Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)

Subject: RE: Question on an Irish Song
From:
Date: 02 Nov 99 - 01:13 PM

Trying for years to get words to a song popular in the late sixties or early seventies whose only lyrics I can remember are: "I am just an Irish soldier fighting for the U.S.A" any help appreciated

Subject: RE: Question on an Irish Song
From: alison
Date: 03 Nov 99 - 02:09 AM

try starting a new thread you'll get more response..

I'll do it for you

slainte

alison

Subject: Irish soldier fighting for USA
From: alison
Date: 03 Nov 99 - 02:10 AM

Subject: RE: Question on an Irish Song From: [e-mail] Date: 02-Nov-99 - 01:13 PM

Trying for years to get words to a song popular in the late sixties or early seventies whose only lyrics I can remember are: "I am just an Irish soldier fighting for the U.S.A" any help appreciated

Subject: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star Of Athenry
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 17 Jul 04 - 11:36 PM

This song was recorded by Norman Payne, a singer who entertains regularly at The Irish Village in Hyannis, MA on Cape Cod. It is about a soldier who is mortally wounded on the battlefield and his last thoughts are about the sweetheart he left behind him, whom he describes with the title of this song. SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star Of Athenry
From: Big Tim
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 05:32 AM

You got the words? What was the battle, Aughrim, Athenry? "Blazing star" is a fairly common term, eg, "The Blazing Star of Drung", "Derry", etc. Is it a peculiarly Irish one?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star Of Athenry
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 10:19 AM

It appears that the song was written by a showband singer, Brian Coll, about Christy Nevin, an Irish citizen working in the USA who was drafted during the Vietnam war.

There is some information at http://www.vietpage.com/archive_news/politics/2002/Apr/22/0002.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star Of Athenry
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 18 Jul 04 - 12:23 PM

Big Tim. If I had the words I would not be asking for them. However, I believe I do remember something about Viet Nam. And yes, it is definitely an Irish song. SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star Of Athenry
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 09:31 PM

Brian Coll and the Plattermen recorded BLAZING STAR OF ATHENRY and ON THE BANKS OF MY OWN LOVELY LEE as a single.

Declan Nerney sings THE BLAZING STAR OF ATHENRY on his album "The One And Only."

The song is mentioned in a discussion about Irish Vietnam Veterans at the Castlebar News forum.
It says the song was about Patrick Christopher Nevin who was known as Christy. I also found a quote there:

Deep in the jungles of Vietnam a US soldier lay.
A sniper's bullet from the bush his young life stole away.
In dying breath and whispered tone, I heard him proudly say,
"I am just an Irish soldier fighting for the USA."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star Of Athenry
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 19 Jul 04 - 11:11 PM

Yes Jim. That is how the song begins. Hopefully, somone will be able to supply us with the entire song. Thanks. SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star Of Athenry
From: MartinRyan
Date: 20 Jul 04 - 02:04 PM

Now there's a little bell ringing in the back of my head....

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star Of Athenry
From: MartinRyan
Date: 04 Dec 04 - 03:27 AM

Finally heard this at a session last night. Great title for a song (based on "The Blazing Star of Drung"?) - though the song itself is not particularly traditional in style.

Anyway - I'll try ot organsie a set of words.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star Of Athenry
From: wilbyhillbilly
Date: 04 Dec 04 - 04:00 AM

To Organise, even!!!!!!!!!*bg*

Great, I would very much like the words to this one.


whb

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star Of Athenry
From: MartinRyan
Date: 04 Dec 04 - 05:11 AM

Yes Willy - it sounds as though I'm going to dress it in frills - or a wooly jumper!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star Of Athenry
From: mg
Date: 04 Dec 04 - 10:09 PM

I am hoping to see the words too. I jogged my memory that I think there was a woman who died who was Irish..probably more in fact that we don't know about. But as I recall she sold cars for GIs to pick up on their return home. I am also thinking that maybe one of the nurses who died was born in Ireland. And I would not be surprised if there were nuns, missionaries, civilian nurses etc. who died who were Irish. mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star Of Athenry
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 04 Dec 04 - 10:13 PM

