Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre

Subject: Wexford Massacre
From: GUEST,Fel
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 01:34 PM

Does anyone have the lyrics to Wexford Massacre?

Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: MudGuard
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 05:04 PM

Hi, I got an incomplete set of lyrics for this song by transcribing it myself (missing parts in red).
MudGuard

Wexford Massacre (The land around the cross Tivy/devine ???)
(They made Trim and they made ???)
(They bought before the redemption sign???)
And fervently they prayed
Three hundred fair and helpless ones
Who's crime was this alone
Their valiant husbands, sires and sons
A battle for their own

I'd battled bravely but in vain
The Saxon won the fight
The Irish corpses strewed the plain
Where valour slept with right
And now that man of (Demon Hill ???)
(To fated Wexford flew ???)
Their red blood reeking on his hand
Of hearts to Érin true

He found them there, the young, the old
The maiden and the wife
Their guidance brief in death was called
Who (that for them destrife ???)
They prayed for mercy, God on high,
Before their cross they prayed
But ruthless Cromwell (bud them die ???)
(To dlucked ???) the Saxon blade

Three hundred fell, this (stifled ???) prayer
Was quenched in women's blood
Nor youth nor age could (move to swerve ???)
From slaughter's crimson flood
But nations keep a stern account
Of deeds that tyrants do
And guiltless blood to Heaven will (mount ???)
And Heaven avenge it too

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 05:11 PM

More than I found, Muddy. All that came up on mega search was a poetry quote--(Yeats, I think)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: MARINER
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 05:46 PM

I'm flabbergasted! I'm from Wexford and have a more than normal interest in Wexford songs, yet I've never heard of the song The Wexford Massacre. Please tell me more.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 05:58 PM

The song is one track on this 3 CD set. But check with CAMSCO before you order anything, Sandy might have a single CD with the song, or be able to get this one cheaper than $25 US.That is all I know.........

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: Sorcha
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 06:02 PM

Sound file available here, I think it is a WAV file and it takes a bit to load. Use the "find" button under the Edit button....it's a ways down on the page.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: Fel
Date: 27 Jan 01 - 07:06 PM

Thank you MudGuard, that helps a lot.

The rendition I have is very difficult to decipher and a poor recording.

Also, thanks for the link Sorcha - now I can buy a (hopefully)better recording :)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: MartinRyan
Date: 28 Jan 01 - 04:32 AM

"The Wexford Massacre" was written by M J Barry, who was involved in the Young Ireland movement in mid 19C. Founded by Thomas Davis, they wrote ballad poetry and song for inspirational purposes. The song apears in a number of 19C. collections/ I've never heard it sung.

Regards

p.s. I'll dig out a copy and check the trasnription when I get a chance.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: MudGuard
Date: 28 Jan 01 - 04:40 AM

Fel, if you can decipher any more, please post it here.
TIA
MudGuard

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: THE WEXFORD MASSACRE
From: Snuffy
Date: 28 Jan 01 - 08:27 AM

Mudguard

Here's what I make from The Grehan Sisters version of the song. Like most of the songs on this album, their diction is not always easy to understand. The sleeve notes of the original 1967 album say:

The Wexford Massacre was written in 1649 by M. J. Barry. It is a beautiful and pathetic ballad with an equally beautiful air and tells of the mass murder of innocent men, women and children carried out by the hated Cromwell in the town and county of Wexford.

Martin Ryan says Barry was 19th century - are the sleeve notes wrong? Was it the massacre that happened in 1649, not the writing of the song?

THE WEXFORD MASSACRE

They knelt around the cross divine
The matron and the maid
They bowed before redemption's sign
And fervently they prayed
Three hundred fair and helpless ones
Whose crime was this alone
Their valiant husbands, sires and sons
Had battled for their own

Had battled bravely but in vain
The Saxon won the fight
The Irish corpses strewed the plain
Where valour slept with right
And now that man of demon guilt
To fated Wexford flew
The red blood reeking on his hilt
Of hearts to Erin true

He found them there, the young, the old
The maiden and the wife
Their guardians brave in death were called
Who (dead fought ???) them the strife
They prayed for mercy, God on high,
Before Thy cross they prayed
But ruthless Cromwell bade them die
To glut the Saxon blade

Three hundred fell, the stifled prayer
Was quenched in women's blood
Nor youth nor age could move to spare
From slaughter's crimson flood
But nations keep a stern account
Of deeds that tyrants do
And guiltless blood to Heaven will mount
And Heaven avenge it too.

