Lyr Req: Irish Ways and Irish Laws

Subject: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: GUEST,Paddy
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 12:44 PM

I had such luck with "Twice Daily," let me see if I any of you out there can help me with this one. I would like the lyrics to this song. Also, I have no idea of how the tune goes. Can some kind stranger provide some help? Thanks boys and girls!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Pene Azul
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 01:35 PM

You can get the lyrics here (click).

PA

Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: IRISH WAYS AND IRISH LAWS^^
From: Pene Azul
Date: 01 Sep 00 - 01:38 PM

  IRISH WAYS AND IRISH LAWS
  
  
     A                      G
     Once upon a time there was
                          A
     Irish ways and Irish laws,
     C                 A
     Villages of Irish blood
     C                G
     Waking in the morning,
     A                C
     Waking in the morning.
   
  Then the Vikings came around,
  Turned us up and turned us down,
  Started building boats and towns.
  They tried to change our living,
  They tried to change our living.
   
  Cromwell and his soldiers came,
  Started centuries of shame,
  But they could not make us turn.
  We are a river flowing,
  We're a river flowing.
   
  Again, again the soldiers came,
  Burnt our houses, stole our grain,
  Shot the farmers in their fields,
  Working for a living,
  Working for a living.
   
  Eight hundred years we have been down.
  The secret of the water sound
  Has kept the spirit of the man
  Above the pain descending,
  Above the pain descending.
   
  Today the struggle carries on,
  I wonder will I live so long
  To see the gates being opened up
  To a people and their freedom,
  A people and their freedom.  

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Margaret V
Date: 02 Sep 00 - 10:06 PM

A man at the session I attend sings this without accompaniment and it is quite intense. I wish I could provide a midi or abc thing, but can't do either. But I must say that the tune reminds me of that round (and I sure don't know the age or origin of the round)that goes "Hey ho, nobody home, meat nor drink nor money have I none, still I will be very merry..." Margaret

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: GUEST,Brigid in the mountains
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 04:45 AM

I have painstakingly written out the score of the song for you in Cakewalk. However I cannot copy and paste it here so if you send me your email address i CAN send it to you.BGood luck

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 05:06 AM

G'day Brigid,
If you have a Cakewalk file you can create a MIDI file. You can then go to the Mudcat MIDI site and send me a copy. It will then appear on the site for all Mudcatters to hear.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: GUEST,PADDY
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 01:03 PM

Brigid or Alan, You can reach me at [e-mail] Thanks for all the trouble you went to Brigid! Slainte....

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 09:10 PM

When this was sung in Canberra at the National Festival at Easter I conducted a quick straw poll as to the name and origin of the author. Nobody knew! Who, When, Where, Other Songs? Any info please. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Brendy
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 09:15 PM

It's in the link that Pene gave, John.

John Gibbs is the writer according to the link, and from my memory, it sounds right enough.

There is a history of the song, I think, on the LP version of Moving Hearts first album 'Moving Hearts' WEA 1981. I have the album.....back in Ireland. I don't know too much more about it, off hand.

B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Brendy
Date: 03 Sep 00 - 09:22 PM

There's a text file download here, that explains a bit of background, mainly about terms used in the song.
Could be of some assistance, though.

B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Brigie
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 08:55 AM

A quote from Christy Moore:the singer of the song! " One night after a Hearts gig in the Baggot Inn, Dublin, John Gibbs the author of the song sent up an empty Major packet with this song written on the back of it. We were so tken with it that we started rehearsing it the same night and two years later ^found that it had passed into the tradition. Of all the songs I have ever done this and "Only our rivers run free" were the songs than became part of the general Irish repertoire in a very quick time"

So there you go!! How many of you know the Baggot Inn,or know what a Major packet is???!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Brigie
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 09:45 AM

this will knock you all sideways. I know this is a music forum, but being a person of many talents!!!!!!! I also am a patchworker. At the moment I am looking for some new ideas for patchwork sewing for the christmas market in November!? Do any of you know any good sites or links connected ?Would be grateful for any ideas too.Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Brendy
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 10:51 AM

I know both where the Baggot is, and what a Major packet is, Brigie.
But do you know where the brandy glass on a packet of Majors is? *BG*

As to your other request, perhaps it would be better if you started a thread on the subject, and sought help in that one.

