Lyr/Tune Add: Roscarbery? / Rosscarbery

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: ROSSCARBERY
From: weerover
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 10:44 AM

Find lyrics below as requested, Big Tim. The other tracks on the album are: Erin Go Brath / It's a Grand Old Country / The Recruiting Sergeant / Slean Libh / Sergeant William Bailey / Barry's Column / Boys of the County Cork / Johnston's Motor Car / Sean Treacy / Take It Down from the Mast / Castle of Drumboe / The Merry Ploughbough / Sean South of Limerick / The Oul' Alrum Clock / The Patriot Game

(excessive spacing in abc tune for my ease of editing)

ROSSCARBERY

When Easter broke the tyrant's yoke and set us on the way
From tyranny to liberty we proudly hailed the day
And when the English sent the Tans, their murderous hand was stayed
In dear old Cork, in rebel Cork, with the Third West Cork Brigade

They took our brave McCurtin and they murdered him at home,
Forenenst his wife and family they sent him to his doom.
But still the gallant people came, undaunted, undismayed
From dear old Cork, from rebel Cork, to the Third West Cork Brigade

Rosscarbery was soon engaged and fell beneath our fire,
At Passage, too, the Tans we slew, and forced them to retire.
In Upton brave, uplifted slave came armed to our aid
To dear old Cork, to rebel Cork, to the Third West Cork Brigade

And when the fight for freedom ends, and we're a nation free,
We'll know how well we could depend on westward of the Lee,
For there in history's book we'll have a full and glorious page
On dear old Cork, on rebel Cork, on the Third West Cork Brigade.

T:Rosscarbery
M:4/4
L:1/4
Q:70
S:as sung by Dominic Behan
K:G
D| c3/2 B/2 A B| G3/2 E/2 D3/2 D/2| D/2 E3/2 G3/2 G/2|
G3 G| E/2 A3/2 c3/2 B/2| B3/2 A/2 A3/2 G/2| G F D D|
D3 d| d3/2 c/2 B d| c B A3/2 B/2| c B A G|
E2 z G| D E G3/2 A/2| B/2 d3/2 d3/2 D/4D/4| D E G3/2 G/2| G3||

% ABC2Win Version 2.1 06/11/2002

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: Big Tim
Date: 06 Nov 02 - 11:08 AM

Thanks Weerover. However, as it happens, I do know the song, but under the title "The Third West Cork Brigade". It's on one of my anon rebel compilation albums. Re ML in Glasgow, I'll PM you.

Anyone know what really happened at Upton? I've found it hard to get reliable info. ("Lonely Woods of Upton" = good song, but WHAT HAPPENED!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: Fiolar
Date: 07 Nov 02 - 10:11 AM

Big Tim: You'll find a full account in the book "Towards Ireland Free" by Liam Deasy. It was published by the Mercier Press in 1973. Very briefly an ambush was set up at Upton Station on February 1921 for the Cork to Bantry train which the First Cork Brigade had information would only contain about twelve to fifteen British soldiers> However at the Kinsale Junction of the line another fifty soldiers joined the train and of course when the asault began the attackers were vastly outnumbered.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: Big Tim
Date: 07 Nov 02 - 11:15 AM

Thanks Fiolar. I might have trouble getting hold of that book, much as I would like to. I don't want to bother you too much but do you know what the casualties were? I'm seem to recall reading somewhere that about 5 or 6 civilians were killed. Perhaps I'm getting it mixed up with another incident?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 07 Nov 02 - 05:07 PM

weerover, thanks for posting this. Can we perhaps keep the thread alive to receive the rest of the songs on "Easter Week and After"? I have most of them, but not Sergeant William Bailey, Barry's Column and It's A Grand Old Country. Also, any additional info would be welcome, although the sleevenotes by Paddy Tunney are quite good.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: weerover
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 01:20 AM

Susanne,

Will post lyrics mentioned when I get home and dig album out.

wr

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: Big Tim
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 05:50 AM

"It's a grand old country every time
With her trees and rivers, rocks and soil and clime
We're God's own people and we'll shout from tower and steeple
It's a grand old country every time"

That's all I can remember from a 1960s Willie Brady album now sadly consigned to the bin.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: Fiolar
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 08:30 AM

Big Tim: Give me a day or two and I'll check the chapter again and get back to you with the information.

Subject: Lyr Add: IT'S A GRAND OLD COUNTRY
From: weerover
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 08:49 AM

Here it is:

IT'S A GRAND OLD COUNTRY

You've read of revolution and you've read of the bloody wars
You've seen our land disfigured by the dirty Saxon scars
You know that ships went sailing with our best from vale and hill
But there's hearts and hands in Ireland that would free old Ireland still
For it's a grand old country every time
With its rocks and rivers, lakes and soil and clime
We're God's own people and we'll shout from tower and steeple
It's a grand old country every time

How often we've been flattened out our history books will show
When Mother England battened on our misery and woe
She slapped us and she baked(?) us and the snivellers cried "Amen"
But the world knows how Ireland rose from out the dust again
For its a grand…

We'll pray for Mother England while I'm waitin' on the day
I'll pray for Mother England till I'm blind and bald and grey
I'll pray that dyin' she may die and drownin' she may drown
And if ever she tries to lift her head I'' be there to push it down
For it's a grand…

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: Big Tim
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 11:09 AM

A "trailer" for Barry's flying column!

O but isn't it great to see,the Tommy's and the RIC,
Black and Tans and Staters flee, away from Barry's Column.

Fiolar: I greatly appreciate that info if it's not a awful lot of bother.

