Lyr Req: Flower of Finae

Subject: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: Bearheart
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 12:26 PM

Have found references to this song in other threads but no lyrics. Can some one post them for me?

Thanks!
Bekki

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: IanC
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 12:39 PM

Seems to be originally a reel, but Niamh Parsons sings a song (to the same tune?)

:-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: Bearheart
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 12:52 PM

Yes she's my source.

Bekki

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: GUEST,Q
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 12:54 PM

A sound clip of Niamh Parsons singing the song on the Green Linnet label can be heard at their website, www.greenlinnet.com. Several others have done it. The clip is of a slow, ballad-like tune.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 01:11 PM

A poem of the early 20th century set to music, possibly by more than one person (Cathal McConnell, for example, set it to a song-tune from Cavan; I don't know if it's his setting that Naimh Parsons sings). Details in previous discussions; but, as Bekki points out, no text.

Subject: ADD: Flower of Finae
From: GUEST,bigJ
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 04:07 PM

THE FLOWER OF FINAE

as sung by John Faulkner on "NOMADS - FANAITHE"
CD on the Clo Iar-Chinnachta label CICD 071 (1992)

Bright red is the sun on the waves of Lough Sheehan
A cool gentle breeze from the mountain is stealing,
And fair around its islets the small ripples play
But fairer than all is the flower of Finae.

Her hair is like night and her eyes like grey morning,
She trips on the heather as if its touch scorning
Her heart and her lips are as mild as May Day,
She's Eileen MacMahon, the flower of Finae.

Fergus O'Farrell was true to his sire-land,
Till a dark hand of tyranny, it drove him from Ireland.
He's joined the brigade in the wars far away
And left his fond sweetheart, the flower of Finae.

He fought at Cremona, she heard of his story,
He fought at Casano, she's proud of his glory,
And yet she still sings Shule a Rune all the day
O come back my darling, come home to Finae.

Eight long years have passed till she's nigh brokenhearted
Her reel and her rock and her flax she has parted.
She sails with the wild geese to Flanders away
And leaves her fond parents to mourn in Finae.

On the slopes of La Judoigne the French men are flying
Lord Clare and his squadron the foe they're defying,
Outnumbered and wounded, retreated in array
And bleeding lies Fergus and thinks of Finae.

In the cloisters of Ypres a banner is swaying
And by it a pale weeping maiden is praying,
That flag's the sole trophy of Ramilie's fray
This nun is poor Eileen, the flower of Finae.

According to the notes on Dave Webber and Anni's CD 'Solo Together' the song is about the war of the Spanish Succession.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: Stewie
Date: 26 Mar 03 - 09:04 PM

The Parsons recording has 3 additional stanzas. These two after stanza 2 and before 'Fergus O'Farrell was true ...':

But who down the hillside like wild deer runs fleeter
And who on this lakeside is hastening to greet her
Who but Fergus O'Farrell that fiery young gay
The darling and pride of the flower of Finae

One kiss and one clasp, and one wild look of gladness
But why does it change all a sudden to sadness?
He has told his sad fortune he can no longer stay
He must leave his poor Eily alone in Finae

And this one comes in as third to last stanza before 'On the slopes ...':

Lord Clare on the field of Rammillies is charging
Before him the Sasanach squadrons enlarging
Behind him the Cravats their sections display
Beside him rides Fergus and shouts for Finae

In Parsons' version, there are several other minor textual variations from the version in bigJ's posting.

Parsons notes that it was 'written for "The Nation" by Thomas Davis some time between 1842 and his death in 1845'. She learned it from the Nuala Harris who recorded it in the 1980s.

Above text from booklet accompanying Niamh Parsons 'Blackbirds & Thrushes' Green Linnet GLCD1197

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: Bearheart
Date: 27 Mar 03 - 11:21 AM

Thanks so much. Saw Niamh in Dublin Ohio at the Dublin Irish Fest several years ago. She was great! Will look for these other recordings too-- I'd be interested to hear some other versions.

Bekki

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: GUEST,ju
Date: 07 Feb 06 - 12:59 PM

Just wondered if anyone knew/could explain to me the meaning of the line "Her reel and her rock and her flax she has parted" and also what are the "Cravats"?

Thanks

Jules

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: GUEST,Jessica
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 02:32 PM

I believe it's referring to the lyrics of Siuil A Run, which she is mentioned as singing. (Don't know about the Cravats though...)

SIUIL A RUN

I wish I was on yonder hill
'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill,
And every tear would turn a mill,
Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn.

Chorus (in phonetic Gaelic)
Shule, shule, shule aroon,
Shule go succir agus, shule go kewn,
Shule go dheen durrus oggus aylig lume,
Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn.

*****I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel,
I'll sell my only spinning wheel,
To buy my love a sword of steel
Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn.

Chorus

I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red,
And 'round the world I'll beg my bread,
Until my parents shall wish me dead,
Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn.

Chorus

I wish, I wish, I wish in vain,
I wish I had my heart again,
And vainly think I'd not complain,
Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn.

