Origins: Rambling Irishman (not Lough Erne)

Subject: Origins: Rambling Irishman (not Lough Erne)
From: Jim I
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 12:09 PM

I've been singing this song for years since learning it from my aunt. Now I'm trying to find where it came from. It's obviously similar to the better known "Lough Erne" version but does anyone have any more info?

It's sung to a very up-beat "Spancil Hill"

I am a rambling Irishman
And I've travelled the country o'er
In search of an occupation
I never had before.
I formed a resolution
And thought it a very good plan
To take a trip to Amerikay
As a rambling Irishman
Chorus:   (diddling)

When I landed in Philadelphia
The girls all jumped with joy.
Said one unto the other
"There goes an Irish boy."
They wanted me to dine with them
And took me by the hand
And they took a burly round the room
To honour this Irishman.

Oh! daughter, dearest daughter
What's this you are going to do?
To fall in love with an Irishman
A man you never knew
Well he'll work for you and he'll toil for you
He'll do the best he can,
And I know I'll never regret the day
I married an Irishman.

While on the subject I found a site listing all Ewan McColl's compositions including one called "The Rambling Irishman". I presume this is different again?

Subject: RE: Origins: Rambling Irishman (not Lough Erne)
From: The Shambles
Date: 25 Sep 06 - 12:24 PM

A Bumbling Englishman

Subject: RE: Origins: Rambling Irishman (not Lough Erne)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 23 Aug 21 - 05:10 PM

JOE - NEEDS CLEANUP

Subject: RE: Origins: Rambling Irishman (not Lough Erne)
From: GUEST,jim bainbridge
Date: 24 Aug 21 - 05:29 PM

I first heard this (nothing to do with Lough Erne) song on a trip to Ireland with my parents around 1963/4/

It was my first visit & musically I'd heard of Sean O Riada & Paddy Tunney. We stayed first in Letterkenny, more a one street village than the metropolis of today- no sign of Paddy Tunney but, having escaped my parents, I went in a little pub there & was greeted by 'What're having, boy?'. It seemed a customer had a win on the horses but it gave me a very positive view of Ireland!   No Paddy Tunney, but someone did sing the song in question later on.
   Travelling south on the same trip, in Killarney town I found an accordion player singing the same song- I had my little twin track Philips tape recorder this time & have sung the song in 3/4 time as he did ever since - there was another verso to go between v2 and v3 above verse-

'They took me to a big hotel with them for to spend the night
And there the landlady's daughter in me she took great delight
She never took her eyes off me, as on the floor I did stand
And she's whispered to her mother 'I'm in love with the Irishman'
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he had a last verse I've not heard since ...
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'Well it's now that we are married & settled down in life
we're happy as two turtle doves, meself & my wee wife
I'll work for her and I'll toil for her and do the best that I can
And she'll never say she rues the day, she met with the Irishman'
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another thing - instead of the 'burly round the room' yer man had 'the toast when flyin' around the room' which prompted my pal Mick Tems to say he had enjoyed my song but particularly the domestic incident in the second verse....