Subject: Lyr Add: BARRY'S COLUMN
From: weerover
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 12:04 PM

Okay, Big Tim, I'll take the bait:

BARRY'S COLUMN

From east to west, from north to south, they tried to hunt the column out
But the Tans were forced to go without the lads of Barry's column
From prison cells they came to stay and wipe our Irish boys away
But oh! The lovely holiday was stopped by Barry's column
Oh! but isn't it great to see the Tommies and the R.I.C.,
Black and Tans and Staters flee away from Barry's column

Lloyd George may have some wily tricks on how the volunteers to fix
Yet all his Black and Tans go sick to think of Barry's Column
This prison scum in brown and black no tanks or war equipment lack
Yet o'er the sea they'll ne'er get back if caught by Barry's column
Oh! but isn't it…

Along the lonely road they wind, armed in front and armed behind
"We're sorry, but that bridge was mined", said the lads of Barry's column
They stopped to rest just for a spell, some hand grenades upon them fell
"Here, share them out among yersels", said the lads of Barry's column
Oh! but isn't it…

Incidentally, the sleeve notes for the 1976 reprint of Dom Behan's albumhave this note: In the years since this record was first issued [1958]...some of its subject matter may have acquired references that were originally neither intended nor foreseen. It remains in the Topic catalogue because of its *documentary* interest...(my emphasis)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: weerover
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 12:04 PM

Oh, and the tune: Follow Me Up to Carlow

Subject: Lyr Add: SERGEANT WILLIAM BAILEY
From: weerover
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 12:18 PM

And again:

SERGEANT WILLIAM BAILEY

Sergeant William Bailey was a man of great renown
Toora-loora-loora-loora-loo
In search of gallant young recruits he used to search the town
Toora-loora-loora-loora-loo
His face was full and swarthy, of medals he had forty
And ribbons in his hat red, white and blue
It was he who looked the hero and made the people stare, oh,
As he stood at Dunphy's corner, toora-loo

Yet, alas for human greatness, every doggie has his day
Toora...
And Sergeant William Bailey is getting old and gray
Toora...
No longer youths are willin' to take his dirty shillin'
And things for him are looking very blue
In spite of fife and drummin' no more recruits are comin'
For Sergeant William Bailey, toora-loo

Sergeant William Bailey, what a wretched sight is he
Toora...His back that once was stiff and straight, sure it's almost bent in three
Toora...
Some rebel youths with placards have called his army blackguards
And told the Irish boyhood what to do
He has lost his occupation, let's sing in jubilation
For Sergeant William Bailey, toora-loo

The tune is the same as "Nelson's Farewell" as sung by the Dubliners, to which incidentally Jim McLean wrote a smashing wee song about how until the 1970s pubs in Scotland were not allowed to open on Sundays.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: Big Tim
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 03:33 PM

Roscarbery, or, Rosscarbery - "Ros O gCairbre", O'Carbery's Point, or, wood of the Carbery family . The birthplace of O'Donovan Rossa.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: Susanne (skw)
Date: 08 Nov 02 - 06:40 PM

Weerover, you're a treasure! Thanks ever so much! Is there anything I might be able to post for you in return?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: Fiolar
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 05:55 AM

Big Tim: As promised. Taking part on the Irish side: Charlie Hurley (Brigade Commander); Pat O'Sullivan; John Butler; Flor Begley; Sean Phelan; Paddy O'Leary; Sean Hartnett; Batt Falvey; Neilus Begley; Denis Desmond; Dan O'Mahoney; Paddy Coakley; Tom Kelleher; Denis Doolan.
As the train pulled into the station, the attackers opened fire. This was immediately returned by the soldiers as they poured out on the platform. When Hurley saw what was happening he gave the order to withdraw. He was wounded in the face and sustained a sprained ankle. Pat O'Sullivan was mortally wounded when he was shot in the stomach but managed to crawl for about a mile to a friendly house. Later he was moved to the North Infirmary in Cork City but died shortly after. Sean Phelan was killed as he tried to escape. Sean Hartnett was wounded. Batt Falvey was shot in the head and died instantly. Dan O'Mahoney was wounded but was helped by Denis Doolan who carried him on his back to safety. He received treatment in the South Infirmary but died some years later as a result of his wounds.
Meanwhile Charlie Hurley was assisted by Tom Kelleher who practically carried him for miles to safety. On the morning of the fight at Crossbarry (March 19th 1921) the house he was staying at was surrounded and he was killed. In passing, the Gaelic Athletic Ground in Bandon has been named the "Charlie Hurley Memorial Park" in his honour.
There was six civilians killed and five wounded in the exchange of fire.
A little snippet of interest: Flor Begley became know as the "piper of Crossbary" when he played the bag-pipes during that engagement and became the subject of a ballad by Bryan McMahon. It contains the lines -" the piper of Crossbary, boys, He piped Old Ireland free."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: weerover
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 06:44 AM

Susanne,

You're more than welcome. Since coming fairly recently to this forum I've amassed so much new material I'm glad to be able to put in anything I can in return. Nothing in particular I'm actively looking for at the minute, it's as much as I can do to go through the thread archives, but if you are posting lyrics I'd appreciate tunes in abc format where possible.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: Big Tim
Date: 09 Nov 02 - 07:09 AM

Hey thanks Fiolar: that's great. I have the OS map of the area and will be able to find most of the places mentioned. So Upton was a deadly, messy affair; not too surprising therefore that "Lonely Woods of Upton" is more of a lament, not dwelling on the awful details.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roscarbery
From: GUEST,michael desmond (sheffield)
Date: 18 Dec 10 - 07:34 PM

Hi weerover I am the grandson of denis desmond i would love to see a copy of his obituary, which i belive was publised years ago (late 50s) and any other information. I have a copy of"there is a bridge at bandon) but would like more inf2. Any suggestions