Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: Monique
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 02:16 PM

Yikes, I hadn't read all of Felipa's email, so here is what she wanted me to post:

A Shmeykhl (Smile / Улыбка) – Dinah Slepovitch    YouTube 1

" 'Smile' ("От улыбки хмурый день светлей"/ Ulybka) is a song from the children's animated film "Kroshka-Yenot" ("Baby Raccoon"), USSR, 1974. Dinah Slepovitch, 7 (New York) sings the world premiere of the notable Yiddish poet Boris Sandler's Yiddish translation. Original music by Vladimir Shainsky, original Russian lyrics by M. Plyatskovsky"

Дружба начинается с улыбки - Песенка из мультика "Крошка Енот | Золотая коллекция (animation)   YouTube 2

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: Monique
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 02:02 PM

The cyrillic for "Ulybka" is Улыбка

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: Monique
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 02:00 PM

The title is ""От улыбки хмурый день светлей"/ Ulybka"

Subject: ??????- A Shmeykhl - Smile
From: Felipa
Date: 18 Jul 21 - 12:48 PM

I was listening to a Russian song, Smile, from a children's film. The tune of the chorus put me in mind of Dan O'Hara. But maybe it's just me. What do you think of the comparison?

"'Smile' ("?? ?????? ?????? ???? ???????"/ Ulybka) is a song from the children's animated film "Kroshka-Yenot" ("Baby Raccoon"), USSR, 1974."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m0CXrqOq4sI

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsL41W4FYjQ

A Shmeykhl (Smile / ??????)- Yiddish translation by Boris Sandler, with transliteration and English translation of lyrics on screen.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AS19kZw76jE

If the Russian letters turn into question marks or otherwise transmute, I will ask Monique to post a correction.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: medievallassie
Date: 24 Jun 21 - 02:22 AM

Brendan Nolan sings a lovely version of this song as well as the others mentioned above. In his CD notes, as well as on his lyrics page of his website BrendanNolan.com, he mentions our good friend Jim Flanagan who is an academic from County Cork who told a slightly different version of the Dan O'Hara story that he had gotten from the museum there..8 children, three died and his wife on the passage over, and 20 acres of land. Whatever the "true" facts are about this man's story, it is an amazing tale of sadness and spunk that is very, very Irish. I love this song and plan to add it to my new song sets very soon. As always, I came to this amazing site to get all the answers such as who wrote it so I can pass along the history accurately. I LOVE YOU MUDCAT!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: mg
Date: 23 Aug 13 - 03:00 PM

it is sung very nicely on our Gorta Mor/Potato Famine CD...just pm me for details.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 23 Aug 13 - 01:28 PM

Reviving a bit of a zombie thread; it might be of interest to some here...
I was recently in the west of Ireland, and on the road between Recess and Clifden visited the original homestead of the family of Dan O'Hara. The proprietor of the restaurant and guesthouse at the foot of the hill where the farm was told me that O'Hara had been a prosperous farmer before the Famine, to the extent that he built a very nice small farmhouse with good-sized glass windows. (This in a time when mud walls with either no windows or a hole in the wall covered by a flap of old sheepksin was the norm.)
Things went well and the O'Hara family prospered, until the potato blight wiped out successive crops, when O'Hara's poor rates and rent were raised because of the glass windows, and the family could not pay. The house was taken in lieu of tax, and the O'Haras took ship for the United States.
On the ship, his wife and two of his children died and were 'buried at sea' (code for their bodies were thrown into the sea from the deck). Arriving in New York penniless and without a word of English, O'Hara was forced to foster out the remaining two children and to attempt to get a new start by doing the only work he could get, selling matches on the street to passing smokers.
He died of hunger, cold, exposure and possibly a broken heart within two years of arriving.
The farmhouse itself is lovely - a beautifully built cottage in local stone, with a half-door and nice windows; there is a well at the back of the house, and there are outbuildings that would have made a sty for a pig, housing for sheep and a henhouse; the surrounding fields are nicely laid out and you can still see the track of the inaccurately named lazy-beds where potatoes were grown. There is a stunning view across the mountains towards the sea. A cock and friendly hens followed me hopefully down to the stile when I admired them, but unfortunately I'd brought no treats, not knowing they'd be up there, and hadn't a crumb to give them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,Eugene
Date: 19 Aug 12 - 03:13 PM

Dan The Street Singer, referred to in post above, was Dan Morahan fron Louisburgh in Mayo, a decent man.

