Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867

Subject: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: Big Mick
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 07:51 AM

My musical journeys these days are focusing on songs of the Irish in the America's. I am always looking for songs of the Molly Maguires and the San Patricio's. Of late I have been looking for any songs that might have been written about the Fenian Revolt of 1867.

For those that might not be familiar with this event, it was a plan by members of the Fenians, many of whom were veterans from both sides of the American Civil War, to attack and capture towns in Canada and use them to ransom independence from England for Ireland. It is a fascinating story that I am just starting to research in depth.

Does anyone know of songs about this event?

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: Brakn
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 09:00 AM

I don't know any songs of this though while I was on honeymoon I did visit a place called the Ridgeway where there was a battle/skirmish.


See Here!

Also there is a historical novel by Peter Beresford Ellis on this very subject. It's called "The Rising of the Moon".....a great read!

Regards
Michael Bracken

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: JedMarum
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 09:19 AM

Derek Warfield has a great album with a song or two on this subject - SONS OF ERIN.

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: GUEST,Big Jock
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 09:27 AM

Dear Big Mick, if you're looking for historical accuracy you should start by recognising that England had already lost her independence in the Union with Scotland in 1707, so Ireland would have to have negotiated with the government of Great Britain, England not having one ant more.
Good luck with your project.

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 10:05 AM

Mick-
There's only one that I know of in DigiTrad--"A Fenian Song"
If you find others, please post them. I've been looking for them.

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: Big Tim
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 11:58 AM

Mick,
here's a few off the top of my head, you'll probably know them.

The Bold Fenian Men ("see who comes over the red blossomed heather...")

The Bold Fenian Men ("'Twas down by the Glenside")

James Stephens, the Gallant Fenian Boy

The Manchester Martyrs (aka Smashing of the Van)

The Fenians Escape.

The latter three are printed in O'Lochlainn's ballad books.

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: Declan
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 12:05 PM

T.D Sullivan who wrote "God save Ireland said the heroes" about the Manchester Martyrs (who were Fenians) wrote a song called Deep in Canadian Woods (in the DT as "Song from the Backwoods"). Chorus is Ireland Boys Hurrah". The song is not explicitly about the Fenians, but I think there may be a connection.

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: GUEST,Big Mick
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 01:10 PM

Thanks, everyone. Any other reference books/essays on this revolt will be greatfully accepted as well. I once read a novel called "I Don't Care If I Ever Come Back" that was about the early Irish and Irish American baseball stars. It's whole back story concerned the planning of this. Fascinating read. I will order the others recommended here.

Big Jock, some would say that it was Scotland that lost its independence in that one......but would you mind if we made that another thread?

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 01:22 PM

There are several Fenian songs in American Memory (search under Fenian), most printed by H. De Marsan, just after the Civil War. Mostly they speak of raising troops and returning to Ireland to free the country from the British. All of them list an air to which they may be sung.

Subject: Lyr Add: FENIAN'S HOPE OF INDEPENDENCE
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 01:54 PM

Lyr. Add: FENIAN'S HOPE OF INDEPENDENCE
Air: Donnelly and Cooper

Come all, you true-bred Irishmen, and listen unto me,
All you that are true-hearted and love your Country;
Go now and be a FENIAN your country for to free,
And tare down English tyranny, and plant sweet Liberty!

I'll name you a young hero: John Egan is his name;
It's in the FENIAN Brotherhood he has enrolled his name;
He'll be a brave Commander, great valor he will show;
He'll crush down English tyranny, and help its overthrow.

Remember your fore-fathers, beneath its earth, they lay,
Under the foot of tyranny, it ought to make you sigh
To think they died in bondage, under the English laws! -
Now is your opportunity, boys, to avenge their cause.

When the Stars and Stripes are hoisted upon your fatherland,
With harp and bonny Shamrock just at your own command,
It's then that all earthly pleasures, before you, you'll see,
When you think that you're a Free-man in your own country.

We'll lower the pride of England, her yoke we'll overthrow:
Long she has persecuted and kept the Irish low;
But soon with her it shall be night- with us the coming day
In her place, we'll plant the Stars and Stripes of sweet America!

