Lyr Req: Lismore Turkeys / Maid of Lismore

Subject: Lyr Req: Lismore Turkeys
From: Waterford Boy
Date: 13 Jan 07 - 01:53 PM

I'm looking for the words of this song which my grandmother used to sing and even if it exists a CD featuring this song.

Subject: Lyr Add: LISMORE TURKEYS
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jan 07 - 02:54 PM

The late Martin Reidy of West Clare sings this beautiful, very full version on the double CD 'Around The Hills of Clare'.
Jim Carroll

LISMORE TURKEYS (Roud 9284)
Martin Reidy, Connolly, Co. Clare

One morning I chanced to go roving, it being of a sweet month of May,
When flowers they were blooming most charming and pleasant and blooming (ar)ray.

I chanced for to meet with this fair one, her aspects so free and so rare,
And she going to the town of Dungarvan at the very first dawn of day.

She hastened her paces before me; I told her to take her ease.
But the more I advanced to discourse her, the quicker she squelled (?) on the heels.

I quickly stepped up to this fair maid, I asked her how far was she going
Or did she belong to Dungarvan, or where was her native home?

She said: "I belong to Lismore, sir, some turkeys I have for sale,
And I'm going to the town of Dungarvan, for this is our market day".

I asked her if she'd want a driver, as her donkey was going too slow,
And she'd be in full time for Dungarvan and her turkeys would all be sold.

In sweet Cappoquin I embraced her and we called for a cruiscín lán (full jug).
If I drank up a barrel of porter this damsel she'd pay for all.

When I found her so civil and jovial I thought I might make her my own.
I told her I owned a large farm, as long as the lease would hold.

"Besides, I have cattle and corn, I have money that nobody knows,
And I'll have you as snug and as warm as if you got all in Lismore".

While Kathy and I were discoursing she used look at me now and again.
Her apron belt she kept folding and twisting it up in a ring.

We called for another full jorum (large jug) till Kathy and I were pleased
And we slept till the market was over and the turkeys by and by got cheap.

"The curse of the crows may await you, you tricked me, you naughty rogue.
Or how will I go home to my father, or how will I face Lismore?"

"I'll have you before the recorder at Waterford Town next March,
And I'll have you hung or transported for trespassing against the law".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lismore Turkeys
From: Waterford Boy
Date: 14 Jan 07 - 02:08 PM

Thank you Jim.

This isn't exactly the same as the song my grandmother sang, but the gist is very similar. Dungarvan didn't feature in granny's version at all which had Cappoquin as the place where the market was being held (which makes sense as you would hardly drive turkeys to Dungarvan from Lismore as it's way too far to go).

Which label released the album?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lismore Turkeys
From: GUEST,Scoville
Date: 14 Jan 07 - 02:13 PM

Where is Lismore, anyway, and is that the proper spelling? We used to play something called "Leaving Lismore" (Lissmore, Lismoor, something), but nobody knew where it was or how to spell it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lismore Turkeys
From: MartinRyan
Date: 14 Jan 07 - 02:30 PM

The best known (in Ireland) Lismore is in Waterford - the name "means" Big Fairy Fort. It's the fort that's big, BTW, rather than the fairy. Lismoor..... I dunno.

Regards
p.s. Be interested to see the words of the song, GUWSTScoville, of course.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lismore Turkeys
From: Scoville
Date: 14 Jan 07 - 02:55 PM

I don't know if it had words. We never sang it, but we didn't sing a lot of stuff.