Donie Carroll also recorded the song "Dan O'Hara" and it is in iTunes.

Finbar Furey sang a wonderful version on RTE TV "One Night Only" in August 2012.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,savoyarde
Date: 02 Jun 10 - 10:54 AM

In 1971 I met at Killibegs, Ireland, a singer. He called himself "Dan the street singer". He carried a little trolly with an amplifier and loudspeakers behind him through the streets, singing Irish songs. He sung also the song "Dan O'Hara". He sold LP's and MC's of his music and so I bought a MC from him. He wrote on the backside of the inlay "Best wishes to our German friends from Dan". Back home, unfortunately I found out that the MC was not good recorded. But still today I have this MC and from time to time I listen to the songs, even "Dan O'Hara". I searched at the Internet for this singer but I didn't anything find about.
Greetings to all which like this song, savoyarde.

Subject: Lyr Add: DAN O'HARA (from Willie Brady)
From: GUEST,Michael McNicholas
Date: 01 Oct 09 - 07:49 PM

Here is a sightly different version, with the Irish words in the chorus slightly altered, although the version presented above I have also heard sung.

I believe the translation of this version would be literally "Noble woman of my heart" but would be understood to mean "my dear good woman" or some other such ingratiating form of address to a higher-class woman from a poor beggar hoping for alms.

Childher was the way a Connemara farmer may have pronounced "children" more than 100 years ago (here it is in the Manx-English dialect dictionary of 1924 http://www.isle-of-man.com/manxnotebook/fulltext/am1924/pt_c.htm Childher) and "j'ys" (rhymes with "highs") is colloquial pronunciation for "joys".

The second line of each verse (and the chorus) ends with a strong lilting note. I've indicated that by hyphenating the word the lilt appears in (e.g. parted = pa-arted)

The tune is most definitely not "Come Out Ye Black And Tans." It's slow and lilting, evoking the sadness of the farmer's story but also the hopefulness and strong faith he expresses at the end.


DAN O'HARA
(From the recording by Willie Brady, circa 1961)

1. Oh, sure, 'tis poor I am today,
For God gave and took away,
And He left without a home poor Dan O'Ha-ara.
In the frost and snow I stand
With these matches in my hand,
Just a poor and broken man from Connemara.

CHORUS: Arrah now, uaisle bean mo chroídhe,
Won't you buy a box from me?
And you'll have the prayers of Dan from Connema-ara.
I will sell them cheap and low.
Buy a box before you go
From your poor old broken farmer Dan O'Hara.

2. Well in the year of '64,
I had acres by the score
And the grandest land you ever ran a plow-ow through.
Ah, but the landlord came, you know,
And he laid my home so low,
So it's here I am today so broken-hearted. CHORUS

3. Now for 20 years or more,
Sure, misfortune crossed my door,
And the poor old wife and I were sadly pa-arted.
We were scattered far and wide.
All the childher starved and died,
And it's here I am today so broken-hearted. CHORUS

4. But though in frost and snow I stand,
Sure the shadow of God's hand
It lies warm about the brow of Dan O'Ha-ara;
And soon with God above,
I will meet the friends I love
And the j'ys I left behind in Connemara. CHORUS (slowing at the end)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: Acorn4
Date: 30 Jul 09 - 06:18 PM

We stayed a few years back at the B and B that is at the foot of the hill on which Dan O Hara's cottage stands, and had an excellent talk about his story by a guide, who also gave us a drop of the rather local potent "tanglyfoot".

It was a very moving story and I can still remember most of the details to this day.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 30 Jul 09 - 02:45 PM

Interesting - it doesn't give a date for Dan O'Hara and his wife and seven children living self-sufficiently on eight acres (eek!) of rough Connemara land. One assumes that it was the Famine.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 30 Jul 09 - 02:00 PM

According to The Connemara Heritage & History Centre, Dan O'Hara's homestead is being redeveloped as a tourist attraction.

"According to local history the ruins of a cottage on the farm was once the home of Dan O' Hara who was famous in song and story. Dan farmed eight acres until he was evicted and forced to emigrate and ended up selling matches in New York...."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 29 Jul 09 - 11:22 AM

I stand corrected. Thanks, Gulliver.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: Gulliver
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 07:16 PM

According to her family Delia spent a lot of time writing songs. She also adapted others, put old songs to new airs, etc. She recorded Dan O'Hara in 1951. She is credited by the publishers, Waltons, with words and music (source: 1997 biography by Aidan O'Hara - no relation to Dan).

