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Lyr Add: My Darling Sleeps in England |
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Subject: Lyr Add: MY DARLING SLEEPS IN ENGLAND^^ From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 15 Sep 01 - 06:40 PM Here's a song I found in a book, a lament for an Irishman killed by the bombs while working in England in the war. It seems timely. And I've been doing an awful lot of talking here the last few days. This one is worth singing.
The tune is the one used for The Boston Burglar and the book says it's from the singing of Mary Reynolds of Co Leitrim.
My darling sleeps in England across the Irish Sea
The times came hard upon us, my children three and I,
Each week from English cities a letter came to me
I wrote him back a letter and I said "My darling Dan,
One evening I was at my work and a knock came to the door; (From The Cruel Wars compiled by Karl Dallas, Wolfe Publishing 1972)^^ |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A song about bombs From: Gareth Date: 15 Sep 01 - 07:48 PM Kevin - you give the date of the collection publication, do you know the date of first poublication, or is it a question of chasing round the Mulberry Bush ??? Gareth |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A song about bombs From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 15 Sep 01 - 08:18 PM Mulberry Bush I'm afraid.
No indication in Karl Dallas's book of any previous publication. In his note in the book he says "A song from the singing of Mary Reynolds of Co Leitrim in Ireland...Some have called the melody trite and 'Irish pub tenor', but these words and simple tune are strangely moving, especially as Mary sings them in her high sweet voice." Which may sound a bit patronising, but seems to suggest that he might well have collected it himself. Or maybe it's on a Topic record or somethinhg like that.
The fella who might know about this, since he knows about everything to do with Irish songs, could be Frank Harte, who sometimes frequents these Mudcat parts. I've sent him a PM drawing his attention to this thread which he might see. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A song about bombs From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 15 Sep 01 - 10:01 PM Mary Reynolds of Mohill, Co. Leitrim, appeared on the 1960s Topic LP The Folk Songs of Britain, Vol. 7, Fair Game and Foul (12T195), singing The Lakes of Shillin. That song, as recorded by Seamus Ennis in 1954, is transcribed in Peter Kennedy's Folksongs of Britain and Ireland (1975), but is not included on Kennedy's accompanying Songs of Newsworthy Sensation recording. Dallas may have recorded Mary Reynolds himself, but my guess -without having seen the book- is that he got My Darling Sleeps (what exactly is the title?) from a BBC archive recording made by Ennis.
How about a tune for this one (trite or not)? |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A song about bombs From: Joe Offer Date: 15 Sep 01 - 10:16 PM Kevin, does the collection give the song a title? Am I safe in assuming that in the third verse, it's "Darling wife, how do you fare"?? Thanks. -Joe Offer- |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A song about bombs From: McGrath of Harlow Date: 16 Sep 01 - 07:09 AM It should be "fare" - that's the trouble with spellccheckers when you are in a hurry. I also suspect that it should be "our children three", though the book has "your" - and if I was singing that's what I'd use in any case, since it's what I'd write if I was in that situation.
The title given is My Darling sleeps in England, which sems a good title (though I can imagine it might also be called Across the Irish Sea). I've never heard it sung, but reading it this week I think it's a very powerful soing. The tune given with it isn't quite The Boston Burglar, but close - and I thougt it a good idea when posting it to give a tune that people would recognise in case anyone wants to sing it at this time. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: A song about bombs From: Malcolm Douglas Date: 16 Sep 01 - 10:21 AM John of Brisbane posted a tune in an earlier thread: Tune Add:Boston City/Boston Burglar Miditext and abc formats, from notation in a Soodlums book. |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Darling Sleeps in England From: GUEST,Tim Mc Date: 13 Apr 24 - 06:42 PM From the VWML entry for Roud 9729, the recording of Mary Reynolds is a BBC recording by Seamus Ennis in 1954 (as Malcolm Douglas guessed). https://www.vwml.org/search?q=rn9729&collectionfilter=RoudFS;RoudBS&is=1 |
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: My Darling Sleeps in England From: GeoffLawes Date: 20 Apr 24 - 07:00 PM My Darling Sleeps in England, sung on YouTube |
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