B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Brigie
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 05:35 PM

I did actually try to create a new thread,but got an error message! Maybe tomorrow! The only brandy glass I knew of on the major packet was when you rolled up the silver paper and threw it at the ceiling!!!!!!!!!!! I was too busy using the contents ôf the major packet to notice::::::::::

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Pene Azul
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 05:40 PM

Brigie, there are several links in this Google directory.

Jeff

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Brendy
Date: 04 Sep 00 - 05:40 PM

sssshhhhhh....(it's in the gap between the 'legs' of the 'A')

B.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Dug
Date: 04 Mar 02 - 05:29 PM

John Gibbs, author of the song recently told me that Christy made up the bit about the Major packet because "it sounded good at the time".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 04 Mar 02 - 06:52 PM

Thanks for letting us know, Dug! Why do musicians have such a weird sense of humour? (See the Bergen thread for another example.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: GUEST,John Gibbs (auther Irish Ways and Irish laws
Date: 01 Sep 04 - 06:55 AM

Hello John
I Just stumbled on the Mudcat Caf site, and read your short mesage about the song.
I have a website with 3 CDs if you care to take a look.
www.johngibbssongs.co.uk
Best Wishes
John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: MikeShegog
Date: 20 Apr 05 - 08:32 PM

Irish Ways and Irish Laws, beautiful song.
I play it with different chords than I've seen here (web)

Question. Does anyone know the meaning of
"the secret of the water sound" ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 20 Apr 05 - 08:53 PM

I may have mentioned in another thread somewhere that Sinead O'Conner has this on the same CD Single that has her version of 'Silent Night'. Gosh, it must be almost 15 years old now. Nice performance of the song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Apr 05 - 09:04 PM

Whatever secret, the sound of the water holds....

I thought that would have been obvious

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: GUEST
Date: 20 Apr 05 - 09:07 PM

... the unknown value of which, has kept a man's spirit rising above all...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: MikeShegog
Date: 21 Apr 05 - 02:21 AM

Thanks.
...Yes, perhaps you're right, perhaps I'm looking
for a deeper meaning which isn't there.

Yet you'd think there'd be something more to it than that...

Eight hundred years we have been down,
The secret of the water sound
Has kept the spirit of the man
Above the pain descending

All the other verses speak directly to the heart,
but I still get the sense that I'm not (perhaps
because I'm not Irish) getting this bit completely.
(love this forum concept, by the way)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Apr 05 - 01:18 PM

Not so much a question of being right or wrong..., that is what it says....

The 'eight hundred years' refers to the length of time our country was/is under occupation, and what has kept us going during those troubled times (above the pain, descending.) is as is explained above.

I think that verse speaks directly to the heart, as does the whole song, and the meaning is as deep as you wish understand it.

In other words "You threw everything at us, and we still bounced back"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: Dave'sWife
Date: 21 Apr 05 - 01:44 PM

The lyric:

The secret of the water sound

Ties back very nicely with...

We are a river flowing

I think the point is to equate the succeeding generations of Irish with ever-flowing waters which will continue to flow, presumably forever, no matter what is done to or on the lands. That was always how I read it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Irish Ways and Irish Laws'
From: My guru always said
Date: 21 Apr 05 - 04:00 PM

This is a Fabulous Strong song & I've always evjoyed singing it out, occasionally accompanied by a Bodhran.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Ways and Irish Laws
From: My guru always said
Date: 25 Apr 05 - 06:22 PM

This old tune request thread may help Catters with this song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish Ways and Irish Laws
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 06 - 05:16 AM