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Subject: Lyr Add: GOODBYE MUIRSHEEN DURKIN From: GUEST,Marko Date: 17 Mar 01 - 12:36 PM GOODBYE MUIRSHEEN DURKIN (as performed by Distant Voices)
In the days when I went courtin', I never tired resortin'
Chorus:
I've courted girls in Blarney, in Kanturk and Killarney,
Goodby ta all the boys at home, I'm sailin' far across the foam
When I got to Amer-e-ky I met a man named Burt.
I'm now in San Francisco and me fortune it is made.
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: Jon Freeman Date: 17 Mar 01 - 12:46 PM I've got a Noel Murphy recording somewhere. I seem to remember him singing "Good bye Murshieen Durkin, I'll thump you with me gherkin" on one of the choruses. Jon |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 17 Mar 01 - 01:00 PM See also these two entries in the Database: Muirsheen Durkin Molly Durkin Malcolm |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: The Celtic Bard Date: 17 Mar 01 - 05:13 PM Thank you, thank you, thank you, Marko! I've been looking all over for the lyrics to this song. Now I know that it's in the database but I couldn't find it because I was spelling it Mursheen Durkin or Muirshin Durkin and not Muirsheen Durkin. Again THANK YOU! Rebecca <>< |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 17 Mar 01 - 09:24 PM The trick is to search for the part of the title that seems most consistently spelled, or for keywords. durkin in this case, finds all. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: The Celtic Bard Date: 30 Mar 01 - 01:01 AM Thanks for the tip, Malcolm. Rebecca <>< |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: Big Tim Date: 30 Mar 01 - 04:26 AM I've been a fan of this rousing old song for many years, anyone know the origins? Sounds a bit music hallish? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: MartinRyan Date: 30 Mar 01 - 05:49 AM Tim I know its included in a recent book of Irish American songs called "A little bit of heaven", by Sean McMahon. He usually gives background, so I'll check when I have a chance. Regards |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: Maryrrf Date: 30 Mar 01 - 09:32 AM This may be a silly question, but what is "Muirsheen"? Is it a name, a title...? I've always wondered. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: Big Tim Date: 30 Mar 01 - 12:50 PM No Maryrrf, that's a damned good question, one that never occurred to me and one that I can't answer. Just a personal name? |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: MartinRyan Date: 01 Apr 01 - 03:14 PM It could well be a corruption of the Irish version of my own name! On the origin: Sean Mc Mahon simply says : "Broadsheet ballad dating from soon after 1849 as the Gold Rush reference suggests." |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: Big Tim Date: 01 Apr 01 - 03:28 PM Thanks Martin for your efforts. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe Date: 02 Apr 01 - 04:47 AM The Dubliners LP which contains this song calls it Muirton Durkin. Is this a misprint and if it is is it a misprint for Muirsheen or Mairtin? Good Luck, Ian M. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: Big Tim Date: 02 Apr 01 - 04:53 AM I think that's got to me a misprint. PS - I just happen to be re-reading "Children of the Dead End" by Patrick McGill at the present time! Good old Moleskin, what a bonnie fighter! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: MartinRyan Date: 02 Apr 01 - 06:06 AM Joe : I was just speculating that "Mursheen" (as it usually appears) may be a messy corruption of Máirtín! Regards |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe Date: 02 Apr 01 - 06:38 AM Tim, Have you read any of the other books, especially Moleskin Joe. I've got about half a dozen of them. Good Luck, Ian M. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: Big Tim Date: 02 Apr 01 - 12:07 PM Yea I read MJ when I was 18 in 1963, don't remember much about it now but enjoyed it at the time. Now seeing COTDE through much more experienced eyes: my verdict now, an unsophisticated (inevitable) but immensely honest and moving piece of writing. My father was also a labourer from Donegal so I can really relate to Children of the Dead End. All the best. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: GUEST,Philippa Date: 17 Jun 02 - 01:36 PM I believe Muirsheen is a name. I suppose it could come from Máirtín,a s has been suggested, but I always thought it was "Muirisín", little Maurice. But who was he - landlord, boss, moneylender (or have I got it wrong and Mursheen was a relative or friend)? I had a notion (without firm basis) that like 'Nora' and 'Many Young Men of Twenty Said Goodbye', this song was part of a stage play - and then it would be clear who Mursheen was. But according to Seán McMahon (see M. Ryan's message) the song is from a 19th c. broadsheet. