Lyr Req: The Bold Fenian Men

Subject: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: beetle cat
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 02:48 PM

Does anyone know the lyrics and/or history of the song "The Bold Finian Men"? thank you!
Mary.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: GUEST,Den at work
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 02:58 PM

There are two versions of this song. One starts, "See who comes over the red-blossomed heather", and one that goes' "Twas down by the glenside I met an old woman", which one did you mean?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Fenian Men
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 02:59 PM

search for Fenian (not finian) and you shall find

Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN BY THE GLENSIDE (BOLD FENIAN MEN)
From: GUEST,Jacqued
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 03:04 PM

Try this, Moxie:

^^^ DOWN BY THE GLENSIDE (BOLD FENIAN MEN)
(Paedar Kearney

'Twas down by the glenside, I met an old woman
She was picking young nettles and she scarce saw me coming
I listened a while to the song she was humming
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men

'Tis fifty long years since I saw the moon beaming
On strong manly forms and their eyes with hope gleaming
I see them again, sure, in all my daydreaming
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men.

When I was a young girl, their marching and drilling
Awoke in the glenside sounds awesome and thrilling
They loved poor old Ireland and to die they were willing
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men.

Some died on the glenside, some died near a stranger
And wise men have told us that their cause was a failure
They fought for old Ireland and they never feared danger
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men

I passed on my way, God be praised that I met her
Be life long or short, sure I'll never forget her
We may have brave men, but we'll never have better
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men

@Irish @rebel
sung by Judy Collins on Constant Sorrow
and by Clancy Bros on Bold Fenian Man

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 03:31 PM

Richard Dyer-Bennet did a moving version of this song on one of his LPs, the name of which escapes me now.

Most of Dyer-Bennet's recordings are available from Smithsonian-Folkways. Google Smithsonian and Folkways for their web site.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: GUEST
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 03:34 PM

FAQ: Searching Mudcat

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 03:50 PM

Already in the DT- "Down by the Glenside (Bold Fenian Men)" (Judy Collins version). Put Fenian in Lyrics and Knowledge Search and many threads come up, as well as other songs already DT'd.

See thread 13578 for another well-known Fenian song which Big Mick titled as "The Bold Fenian Men." He gives four of the five verses (omitting the last) of what was published by De Marsan as "The Fenian Men" (see American Memory for the full text). This one should be added to the DT.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: Bill D
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 05:38 PM

I think (from memory) that the Dyer-Bennet was simply Dyer-Bennet #2 on his own label...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: Uncle_DaveO
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 05:51 PM

Smithsonian owns Dyer-Bennet records now; he gave it to them.

Dave Oesterreich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: PapaWhiskey
Date: 08 Dec 03 - 07:36 PM

There's An arrangement in the Richard Dyer-Bennet Folk Song Book (Library of Congress number 74-167742) as "Bold Fenian Men (Irish Street Ballad)'. Here's his introduction:

"Just after the Second World War there came to America a young Irish tenor named Christopher Lynch, a protégé of John McCormick. He replaced Richard Crooks on the old Firestone radio show, and one night I heard him sing this fine song about the Fenians, the 19th-century Irish nationalists. I could not find the song in any Irish song collection, and I asked a friend, James O'Beirne, if he knew Lynch's singing of it. 'Hell, I taught it to him!' said O'Beirne, and promptly sang it to me. Where Jim learned it I don't know."

Subject: Lyr Add: BOLD FENIAN MEN (Michael Scanlan)
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 12:11 PM

Kearney's song was originally entitled "Down By the Glenside" - and usually still is.

The other "Bold Fenian Men" was written mid 19C. by Michael Scanlan, about whom I came across the following (on his parish website!):
******************
Michael Scanlan was born in Castlemahon in 1833 and died in 1917. During the Great Famine, when Michael was fifteen years old, he left with his family for America. Scanlan worked in a number of different jobs in America before joining the State Department in Washington, where he became the Chief of the Bureau of Statistics.
Together with other Irish emigrants, he founded a paper called "The Irish Republic" in 1867. This paper was the mouthpiece of the Fenian organisation. Michael was a renowned writer and poet. He wrote the following poem, which Limerick historian Mainchín Seoighe described as 'the great anthem of the [Fenian] movement' in his book "County Limerick - its people and places".:
See who came over the red-blossomed heather,
Their green banners kissing the pure mountain air;
Heads erect, eyes to front, stepping proudly together,
Sure Freedom sits throned on each proud spirit there.
Down the hills twining
Their blessed steel shining.
Like rivers of beauty that flow from each glen,
From mountain and valley
Tis Liberty's rally -
Out and make way for the bold Fenian men!