I expect there were a good few (though Nevin was the first), together with many other foreign nationals who paid an unexpectedly high price for their green card.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star Of Athenry
From: MartinRyan
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 11:50 AM

Got it. Not written by Brian McColl but by one John McCauley. Published in a collection of his songs about 1975. I'll type it up when I get a chance.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star Of Athenry
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 06 Dec 04 - 10:26 PM

I have it on a casette by Norman Payne, who performs regularly at the Irish Village in Hyannis, MA. I heard him do it live and purchased the casette after the show.
                                              SOL ZELLER

Subject: Lyr Add: BLAZING STAR OF ATHENRY (Johnny McCauley)
From: MartinRyan
Date: 08 Dec 04 - 05:17 PM

THE BLAZING STAR OF ATHENRY
© Johnny McCauley

Deep in the jungle of Vietnam a U.S. soldier lay
A sniper's bullet from the brush his young life stole away
In dying breath and whispered tones I heard him proudly say
I am just an Irish soldier fighting for the USA

For the little while he remembered those so dear
An Irish girl so beautiful with eyes so blue and clear
He relived the tender moments of the day he said goodbye
To the sweetheart that he called the "Blazing Star of Athenry"

Oh may I see the dawning morn of the day this fight will end
And the arms of peace to everyone throughout the world extend
But these thoughts I have to banish and go on to fight or die
Like the soldier boy who loved the blazing star of Athenry

He held a faded photograph and a beads of rosary
These only cherished treasures then he sadly gave to me
Then in thought he drifted far away from this foreign land to die
And in fancy too, beside his Blazing Star of Athenry.


Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star of Athenry
From: GUEST
Date: 05 Apr 06 - 07:19 PM

thanks been lookin for these words very touchin dont you think?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star of Athenry
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 06 Apr 06 - 12:25 AM

Yes, I agree.
                                 SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star of Athenry
From: GUEST,Phil
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 12:21 PM

I used to have the single by Brian Coll and I'm sure that the first line of the second verse should read
"For the little while he lingered, he remembered those so dear"
Hope that helps

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star of Athenry
From: GUEST,phil
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 01:10 PM

Just gave a quick look on Ebay, there is a Brian Coll CD album
"THE BRIAN COLL COLLECTION
BEST EVER IRISH COUNTRY MUSIC"
EMERALD label   17 tracks
EMCD 2017
Track 14 is "Blazing Star of Athenry
How it compares to the original single I don't know as I have not heard this version but it must be worth a listen
The single was also on E

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Blazing Star of Athenry
From: Rabbi-Sol
Date: 30 Dec 06 - 08:14 PM

Hi Phil,

         I will look for my old Norman Payne CD, dust it off, and replay his recording of the song. We will see how he sang that verse.

                                                 SOL ZELLER

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: GUEST,Tom Walsh
Date: 30 May 07 - 06:36 PM

Hi all,

I'm almost 50 years of age and learned this song, off by heart, from an old gramaphone record, when I was but a toddler. Whenever I'm out for a few pints, and in good company, I always sing this song - you could hear a pin drop during the song. I have changed a few words to the way I learned it, please find below. I haven't a clue who sang it!! Another beautiful song, if you're interested, is "The Blind Child" which goes:-
"They tell me, father, that tonight,
You wed another bride,
That you have placed her in your arms,
Where my poor mother died......."

Regards, Tom.