MIDI file: WEXFMASS.MID

Timebase: 480

Tempo: 160 (375000 microsec/crotchet)
Key: Eb
TimeSig: 4/4 48 8
Name: Wexford Massacre
Text: C:Words by M J Barry
Start
0000 1 63 127 0479 0 63 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 67 127 1439 0 67 000 0001 1 68 090 0479 0 68 000 0001 1 67 127 0959 0 67 000 0001 1 65 090 0319 0 65 000 0001 1 67 090 0639 0 67 000 0001 1 72 127 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 72 090 1439 0 72 000 0961 1 63 090 0479 0 63 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 67 127 1439 0 67 000 0001 1 68 090 0479 0 68 000 0001 1 67 127 0479 0 67 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 65 090 2879 0 65 000 0961 1 63 090 0479 0 63 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 67 127 1439 0 67 000 0001 1 68 090 0479 0 68 000 0001 1 67 127 0959 0 67 000 0001 1 65 090 0319 0 65 000 0001 1 67 090 0639 0 67 000 0001 1 72 127 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 72 090 1439 0 72 000 0961 1 72 090 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 74 090 0479 0 74 000 0001 1 75 127 0959 0 75 000 0001 1 74 090 0479 0 74 000 0001 1 72 090 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 70 127 0479 0 70 000 0001 1 74 090 0479 0 74 000 0001 1 72 090 2879 0 72 000 0961 1 72 090 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 74 090 0479 0 74 000 0001 1 75 127 0959 0 75 000 0001 1 74 090 0479 0 74 000 0001 1 72 090 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 70 127 0479 0 70 000 0001 1 74 090 0479 0 74 000 0001 1 72 090 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 70 090 0479 0 70 000 0001 1 67 127 1919 0 67 000 0961 1 72 090 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 74 090 0479 0 74 000 0001 1 75 127 0959 0 75 000 0001 1 74 090 0479 0 74 000 0001 1 72 090 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 70 127 0479 0 70 000 0001 1 74 090 0479 0 74 000 0001 1 72 090 2879 0 72 000 0961 1 72 090 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 74 090 0479 0 74 000 0001 1 75 127 0959 0 75 000 0001 1 74 090 0479 0 74 000 0001 1 72 090 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 70 127 0479 0 70 000 0001 1 74 090 0479 0 74 000 0001 1 72 090 0479 0 72 000 0001 1 70 090 0479 0 70 000 0001 1 67 127 1919 0 67 000 0961 1 63 090 0479 0 63 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 67 127 0959 0 67 000 0001 1 65 090 0479 0 65 000 0001 1 63 090 0479 0 63 000 0001 1 62 127 0479 0 62 000 0001 1 63 090 0479 0 63 000 0001 1 60 090 2879 0 60 000
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X: 187
T:Wexford Massacre
M:4/4
L:1/4
Q:1/4=160
C:Words by M J Barry
K:Cm
(EF)|
G3A|G2F G3A|GFF2-|F4|z2(EF)|
G3A|G2F e2(dc)|Bdc2-|c4|z2(cd)|
e2(dc)|BdcB|G4|z2(cd)|
e2(dc)|Bdc2-|c4|z2(cd)|
e2dc|BdcB|G4|z2(EF)|
(G2F)E|DEC2-|C4|z2||

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: MudGuard
Date: 28 Jan 01 - 08:46 AM

Thanks Snuffy!
Tonight I will check your findings against my Grehan Sister's recording of this song.
MudGuard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: MudGuard
Date: 28 Jan 01 - 11:01 AM

I listened to the song again and I concur with your version, Snuffy.
Third verse could be "had thought" but would that make any sense? Haven't got my dictionary nearby and do not know what strife means...;-)
MudGuard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: Snuffy
Date: 28 Jan 01 - 01:59 PM

My English-German dictionary gives 'strife' as Streit, but it could also be Unruh.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: MudGuard
Date: 28 Jan 01 - 04:03 PM

Now at home I looked it up myself: German for strife is "Streit" or "Hader" or "Zank".

The line does not make any sense to me whether it is "dead fought" or "had thought".

MudGuard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: Snuffy
Date: 28 Jan 01 - 06:35 PM

It doesn't make a lot of sense to me either, Andreas. I guess we'll have to wait till Martin locates his 19th century collection and dispel all doubts.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: MartinRyan
Date: 29 Jan 01 - 03:26 AM

Snuffy

Yes the song was written in 19C about an incident in 1649. Barry was (like Thomas Davis) a lawyer - which probably explains the flowery language!

Here are the corrections/clarifications to Mudguard's version (I had them done before seeing yours)

They knelt around the cross divine
The matron and the maid
They bowed before Redemption's sign


Had battled bravely...
But now that man of demon guilt

....
Their guardians brave in death were cold
Who dared for them the strife....
..
And ruthless Cromwell bade them die
To glut the Saxon blade

Nor youth nor age could move to swear...

Hope all that makes sense.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: MartinRyan
Date: 29 Jan 01 - 03:31 AM

Incidentally, I took the words from Patrick Galvins "Irish SOngs of Resistance" - but am sure they're as per the original.

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: Wexford Massacre
From: Snuffy
Date: 29 Jan 01 - 08:55 AM

Thanks Martin - it all makes sense now. I've put 'Lyr Add:' in the header of this posting, so hopefully the DT harvesters will find it and maybe include it in a future edition of the DT database.

Wassail! V

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: MudGuard
Date: 29 Jan 01 - 09:24 AM

Thanks Martin from me as well - another song I can take off my "incomplete lyrics" list!
"dared for them" makes sense to me, also.
MudGuard

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 30 Oct 01 - 05:43 AM

I've just been re-visiting my copy of 'Irish Songs of Resistance" and realised that we have two different tunes for this song. I'll post the Patrick Galvin tune as soon as I can.

Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: GUEST,Whisper
Date: 23 Dec 05 - 11:05 PM

I just want to thank you guys. I have been looking for the lyrics to this song for quite some time. Thanks!

Whisper

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Wexford Massacre
From: GUEST,Catherine in Belfast
Date: 05 Jan 07 - 07:08 PM

thanks too, I've just spent forever looking for these lyrics and I've decided this is the only place on the web that has them!!

I had the words as:

Where valour slept with right
and now that man of demon guild
to fated wexford flew
the red blood reeking on his hilt
of hearts to Erin true