Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: GUEST,gianna the harper
Date: 21 Jan 20 - 04:44 AM

I grew up with an Australian version:
In early spring, when the small birds sing and the lambs they sport and play
My way I took, my friends forsook, and came to Dublin quay
I envied alas the passengers and to Melbourne town did sail
I bade farewell to all my friends and I left the Shamrock Shore.

In London fair, I did prepare some pleasures for to find
I found it was a beautiful place and pleasant to my mind
The ladies too were fair to view and rich were the pearls they wore
But none of them there could compare with the maids of the Shamrock Shore.

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 17 - 10:40 AM

We sailed three days, we were all seasick, not aman on board was free. No Mother Dear Nor Father Near to hold my head twas so weak.

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: GUEST,Seánie - Timoleague
Date: 07 Apr 04 - 09:56 AM

The nearly accurate(my LP isn't in great shape) lyrics are:

In early spring when small birds sing & lambkins sport and play
My way I took my friends foresook and ended at Dublin quay
I ended as a passenger and to England I sailed o'er
I bade farewell to all of my friends and I left the Shamrock shore

In London fair I did repare some pleasure for to find
I found it was a lovely place and pleasant to my mind
The Ladies too were fair to view and pretty ?? purse they wore
But none I saw could e'er compare to the Maids of the Shamrock shore

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 26 Mar 04 - 06:33 PM

Wellsy wrote, "I have seen a video of Paul Brady singing the Gaelic words to this song." In the early 1970s when I knew Paul Brady, he used to sing a Gaelic language song to the same melody as "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore." That is not the same song and its name translated into English is "The Green Glens of Gweedore."

I believe John Moulden's comments above answer the origin question for the popular version of "Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore." If anyone would like to look at another set of words for the same song, look at the 2 books John mentions. The Sam Henry collection gives this note, "Another version has been received from the Articlave district, where the song was first sung in 1827 by an Inishowen ploughman." If we don't know the name of the author, it's at least partially because the song was probably very local and is 200 or more years old.

All the best,
Dan

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 26 Mar 04 - 09:31 AM

P W Joyce, Ancient Irish Music, 1875 (4th edition 1890); and Old Irish Folk Music and Songs, 1909, I should think.

The verses you quote are not from "another version" of Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore, but from one of several quite different Shamrock Shore songs (see John Moulden's comments above). This particular one appeared on broadsides as The Shamrock Shore and Farewell to Mourne; a number of editions can be seen at  Bodleian Library Broadside Ballads:

Shamrock Shore (Ye muses nine...)

It appears in Sam Henry's Songs of the People (1990, p 216) as The Maid of Mullaghmore.

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 26 Mar 04 - 08:53 AM

the mentions of Joyce are to P. W. Joyce who published collections of songs in the years given with his name, these verses obviously collected by him in those two publications

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: Noel P
Date: 26 Mar 04 - 06:50 AM

In the hope that this extra little bit may jolt someone's memory, I include all the lyrics I can find. The two mentions of Joyce, I cannot explain. I am not even sure if the two verses are from the same song or two different songs. Anyay, if anyone can add anything further, it would be appreciateed.
Again, any Horslips fans out there? One of you should have this!!

In early spring when small birds sing and lambkins sport and play,
My way I took, my friends forsook, and came to Dublin quay;
I enter'd as a passenger, and to England I sailed o'er;
I bade farewell to all my friends, and I left the shamrock shore. (Joyce, 1890)

Ye muses mine, with me combine and grant me your relief,
While here alone I sigh and moan, I'm overwhelmed with grief:
While here alone I sigh and moan far from my friends and home;
My troubled mind no rest can find since I left the Shamrock shore. (Joyce, 1909)
***

***

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: MARINER
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 11:58 AM

The song was also collected by a Father J. Ransom, from Mrs. Wickham of Kilrane, Wexford. and published in "Songs of the Wexford Coast" sometime in the 1940s.(reissued 1975)I think that some of the verses vary a little from the better known, Northern? ones.

