Lyrics: Irish Ballad?

Subject: Lyics: Irish Ballad?
From: Magdelena
Date: 22 Nov 98 - 10:57 PM

I once sang a song in a choir that had something to do with a girl, I think her name was Molly, and how she and this guy got maried. The guy went and started their house somewhere andwhen she finally came, one of them died, though I can't remember which. I know this is really vague, but it's been bugging me for years. Any help would be great.

Subject: RE: Lyics: Irish Ballad?
From: DonMeixner
Date: 22 Nov 98 - 11:05 PM

Magdalena,

This sounds like a common notion for a song. I know this will sound farfetched to some but search "Reedy River" in the database. Perhaps thats the tune. If not is a great tune that will do till the right one comes along. :-)

Don

Subject: RE: Lyics: Irish Ballad?
From:
Date: 27 Nov 98 - 01:12 PM

))

Subject: RE: Lyics: Irish Ballad?
From:
Date: 29 Nov 98 - 11:48 AM

no help at all?

Subject: RE: Lyics: Irish Ballad?
From: Kyle W.
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 09:58 PM

um...i think i heard it once, but i can't remember.

Subject: RE: Lyics: Irish Ballad?
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 03 Dec 98 - 11:13 PM

G'day Magdalena .. and DonMeixner,

I don't think that it is Reedy River ... Chris Kempster's ~ 1950 tune setting for Henry Lawson's poem.

This tells of the couple "selecting" a free-holding on Reedy River and then:

"... I cleared the land and fenced it,
and ploughed the rich red loam
And my first crops were golden
When I brought Mary home".

Mary (rather than Molly) dies and the song continues:

"... The sad bright day has ended
And twisted branches wave
And wattle blossoms golden
On the hill by Mary's grave"

It's a beautiful song (and quite important to the beginnings of the folk revival in Australia in the 1950s) but I'm not sure it fits with Magdalena's request.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Lyics: Irish Ballad?
From: Magdelena
Date: 05 Dec 98 - 12:03 PM

u know? This just might be it, but as I have no clear recollection of the verses or tune I can't quite tell. I guess I'll do some more research on this one, but if anyone else has any ideas, I could use those too.