Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)

Subject: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: Ezio
Date: 14 Mar 98 - 01:58 AM

CAVAN GIRL

As I walk the road from Killeshandra, weary I sit down
For it's twelve long miles around the lake to get to Cavan town
'Though Oughter and the road I go, one scene beyond compare
How I curse the time it takes to reach my Cavan girl so fair.

The autumn shades are on the leaves, the trees will soon be bare
Each red coat leaf around me seems to colour all her hair
My gaze retreats, defies my feet and once again I sigh
Of a broken pool of sky reminds the colour of her eyes.

At the Cavan cross each Sunday morning it's there she can be found
And she seems to have the eye of every boy in Cavan town
If my luck will hold I'll have the golden summer of her smile
And to break the hearts of Cavan men she'll talk to me a while

So next Sunday evening finds me homeward to Killeshandra bound
To work a week till I return to court in Cavan town
When asked if she would be my wife, at least she'd not said no
So next Sunday morning rouse myself and back to her I go.

Subject: Tune Add: CAVAN GIRL (Thom Moore)
From: BAZ
Date: 14 Mar 98 - 08:53 PM

Ezio Thanks for posting this. I'd forgotten all about this song, we used to sing it a while ago. I saw it there on the screen picked up the guitar and it just came out again chords, tune the lot. So I quickly typed it in the way we used to play it
Thanks again for the reminder
BAZ

---

Click to play

To play or display ABC tunes, try concertina.net

ABC format:

X:1
T:My Cavan Girl
M:4/4
Q:1/4=112
K:D
AGF3AG2|E2F3DE2|A,2zB,D2D2|D2D6|FGA2A2AB|
-Bcd2e2c2|-cBB2d2cA|-A2B6|zFAF3A2|Bcd2e2c2|
-cBB2d2c2|A2B6|AGF2A2G2|-GEF2D2E2|-EA,B,2D2D2|
-DED6||

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: DonMeixner
Date: 05 Feb 05 - 02:41 AM

Can any one supply the chords to this song ?

Thanks

Don


As I walk the road from Kilashandra, weary eyes are down
for it's twelve long miles around the lake to get to Cavan Town
lough after on the road I go, one scene beyond compare
and I curse the time it takes to reach my Cavan girl so fair

---

I moved this message here from another thread on the same topic.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: Chords Add: CAVAN GIRL (Thom Moore)
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Feb 05 - 04:32 PM

Here ya go, buddy. From Folksongs and Ballads Popular in Ireland, Volume 4. This is an Ossian publication.

^DAs I walk the ^Aroad from ^BmKilla^F#mshandra, ^Gweary ^AI sit ^Ddown.
For it's twelve long ^Amiles a-^Bmround the ^F#mlake to ^Gget to Ca^F#mvan ^Gtown.
Though ^DOugher ^Aand the ^Bmroad I ^F#mgo once ^Gseemed be^F#myond com^Gpare.
Now I ^Dcurse the ^Atime it ^Bmtakes to ^F#mreach my ^GCavan ^Agirl so ^Afair

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: DonMeixner
Date: 05 Feb 05 - 08:38 PM

Thanks Mick

I appreciate your help greatly.

Don

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: Big Mick
Date: 05 Feb 05 - 09:21 PM

Always a pleasure, my friend.

Mick

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: GUEST,Geoferarrai
Date: 13 Feb 07 - 05:36 AM

May I suggest slightly alternative lyrics to verse 1

As I walk the road from Killeshandra, weary I sit down
For it's twelve long miles around the lake to get to Cavan town
The water and the road I go, once seemed beyond compare
Now I curse the time it takes to reach my Cavan girl so fair.

One of the most beautiful love songs I have ever heard.

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: Fliss
Date: 13 Feb 07 - 02:39 PM

No its ..through Oughter.. (from Lough Oughter which is in Co Cavan)as in Ezio's posting.

written by Thom Moore an American songwriter. Its not a traditional song although Ive found it listed as such.

Thom Moore won the Cavan Song Contest with the song Cavan Girl.

Its one song I really want to learn... but dont think I can manage Bm & F#M agh...

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: Declan
Date: 13 Feb 07 - 02:43 PM

Fliss,

Use a capo on Fret 2. THen play Am and EM. If you can play an F shape the rest is easy.

