Lyr Req: Lovely Derry on the Banks of the Foyle

Subject: Sweet & Lovely Derry-Lyrics
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 30 Jul 98 - 05:25 AM

Anyone know the lyrics to Sweet & Lovely Derry on the Banks of the Foyle?
Also anyone got it on record?
I'll now sit back and await the avalanche of replies from you knowledgable mudcatters.
Cheers
Mick

Subject: RE: Sweet & Lovely Derry-Lyrics
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 30 Jul 98 - 06:31 AM

I came across some old versions of this while hunting for something else recently. Not entirely surprisingly, it seems to have originally been published as "Londonderry on the banks of the Foyle". I must make a copy and compare it with the current version which seems to have become a nationalist anthem. Maybe it's the balance to the Irish Molly/Sash migration!

Regards

Subject: Lyr Add: LOVELY DERRY ON THE BANKS OF THE FOYLE
From: Brack&
Date: 30 Jul 98 - 07:29 AM

LOVELY DERRY ON THE BANKS OF THE FOYLE
(J. J. McCready)

Oh I know a wee spot, 'tis a place of great fame
And it lies to the North, now I'll tell you it's name
'Tis my own little birthplace, and it's on Irish soil
Sure they call it lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle

Now I courted a wee girl, her age was nineteen
She was the fairest colleen that ever you've seen
For her cheeks were like roses and her hair waved in coil
And she came from lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle

By those banks I have roamed, in the dear days gone by
With my dear girl I strolled, not a tear, not a sigh
Her fair charms without equal, from the Nore to the Moyle
Oh, sweet maid from lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle

But now cruel misfortune drove me from my home
'Twas my fate in deep sorrow to sail o'er the foam
And now from dark strangers, in grief I recoil
While I pine from dear old Derry on the banks of the Foyle

Oh, mind when I left her, for to cross o'er the sea
For to try and make a fortune, for Mary and me
How I cried when I left her, but my tears fell in toil
Far away from dear old Derry on the banks of the Foyle

I was young, I was wild, like the rest of the boys
I had not many sorrows nor yet many joys
I worked hard for a living, all day I did toil
Far away from dear old Derry on the banks of the Foyle

I was fearing that another had a place in her heart
And that from me my darling forever would part
That no more she would brighten with her sweet sunny smile
My dear home in lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle

For my true love was buxom, and a fine girl to see
That she won my affection, all my friends did agree
And I long for to wed her, on our own native soil
Though I'm far from dear old Derry on the banks of the Foyle

But a wee bird came flying from over the sea
And he brought me a letter from my true love to see
Saying "Come home, my darling, to your native soil
And I'll wed you in lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle"

Now when I make a fortune, then to home I will go
To the dear land of my boyhood, to the sweet girl I know
I will build her a mansion, and no more need we toil
far away from lovely Derry on the banks of the Foyle

I have sheet music for it copyrighted 1924 but I suppose that it might've only been registered then. As for it being called Londonderry......hmmmm never heard of it. LOL Don't know anything about the writer. Regards Mick Bracken

Subject: RE: Sweet & Lovely Derry-Lyrics
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 30 Jul 98 - 08:11 AM

Cheers Mick.
Mick

Subject: RE: Sweet & Lovely Derry-Lyrics
From: Ralph Butts
Date: 30 Jul 98 - 08:11 AM

MickL... I have a recording of "Lovely Derry" by Paddy Noonan, but it's just four of the above verses.

Martin.... I'd love to see the other versions.

MickB..... Thanks. I'm so glad to get the other verses. Derry and Londonderry are the same, it just depends if you're wearing orange-tinted glasses.

.....Tiger

Subject: RE: Sweet & Lovely Derry-Lyrics
From: Brack&
Date: 30 Jul 98 - 08:36 AM

Mick L Is that Paddy Noonan from New York? I thought his records would be rare in England. He does a song, well I think it was him, that I can't quite make the words out to. I'll post a new thread.

Subject: Lyr Add: THERE'S A DEAR SPOT
From: GEST
Date: 19 May 05 - 08:23 PM

It never ceases to amaze me what I discover while researching songs for GEST Songs Of Newfoundland And Labrador, even if it is seven years after the fact. :-)

THERE'S A DEAR SPOT

There's a dear spot in Ireland, it's a spot of great fame,
It's a dear little spot, unto you I'll tell its name;
In the land of Ireland surrounded by Irish soil,
They call it Londonderry on the banks of the Foyle.

When I was but young my parents had died,
I took strange notion the salt seas for to ride,
For to view distant countries and to tread on foreign soil,
Far away from Londonderry on the banks of the Foyle.

When I courted a lassie at the age of sixteen,
She was the handsomest lassie my eyes had ever seen;
Her cheeks were like the roses of a heart so pure and royal,
She was the pride of Londonderry on the banks of the Foyle.

I'll go to old Ireland and it's married I'll be,
I will leave ye shipmates, I will resign the sea;
I'll wed with my Mary and it's hard for her I'll toil,
We will live in Londonderry on the banks of the Foyle.

And now to conclude and to finish my song,
I hope I haven't offended you or said anything that's wrong;
And if ever you'll come to Ireland to view our native isle,
You will like sweet Londonderry on the banks of the Foyle.

####.... Variant of Lovely Derry On The Banks Of The Foyle, sheet music © 1924 by J. J. McCready ....####

Sung by Jack Knight (b.1873) of Pouch Cove, NL, and published in MacEdward Leach And The Songs Of Atlantic Canada © 2004 Memorial University of Newfoundland Folklore and Language Archive (MUNFLA).

Subject: RE: Sweet & Lovely Derry-Lyrics
From: Peace
Date: 20 May 05 - 02:11 AM

GEST, thank you. BTW, what does GEST stand for? (Lead with yer jaw, Murdoch.)

Subject: RE: Sweet & Lovely Derry-Lyrics
From: GUEST,Paul Burke
Date: 20 May 05 - 03:55 AM

The change from 'Londonderry' to 'lovely Derry' is an example of London/Derry's status as a Loyalist/ Nationalist shibboleth. The city's ancient name (meaning 'oak trees') had 'London' added when it was a colony belonging to the City of London (England).

We'll know that Ireland has achieved peace when the parade round the walls is accomanied by Irish pipe, flute and drum bands playing The Sash and swinging into Roddy McCorley, and the marching kids wear little plastic bowler hats and orange sashes with shamrocks on, and wave green harp flags made in China (sponsored by Guinness of course).

Subject: RE: Sweet & Lovely Derry-Lyrics (Brucie)
From: GEST
Date: 20 May 05 - 10:54 AM

GEST is an Internet pseudonym created from two letters of each of our first names (hers and mine). It started out as a New Jersey vanity license plate many, many years ago and has served us well ever since. It is pronounced like JEST, and is defined in the dictionary as a romantic adventure. Now you know, but don't tell anyone, eh? :-)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Derry on the Banks of the Foyle
From: GUEST,LIam. Keyes, Boston, Massachusetts
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 04:59 PM

I was told in class when I was a young lad in Dublin that the Gaelic for Derry was "Doire Colmcille" Doire=Oak., so the name was The Oak of Colmcille(St, Colmcille) I don't want to start an argument. It's just what I was taught.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lovely Derry on the Banks of the Foyle
From: Lighter
Date: 08 Apr 15 - 06:11 PM

There's a beautiful rendition of an abbreviated version by Anne and Francie Brolly on their album "Farewell to Derry."