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 05:48 PM

And if no one has explained this (not sure), Dan O'Hara, once a big farmer, is now a broken man, widowed and orphaned of his children by the Famine of the 1840s/1850s, and now reduced to scratching a living by selling boxes of matches on the street, wheedling passers-by with the refrain: "O bright pulse of my heart, won't you buy a box from me, and you'll have the prayers of Dan from Connemara".

A terribly bitter song with a hauntingly sweet melody.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 05:44 PM

I think Delia Murphy sang it but did not write it - she was more of a collector than a writer, surely?

You can hear her singing it on one of the Sunday Miscellany programmes but you have to play the whole programme in the horrid RealPlayer. Some of these programmes are podcast, but unfortunately not that one.

Or you could buy it on a whole album of cheesy classics

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,Wildmaggie
Date: 28 Jul 09 - 04:54 PM

This was the favourite song of my mother and on her gravestone the first bar and
"a cuisle geal mo chroí" is carved.

To Guest Wldwill: It was Delia Murphy who sticks out in my memory as being the "real" singer of this song.
Im grateful to the people who have furnished the words. I only could remember snatches of the song. isn't the internet wonderful?
Thank you so much

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST
Date: 09 Apr 09 - 12:53 PM

Where can i listen to this song online??? great song i love it it was my grandmother's favourite..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,Christiane
Date: 11 Nov 07 - 08:52 AM

Thanks for the translation. I love the record from "The Irish Rovers" from Canada because of this fantastic voice.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 10 Nov 07 - 08:53 AM

Google Book Search says that the following lines (maybe more) appear in the book "Mother of All the Behans: The Story of Kathleen Behan as told to Brian Behan", 1984:

Oh, it's sad I am today. God gave and took away,
And left without a home, poor Dan O'Hara.
In the frost and snow I stand, with my matches in my hand….

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: ard mhacha
Date: 09 Nov 07 - 04:01 AM

Johnny McEvoy has also recorded this song.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: MartinRyan
Date: 08 Nov 07 - 03:05 PM

Literally translated it means, roughly, "Oh bright, sweet pulse of my heart!". The sense is just one of endearment e.g. "Sweetheart!" or some such phrase.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,Christiane
Date: 06 Nov 07 - 08:37 AM

Could anybody help a poor old German and translate the first line of the chorus into English?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,Wildwill
Date: 22 Nov 06 - 09:45 PM

I used to hear this song when I was a boy. It was recorded by Bridie Gallagher. Any idea where one could purchase the LP or CD?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,cathi in ireland
Date: 27 Sep 06 - 05:24 PM

Thanks for the words. I was missing some bits and at last I can sing it again. It was my fathers favourite song and I learned it at his knee more than 40 years ago. As a teacher I will use it as backup when we study the famine.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 12:56 AM

- Maddie McAuley

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Jan 06 - 12:43 AM

*blackthorn :)      <3

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,Naoise
Date: 30 Oct 05 - 10:51 PM

It was originally composed by Delia Murphy a composer who hailed from County Mayo in Ireland and as far as I know the house of Dan O Hara is situated near Derrylea in Clifden, County Galway

Subject: Lyr Add: POOR BROKEN FARMER DAN O'HARA
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 02:09 AM

Mary Garvey posted another version in the Irish Potato Famine thread. I'll post it here so all the versions are together.
-Joe Offer-

---

Thread #63712   Message #1037841
Posted By: mary garvey
18-Oct-03 - 08:00 PM
Thread Name: Irish Potato Famine
Subject: Lyr Add: POOR BROKEN FARMER DAN O'HARA (?)

I don't have a url for the Praties....there is another one that has a very jolly tune but very sad words...a man from Connemara who sells matches....

Oh it's poor I am today for God gave and took away
And he left without a home for Dan O'Hara
In the frost and snow I stand with my matches in my hand
Poor broken farmer Dan O'Hara

Chorus (I probably have words wrong)

Acushla ...machree won't you buy a box from me
And you'll have the prayers of Dan from Conemmara
You can buy them cheap and low buy a box before you go
From poor broken farmer Dan O'Hara

For 40 years or more I had acres by the score and the grandest land you ever laid a plow to
but the landlord came you know and he laid my home so low and here I am today brokenhearted.