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: Bev and Jerry Date: 17 Jun 02 - 03:02 PM We have always thought that Muirsheen Dirkin translated as Mrs. Dirkin, a symbol for Ireland in the same way that Uncle Sam is a symbol of the U.S. But, we can't remember where we got that from so it might be just BS. Bev and Jerry |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: Susanne (skw) Date: 17 Jun 02 - 07:30 PM I've always assumed Muirsheen Durkin was a place name - the place Mr Carney was happy to leave behind. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: Snuffy Date: 17 Jun 02 - 08:13 PM I know a few people of Irish descent called Durkin, so I always assumed Muirsheen was a first name. Isn't it? And Carney's going to send a letter from New York - not to a place, nor to Kathleen na Houlihan/Mother Macree - but to someone he knows. WassaiL! V |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: GUEST,Philippa Date: 29 Jul 02 - 10:57 AM At Locksley & Bethancourt's songbook, Muirsheen Durkin is subtitled "Cailiní deasa Mhuigheo" (pretty girls of Mayo). I suppose the reference is to another song with the same tune, or to the name of a tune air. ...seeking further information .... |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: GUEST,Moleskin Joe Date: 29 Jul 02 - 11:35 AM The Pretty Girls of Mayo is a well known reel. |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: GUEST,Nick Date: 29 Jul 02 - 11:46 AM Yes, I agree with Bev and Jerry. Muirsheen equals Mrs., but for me that's because the Irish Rovers (All Northern Irishman, but North American based) recorded it as Goodbye, Mrs. Durkin. Nick |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: Blackcatter Date: 29 Apr 05 - 02:28 PM Refresh - Anyone know any more info about this song's history? Thanks! |
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Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Muirsheen Durkin From: Big Al Whittle Date: 29 Apr 05 - 05:55 PM Recent history ;Johnny MacEvoy had a hit with it in the 1960's. In the mid 60's Noel Murphy came over to England with a brilliant exuberant folk act and MD was one his stand out numbers. for a good number of years Noel was one of the most popular folk acts in England, he made the song very famous in England. Best of luck with your reearch! Big Al Whittle |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: Joe Offer Date: 08 Mar 20 - 11:30 PM Here's the Traditional Ballad Index entry on this song. Good bye Mursheen DurkinDESCRIPTION: Molly Durkin marries Tim O'Shea. Cooney, "to keep my heart from breakin', I sailed to Americay." He finds no work in New York. He goes to San Francisco, finds gold and heads back to Ireland where "I'll marry Miss O'Kelly, Molly Durkin for to spite"AUTHOR: unknown EARLIEST DATE: 1929 (for USBallinsloeFair, according to site irishtune.info, Irish Traditional Music Tune Index: Alan Ng's Tunography, ref. Ng #1331) KEYWORDS: travel gold work drink America Ireland humorous rake emigration betrayal return FOUND IN: Ireland REFERENCES (2 citations): OLochlainn-More 36, "Good bye Mursheen Durkin" (1 text, 1 tune) DT, MRSHDRK Roud #9753 RECORDINGS: Murty Rabbett, "Molly Durkin" (on USBallinsloeFair) ALTERNATE TITLES: Muirsheen Durkin Muirton Durkin NOTES [355 words]: O Lochlainn says "I learnt the last verse in childhood and 'invented' the other two finding nothing else but a fragment 'And now to end my story, I'll marry Queen Victorey'." What O Lochlainn remembers as the last verse appears to be the chorus. That fragment ending beats "I'll marry Miss O'Kelly" but otherwise "Molly Durkin" (on USBallinsloeFair) seems more authoritative. In any case the description I used is from USBallinsloeFair. Here though is the description for O Lochlainn's version: Corney tires of courting and drinking locally. He goes off to roam the world. Then he tires "of all this pleasure" in Ireland and heads for New York. Now "good-bye Mursheen Durkin, Sure, I'm sick and tired of workin'" and heads for gold in California. In Murty Rabbett's version the singer "landed in Castle Garden" in New York. That may be useful in bracketing the dates on that version. Castle Garden, before and again "Castle Clinton" at The Battery in New York, was the entry point for immigrants between 1845 and 1890 [see, for example, "Castle Garden, New York" transcribed from The Illustrated American of March 1, 1890 at Norway-Heritage site]. One problem with using "Castle Garden" for dating is that the name may have remained synonymous with "entry point for New York" long after the building became the New York Aquarium. In my own family I heard about "Kesselgarten" sixty years after it closed, although my grandfather arrived in New York thirteen years after that building became home to captive fish. For a similar Castle Garden(s) reference see the notes to "Castle Gardens (I)." - BS Although O Lochlainn's text seems to be the source for almost every version known today, it seems to have been pretty heavily folk