Chorus

But now my love has gone to France,
To try his fortune to advance;
If he e'er come back, 'tis but a chance,
Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn.

Chorus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: MartinRyan
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 03:29 PM

A possible explanation: At one point in Irish history, the "Cravats" were a revolutionary agrarian secret society - what we would now call "terrorists", for better or worse. The implication would be that Fergus was not alone!

All that said, I'll need to check out the dates for consistency - but remember that Davis was essentially a romantic as well as a nationalist.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: MartinRyan
Date: 25 Jul 08 - 04:04 PM

On the other hand, This earlier thread glosses "Cravat" as meaning "Croat" - and may well be right!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: MartinRyan
Date: 26 Jul 08 - 11:24 AM

This site ties it up neatly....

Exit stage right...

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: quokka
Date: 26 Jul 08 - 01:29 PM

Isn't Fergus O'Farrell a noted singer-songwriter from Cork? With a band called Interference? With a brilliant song called 'American Townland? Would love to find out more... maybe I should start a thread.......
Cheers,
Quokka

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: MartinRyan
Date: 26 Jul 08 - 01:46 PM

No shortage of 'em! Wasn't there a potter or weaver of that name who had a craft shop in Dublin for many years?!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 18 Nov 11 - 09:59 AM

From Irish Minstrelsy: A Selection of Irish Songs, Lyrics, and Ballads... edited by Henry Halliday Sparling (London: Walter Scott Ltd., [1888?]), page 145:

[I have boldfaced the words that are different from the versions above. There are also some spelling differences that I have not marked.--JD]


THE FLOWER OF FINAE.
A BRIGADE BALLAD.
Thomas Davis.

1. Bright red is the sun on the waves of Lough Sheelin,
A cool gentle breeze from the mountain is stealing,
While fair round its islets the small ripples play,
But fairer than all is the Flower of Finae.

2. Her hair is like night, and her eyes like grey morning,
She trips on the heather as if its touch scorning,
Yet her heart and her lips are as mild as May day,
Sweet Eily MacMahon, the Flower of Finae.

3. But who down the hill-side than red deer runs fleeter?
And who on the lake side is hastening to greet her?
Who but Fergus O'Farrell, the fiery and gay,
The darling and pride of the Flower of Finae.

4. One kiss and one clasp, and one wild look of gladness;
Ah! why do they change on a sudden to sadness—
He has told his hard fortune, no more he can stay,
He must leave his poor Eily to pine at Finae.

5. For Fergus O'Farrell was true to his sire-land,
And the dark hand of tyranny drove him from Ireland;
He joins the Brigade, in the wars far away,
But he vows he'll come back to the Flower of Finae.

6. He fought at Cremona—she hears of his story:
He fought at Cassano—she's proud of his glory,
Yet sadly she sings "Shule Aroon" all the day,
"O, come, come, my darling, come home to Finae."

7. Eight long years have pass'd, till she's nigh broken-hearted,
Her "reel," and her "rock," and her "flax," she has parted;
She sails with the "Wild Geese" to Flanders away,
And leaves her sad parents alone in Finae.

8. Lord Clare on the field of Ramilies is charging—
Before him the Sassanach squadrons enlarging—
Behind him the Cravats their sections display—
Behind him rides Fergus and shouts for Finae.

9. On the slopes of La Judoigne the Frenchmen are flying,
Lord Clare and his squadrons the foe still defying,
Outnumbered, and wounded, retreat in array;
And bleeding rides Fergus and thinks of Finae.

10. In the cloisters of Ypres a banner is swaying,
And by it a pale weeping maiden is praying;
That flag's the sole trophy of Ramilies' fray,
This nun is poor Eily, the flower of Finae.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: Paul Burke
Date: 18 Nov 11 - 05:33 PM

Finely sung (if you want a CD) by the House Devils on
Adieu to Old Ireland.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: MartinRyan
Date: 13 Oct 14 - 04:14 PM

There's now a very nice archive recording at The Goilin Song Project, by Nuala Harris.

Click here

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 13 Oct 14 - 04:35 PM

Flower of Finae John Joe McMahon
A poem written by Thomas Davis (1814 - 1845) as a tribute to Daniel O'Brien, 3rd Viscount Clare, who raised a mounted dragoon regiment during the Jacobite war, Clare's Regiment, initially named 'O'Brien's Regiment' after its originator but later known as 'Clare's Dragoons'. When Clare's Dragoons left Limerick with the Flight of the Wild Geese they became a regiment of infantry, Clare's Dragoons remained loyal to the dethroned James II of England and fought against the army of William III of England, during the Williamite War in Ireland. Exiled Irish troops became known as "The Wild Geese" and fought as mercenaries. Clare's Dragoons greatest triumph, among many, was the Battle of Ramilles. When the English forces had turned the French, Lord Clare spurred his Irish troops into action with the battle cry "Cuimhnígí ar Luimneach" (Remember Limerick!). The English were routed.
For information on Thomas Davis, see notes to 'Grave of Wolfe Tone'.
Jim Carroll