In the year of 54 sure misfortune was at my door
And the poor old wife and I were sadly parted
We were scattered far and wide and the children starved and died
And here I am today broken hearted

In the frost and snow I stand and the shadow of God's hand
Lies heavy on the brow of Dan O'Hara
But with the grace of God above I will find the ones I love
And the joys I left behind in Connemara

---

Note this chorus:
"A Chusla Geal Mo Chroi
Won't you buy a box from me
And you will have the prayers of Dan from Connemara
I'll sell them cheap and low
Buy a box before you go
From the broken hearted farmer Dan O'Hara".
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Lyr Add: DAN O'HARA
From: Joe Offer
Date: 24 Oct 03 - 02:06 AM

Do we have any background information and songwriter/source information for this song? Here's another version:

DAN O'HARA

Oh, poor I am today, sure God gives and takes away
He has left without a home poor Dan O'Hara,
In the frost and snow I stand with these matches in my hand
To beg the bite that I may want tomorrow.

CHORUS:
Then a chushla geal mo chroidhe won't you take a box from me,
And you'll have the prayers of Dan from Connemara;
I sell them cheap you know, buy a box before you go,
From the poor old ruined farmer Dan O'Hara.

In the year of '64 we had acres by the score
The finest land you ever ran your plough through,
But the landlord came, you know, the old cot he laid low
And left without a home poor Dan O'Hara.

In the year of '69 I lost all that was mine,
'Twas then that I and my poor wife were parted
My children starved and died, I left them side by side
And it's here I am so poor and broken-hearted.

I have this notion in my head that this goes to the tune of Killeshandra
(Come out Ye Black and Tans)

source: http://members.tripod.com/~songbook1/danohara.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: paddymac
Date: 20 Oct 00 - 02:12 AM

Snuffy - No. "Dan O'Hara" and "Come Out Ye Black & Tans" use different tunes. Well, at least I have neither seen nor heard them done to the same tune. Doesn't mean that it hasn't or couldn't be done, however; just that I haven't encountered it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: Snuffy
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 07:23 PM

Is this the same tune as "Come Out You Black & Tans?"

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: MARINER
Date: 19 Oct 00 - 02:16 PM

Druidstrangler is right, that's the chorus. Mine is slightly different. Achushla geal mo chroi will you buy a box from me And you'll have the prayers of Dan from Conemara, Buy a box before you go , I'll sell them cheap and low From your poor old broken Farmer ,Dan O' Hara.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,Druidstrangler
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 05:31 PM

A Cushla gra mo craoi
won't you buy a box from me
and you'll have the prayers of Dan from Connemara.
Sure I'll sell them cheap and low
buy a box before you go
from the broken-hearted farmer Dan O'Hara.

Yes...Curfa does mean chorus and this is it to the best of my knowledge. Hopes this helps.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dan O'Hara
From: MARINER
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 03:53 PM

I think "Curfa" is the gaelic word for "chorus". There is a chorus to that song. I'll try to get it shortly

Subject: Lyr Add: DAN O'HARA
From: Wolfgang
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 11:27 AM

thisone perhaps?:

DAN O'HARA

Curfa
Sure it's poor I am today for God gave and took away
And he left without a home poor Dan O'Hara
With these matches in my hand in the frost and snow I stand
So it's here I am today your broken hearted

In the year of sixty four I had acres by the score
And the grandest land you ever ran a plough through
But the landlord came you know and he laid our old home low
So it's here I am today your broken-hearted
Curfa

For twenty years or more did misfortune cross our door
And my poor old wife and I were parted
We were scattered far and wide and our children starved and died
So it's here I am today your broken-hearted
Curfa

Tho' in frost and snow I stand sure the shadow of God's hand
It lies warm about the brow of Dan O'Hara
And soon with God above I will meet the ones I love
And I'll find the joys I lost in Connemara
Curfa

Wolfgang

---

Click to play

Subject: Dan O'Hara
From: GUEST,Frankm7
Date: 18 Oct 00 - 11:15 AM

Lyrics to song "Dan O'Hara" street vendeer. some words won't you buy a box from me, and ------of Dan O'Hara, before you go, and here I sit alone and broken hearted.