Lyr Req: Grace (Frank & Sean O'Meara)

Subject: Name of Irish balad
From: JoAnn
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 12:21 PM

Irish tenor Anthony Kearns sang a beautifully sad (patriotic) ballad on PBS recently. I would appreciate it if anyone knows the name of the song. It starts out: "As we gathered in the chapel here in old Hillmaynam(?) jail, I think about these past few weeks, will they say we failed" The refrain goes: "Oh Grace just hold me in your arms and let this moment linger. They'll take me out at dawn and I will die. With all my love I'll place this wedding ring upon your finger. There won't we time to share our love, for we must say goodbye."

Subject: RE: Name of Irish balad
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 12:55 PM

JoAnn,

I just finished reading a well-researched novel with real and fictional characters, called "1916" by Morgan Llywelyn. It is about what is commonly called the Irish Rebellion. The poets, etc. who planned and carried it out termed it "the Rising".

One of the major figures of the Rebellion was Joseph Mary Plunkett, a poet, co-founder of the Irish Theatre and editor of the "Irish Review". He was also a member of the Military Council, IRB and Dir. of Military Operations during the Rising.

He was in ill health throughout with tuberculosis. He was captured by the British, taken to Kilmainham Prison, and allowed to marry the woman he loved and had promised to marry, Grace Gifford, the night before he was shot to death by a firing squad. According to this author, who cites all of her sources, they were not even allowed a kiss and Grace had to watch as her new husband was led away to await the call to die.

When I did a quick search of the DT, using "Kilmainham jail", I didn't come up with the song you're looking for, but there was an intersting one about another major figure of the Rising, who also was executed, James Connolly. I didn't find anything using "Joe Plunkett".

Good luck, hope this helps.

Kat, who found her dad's nickname for her, "Katty", in print for the first time in this book. I hated "Kathy" for Kathleen and was always glad he called me Katty; now I know it's something others use, too!

Subject: RE: Name of Irish balad
From: Don Meixner
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 12:56 PM

JoAnn,

Its called "Grace".

Don

Subject: RE: Name of Irish balad
From: DonMeixner
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 01:00 PM

JoAnn,

It's called "Grace". And itwas written by ? O'Meara, let me know if you want more or the lyrics.

Don

Subject: RE: Name of Irish balad
From: JoAnn
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 03:09 PM

To Kat and Don, Kat,Thank you so much for the background on the song. It gives it a lot more meaning. And the song does mention that he left his sick bed to fight. I sort of assumed it was a more recent IRA song. It's very interesting and sad. Don, if it isn't too much trouble I would appreciate the lyrics. You are both very nice to answer and so quickly! Thank you so much. If you happen to see that the Irish Tenors will be on your local PBS station, you should really watch it. This song will really touch you. Thanks again! JoAnn

Subject: RE: Name of Irish balad
From: katlaughing
Date: 13 Mar 99 - 06:54 PM

JoAnn,

You are welcome. I am sorry to say the Irish Tenors show has come and gone on our PBS, and I MISSED IT!

Don, I would love to read the lyrics, too, if it's not too much trouble. Thanks.

katlaughing

Subject: RE: Name of Irish balad
From: JoAnn
Date: 14 Mar 99 - 03:53 PM

Kat- Keep watching. They often repeat those types of concerts. JoAnn

Subject: RE: Name of Irish balad
From: katlaughing
Date: 14 Mar 99 - 05:24 PM

Thanks, JoAnn, I shall. katlaughing

Subject: RE: Name of Irish balad
From: Big Mick
Date: 14 Mar 99 - 08:19 PM

Kat, glad to see you have discovered Morgan Llywelen. She writes some of the most amazing historical novels that you can find. Her research is impeccable. I would commend these to anyone who loves Irish history. Her forte is trying to show you who the people are behind the legend, and doing it a way that is historically accurate. Her other works are "Horse Goddess" which tells the story of Epona; "Bard" which tells the story of Amergin, "Red Branch" which tells the story of Cuchailian, "Finn MacCool", "Grania" which tells the story of Grace O'Malley, "Strongbow", "Lion Of Ireland" and "Pride of Lions" which tells of Brian Boru, and his son. There are others.

With regard to "1916", it is the first in a series of three books which will tell of the beginnings of the Irish Republic.

Mick

Subject: RE: Name of Irish balad
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 12:27 AM

Thanks for the info, Mick. I really was impressed with "1916"; learned a lot I didn't know. I will definitely read more of her books. I was really struck with her research, as you say. I could swear I read Pride of Lions. Do you know when it was published?

The only thing I wish she'd added to 1916 was a translation of some of the Irish. I could figure the names out pretty well, and actually didn't need them translated as I love them in Irish, anyway, but I no had time to learn Gaelic on the site I linked to from the Cat, yet, so...I guessed from the context of the words in English. It's a minor thing, really, compared to the breadth and skill of her protrayals. I think I'll get a copy of Epona next; she sounds my kind of woman!

Thanks, again,

katlaughing

Subject: RE: Name of Irish balad
From: Big Mick
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 08:30 AM

Yes, you will enjoy her, she is my kind of woman as well. If you want to read about another strong Irish Woman, read Grania. But you will have to do an out of print book search, as it is no longer in print.

Take care,

Mick

Subject: RE: Name of Irish balad
From: Alistair Robb
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 08:49 AM

Big Mick, Morgan Llewellyn also co-authored "Silverhand" the first in a fantasy trilogy. I dunno if the other two ever got written.

Subject: RE: Name of Irish balad
From: Big Mick
Date: 15 Mar 99 - 09:03 AM

Yes, Alistair, I was aware of that. Just forgot to put it in. She is an amazing author.

Thanks for reminding me.

Mick

Subject: Lyr Add: GRACE
From:
Date: 16 Mar 99 - 08:17 AM

GRACE

(C) As we gather in the chapel here
In (F) Old Kil- (F6) mainham (G) Jail,
I (F) think about these (C) last few weeks.
Oh will (Dm) they say we (G7) failed?
From our (C) school days they have told us
We must (F) yearn for liber- (G) ty,
Yet (F) all I want in (C) this old place
Is to (G) have you here with (C) me.

Oh, (G) Grace, just hold me in your arms and (F) let this moment (C) linger.
They (F) take me out at (C) dawn and (G7) I will die.
With (G) all my love, I place this wed- (G7) ding (F) ring upon your (C) finger.
There (F) won't be time (F7) to share our love, for (C) we must (G7) say good- (C) bye.

Now I know it's hard for you, my love, to ever understand
The love I bear for these brave men, my love for this dear land;
But when Padraic called me to his side down in the GPO,
I had to leave my own sick bed. To him I had to go.

Oh, Grace....

Now as the dawn is breaking, my heart is breaking, too.
On this May morn as I walk out, my thoughts will be of you.
And I'll write some thoughts upon the wall so everyone will know.
I loved you so much that I could see his blood upon the rose.

Oh, Grace...

Be careful as you sing this one, it's easy to collide vowels and consonants "They Take me out..." easily becomes "They take me oww...oot" sing it strongly and easily, its most effective when you ditch any affectation.

Don sorry it's so late. Irish bands are busy this month.