Lyr Add: Ocam a' Phriosuin - prison oakum

Subject: Lyr Add: ÓCAM AN PHRÍOSÚIN (Tomás Ó Lochlainn)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 12 May 03 - 07:19 AM

I've heard this song several times on stage and in informal sessions at Oireachtas na Gaeilge. I hear that it is popular in Rath Chairn also (see Rath Cairn Glas na Mí thread)

The narrator of the story is in prison and he has to pick oakum. Oakum was used in ships for caulking in between planks. The arduous work seems to have been a common punishment (and also relegated to the poor in workhouses; I think Charles Dickens referred to oakum-picking).

I found the following at http://www.royal-navy.mod.uk/rn : Oakum is
"Unravelled tarred rope used for packing seams and caulking. A prisoner in the ship's cells is required to pick two pounds of tarred hemp (or 6 lbs of tarred sisal) into oakum daily, Sundays excepted the material to be weighed in his presence morning and evening."

It may have been worse for "Mac Uí Lochlainn" of this song, for in verse two he specifically laments being in prison on Sundays and holidays.

One morning the man in charge came to him and said "what are you doing with your hands in your pockets when you have oakum to unravel" but at night the mice attacked the oakum and the next day the governor said, "by the Devil, it's all done." The tune is jaunty.

The lyrics below are from an album of Johnny Mháirtín Learaí Mac Donnchadha. No information is given on the liner notes, but Antaine Ó Faracháin tells me that the song was composed by Tomás Ó Lochlainn of An Trá Bháin after he was imprisoned for distilling póitín. "Mac Uí Lochlainn" composed other songs, including 'Amhrán an tSlat Iascaigh' and 'Na Banks of Waterloo'

ÓCAM AN PHRÍOSÚIN
Tomás Ó Lochlainn (Tam Neaine Choilm)

Molaim sú an ghráin eorna go deo deo 'gus a choíche
Nach mairg nach mbíonn tóir ar Rí Seoirse ar a dhéanamh
Seán Ford a bheith ina ghiúistis, is chomhairleodh na daoine
Mar is chuir mise ag foghlaim le ócam a spíonadh

Is randa dideloram 'sé ócam an phríosúin
Go bhfága sú an ghráin eorna na hÓglaigh dá spíonadh

Is nach mise a bhíonn go brónach gach Domhnach is lá saoire,
'mo sheasamh amuigh sa ghairdín, istigh i bhfáinne is mé ag gabhail timpeall
Go dtagann ó mo shúile sruth deor nuair a smaoinim
Gur olc an obair Domhnaigh bheith i gcónaí ar an gcaoi seo

Is randa dideloram 'sé ócam an phríosúin
Go bhfága sú an ghráin eorna na hÓglaigh dá spíonadh

Is osclaíodh dom an stór a raibh ócam thar maoil ann
Is thug mé lán mo ghabhlach liom, mo dhóthain go ceann míosa,
Is nach mise a bhain gáire as an ngarda a bhí i mo thimpeall
Nuair a d'fhiafraigh mé den cheannfort cé air ar fhás an fianach

Is randa dideloram 'sé ócam an phríosúin
Go bhfága sú an ghráin eorna na hÓglaigh dá spíonadh

Bhí mise maidin shamhraidh is mo leaba déanta síos agam
Nuair a chonaic mé an ceannfort 's é ag gluaiseacht go dtí mé.
''Is b'in é an chaoi a bhfuil tusa, is an méid atá le dnamh?
do dhá lámh i do phóca is ócam le spíonadh?''

Is randa dideloram 'sé ócam an phríosúin
Go bhfága sú an ghráin eorna na hÓglaigh dá spíonadh

Céard a deir tú le Mac Uí Lochlainn a chuaigh a chodladh dó go suaimhneach,
Nuair a d'ionsaigh na luchain a chuid ícaim san oíche.
Is maidin lá arna mhárach, bhí an ceannfort á inseacht
ó, a dhiabhail, a deir an gobharnóir, ''tá an diabhail uilig déanta.''

Is randa dideloram 'sé ócam an phríosúin
Is nach bhfága sú an ghráin eorna na hÓglaigh dá spíonadh

---
Tomás Ó Lochlainn was born in 1903 in Bun a' Charnáin near an Trá Bháin in Conamara. He died in 1965 and is buried in the cemetery at an Trá Bháin. Ócam an Phríosúin is one of a number of Tam Neaine Choilm's compositions; it is said that his poetic abilities were recognized while he was at primary school. Not many years after Tomás left school, he was arrested – along with his stepfather – for illegally distilling póitín, and was sentenced to three months in prison. Much of his time in prison was spent picking oakum, an occupation which inspired this song. Interestingly, the justice, Seán Forde, agreed to stagger the sentences of the two men so that at least one man would be at home to support the family.

Information from Máirtín Mac Donnchadha's preface to the booklet 'Eachtraí Mhuintir Tam' by Tomás Ó Lochlainn, published by An Comhlachas Náisiúnta Drámaíochta, 1988. (The story was originally published in the newspaper 'Ar Aghaidh' between 1937 and 1940). Thanks to Ó Faracháin for forwarding this information.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ocam a' Phriosuin - prison oakum
From: MMario
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 04:34 PM

Phillipa - do "we" have a tune for this?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ocam a' Phriosuin - prison oakum
From: Brían
Date: 29 Jul 03 - 10:14 PM

MMario,
I can do a midi if Philppa doesn't have music for this. Thanks Philippa and Antaine for the background on this song.

Brían

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ocam a' Phriosuin - prison oakum
From: Brían
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 08:41 AM

Midi sent. I think I can do an abc.

Brían

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ocam a' Phriosuin - prison oakum
From: GUEST,MMario
Date: 30 Jul 03 - 08:42 AM

if not - I can convert.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ocam a' Phriosuin - prison oakum
From: MartinRyan
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 05:11 AM

Great song. At sessions, I've been known to follow it with the distinctly non-traditional "Work Song" by Addderly/Oscar Brown Jr.!

Regards

Regards

Subject: Tune Add: ÓCAM AN PHRÍOSÚIN (Tomás Ó Lochlainn)
From: MMario
Date: 31 Jul 03 - 10:02 AM

assuming all the conversions worked correctly

X:2
T:Ocam a' Phriosuin - prison oakum
Q:1/4=80
I:abc2nwc
M:6/8
L:1/8
K:D
D|E2A A2A|G2A B2d|e2-e d2B|A2G E2D|
E2A A2A|G2A B2d|e2-e d2B|A A zA E2|A A2A G2|A B2d e2-|
e d2B A2|G E2D E2|A A2A G2|A B2d e2-|e d2B A A|z3z2

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Ocam a' Phriosuin - prison oakum
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 19 Dec 06 - 07:33 AM

much discussion of oakum on oakum boat thread