Deep in the jungles of Vietnam a U.S. soldier lay
A sniper's bullet from the brush his young life stole away
In dying breath and whispered tones I heard him proudly say
I am just an Irish soldier fighting for the USA

For the little while he lingered he remembered all so dear
An Irish girl so beautiful with eyes so blue and clear
He relived the tender moments of the day he said goodbye
To his sweetheart that he called the "Blazing Star of Athenry"

[SPOKEN]
Oh God be with the dawning morn of the day this fight will end
And the arms of peace around us throughout this world extend
But these thoughts I have to banish and go on to fight or die
Like the soldier boy who loved his Blazing Star of Athenry
[END SPOKEN]

He held a faded photograph and beads of rosary
His only cherished treasures that he sadly gave to me
Then off he vanished far away in this foreign land to die
The soldier boy who loved the Blazing Star of Athenry.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: Hillheader
Date: 31 May 07 - 02:22 PM

Guest Tom

You're other song is the Blind Child's Prayer. It's in the Digitrad

Cheers

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: GUEST,Beach Beemer
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 02:48 AM

Thank you for the words. Now I won't have to call Norman to get them.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: Brakn
Date: 25 Jul 07 - 05:51 PM

I'm sure there was another thread about other songs that Johnny McCauley wrote; I can't find it!

Pretty Little Girl From Omagh
Any Tipperary Town
Among The Wicklow Hills
Four Country Roads
Donegal Shore etc etc

I have a live album somewhere in the cellar.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: GUEST
Date: 23 Nov 07 - 01:24 AM

Have you ever thought about what happened to the girl who the soldier loved in the song? I mean did she move on after the soldier's death? Was she able to find another love or just happiness in general?

I often wonder since the person who the song might have been "based" on was my uncle and I see his picture everytime I enter my parents house. I hope that she found love again and has had a beautiful life! I hope she knows that his brother that was in the USA with him and that she would have known pretty well, is a very proud parent of four children and a very happy grandfather of several!

Thank you to all of you that have listened to this song and appreciated it!

Go tell someone you love that you love them!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: GUEST,chris mccauley
Date: 05 Dec 07 - 10:56 AM

My father Johnny wrote this song together with many other irish country ballads, he is now in his 83rd year and lives in london.further info   [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: GUEST,GARY
Date: 13 Dec 08 - 08:37 AM

Does anybody know where I can listen to this song online

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 02:07 AM

Hi, Gary-
There's a YouTube recording here (click).

-Joe-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 14 Dec 08 - 04:05 AM

quite a tearjerker, right up there with "A Daisy a Day" ...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: GUEST,micharl bradley
Date: 14 Feb 09 - 11:06 AM

Iwould like to know if this is the same john Mc Cauley from Rosemount Derry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: GUEST
Date: 02 Mar 09 - 02:23 PM

yes micheal bradley the same john mccauley from rosemount derry more info [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 07:08 AM

May I say there are two words, missing out of the second verse of the song. It should be as follows.
For the little while (he lingered) he remembered those so dear.

The third verse is spoken.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Apr 09 - 07:10 AM

The words are printed on the form I added a couple of extra words that were missing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: GUEST,Martin Conroy
Date: 14 Aug 10 - 07:04 PM

Who was the blazing star of athenry? Was the soldier boy a real person?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: GUEST,Glenn Martin
Date: 30 Oct 10 - 01:38 PM

I know that everything you see on the internet is "suspect" but I find this to be so incredible that I must comment: This thread started in 1999 and still active through 2009, and, I guess, still active (since I'm commenting on it) just two months before 2011. Regardless, I enjoyed reading all the comments. I've known Norman Payne for many years but was not aware of Johnny McCauley (by the way the link in the thread pointing to "more information about Johnny McCauley" is a bogus site DON'T USE IT!)

Norman Payne is still performing at the Irish Village in W. Yarmouth (Cape Cod). They will be moving into new quarters in December 2010 (still W.Yarmouth NOT Hyannis)...should be a great New Years Eve celebration. They have price packages that make it a "cheap date" to stay over...check it out (NO, I don't work for them!).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: GUEST
Date: 12 Aug 11 - 07:04 PM

here is the song u were lookin for    Click here

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Mar 12 - 06:35 PM

rip lord look after jonny

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: mg
Date: 27 Mar 12 - 12:03 AM

Irish also got drafted into Australian army. I know one. Had a hard time. mg

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Blazing Star of Athenry (Johnny McCauley)
From: GUEST,kio
Date: 11 Jul 12 - 01:32 AM

http://www.mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=71696

This is nto the original version I usedt o know.. but thie fella does it ok anyway