processed by revival singers. And I'm not talking about the zillion ways of spelling "Mursheen/Muirsheen." According to Soodlum's Irish Ballad Book, the tune is "Cailini Deas Mhuigheo" ("The Beautiful Girls of Mayo"). I seem to recall reading somewhere that "Murisheen Durkin" is another name for Ireland. Of course, if you read enough Irish books, *everything* is a disguised name for Ireland. - RBW File: OLcM036 Go to the Ballad Search form Go to the Ballad Index Instructions The Ballad Index Copyright 2019 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle. MUIRSHEEN DURKIN (Digital Tradition Lyrics) In the days I went a courtin', I was never tired resortin' To the alehouse and the playhouse or many a house beside, I told me brother Seamus l'd go off and go right famous And before l'd return again l'd roam the world wide. Chorus: So goodbye Muirsheen Durkin, l'm sick and tired of working, No more I'll dig the praties, no longer I'll be fool. For as sure as me name is Carney I'll be off to California, where instead of diggin'praties I'll be diggin'lumps of gold. I've courted girls in Blarney, in Kanturk and in Killarney In Passage and in Queenstown, that is the Cobh of Cork. But goodbye to all this pleasure, for l'm going to take me leisure And the next time you will hear from me Will be a letter from New York, Goodbye to all the boys at home, l'm sailing far across the foam To try to make me fortune in far America, For there's s gold and money plenty for the poor and gentry And when I come back again I never more will stray, @Irish @farewell @emigrate filename[ MRSHDRK TUNE FILE: MRSHDRK CLICK TO PLAY ARB
MOLLY DURKIN (Digital Tradition second version) I'm a dacint honest workin' man, as you might understand, And I'll tell to you the reason why I left old Ireland; 'Twas Molly Durkin did it when she married Tim O'Shea And to keep my heart from breakin', I sailed to Americay. cho: Arragh, goodbye Molly Durkin, I'm sick and tired of workin' And my heart is nearly broken, but no longer I'll be fooled; And as sure as my name is Cooney, I'm bound for Califooney And indtead of diggin' mortar I'll be diggin' lumps of gold. Well, I landed in Castle Garden, sure I met a man named Burke And he told me remain in New York until he got me work. But he hasn't got it for me, so tonight I'll tell him plain, For San Francisco in the morn I'm going to take a train. Well, I'm out in Californy and my fortune it is made. I'm a-loaded down with gold and I throw away my pick and spade Sail home to dear old Ireland with the Castle out of sight, And I'll marry Miss O'Kelly, Molly Durkin for to spite. From The American History Songbook, Silverman @Irish @gold @immigrant filename[ MRSHDRK2 TUNE FILE: MRSHDRK CLICK TO PLAY RG |
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Subject: ADD Version: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: Joe Offer Date: 09 Mar 20 - 12:27 AM The version in the Digital Tradition is almost Song #36 in More Irish Street Ballads, by Colm O'Lochlainn (1965). I've noted differences in bold or italics.
GOOD BYE MURSHEEN DURKIN |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: meself Date: 09 Mar 20 - 01:45 AM And here all these years I thought I was the only person in the world who had no idea who, what, or where "Muirsheen Durkin" was .... Btw, the Irish Rovers rendered it "Missus Durkin" - which I suppose makes as much or as little sense as "Muirsheen Durkin". I believe they gave the speaker's name as "Barney". |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: Joe Offer Date: 09 Mar 20 - 02:05 AM I learned this song from the singing of My Old Boss, Debby McClatchy. It's on her "With the Red Clay Ramblers" album, at 43:26 (and note how gorgeous she was on the album cover). I think this is the usual version, sung by lots of Irish singers. But today I heard a rendition by the Black Brothers at a house concert, and I really liked it. Shay Black slowed the song down a lot, and I think he made it more meaningful. I think sentimentality will make me always prefer the way Debby McClatchy did it, but it was interesting to see what the Black Brothers did with it. And the Black Brothers put on one hell of a wonderful concert (but so does Debby). And Shay Black said all sorts of wonderful things about Mudcat. