Lyr Req: Sweet Inniscarra (John Fitzgerald)

Subject: Sweet Inishcara
From: GUEST,Camilla
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 04:11 AM

Hello:-)

Does anyone have the lyrics to the song "Sweet Inishcara"? Sean Keane sings it on "Turn a Phrase".

Camilla

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Inishcara
From: Brendy
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 04:24 AM

It's not on his web site Sean Keane - Click here - , but in case you want any other of his songs, there's a reasonable amount of them there.

B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Inishcara
From: Noreen
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 09:45 AM

I have the words of 'Sweet Inniscarra' and will transcribe them if no-one else comes up with a link. I've searched the DT under various spellings, but nothing- I was sure I'd seen it there. Lovely song.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Inishcara
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 10:27 AM

Maybe it was  Lone Shanakyle  you remember seeing?  It does contain the line "Sweet, sweet Inis Cathaigh".

Malcolm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Inishcara
From: Noreen
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 12:34 PM

Could be, Malcolm; I do get these two confused as I learned them both around the same time and they are a similar type of 'big' song.

I'll see if I can scan the words in later.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Inishcara
From: Fiolar
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 02:33 PM

No - the song is definitely "Sweet Inniscarra, my home by the Lee." Can't help with the words but I remember the name as it was a popular song when I was a lad.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Inishcara
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 03:41 PM

There was never any doubt as to the identity of the song; just whether or not it was to be found in the Forum.

Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET INNISCARRA (John Fitzgerald)
From: Noreen
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 07:12 PM

SWEET INNISCARRA
(John Fitzgerald 1825-1910)

I have travelled in exile 'midst cold-hearted strangers
Far, far from my home, and the beautiful Lee
I have struggled alone through all sorrows and dangers
I braved every storm by land and by sea
Through Columbia's wild forests or Indiana's spicy bowers
And the great foreign rivers whose sands are of gold
I have sighed for thee still 'mid the birds and the flowers
I love you and will 'til this heart will grow cold.

I have roved with fair maidens with dark flowing tresses
And beautiful eyes that looked kindly on me
But I thought with regret of the smiles and caresses
Of a fair-haired young maiden who lives by the Lee
I have come back again but she's not in her bower
And the river flows past with its calm tiny wave
I have called her in vain, for the ivy-crowned tower
Of Sweet Inniscarra o'ershadows her grave.

And the home of my childhood to ruin is fallen
The dear ones that blessed it shall greet me no more
But I gaze on it still joyous visions recalling
Though the long grass has grown on the step of the door
I'll be with you soon and the shamrock above me
From my own native birthplace never more shall I roam
Till I'm laid in the grave with the dear one that loved me
As in death she will welcome her wanderer home.

From the Comholtas Ceoltoiri Eireann publication, TRADITIONAL SONGS AND SINGERS, a collection, on tape and accompanying book, of traditional songs in the English language sung by Irish traditional singers. ON TAPE 22 Songs.

The book contains the words of the songs as sung on the tape, with some information about the songs and the singers; plus an article which discusses trends and developments in the field of Irish traditional singing.

Prepared and edited (in 1977?) by Séamus Mac Mathúna, who writes of this song:

'I first heard it sung by Paddy Breen of Kilmihil, County Clare, some fifteen years ago, and, sometime later, by Siney Crotty. The words were written by John Fitzgerald (The Bard of the Lee), a Cork poet and song writer (1825-1910). Fitzgerald titled it "The Exile's Return". I have heard Fitzgerald's poems recited in Cork but they are seldom sung in traditional sessions.'
NMK

Link to more information on TRADITIONAL SONGS AND SINGERS

Noreen

Subject: LYRICS ADD: Sweet Inniscarra
From: Noreen
Date: 21 Aug 00 - 07:18 PM

That link should be: TRADITIONAL SONGS AND SINGERS

Is this too much information, Joe?

Noreen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Inishcara
From: Noreen
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 10:32 AM

Camilla, was this the one you wanted? I've not heard Seán Keane's version but I imagine it will be this.

Noreen

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Inishcara
From: GUEST,Camilla
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 06:08 PM

Yes, this was the song I wanted. Thank you very much for the lyrics and the information on the song:-) Sean Keane sings it beautifully!

Camilla

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Inishcara
From: Brendy
Date: 22 Aug 00 - 06:10 PM

Nice one Noreen.
Thanks.

B.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE EXILE'S RETURN (John Fitzgerald, 1862
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 22 Jul 13 - 12:00 AM

From Legends, Ballads and Songs of the Lee by John Fitzgerald (Cork: Henry & Coghlan, 1862), page 3:


THE EXILE'S RETURN.
Air—"Ellen Loraine."

I have wander'd an exile, 'mid cold-hearted strangers,
Far, far, from my home and the beautiful Lee;
I have struggled alone through all sorrows and dangers,
And brav'd every fate on the land and the sea.
Through Columbia's wild forests, or Ind's spicy bowers,
On the great foreign rivers, whose sands are of gold,
I have sigh'd for thee still, 'mid the birds and the flowers,
I have lov'd thee, and will, till this heart shall grow cold.

I have rov'd with fair maidens with dark flowing tresses,
And beautiful eyes have look'd kindly on me,
But I thought with regret of the smiles and caresses
Of a fair-hair'd young maiden that dwelt by the Lee.
I have come back again, but she's not in her bower,
Where the river flows past, with its calm tiny wave;
I have call'd her in vain, for the ivy-crown'd tower
Of sweet Inniscarra o'ershadows her grave.

The home of my childhood to ruin is falling,
The lov'd ones that blest it shall greet me no more;
Yet I gaze on it still, joyous visions recalling,
Though the long grass has grown on the step of the door.
I shall rest with them soon, with the shamrock above me,
From my dear native Cork never more shall I roam,
Till I'm laid in the grave with the dear ones that lov'd me,
As in death they shall welcome their wanderer home.

[The McNulty Family recorded this song under the title EXILE FROM CORK. You can hear their version at The Internet Archive, where it is item #17 on the menu, called "Track 26"—or click for an MP3. They omit the parts I have put in italics, and a few other words are changed.]

[Another somewhat different version of this song has been posted in another thread under the title SWEET INISHCARA.]