Lyr Req: Stewball and the Monaghan Grey Mare

Subject: Monaghen Grey Mare - Boys of the lough
From: Catrin
Date: 08 Jul 00 - 07:03 PM

I am a newbie to Mudcat but have been searching and searching for these lyrics. A friend has asked if I can find them. I found all sorts of other boys of the lough songs, but absolutely nothing on The Monaghen Grey Mare (I think that's how its spelt!) It would be cool to turn up at the folk club next week with lyrics in tow. Can anyone help? Please?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moaghen Grey Mare - Boys of the loug
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 09 Jul 00 - 02:56 AM

What your looking for might be the songs also known as Plains of Kildare and Skewball. You'll find Skewball in the digitrad lyrics. Malcolm Douglas, a Mudcatter, is very knowledgeable about British Isles songs, so hopefully he'll see this thread. If anyone on the 'cat knows, he would. Monaghan, by the way, is the spelling. Good luck.

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moaghen Grey Mare - Boys of the loug
From: Catrin
Date: 09 Jul 00 - 08:12 AM

Thank you chantyranger - I'll give it a try, Catrin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moaghen Grey Mare - Boys of the loug
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 09 Jul 00 - 12:52 PM

I've been puzzling over this one; couldn't find it associated with the Boys of the Lough at all.  Turns out it's on a Patrick Street album, where they call it Stewball and The Monaghan Grey Mare.  You can hear the whole album in Real Audio at Green Linnet's site; I'm listening to it at the moment.  Live From Patrick Street.  The text of this version, as sung by Andy Irvine, is in an old thread, along with another version, here:  Plains of Kildare.

Thankyou for those kind words, Chanteyranger; I'm not really that knowledgeable, though -just have a brain like a junk shop, and love looking things up...

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moaghen Grey Mare - Boys of the loug
From: Catrin
Date: 09 Jul 00 - 03:32 PM

Thanks malcolm

I'm having problems getting my pc to play it to me but i am persevering - trying to download stuff and congigure things etc. etc. i'll keep you posted Catrin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moaghen Grey Mare - Boys of the loug
From: Peter Kasin
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 04:56 AM

Malcolm, since I've been a mudcatter, about five months now, I've noticed often when lyrics and sources of these songs are needed, you've pointed us in the right direction, to the proper links. That's knowledge not to be underestimated.

Best,

-chanteyranger

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moaghen Grey Mare - Boys of the loug
From: Catrin
Date: 10 Jul 00 - 05:39 AM

Yes, Malcolm

This is really useful - if if I can't get my damned pc to play it to me, I can pass the info on to my friend about which LP its on etc. The folk club's tonight so I'm printing out this thread to take.

Your help is very much appreciated

Catrin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moaghen Grey Mare - Boys of the loug
From: john c
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 01:55 AM

The song you´re looking for goes under the name of Jackson and Jane and is on the very first Boys o.t.L. album - the one with Dick Gaughan. Unfortunatly, it was on the old Trailer label, so, due to reasons well covered in other threads on the `cat, there is bugger-all chance of it being available on cd for quite a time to come. All the worse as I lent my copy of the record to somebody a few years ago, and she left it on the back seat of her car and it came back looking like a fruitbowl and was totally unplayable :-( I just kept the cover for old times sake. Wouldnt mind getting hold of the words to this either.
All the best
J.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moaghen Grey Mare - Boys of the loug
From: Catrin
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 04:23 AM

Ah John, what a shame!

I took the lyrics that Malcolm directed me to to the folk club last night. My friend Joe (who didn't have his reading glasses) couldn't comment on whether it was the version he meant but swore blind it was Boys of The Lough. Anyway, this is so exciting - I keep printing out this thread just to show how amazing mudcat is - and then somebody adds another message!! Thank you everybody Catrin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moaghen Grey Mare - Boys of the loug
From: John Moulden
Date: 11 Jul 00 - 02:49 PM

This is Jackson and Jane as collected by Robin Morton from Eddie Smith and Tommy McCabe of Monaghan. Published in "Folk Songs Sung in Ulster" (1970) - Robin is contemplating an new edition - to be published by Temple Records.

It is also sung by Paul Brady on his solo album Mulligan LUN028 which is I believe currently available on CD.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moaghen Grey Mare - Boys of the loug
From: Catrin
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 05:40 AM

Malcolm

I managed to download and configure etc. etc. and am listening to 'Live from Patrick street' as I type.

Brill!

Catrin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Moaghen Grey Mare - Boys of the loug
From: GUEST,Den at work
Date: 13 Jul 00 - 03:52 PM

The Monaghan Grey Mare also appears on the very fine Paul Brady and Andy Irvine album. I think it was on the Green Linnet or could have been Shanachie label. Any way the album is well worth picking up for this song and others, such as one the finest versions of Arthur McBride I've ever heard. Den

Subject: Lyr Add: THE PLAINS OF KILDARE
From: GUEST,rsunderl
Date: 29 Dec 13 - 07:49 AM

I was also looking for this. By chance, I happened to come across a very close (almost perfect, actually) transcription on Youtube at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRzjNmiOv58

The lyrics cited there are:

Come all you bold sportsmen and listen to my story
It's about noble Stewball that gallant racing pony
Arthur Marble was the man that first brought Stewball here
For to run with Miss Griesel on the Plains of Kildare.

O the fame of his actions we've heard of before
But now he is challenged by young Mrs. Gore
For to run with Miss Griesel that handsome grey mare
For ten thousand gold guineas on the Plains of Kildare.

And the cattle they were brought out with saddle whip and bridle
And the gentlemen did shout at the sight of the gallant riders
And in viewing the cattle just as they came there
O they all laid their money on the Monaghan grey mare.

And the order it was given and away they did fly
Stewball like an arrow the grey mare passed by
And if you had've been there for to see them going round
You'd've thought to your heart their feet ne'er touched the ground.

And when at last they came to half way round the course
Stewball and his rider began to discourse
Says Stewball to the rider "Can you tell to me
How far is that grey mare this moment from me."

Says the rider to Stewball "You run in great style
You're ahead of the grey mare almost half a mile
And if you keep your running I vow and I swear
That you never will be beaten by the Monaghan grey mare."

The last winning post, Stewball passed it quite handy
Horse and rider both called for sherry wine and brandy
And they drank up a health to the noble grey mare
For she emptied their pockets on the Plains of Kildare.