We don't appear to have a full set of words - they're freely available on the web. The tune is often played as a march - but you rearely hear the song itself nowaadays.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: GUEST,Den at work
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 12:56 PM

Thanks for clearing that up Martin.

Subject: Lyr Add: THE FENIAN MEN
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 02:00 PM

Lyr. Add: THE FENIAN MEN

See who comes over the red-blossomed heather!
Their Green Banners kissing the pure mountain-air:
Heads erect, eyes to the front, stepping proudly together:
Sure, Freedom sits throned in each proud spirit there.
Down the hills twining,
Their blessed steel shining:
Like rivers of beauty, they flow from each glen,
From mountain and valley:
'Tis Liberty's rally..
Out! and make way for the FENIAN MEN!

Our prayers and our tears have been scoffed and derided;
They've shut out God's sunlight from spirit and mind.
Our Foes were united; and We were divided..
We met.. and they scattered us all to the wind;
But, once more returning,
Within our veins burning
The fires that illumined dark Aherlow glen:
We raise the old cry anew:
Slogan of Con and Hugh..
Out! and make way for the FENIAN MEN!

We have MEN from the Nore, from the Suir and the Shannon;
Let the tyrants come forth.. we'll bring force against force;
Our PEN is the sword, and our voice is the cannon..
Rifle for rifle, and horse against horse.
We've made the false Saxon yield
Many a red battle-field..
God on our side, we will do so again,
Pay them back woe for woe,
Give them back blow for blow..
Out! and make way for the FENIAN MEN!

Side by side, for this cause, have our forefathers battled,
When our hills never echoed the tread of a slave,
On many green fields, where the leaden-hail rattled,
Through the red gap of glory, they marched to the grave
And they, who inherit
Their names and their spirit,
Will march 'neath our Banners of Liberty: then,
All who love Saxon law,
Native or Sassenagh.
Out! and make way for the FENIAN MEN!

Up for the cause, MEN! fling forth our Green Banners!
From the East to the West, from the South to the North,
ISISH LAND, IRISH MEN, IRISH MIRTH, IRISH MANNERS.
From the mansion and cot, let the Slogan go forth:
Sons of Old Ireland, now,
Love you our sireland? now,
Come from the kirk, or the chapel, or glen;
Down with all Faction old!
Concert and action BOLD:
THIS is the creed of the FENIAN MEN!

Attributed to Michael Scanlan, but the H. De Masran printing (NYC) from c. 1860 (according to Bodleian Library) lacks date or author. De Masran texts were sold both in North America and the British Isles. Bold type face in the broadside as shown. Copies in both American Memory and the Bodleian Library with the title "The Fenian Men." The word 'Bold' seems to be a late addition, it does not appear in the lyrics.

As noted in post 08 Dec., Big Mick in thread 13578 Fenian gave the first four verses. The first is again given above by Martin Ryan. The Fenians seem to come up regularly in threads so the complete text should be in the DT.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 02:01 PM

I first learned it from one of those excellent John Ford/John Wayne cavalry films. She Wore A Yellow Ribbon?
We'll never have better,
Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: ard mhacha
Date: 09 Dec 03 - 02:08 PM

I think the singers were Bob Nolan and The Sons of the Pioneers.Ard Mhacha.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: Big Tim
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 09:58 AM

According to Zimmerman, Scanlan's "BFM" was first published in Chicago in 1864. It was recorded by Patrick Galvin c.1960 (I have a copy). Anyone got the exact date? And info on any earlier recordings?