Oh! England! to thy sorrow, thou will lose a precious gem:
It's the bonny Shamrock: from around your diadem-
No longer crushed beneath your Rose, to bear your mighty sin,
The Eagle of America shall raise it on her wing!

Now all you, noble-hearted men, pray listen unto me:
You have fought in many battles, the Nigger for to free;
You know you've shed your precious blood: that in the Nigger's cause;
Go now, like Noble Irishmen, and fight against English laws!

"Presented to the Shamrock-Circle by Mrs. A---, August 3rd, 1865."
Printed in broadside by H. De Marsan, New York. Iten 7 of 65 under Fenian, America Singing: Nineteenth-Century Song Sheets. Easily found by entering Fenian in Search.
This is typical of the Marsan-printed lyrics; not great, but speak of the euphoria of the Fenians just after the Civil War. Another speaks of getting ironclads like the Alabama and the Moniter to attack with.
In the DY, a Canadian version of the much earlier song, Sweet Sunny South, is given as "The Sunny South," a Canadian anti-Fenian song.

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: JedMarum
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 01:57 PM

"God save Ireland said the heroes" and "Deep in Canadian Woods" are both on the Derek Warfiled record (great songs, too - both).

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 02:12 PM

In the Fenian songs, a "head-centre, Colonel Mahoney (Centre O'Mahony in another song) is mentioned. From the spelling of "centre" I assume that this man was based in Ireland. Who was he? Also John Egan?

Meant DT, not DY in previous post.

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: Big Tim
Date: 31 Jan 03 - 04:00 PM

Probably John O'Mahoney (1816-1877), native of Kilbeheny, Co.Limerick: exiled Young Irelander (for his part in the Revolt of 1848), founder of Irish Republican Brotherhood ("the Fenians")in USA in 1858. "Head Centre" was one of the main terms used in the Fenians cell-like structure. O'Mahoney was an uncle of Charles Joseph Kickham, see below.

Some more songs:

"O'Donovan Rossa" (written as "O'Donnabhain Rosa" - by Brian O'Higgins).

"Old Fenian Gun"

"The Fenians of Cahersiveen" [great song!]

"Rising of the Moon", set in 1798 but written by the Fenian poet (and activist)John Keegan Casey (1846-70)

"Patrick Sheehan" (1857) written by Charles Joseph Kickham, Fenian poet, novelist and activist (1828-1882), head of the IRB until his death.

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: Fiolar
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 05:18 AM

Big Mick: Nothing to do with songs but if you are interested in science fiction, try the alternate history trilogy by Harry Harrison. "Stars and Stripes Forever"; "Stars and Stripes in Peril" and "Stars and Stripes Triumphant". They deal with the American Civil War but the two sides unite against Great Britain and finally invade Ireland and win its freedom making O'Donovan Rossa its president. A great read.

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: Big Mick
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 09:20 AM

Thanks, Fiolar. Sounds like a fascinating read.

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: Hrothgar
Date: 01 Feb 03 - 08:42 PM

"CATALPA"

is in the DT. It deals with the escape of six Fenian prisoners from Western Australia, financed by American Irish money.

Read "The Emerald Whaler" by William J Laubenstein. Originally published by Andre Deutsch Ltd. My edition is from The Courier-Mail Readers Book Club, issued 1962. Pre-dates ISBNs.

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: Big Tim
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 08:58 AM

A recent book on the subject is:

"The Voyage of the Catalpa: a perilous journey and six Irish rebels' escape to freedom", by Peter Stevens, Weidenfeld & N. 2003. ISBN 1 842 12651 2.

I haven't read Kickham's novel "Knocknagow" (1873 but the description in the Oxford Companion to Irish Literature sounds interesting "perhaps the most influential novel in the Irish nationalist tradition...filmed sucessfully in 1917". (Knocknagow was Kickham's home townland near Mullinahone in Co. Tipp.)

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: delphinium
Date: 02 Feb 03 - 02:23 PM

If you're interested in Canadian anti-fenian songs there is one with the imaginative title of "An Anti-Fenian Song" in one of Edith Fowke's books, which I have here somewhere. Notes are in the Traditional Ballad Index here. And I see there are also notes in the Index for 15 other fenian songs if you do a search on "fenian".

