to me now.

But I‘m still not completely understanding the connection to the spelling of the word in the original poem by Bobby Sands... „wee‘ans“. (Btw, is this also pronounced „wains“, like „weans“?)
Are these the „wee ones“? Meaning the „tiny ones“ or even „those still wearing diapers“?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Back Home in Derry (Bobby Sands)
From: Felipa
Date: 23 Jul 22 - 07:58 PM

it's the same word, Fabian. Most people who use this word think it is short for wee'uns (wee ones, small ones) but I think it is probably an expression that has been around a long time and actually comes from the word "wean". It is used in Scotland as well. In northern (northeastern esp) Scotland a different word is used, "bairn", which is of Scandinavian origin.

People don't say "diapers" in Ireland or in Britain ; it's "nappies"! And weans, wains, wee' uns is used for toddlers and even school age children.