Martin, can you verify Scanlan's year of birth as 1833? I checked this with Limerick Libraries (where Mainchin Seoighe -in English Mannix Joyce, is a well-know man) and they couldn't be sure about the date? After checking numerous sources, incl the National Library of Ireland, I settled for 1836.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: Jimmy C
Date: 10 Dec 03 - 10:32 AM

I learned this song from my father as a child, although I have never heard the last verse submitted by Qpm. I still sing it a lot.

Seamus Kennedy does a great version on one of his CD's.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 05:10 AM

Big Tim

I was taking the date at face value from the website - mind you, it was the parish website, so perhaps they should know! I'll try to check.

As far as earlier recordings are concerned: I suspect there are a scatter of recordings by tenors with brass bands! Again, I'll check when I get a chance.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 05:12 AM

Meanwhile, Here's the link to the parish website.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: GUEST,weerover
Date: 11 Dec 03 - 06:42 AM

According to my father, when the John Wayne film was first shown in Belfast, there were riotous scenes in the cinema when this song was included. The song was then cut and the film moved on to Derry - there were further riotous scenes there because the song wasn't in!

wr

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: Keith A of Hertford
Date: 26 Dec 03 - 07:56 AM

Not Yellow Ribbon, but Rio Grande, showing tonight on UK TV.
Glory O,
Keith.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Finian Men
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Dec 03 - 05:03 PM

does anyon have the chords to the Bold Fenian Men

The only version I've heard is by the "Alias Acoustic Band"
And it's wonderful ... thanks

Rich

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Fenian Men
From: MartinRyan
Date: 17 Feb 11 - 12:44 PM

Coming back to this belatedly - too late for the much-missed Big Tim - I can see where he might have found the 1836 date for Michael Scanlan's birth. Colm O'Lochlainn gives it in his "Songwriters of Ireland" (publ. 1967).

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Fenian Men
From: MGM·Lion
Date: 18 Feb 11 - 12:04 AM

Margaret Barry (1917-1989) used to sing the Down By The Glenside version in the 1950s with her distinctive banjo style & her odd habit of adding extra indefinite-vowel syllables to some words, thus rendering the chorus as "Glory-O[er] Glory-O[er] to the bold Fenian men[er]".

In the version that can be heard on the 'Last fm' site -

http//www.last.fm/music/Margaret+Barry/+tracks

- she does this on the "Glory-O"'s, but not the "men"; but I distinctly remember hearing her sometimes doing so there also.

~Michael~

Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN BY THE GLENSIDE
From: Roberto
Date: 18 Feb 11 - 01:38 AM

DOWN BY THE GLENSIDE as sung by Delia Murphy:

'Twas down by the glenside I met an old woman
A-plucking young nettles, nor saw I was coming
I listened a while to the song she was humming
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men

'Tis fifty long years since I saw the moon beaming
On strong manly forms and bright eyes with hope gleaming
I see them again, sure, through all my day dreaming
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men.

When I was a colleen, their marching and drilling
Awoke in the glenside sounds awesome and thrilling
For they loved their old Ireland, to die they were willing
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men.

Some died by the glenside, some died mid a stranger
And wise men have said that their cause was a failure
But they stood by old Ireland and never feared danger
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men

I passed on my way, God be praised that I met her
Be life long or short, I shall never forget her
We may have great men, but we'll never have better
Glory O, Glory O, to the bold Fenian men

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Fenian Men
From: Daniel Kelly
Date: 25 Jun 21 - 09:10 PM

The tune for this song is the same as the one Nailly Coney used for 'The Tern and the Swallow', does anyone know if they are both using the tune of an earlier song?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Fenian Men
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 26 Jun 21 - 03:42 AM

Don't think I know "The Tern and the Swallow" - but it IS used for "Blackbirds and Thrushes"!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Fenian Men
From: DonMeixner
Date: 26 Jun 21 - 10:24 AM

Just some aside information: In the movie "Rio Grande" the regimental singers were indeed The Sons of The Pioneers. Ken Curtis was the lead singer of The Sons at that point. He worked as a big band singer before joining The Sons of The Pioneers. He was also seen as the button accordion player in "The Quiet Man". He was perhaps more well known as Festus Haggen on Gunsmoke through the 60's to the 80's.

Don Meixner

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Bold Fenian Men
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Nov 21 - 05:21 PM

Joe - do cleanup