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: Joe Offer Date: 09 Mar 20 - 02:13 AM Version by The Pogues: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrQbEaurkyQ In the days when I was courtin', I was seldom done resortin' In the ale house and the playhouse, And many's the house between I told me brother Seamus, I'll go off and get right famous, And when I come back home again, I'll have seen the whole wide world And it's goodbye, Muirshin Durkin, I'm sick and tired of workin' I'll no more dig the praties, I'll no longer be a fool As sure as me name is Carney, I'll go off to California And instead of digging praties, I'll be digging lumps of gold Farewell to all the girls at home, I'm bound away across the foam Off to seek me fortune In far Amerikay There's silver there a-plenty, For the poor and for the gentry And when I come back home again, I never more will say, Goodbye, Muirshin Durkin, I'm sick and tired of workin' I'll no more dig the praties, I'll no longer be a fool As sure as me name is Carney, I'll go off to California Where instead of diggin' praties, I'll be digging lumps of gold And goodbye, Muirshin Durkin, I'm sick and tired of workin' I'll no more dig the praties, I'll no longer be a fool As sure as me name is Carney, I'll go off to California Where instead of diggin' praties, I'll be digging lumps of gold Goodbye, Muirshin Durkin, I'm sick and tired of workin' I'll no more dig the praties, No more be a fool As sure as me name is Carney, I'll go off to California Where instead of diggin' praties, I'll be diggin' lumps of gold |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: Joe Offer Date: 09 Mar 20 - 03:00 AM I can't find anything to verify the second Digital Tradition of this song. I have lots of Jerry Silverman books, but not the book the DT lyrics come from. Can anybody document the history of this version? -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: GUEST,jim bainbridge Date: 10 Mar 20 - 07:25 AM Joe Offer, I have somewhere an old Irish-American recorded version of this song but it sounds more like 'as sure as me name is Cooney I'll be off to Califooney' |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: Lighter Date: 10 Mar 20 - 10:49 AM I believe The Irish Rovers popularized the song around 1967-68 in their own version, presumably based on that in O Lochlainn. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: Dave Hanson Date: 10 Mar 20 - 03:31 PM I think The Dubliners popularised it, they sang it on the Ed Sullivan show because Ed wouldn't let them sing their big hit Seven Drunken Nights because the daft twat thought it was ' a lewd song ' Dave H |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: Mrrzy Date: 10 Mar 20 - 04:18 PM Ha ha I always heard this as No longer I'll be fooled and as the poor unfor'nate gentry. Kinda like the poor ornery people in I wonder as I wander. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: Joe Offer Date: 12 Mar 20 - 08:42 PM And I would guess that this is a music hall song, composed by somebody, not traditional and not acceptable to purists. But I don't care - I like the song. -Joe- |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: Lighter Date: 13 Mar 20 - 01:37 PM O Lochlainn sez (More Irish Street Ballads, 1965): "This air is sung in Conamara to 'Peigin Leiter Mor' I learnt the last verse in childhood and 'invented' the other two, finding nothing else but a fragment 'And now to end my story, I 'll marry Queen Victorey.' See B. Breathnach ' Ceol Rince,' where it is named 'Cailini Deasa Mhuigheo.'" The titles in English are "Peggy Lettermore" and "The Pretty Girls of Mayo." The latter reel may be heard here (first tune in a medley): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4WH_V-U5XaU More about it: https://tunearch.org/wiki/Annotation:Pretty_Girls_of_Mayo The Dubliners' version of "Peggy Lettermore" is quite different: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BQ9p6NreqAU See also the quote from The Ballad Index, above. O Lochlainn was born in 1892. His "childhood" thus lasted till about 1904. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: GUEST,Learaí na Láibe Date: 14 Mar 20 - 10:46 PM Johnny McEvoy popularized the song in the late sixties. He had a hit with the single. I'm pretty sure Mursheen is just an anglicized spelling of the Irish name; Muirisín, i.e. Little Morris. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: Lighter Date: 15 Mar 20 - 12:21 PM As was observed years ago upthread, the Irish Rovers version addressed "Mrs." Durkin. That's how they sang it on American TV a year earlier. The show was "Hollywood Talents Scouts Starring Art Linkletter" (CBS-TV), and the date was August 29, 1966. I recall Linkletter (an iconic radio-TV host for decades) introducing their music as the real McCoy (and no, they didn't sing "The Unicorn"). As a big Clancy-Makem fan at the time, I was obviously impressed. They sang the second line of "Mrs. Durkin" as "the other house besides." Get it? Get it? |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: meself Date: 15 Mar 20 - 12:28 PM I wonder how many parents heard their children sing that line, and exchanged alarmed or amused glances. |
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Subject: RE: Origins: Muirsheen Durkin / Molly Durkin From: GUEST Date: 15 Sep 21 - 10:53 AM its possible that the song comes from an obscure music Hall song by Felix McGlennon referred to as "Lumps of Gold" john http://folksongandmusichall.com/index.php/muirsheen-durkin-diggin-lumps-of-gold/ |
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