Lyr Add: King William's Town

Subject: Lyr Add: KING WILLIAM'S TOWN
From: radriano
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 11:35 AM

Several recent postings reminded me of this song which is not in the DT. I picked this up at a singing workshop at the Willie Clancy Festival back in 1984. I'm not positive but it may have been Gabriel McCartle (spelling?)who sang it. There's one word missing in the third verse that I couldn't catch. I don't have the melody to this written out. I can, however, supply a copy of the original tape (or I can sing it into a tape recorder) in the hopes that someone can make a midi file out of it.

KING WILLIAM'S TOWN
[Singing Workshop at Willie Clancy Festival, Ireland, 1984]

My bonny barque flows light and free, across the surging foam
It takes me far from Innismore to seek a foreign home
A lonely exile driven 'neath misfortune's cruel frown
Far from my home and friends so dear in sweet King William's Town

Whilst here alone on deck I stand and view those mountains high
Kind thoughts arise all in my heart of friends I'll ne'er see more
Of happy hours and childhood days, how fast the tears roll down
To thinking of my own dear home in sweet King William's Town

Shall I no more gaze on that shore or view those mountains high
Or stroll along Blackwater Side when first I was a boy
Or view the sun on __________ all o'er the heather brown
Before she flings her farewell beams on sweet King William's Town

I know not but I fondly hope where'er my footsteps fall
Will always linger in my heart sweet thoughts of friends at home
So fare thee well, Sweet Desmond Town as the night comes softly down
Oh, God be with you, Ireland and sweet King William's Town

Richard

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: King William's Town
From: MartinRyan
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 11:40 AM

That'll be Gabriel McArdle - lovely singer. I should have the words somewhere - I'll dig 'em out if nobody produces them soon.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: King William's Town
From: MMario
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 11:49 AM

it's in the DT under Sweet King Williams's Town - a midi file has been sent to Alan - and a notewrothy file is going to Joe offer as I type.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: King William's Town
From: Noreen
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 12:56 PM

Never mind, radriano... you have given a final verse which is not in the DT, nor have I seen it before- does anyone know if it is a recent addition?

Initials on the DT entry are MR- Martin Ryan?

Noreen

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: King William's Town
From: Noreen
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 01:13 PM

And in Down Erin's Lovely Lee, Songs of Cork (edited by Tomás O Canainn), the name of the mountain in Verse 3 is Knocknabower. Is there a Knocknacummer as well near there?

Noreen

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: King William's Town
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 01:21 PM

I just want to mention that Ballydesmond (King William's Town) is in the Shiabh Luchara district of Co. Kerry, an area well-known for traditional music. It was the birthplace of the Cronin brothers (Paddy who came to Boston, Johnny who came to New York, and Mick who stayed in Ireland). I drove the twisting t-Sugain road from my mother's home in Brosna years ago and arriving at a pub in a pub in Ballydesmond. On the wall was an old engraving of King William's Town. I remembering wondering what had posessed some landlord to honor William of Orange out there in the wilds of Kerry way back when.

All the best,
Dan Milner

All

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: King William's Town
From: radriano
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 02:34 PM

Well, I checked the DT under King William's Town but I guess I should have used Superseach for any variations.

I would guess that it was Martin Ryan who posted the song originally. If it was you, Martin, then no need to look for the words. And thanks for the correction on Gabriel's last name. It looks like I also got the place name in the third line of the first verse wrong as well.

When I get home tonight I'll search through my tapes and verify that it was indeed Gabriel McArdle that sang the song.

Noreen, I don't know if the last verse is a recent addition to the song. I transcribed it from my tape shortly after the festival in 1984.

Regards to all,
Richard

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: King William's Town
From: MMario
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 02:44 PM

I didn't mean to imply the posting wasn't appreciated. I just wanted to save somebody extra work.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: King William's Town
From: MartinRyan
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 03:31 PM

Noreen

You may well be right that they're my initials - the date figures. Its not a song I sing myself so I may have supplied it in response to a request way back when.

Regards

p.s. Liam's Brother - see you soon!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: King William's Town
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 03:46 PM

See you soon, Martin... here's how the tour looks...

