Lyr Req: The Irish Brigade (from Wolfe Tones)

Subject: Lyrics Irish Brigade
From:
Date: 10 Dec 98 - 11:04 AM

If anyone out there has the lyrics to the "Wolfe tones" Irish brigade I would appreciate them

Mick Bracken (It will probably be you that answers this so thanks in advance)

Gearoid

Subject: RE: Lyrics Irish Brigade
From: Brack&
Date: 10 Dec 98 - 08:45 PM

Well, I've got "The Battle Eve Of The Brigade", "The Boys Of The Old Brigade", "The Dublin Brigade", "The Belfast Brigade", and I've a tape, somewhere of The Belfast Brigade. I'm not sure I've got the one you want.
Regards Mick Bracken

Subject: RE: Lyrics Irish Brigade
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Dec 98 - 12:22 AM

I have the song on a tape somewhere, it seems that I have tried to transcribe it before. I will dig it out this weekend and get the lyrics as best I can for you.

Brack, the song is indeed called The Irish Brigade, and it is about the Irish Brigade (one of many) that fought for King Louis. I will get it done this weekend. It is a great tune, and has a great Uillean pipe fill in it.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyrics Irish Brigade
From: Gearoid
Date: 11 Dec 98 - 04:18 AM

Mick that's the one, I was looking at a discography on the Wolfe Tones (It's on Irish to the core)

thanks

Subject: RE: Lyrics Irish Brigade
From: Big Mick
Date: 11 Dec 98 - 08:59 AM

Yessir, that is the name of the tape. You have just made the search for it easier. I will get it done this weekend.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: BOYS OF THE OLD BRIGADE (P McGuigan)
From: Harald
Date: 11 Dec 98 - 08:15 PM

BOYS OF THE OLD BRIGADE

cho: Where are the lads who stood with me
When history was made?
Oh, gra mo chree I long to see
The Boys of the Old Brigade.

"Oh father, why are you so sad,
on this bright Easter morn?
When Irishmen are proud and glad
Of the land where they were born."
"Oh, son, I see sad mem'ries view
Of far-off distant days,
When, being just a boy like you,
I joined the old brigade.

In hills and farms the call to arms
Was heard by one and all,
And from the glens came brave young men
To answer Ireland's call.
'Twas long ago we faced the foe,
The old brigade and me,
But by my side they fought and died
That Ireland might be free.

And now, my boy, I've told you why
On Easter morn I sigh
For I recall my comrades all
From dark old days gone by,
I think of men who fought in glens
With rifles and grenade
May Heaven keep the men who sleep
From the ranks of the old brigade.

Subject: RE: Lyrics Irish Brigade
From:
Date: 12 Dec 98 - 12:44 AM

Ahhh, one of my favorites from The Masterless Men "Ode to Age" recording. By coincidence, does anyone have the lyrics to "The Leprechaun" on the same album?

Subject: RE: Lyrics Irish Brigade
From: Big Mick
Date: 12 Dec 98 - 10:51 AM

Harald,

Thanks for taking the time to type the lyrics. If you scroll to the top of this page and look in the upper right corner, you will see a search box for the Digital Traditions database. If you type a key word or phrase in it it will show you all the lyrics that have that word or phrase in it. BTW, if you use a phrase, put it in these brackets [..]. The reason I am telling you this is that "The Boys of the Old Brigade" is already in there.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: THE IRISH BRIGADE (Wolfe Tones)
From: Big Mick
Date: 12 Dec 98 - 11:43 AM

Gearoid,
Here you go, lad. It is a great song, in fact that whole CD/tape (Irish to the Core) is fantastic. I hadn't listened to it in a while. The name of the President in the second half of the first line escapes me. I typed it in as it sounded but I am unsure what it really is. Perhaps someone can fill us in on this one.
All the best,
Mick

The Irish Brigade
Wolfe tones

The mess tent was full and the glasses were set, and the gallant **Count Thornen** is President yet.
The veterans arose like an uplifted lance, crying come raise a health to the Monarch of France
With a thunderous cheer, now, they did as they were bade, for King Louis is loved by the Irish Brigade.
A health to King James and to Sarsfield's wise craft with the Georgie electors, and fiercely they laughed
Good luck to the girls, we wooed long ago, Where the Shannon, and Barrow, and black water flow,
You would think in old Ireland that they were afraid, for in battle there's none like the Irish Brigade.