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: Fliss
Date: 13 Feb 07 - 02:57 PM

Cheers - that was quick. Yes I can do F... I can manage Bm, but dont seem to manage to change chords quickly enough. Ive only been playing about 40 years.

Its a wonderful song.

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: GUEST,Tim
Date: 24 Feb 07 - 06:16 PM

I'm an Irish Tenor in the US/New Jersey. I've been looking for the words to this song for a while. I love the song but hadn't heard it in years. Glad to see someone had them written down. Thanks very much!

Subject: Lyr Add: CAVAN GIRL (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,Thom Moore
Date: 01 Sep 07 - 10:05 PM

Better late than never (!): the lyrics in the Ossian book are the right ones, since I wrote them out for them, lo these many years ago.

You can occasionally hear me sing it at the Radisson/St.Helen's on Thursday nights at the session.

Cavan Girl

As I walk the road from Killeshandra,
Weary, I sit down:
For it's twelve long miles around the lake
To get to Cavan town.
Though Oughter and the road I go
Once seemed beyond compare,
Now I curse the time it takes to reach
My Cavan girl so fair.

Now autumn shades are on the leaves,
The trees will soon be bare:
Each red-gold leaf around me seems
The colour of her hair.
My gaze retreats, to find my feet,
And once again I sigh,
For the broken pools of sky remind
the colour of her eyes.

At the Cavan cross each Sunday morning,
There she can be found;
And she seems to have the eye
Of every boy in Cavan town.
If my luck will hold, I'll have the golden
Summer of her smile,
And, to break the hearts of Cavan men,
She'll talk to me awhile.

So Sunday evening finds me, homeward,
Killeshandra bound,
To work the week till I return and
Court in Cavan town:
When asked if she would be my wife,
At least she'd not said no;
So next Sunday morning, rouse myself,
And back to her I'll go.

(Repeat first verse)

©1979 Thom Moore, reg. IMRO, MCPS, PRS

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: GUEST,mg
Date: 02 Sep 07 - 12:29 AM

very lovely song. I think my nephew in law is from County Cavan..or am I embarassing myself..is it is a county? mg

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: Declan
Date: 02 Sep 07 - 05:40 AM

Yes Mary, Cavan is a county.

Welcome to Mudcat Thom. I often heard you sing this one and others in places like "The Meeting Place" when this was a new song. Its always nice to get the lyrics directly from the Author.

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: joseph
Date: 03 Sep 07 - 04:51 AM

Regarding the song The Cavan Girl its good to see the writer give you the correct lyrics.this is a beautiful song which will always be sung for many years to come. I sing the song myself at sessions held in the Lurgan area Co Armagh. Kanes Bar Ballinery and JP's Edward ST.
Lurgan THe 1st and second Tuesday of every month. Ypull will hear the cream of local musicians and singers there.

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: Fliss
Date: 04 Sep 07 - 02:54 AM

Hello Thom.... now I really must learn the song.

fliss

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: GUEST,Mike / Elbow Jane Band
Date: 22 Dec 07 - 12:24 PM

Check out Elbow Jane arrangement of Cavan Girl, on website elbowjane.com. Can post MP3 to anyone who wants full song / arrangement.
cheers
Mike

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: Fliss
Date: 23 Dec 07 - 07:15 PM

ta will do sometime over christmas.

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: GUEST,Marianne McPhillips
Date: 05 Feb 08 - 07:01 PM

Wow ! Great to find this little conversation about "Cavan Girl" going on. I was singing my own song in the Cavan Song Contest the night Thom - deservedly - won with this beauty, way back in ... was it 1979 ? Happy memories !
Marianne

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: GUEST,Rob Wolfe
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 11:43 AM

Good man Thom.

Subject: Chords Add: CAVAN GIRL
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 01:55 PM

I do this one in C using the chord sequence from McTell's Streets of London...


C             G         Am    Em      F    G    C   
As I walk the road from Killeshandra, weary I sit down
C                   G      Am       Em      F      G    F
For it's twelve long miles around the lake to get to Cavan town
    C    G       Am    Em       F       G       F
The water and the road I go, once seemed beyond compare
      C         G       Am       Em       F    G       C
Now I curse the time it takes to reach my Cavan girl so fair.

Sounds good, I think

Don T.