Mar 16 - Goilin, Dublin
Mar 18 - An Spalpin Fanach, Cork
Mar 19 - Somewhere?, Cashel
Mar 21 - Brandon's, Ennis
Mar 22 - Murray's, Knockcroghery
Mar 23 - 26 Inishowen

All the best,
Dan

Subject: Lyr Add: BESSIE, THE BEAUTY OF ROSSIMORE HILL
From: radriano
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 04:04 PM

It was Gabriel McArtle that sang Sweet William's Town.

He sang another song which I have as untitled but, judging by the lyrics, is probably called Bessie of Rossimore Hill (again, spelling?). I was drawn to the song by the rhyming of the words celestial and terrestrial in about the eighth verse (fourteen verses in the song). Anyone familiar with this song? I'd like to get the words right for this. I'm pretty sure this isn't in the DT (I did some searching this time) so here's what I've got of the song:

Untitled
Gabriel McArtle [Singing Workshop at Willie Clancy Festival, Ireland, 1984]

By the sweet river (Nanny?) in the great summer season
Where the weather is fine and the meadows bloom
The small birds sang quietly and everything most pleasant
Which coaxed me for to wander away from my loom
Oh, I carelessly did stray by a lonely plantation
For to view a fair one some time I stood still
Se equaled bright Flora in her lofty station
And she's Bessie, the beauty of Rossimore Hill

With the most admiration I did gaze upon Bessie
Her eyes were as bright as the dew on the Rhine
...was never so handsome or pretty
As she when she wandered down by the wood side
Now I eagerly longed to get in conversation
With that matchless fair one who had me enthralled
And I courted with great humiliation
And I spoke with Miss Bessie from Rossimore Hill

Oh, darling, then really, please pardon my folly
For daring to speak to a Goddess, you know
And pity a slave that's in deep melancholy
And is struck down by Cupid, I'll tell you such woe
Your glance and appearance has my heart attracted
You may kill or cure me but I'm here at your will
This killing affection has me most attracted
My Bessie, my beauty, of Rossimore Hill

She said then, young man, you must stop your intrusion
On some other fair one perhaps you mistreat
And I here desire that you'll make a conclusion
For I will not be flattered, I'll tell you quite plain
You know I'm no Goddess, nor nearly celestial
But a poor peasant's daughter that lives near the mill
So banter no longer and treat me terrestrial
Said Bessie, my beauty, from Rossimore Hill

I said then, fair maiden, I am no deceiver
And the words I express are the thoughts of my mind
And for to be candid, I am only a weaver
Though future in life, I'll be constant and kind
I seek your affection and care not for money
That littering trash, sure, that will not coax will
My heart's near your bosom, accept it, my honey
My Bessie, my beauty, from Rossimore Hill

She said then, young man, you do speak with some reason
And I cannot slight you at all for being poor
And I'm happy since poverty it is not high treason
For wealth unto any man is never secure
Till I see my parents, I can give you no answer
But I wish evermore my commands they'll fulfill
And to proceed further is only romancing
Said Bessie, my beauty, of Rossimore Hill

Well, I bid her goodbye and I parted with Bessie
I watched her cross Bowl (?) Mountain, an enchanted place
And the most hardened tyrant I'm sure would me pity
If he was aware of my heart-wrenching kiss
So now I'll go home and apply to my shuttle
I'll use my exertions, my heart and my skill
And unto blind Cupid, I mean to do battle
For he wounded me sorely on Rossimore Hill

Richard

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: King William's Town
From: MMario
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 04:13 PM

BESSY THE BEAUTY OF ROSSINURE HILL

I could find only two references to it on the web - and one of them was about an insturmental version they said "bears little resemblence to the vocal air"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: King William's Town
From: MartinRyan
Date: 07 Feb 01 - 08:08 PM

Jig tune? I know it...I'll have a look

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: King William's Town
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 10:30 AM

Rossinure Hill is correct - it's in Fermanagh IIRC. Now often played as a slow air. I have a feeling there is an Irish (Gaeilge) set to the tune - but can't place it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: King William's Town
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)
Date: 25 Sep 09 - 10:57 AM

On King Williamtown, you should also see this thread (not currently linked in headers): ADD: Sweet Kingwilliamstown (Daniel Buckley)^^^, which has info on the origin and several versions of the song.

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: King William's Town
From: MartinRyan
Date: 09 Oct 14 - 05:02 PM

Fine recording of Bessie the Beauty of... in the new Goilin Song Project at the Irish Traditional Music Archive, sung by Jim MacFarland:
Click here

Regards