But surely that light does not come from a lamp, and the boys they're all singing songs round the camp.
Hurrah boys, the morning, a battle has come, And the generals beating on many a drum
They rushed from the revel to join the parade, for the sword is the light of the Irish Brigade.
They fought as they reveled, just fiery and true, and the victors they left on the field of the few.
And they who survived, fought and drunk as before, for the land of their hearts, they would never see more
In farfel and field from Dunkirk to Belgrade, lay the soldiers and Chiefs of the Irish Brigade.
In farfel and field from Dunkirk to Belgrade, lay the soldiers and Chiefs of the Irish Brigade.

Subject: RE: Lyrics Irish Brigade
From: Gearoid
Date: 14 Dec 98 - 04:15 AM

Mick

I think it's the "gallant Count Ormond". As far as I can remember the Ormaonds were a powerful Norman family ?????????????????

Chancing his arm

Gearoid

Subject: RE: Lyrics Irish Brigade
From: Gearoid
Date: 14 Dec 98 - 05:23 AM

Forgot this

Thanks Mick

Subject: RE: Lyrics Irish Brigade
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Dec 98 - 08:41 AM

Gearoid,

The fog has lifted!!!! Thank you, you are correct. The Ormonde's were indeed a powerful family. One of them (Richard?) supported the Cromwellian policy of seizing Catholic lands, if I recall correctly.

Oh well, you are welcome, and thanks for helping me with my history.

All the best,

Mick

Subject: RE: Lyrics Irish Brigade
From: Gearoid
Date: 14 Dec 98 - 10:07 AM

Mick

My sixth class teacher is chuffed I remembered that little gem on the Norman Irish era.

All I have to do now is learn to play the Uileann pipes and I'll have the complete song

Thanks Again

Gearoid

Subject: RE: Lyrics Irish Brigade
From: GUEST,Irish Brigade
Date: 10 May 00 - 12:22 AM

First verse: ... crying, "Comrades a health to the monarch of France!"

..... George the Elector

....You would think in old Ireland that they were afraid, but in battle there's none like the Irish Brigade.

... the morning of battle has come. ... and though victors, they left on the field not a few.

The final line: On far foreign fields from Dunkirk to Belgrade lay the soldiers and chiefs of the Irish Brigade.

I'm not absolutely positive, but I've been singing this song for 22 years and this is the way I learned it from the WolfeTones.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Irish Brigade (from Wolfe Tones)
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 05:30 AM

This is the correct version of the poem by Thomas Davis:

THE mess-tent is full, and the glasses are set,
And the gallant Count Thomond is president yet;
The vet'ran arose, like an uplifted lance,
Crying—"Comrades, a health to the monarch of France!"
With bumpers and cheers they have done as he bade         5
For King Louis is loved by the Irish Brigade.

"A health to King James," and they bent as they quaffed,
"Here's to George the Elector," and fiercely they laughed,
"Good luck to the girls we wooed long ago,
Where Shannon, and Barrow, and Blackwater flow;"         10
"God prosper Old Ireland,"—you'd think them afraid,
So pale grew the chiefs of the Irish Brigade.

"But surely, that light cannot be from our lamp
And that noise—are they all getting drunk in the camp?"
"Hurrah! boys, the morning of battle is come,         15
And the generale's beating on many a drum."
So they rush from the revel to join the parade:
For the van is the right of the Irish Brigade.

They fought as they revelled, fast, fiery and true,
And, though victors, they left on the field not a few;         20
And they, who survived, fought and drank as of yore,
But the land of their heart's hope they never saw more;
For in far foreign fields, from Dunkirk to Belgrade,
Lie the soldiers and chiefs of the Irish Brigade.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Irish Brigade (from Wolfe Tones)
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 30 Apr 10 - 07:02 PM

The other Thomas Davis songs that goes with that is Clare's Dragoons, which is also in the Digital Tradition.

When, on Ramillies' bloody field,
The baffled French were forced to yield,
The victor Saxon backward reeled
Before the charge of Clare's dragoons...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Irish Brigade (from Wolfe Tones)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 May 10 - 03:15 PM

You can see the original poem in The Spirit of the Nation: Ballads and Songs by the Writers of "The Nation" (Dublin: James Duffy, 1845), page 158, where it appears with a different title:


THE BATTLE EVE OF THE BRIGADE.
By Thomas Davis.
Air—"Contented I am."

[The text is exactly the same as what the Guest posted above, except:]
[Verse 2 line 4:] Where Sionainn,* and Bearbha,** and Abhain-dubh*** flow;

[And the following footnote:]
* Shannon. ** Barrow. *** Arondha or Black-water.