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: Felipa
Date: 09 Feb 03 - 01:34 PM

someone,an anonymous guest, opened a new thread called "FAO Big Mick" to supply the following information "Looking for some info on the Irish invasion of Canada. Loads of stuff here http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/Lobby/8151/oneill.html"

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: GUEST,Séamus
Date: 20 Aug 11 - 03:14 PM

Try "The San Patricio's" by the band The Fenians

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 20 Aug 11 - 06:37 PM

The only point of interest to this so-called "revolt" is that it gave more incentive to the union of Canada. It never amounted to more than that.

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: MartinRyan
Date: 20 Aug 11 - 07:53 PM

Mmmmm.. I would have thought there are other points of interest e.g. to what extent it contributed to the persistent strain of support for the more violent strains of Irish nationalism among the diaspora? Just a thought....

Regards

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: mark gregory
Date: 07 Sep 16 - 03:33 AM

I found this in the Sydney newspaper The Freeman's Journal of 11 May 1867 Page 11

THE FENIAN CHARTER SONG.
By Michael Scanlon of Chicago.

Far, from the hills of Innisfail
We meet in love to-night,
Sons of the scattered Clan-na-Gael,
With spirits warm and bright.
Why do we meet ?
'Tis to repeat
Our vows both night and day
To dear Old Ireland !
Brave Old Ireland !
Ireland, boys, hurrah !

Some left her shores long years ago,
Some never saw her hills ;
But for her glory and her woe,
Each faithful bosom thrills.
We give no cheers,
But vow her tears
Revenge shall wipe away.
Ah! dear Old Ireland !
Brave Old Ireland !
Ireland, boys, hurrah !

We're not the fortune-favoured kind
But rugged sons of toil ;
We've got the muscle and the mind
That spring from Irish soil,
Our toil being done,
And night come on,
We meet to work and pray
For dear Old Ireland !
Brave Old Ireland'!
Ireland, boys, hurrah !

We've read of how our fathers fought,
And how our fathers died ;
How creeds divided where they ought
To muster side by side ;
We count the host
That faction lost,
And cast the fiend away,
For dear Old Ireland !
Brave Old Ireland !
Ireland, boys, hurrah !

Let cowards bend in abject prayer ;
Let tyrants frown and threat ;
Be ours the duty to prepare
With sword and bayonet.
Let babblers cease
To prate of peace ;
God send us war, we say,
For dear Old Ireland !
Brave Old Ireland !
Ireland, boys, hurrah !

Our fathers died in olden time,
And left a heritage
(And loving Ireland was their crime),
Of blood and hate and rage.
And by the cross,
There's been no loss—
We hate as strong as they,
For dear Old Ireland !
Brave Old Ireland !
Ireland, boys, hurrah !

Once more we're on the " felon's track"
Red with our father's blood ;
And woe unto the men who'll slack ?
Our spirit's burning blood !
The Green above—
Revenge and Love—
Forward ! and march away
For dear Old Ireland !
Brave Old Ireland !
Ireland, boys, hurrah !

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 07 Sep 16 - 04:45 AM

Interesting one - seems to be derived from "Deep in Canadian Woods", mentioned earlier.

"Michael Scanlon" wrote "The Jackets Green"and "The Bold Fenian Men" and is presumably the same man - though I'd need to check the Chicago connection.

Regards

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 07 Sep 16 - 05:11 AM

Same man, alright.

Click here for a short biography.

Regards

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: meself
Date: 07 Sep 16 - 11:03 AM

I'm curious to see this business called a 'revolt'. It was, in fact, an invasion of Canada.

Fascinating book on the subject: Ridgeway, by https://www.amazon.ca/Ridgeway-American-Fenian-Invasion-Battle/dp/014316841X.

Subject: RE: Songs about Fenian Revolt of 1867
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 07 Sep 16 - 12:58 PM

The USA/Canada element was part of a campaign also waged in Ireland and England, mainly.

Regards