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: Don(Wyziwyg)T
Date: 28 Feb 08 - 01:58 PM

As always the chords didn't go where I typed them, but if you hit the stressed beats you'll be about right, unless one of our helpful elves can oblige.

Don T.

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: GUEST,Tara MacKenzie
Date: 16 Mar 08 - 11:52 PM

If you think this song is wonderful, you should hear some of the beauties on Thom's broadjam site.
He is a superior songwriter, and there are many songs that are of equal quality on there.
He's a brilliant writer and gentleman to boot. I hope to never have a recording that does not feature a Thom Moore song.

Subject: RE: Chords Req/LYR ADD: Cavan girl
From: GUEST,Thom Moore
Date: 02 Apr 08 - 09:20 AM

Ooops. My mommy told me never to Google myself. For those of you following this thread, Tara MacKenzie (who can be found on MySpace or vertproductions.com) is the definitive performer of Cavan Girl -- never mind Danny Doyle or The Barleycorn. Check out her version on her MySpace page -- I thought I'd lost my mind, or died and gone to heaven, or something...

And I love that threat never to record a CD without a song of mine ...I just hope. And hi to Marianne and Rob and Fliss and Declan.

Thom

broadjam site for downloads of Thom Moore

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,John G
Date: 25 Sep 08 - 12:44 PM

I heard a three-piece on the ferry to France some years ago singing this beautiful song and when I arrived back in Ireland they were playing in the "Red Parrot" on Dorset St., Dublin, and I went to hear them again just for this song. I can't remember the name of the band but my God, I was bowled over by the tune and the gorgeous lyrics. I only wish I could play guitar. Well done to everybody and especially Thom.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,kilshannig
Date: 09 Jan 09 - 06:12 AM

The threat becomes a treat when every CD has a song from Thom...
we did the Cavan Girl on our album "our Chief Delight"( on our site you can hear a part of it ... www.kilshannig.nl )
we first heard the song by a very obscure singer on a very obscure sample CD. Great luck my friend heard the beauty through the terrible singing and recording...
since then it is on all time favourite of my daughter.
( and Thom, if you want I will send you our complet version..)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,sullivan
Date: 26 Jan 09 - 09:44 AM

this song is beautiful my Nanna was from cavern and she has just passed away god bless her sweet soul and i had to carry her from the church to the herse and this was playing thanks alot for posting these lyrics i have been looking for them everywhere.

ohh and thankyou for posting the chords too i love this song.

R.I.P Bridie Sullivan xxxxxxxxxx

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,GUEST DesM
Date: 23 Feb 09 - 06:33 PM

Hi JohnG, i was in that three piece band on the ferry, Paddys Dream is the name of the band.
i agree , what a wonderful song 'my cavan girl' is!
Des

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,Carol
Date: 02 Dec 10 - 07:53 PM

Check out Darren Holden's version with the High Kings on my YouTube. It's a beautiful song and this version has won Darren a lot of praise on previous High Kings tours from fans and people in the industry alike.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fyaXiS1PcZM

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,jas hilsdon
Date: 30 Jun 11 - 03:18 AM

None do it so warm and lovely as Barnbrack. IMHO. And they get the lyric right.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 07:48 AM

Oh, good heavens. At least these wonderful internet thingies at least get them in chronological order! (1) there is probably no better live version than The High Kings (which, if you think about it from a linguistic point of view, is probably equal in sense to 'the Chieftains' ...)and(2) I stand by my earlier statement that the definitive version (of all the wonderful versions that I have heard of my song)is probably Tara MacKenzie's ... who was under the impression, at the time she did it, that this was a traditional Irish song ... which it is, of course ... except it was written by me in 1979. Ooops, oops, oops.

Thom Moore

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 10 Aug 11 - 08:22 AM

I love the song Thom, and I have recorded it too.
Here , Not too happy with the quality of the recording though.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,Mary Heil
Date: 01 Sep 11 - 10:20 AM

Thom, all I can say is that if you had any particular woman in mind when you wrote this song, regardless of her location, I hope she understands the worth of such tenderness. :)

The lyric "and to break the hearts of Cavan men, / she'll talk to me awhile." delights me every time. I love the digital age, when I can actually *tell* a person who wrote one of my favorite songs, possibly my favorite love song, how much I enjoy it and how much happiness it brings to my life each time I hear it or sing it.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Sep 11 - 10:48 AM

