Irish - American traditional songs

Subject: Irish - American traditional songs
From: Dan Milner
Date: 08 Sep 98 - 10:10 AM

I heard a very moving song composed by an Irish quarry worker in Vermont ca. 1850 the other day.

There must be many traditional songs and songs by true folk poets which speak of the Irish experience in America. For example, I have seen a few Civil war songs of the Irish brigades in Wright's Irish Emigrant Ballads and Songs that are very interesting.

Does anyone know of other good sources? Not after Tin Pan Alley stuff, of course.

Appreciate your help. Thanks.

All the best, Dan

Subject: RE: Irish - American traditional songs
From: Bill in Alabama
Date: 08 Sep 98 - 10:20 AM

Dan-- I immediately thought of the song Paddy Works On The Railway; when I did a search on "Paddy Works" I got not only the song, but a reference to a book on the songs of the irish in America.

Subject: RE: Irish - American traditional songs
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 08 Sep 98 - 11:34 AM

Dan- There are quite a few in Songs of the People, Sam Henry.

Subject: RE: Irish - American traditional songs
From: Moira Cameron
Date: 08 Sep 98 - 07:51 PM

See the song "By the Hush" in the Database. I learned it from Ian Robb years ago.

Moira

Subject: RE: Irish - American traditional songs
From: harpgirl
Date: 08 Sep 98 - 11:31 PM

...In addition to By the Hush, aka Paddy's Lamentation which I think captures the experience of Irish immigrants in the 1800's, I like "When New York Was Irish and "Ramblin Irishman". Also "When a Man's in Love" tells the story of a man persuading his love to go with him to "Amerikay." I love this era of song because my Irish ggg grampa Tobia Fitzgerald a potato famine fleer, married my ggg gramma America Jane Charles. America Fitzgerald! Now how's that for an Irish name...Trying Paddy in the DT gets one all sorts of Irish immigrant songs... harpgirl

Subject: RE: Irish - American traditional songs
From: BSeed
Date: 09 Sep 98 - 12:27 AM

Is "PADDY WORKS ON THE RAILWAY" the same song as "DRILL YE TARRIERS DRILL"? I think I've seen it so identified, but if not, there's another for you. And of course there's "Spancil Hill"--see the thread "Where is Spancil Hill?" See it anyway: it's one of the greatest threads I've seen.

--seed

Subject: RE: Irish - American traditional songs
From: BSeed
Date: 09 Sep 98 - 12:29 AM

Oh, and I forgot: "NO IRISH NEED APPLY." --seed

Subject: RE: Irish - American traditional songs
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 09 Sep 98 - 09:50 AM

Hey Big Mick!

Saw your note on Beaver Island, MI. Most interesting. Did you collect any Irish-American songs while you were there?

All the best.

Subject: RE: Irish - American traditional songs
From: harpgirl
Date: 09 Sep 98 - 05:47 PM

Mick, I sailed to Beaver Island once. And then I heard a song about Jesse James Strang. But why would one collect Irish songs there? Was the "King" and Irishman? harpgirl

Subject: RE: Irish - American traditional songs
From: rich r
Date: 09 Sep 98 - 10:19 PM

Searching "@irish @america" in the DT turns up severl other songs not yet mentioned here.

rich r

Subject: RE: Irish - American traditional songs
From: Barry Finn
Date: 09 Sep 98 - 10:42 PM

Margart MacArthur of Marlboro, Vermont does quite a bit of collecting in the Northeast, some of her stuff is an interesting cross, her version of The Lakes Of Champlain is to the tune The Lakes Of Cool Finn. Alot of her stuff is pretty local, but there's Brittish Isle/Irish in store of songs. Barry

Subject: RE: Irish - American traditional songs
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 10 Sep 98 - 01:50 AM

Thanks, Barry.

Timely you should mention Margaret. I haven't seen her in many years but I did shoot her an e-mail about this this other day.

All the best, Dan

Subject: RE: Irish - American traditional songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 10 Sep 98 - 03:52 AM

Hi, Seed - I made the song titles you posted clickable. Take a listen to the MIDIs for "Paddy" and "Tarriers" and you'll see they're quite different. I really like singing "Paddy," but I add this chorus:

> Filly-me-oori-oori-ay (3 times)
To work upon the railway

Another chorus goes, "Patsy-ori-ori-ay," etc.
-Joe Offer-