Lyr ADD: My Ould Caubeen / Old Caubeen

Subject: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: Brakn
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 02:54 PM

Looking for this one for a friend.
He writes....

"I've been searching all over for the words of "My Ould Caubeen":
"There's a relic in my family, it's been handed down for years,
A relic now fast going to decay.
Tho'it's tatered old and torn,
That ould caubeen that's been worn, by my ancestors which age is turning gray.

What tales it could relate, of the deeds of '98 etc. etc."

Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 10 Jun 03 - 06:30 PM

There's a version in Paddy Berry's "Songs of Wexford". I don't think I have a copy, unfortunately.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: Brakn
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 07:19 PM

fresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: MartinRyan
Date: 11 Jun 03 - 08:02 PM

As I thought, I don't have a copy of Paddy's book. If nobody here has one, I should be able to get a photocopy of the song over the next week or two.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: Brakn
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 05:01 AM

Refresh

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 11:52 AM

Here's a discography with a recording of it, if the worst comes to the worst:

http://www.mustrad.org.uk/discos/lea_txt2.htm

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: MartinRyan
Date: 19 Jun 03 - 04:35 PM

I missed a chance to get a copy on my last visit to Dublin. I'll see what I can do.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: MartinRyan
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 10:26 AM

I have a set of words and will post them when I get a chance.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: Brakn
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 10:43 AM

Thanks Martin

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 10:52 PM

Thank you. I am realy looking forward to getting the words of My Ould Caubeen Denis Curran

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: motherwell
Date: 12 Jul 03 - 11:16 PM

Still waiting for the words of My Ould Caubeen. Thanks. Denis Curran

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 02:53 PM

I've got it mixed up in my mind with The Hat my Father Wore, about which there's been a thread recently, with the line "'Twas a relic of ould dacency".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: MartinRyan
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 03:16 PM

It will be tomorrow (Monday)before I can post this one.
Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: Brakn
Date: 13 Jul 03 - 07:56 PM

Thaat'll do me Martin. tanks

Subject: Lyr Add: MY OLD CAUBEEN (from Paddy Berry)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 04:59 PM

Here we go:

MY OLD CAUBEEN

("Wexford Ballads" Paddy Berry, 1982)

There's a relic in our family that's been handed down for years
A relic now fast going to decay
But it's treasured all the more that old caubeen that was worn
By my ancestors, now aged and turning grey
It could a tale relate of the dead of '98
Of the troubles and the hardships it has seen
Of the struggles and the fights on the hills on bitter nights
Had you only got a tongue, my old caubeen

Chorus
But you're tattered old and torn , many years you have been worn
Though faded now, far better days you have seen
You're the family relic too, times have changed since you were new
But I'll always treasure you, my old caubeen

You've seen many an Irishman locked up in a prison van
And others hung high on the gallows tree
Brave patriots now dead whose Irish blood was shed
To make our nation far more grand and free
The terror of the nights when we fought to gain our rights,
Evictions and the land grabbed from the weak
In those cruel days of fate when our sons did emigrate
You could tell us all if you could only speak

Now I'll tell you as a friend that all things must have an end
And our destination we are reaching fast
But I'll treat you with respect and I'll always recollect
The happy days that you've seen in the past
Before you fade away I hope there'll dawn the day
When our parliament we'll have in College Green
I hope you'll live and see dear old Ireland once more free
Then you can die with me my old caubeen

Paddy adds:
Made famous by the late Robert Whelan, Libgate, Kilmore and later by Leo Carty, Broadway. Its origin is not known but I was told by a man from Wexford town that his father heard it in the Fenian times.



Note:
An air is given, which I have not yet tried to decipher!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: Brakn
Date: 14 Jul 03 - 05:16 PM

Thanks again Martin.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: My Ould Caubeen
From: AmyLove
Date: 09 Apr 17 - 06:52 PM

Does anyone here know of a recording of this song? The recording by Gene Kelly (not the "Singin' in the Rain" Gene Kelly) which "GUEST,JTT" refers to is an instrumental version. You can listen to it here:

The Old Caubeen (Story & Air)

The "Story" preceding the "Air" gave me a laugh.

On amazon I came across a listing for a "currently unavailable" item: The Old White Caubeen by John Walsh, 1889. I'm guessing this is a different song, considering there is no mention of "white" in the lyrics Martin provided.

What got me exploring this song in the first place was a mention of it on this page of this book:

The Original Woman by Frank Frankfort Moore

I love the way music is referred to so very often in Irish literature. I wonder if anyone has ever documented these many references. That would be a wonderful resource.

If you're interested in learning more about Patrick Berry, there's an interview with him here:

Oral History Podcasts > Berry, Patrick Joseph (Paddy)

It's described as an interview, anyway. I haven't listened to the whole thing yet, but I only heard Berry speaking.