The really bizarre aspect of this is the time lag ... I don't think I've looked at this thread since the last time I responded ... and I'm only responding THIS time because not only did Mary Heil pass a lovely compliment on to me ... she actually named the phrase that warms her the most! The first time this happened to me was on a flying visit to Dublin from California in 1989, when I did a gig with Gerry O'Beirne supporting some people in Mother Redcaps ... and there was a member of the audience who got up to leave after we'd done our bit. We begged her to stay; she informed us that she was a Midnight Well fan. Taken aback (not really thinking that anyone in the world knew that band) I said something pseudo-wise, like, 'Oh, yeah? And what's your favourite song on it?' Without dropping a beat, she smiled and said 'Wheel of Fortune'. Even more nonplussed, I said something like, 'Oh, yeah? And what's your favourite lyric in it?' Again, without dropping a beat, she said, 'And a friend I'll be when I refuse him, and send him home again...' Crikey. I'm not sure if I'm as proud of that lyric as I am of 'she'll talk to me awhile' ... but it's pretty close. Thanks, Mary.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 23 Sep 11 - 11:24 AM

I love that line too, but I think the lines that intrigue me, are the ones that describe the road. "The road I go, once seemed beyond compare, now I curse the time it takes to reach, my Cavan girl so fair. It's a lovely description of how circumstances alter cases,

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,Sean Brady
Date: 02 Feb 14 - 03:49 AM

I love this song too. It still isn't very well known but seems to be gaining in popularity steadily - probably because it's such a nice melody. I very recently came across an unaccompanied version on YouTube which I think sounds gorgeous. I don't know who the guy is but he has a great voice. Check out kieranbren1 on YouTube.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Nov 14 - 01:36 AM

Wayne

I would like to get the melody for the nice Intro to Cavan Girl. If there is a tab that can give me the melody notes that would be most apprecaiated

Cheers

Wayne

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,twerp
Date: 07 Nov 14 - 06:51 AM

I once mentioned to an Irish friend that I was going to Cavan and got the response " Dear God, that's a dreadful place"!
And it was.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 07 Nov 14 - 10:18 AM

Sorry I can't help with the intro, twerp.

I like the melody, and I've made a MIDI, starting with the ABC above and listening to a couple of singers on youtube. I've changed it a bit - adding a couple of dotted notes for better harmony and eliminating a bit I consider awkward in the middle. I'll send it to Joe.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,leeneia
Date: 07 Nov 14 - 10:24 AM

The ABC above has the bar lines in the wrong place. I've made a MIDI of the tune, and I eliminated some hiccups to make it easier for the new player. I'll send it to Joe for posting.

If you object, go ahead and put the hiccups back in.

Sean, you are right about the singer kieranbren1.

Sorry about the intro, twerp.

---

Click to play (joeweb)

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Nov 14 - 10:37 PM

Leeneia's MIDI posted above. Thanks, leeneia.

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,twerp
Date: 08 Nov 14 - 07:39 AM

Thank you. Reminds me of the Lakes of Ponchartrain.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 25 Nov 18 - 05:20 AM

It is, or sounds like, a straightened out version of the popular tune for The Lakes Of Ponchartrain.

It would be interesting to know if Ponchartrain was an inspiration, or at least at the back of Thom Moore's mind when writing Cavan Girl. That's not to detract from Cavan Girl, which is a fine song, it's just that the tune is so similar as to suggest an influence.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: John MacKenzie
Date: 25 Nov 18 - 06:25 AM

I note that my link earlier takes one somewhere other than to my Soundcloud page. Here it is again, if it's of interest to anyone. Sorry I've forgotten how to do blickies.

https://soundcloud.com/john-mackenzie-1/cavan-girl-moore

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST,Guest
Date: 24 Sep 20 - 03:09 AM

Thom Moore (1943-2018)

Thom Moore was inspired to write this song about the love story of Michael Woods and the Cavan Girl, Rita Munday, after meeting them in 1978.

Michael Woods from Killeshandra in Cavan County met Rita Munday from Belturbet also in Cavan County while they were both in New York in 1964.
They fell in love and went back to Ireland in 1968 and married.
They had five children. Rita died in 2016.

Subject: RE: Lyr/Tune/Chords Add: Cavan Girl (Thom Moore)
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Sep 20 - 08:03 AM

'Cavan County'       County Cavan