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: Noel P
Date: 18 Mar 04 - 09:31 AM

This is a bit of a long shot, but, does anyone have a different version of this song?
It was recorded by Horslips on an album called Happy to meet, sorry to part. Around 1971.
The first 2 lines go like this:

In early spring when small birds sing and lambkins sport and play,
My way I took, my friends forsook, and came to Dublin quay;

I have done a search, but can only find 2 verses. Maybe some Horslips fan may have the lyrics. Any other information would be welcome.
Thanks!

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: Klavdivs
Date: 21 Sep 03 - 07:16 AM

I have seen a video of paul brady singing the Gaelic words to this song.. Does anybody have them ?

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: GUEST,Ballyholme
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 04:33 PM

John:

The Johnstons' albums - "Barleycorn" and "Give A Damn" - were actually released (in the UK) on the same day in 1969. Don't ask me why. Folk albums back then sold in comparitively small numbers but the perceived commercial potential of The Johnstons obviously called for a grand gesture on the part of their record company (Transatlantic)and they duly threw caution to the wind. I can't imagine that too many people stumped up the money to buy both. Then again, the albums were like chalk and cheese.

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 03:29 PM

I should have added that The Johnstons "Barleycorn" (TRA 185) wasn't issued until 1969 - as was "Giv a Damn" (TRA184)- and that since the number of Barleycorn follows that of Giv a Damn it was probably later in the year. (see Horst Pohl - The Folk Record Source Book, though his dates are not always right)

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: GUEST,John Moulden
Date: 16 Sep 03 - 03:18 PM

The common Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore was first sung on an EFDSS LP(1969) by Packie Manus Byrne, now over 80 and living in Ardara Co Donegal. He was born at Corkermore between there and Killybegs. It was taken up by Paul Brady and subsequently. However, there are longer and more local (to north Derry, Donegal) versions in Sam Henry's Songs of the People and in Jimmy McBride's The Flower of Dunaff Hill. The songs at the Bodelian with the title Shamrock Shore have no connection with this one - The first lines begin "You curious searchers.." "You muses nine..." and "You broken hearted heroes.." all of which I know, and "Come all you fair maidens.." and "In a musing mind with me combine" which I don't but I'd bet the last is a derivation of "Ye muses nine..."!

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From:
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 05:33 PM

Don't thank me. I just wanted to put in a blicky for Leprechaun's message.

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 11:29 AM

hanks, George. The title is much better without the late addition of 'Paddy;' "Shamrock Shore" as given in Ceolas.

There are better versions in the Bodleian Library, which has broadsides of "Shamrock Shore," one dated between 1819 and 1844.

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From:
Date: 15 Sep 03 - 09:42 AM

Green Shamrock Shore

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: GUEST,leprechaun
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 11:23 PM

http://www.ceolas.org/cgi-bin/ht2/ht2-fc2/file=/tunes/fc2/fc.html&style=&refer=&abstract=&ftpstyle=&grab=&linemode=&max=250?shamrock+shore

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 07:03 PM

Oh sorry Noreen I missed that part.

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: Noreen
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 06:58 PM

errr...
the song is in fact traditional

...which means that it's accepted that the author is lost in the mists of time, if one was ever credited with the composition.

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 06:52 PM

Thanks Noreen.

But still no indication of the author.

Subject: RE: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: Noreen
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 06:18 PM

It's traditional.

From Susanne´s Folksong-Notizen:

[1968:] Any connoisseur of traditional Irish music and song would be pardoned for viewing the title of this song with a certain amount of suspicion, having subconsciously put it on a par with such nauseous pieces of work as Paddy McGinty's Goat, Galway Bay, My Heart's In the Heart of Killarney or for that matter any of those songs pertaining to the 'Isle of Shamrocks and Shillelaghs'. [...] However, titles can be misleading, as is this one, and the song is in fact traditional - again a Northern one and probably from Donegal - and at most can be faulted on the rather over-sentimental and hence somewhat unrealistic treatment of emigration.

(Notes The Johnstons, 'The Barley Corn')

Subject: Origins: Paddy's Green Shamrock Shore
From: GUEST,sorefingers
Date: 14 Sep 03 - 12:59 PM

Looked at several threads no help! So wondering who wrote it, was it perhaps Paddy Reilly? Also I seem to recall it being sung way back in the 50's UK, anyone else with the same memories.

thanks