This is the tune (not our arrangement, but very nearly). It seems mostly to be attributed to Scotland, and I cannot find any lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lismore Turkeys
From: AmyLove
Date: 20 Feb 17 - 11:27 PM

Searching "Lismore Turkeys" doesn't produce many results online. But "The Maid of Lismore" brings up a fair number of results, for anyone who's interested.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Lismore Turkeys
From: Joe Offer
Date: 21 Feb 17 - 12:22 AM

Here's the Traditional Ballad Index listing for "Maid of Lismore":

Maid of Lismore, The

DESCRIPTION: Singer meets Kathy from Lismore, going to sell turkeys at Dungarvan. She pays for drinks. He claims to be rich. They sleep until the market closed. The price for turkeys falls. Now he claims poverty. She is ruined and would have him "hung or transported"
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: before 1886 (broadside, Bodleian Harding B 11(2283))
KEYWORDS: seduction lie drink commerce poverty bird food
FOUND IN: Ireland
Roud #9284
RECORDINGS:
Martin Reidy, "Lismore Turkeys" (on IRClare01)
BROADSIDES:
Bodleian, Harding B 11(2283), "The Maid of Lismore" ("One day as I chanced to go roving"), H. Such (London), 1863-1885; also 2806 b.9(111), 2806 c.8(187), 2806 c.8(257)[some words illegible], 2806 c.15(12)[some words illegible], 2806 b.11(135), "The Maid of Lismore"
NOTES: The places mentioned -- Lismore, Dungarvin and Cappoquin (where they stopped) -- are in County Waterford. It's about three miles from Lismore to Cappoquin, and about 11 miles farther to Dungarvan. - BS
File: RcMaLism

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The Ballad Index Copyright 2016 by Robert B. Waltz and David G. Engle.

Roud has four entries under #9284: Dungarvon, Dungarvan, and two from Jim Carroll named "Lismore Turkeys."
"Maid of Lismore" is listed in the Roud Broadside Index as #V4290. "Maid of Lismore" is obviously the same song.
Be sure to take note of the threads on other songs about the town of Dungarvan (click).
-Joe-

Subject: Lyr Add: THE MAID OF LISMORE (from Bodleian)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 23 Feb 17 - 11:19 PM

My transcription from the Bodleian broadside, Harding B 11(2283), printed by H. Such, London, between between 1863 and 1885:


THE MAID OF LISMORE

[1] One day as I chanced to go roving,
It being the month of May,
As Phoebus approached most charming
Her brilliant and blooming array,
I chanced for to meet a young female
Whose aspect did me ensnare.
She was making her way to Dungarvon
Before the first dawn of day.

[2] I quickly approached this young female
And asked her how far she might go,
Or did she belong to Dungarvon?
Or where was her native home?
She said she belonged to Lismore, sir,
And some turkeys she had for sale,
And I'm going to the town of Dungarvon,
For this is the market day.

[3] Her cheeks were as red as the roses.
Her skin like the falling snow,
And her limbs the same in proportion.
I felt for her going alone.
I asked if she wanted a driver;
Her donkey was going so slow,
And it's then you'll be in full time there,
And your turkeys will be sold.

[4] She quickened her paces before me,
And I told her to take her ease,
And the more I advanced to discourse her,
The swifter she made away.
But in sweet Cappoquin I embraced her,
And I called her a Cruiskeen Lawn,
And if I'd drank a barrel of porter,
This damsel would have paid for all.

[5] When I found her so civil and jovial,
I wished her to be my own.
I told her I held a large farm
As long as the lease would hold.
Besides, I have cattle and corn,
And money that no one knows,
And I will make you as snug and as warm
As if you had all Lismore.

[6] While Katty and I were discoursing,
She smiled at me now and then.
Her apron string she kept folding
And twisting all round her ring.
I called for another full jorum
Till Katty and I were so pleased,
And we slept till the market was over,
And the turkeys by-and-by got cheap.

[7] But as soon as our slumbers were over,
I told her I should retreat.
I'll go and consult with my master.
My farm is now out of lease.
Besides on the last week I was cautioned
To pay up all old arrears,
And I fear he will give me no quarter
Without paying him on the nail.

[8] With tears in her eyes she reproached me
And called me a thousand rogues,
And she said that I was a deceiver
In every word that I spoke.
With flattering speeches you coaxed me,
And you boasted of all your stores,
But now when my hopes you have smothered,
You'll leave me to lie alone.

[9] The curse of the crown may await you,
You frolicsome naughty rogue.
How can I go home to may father,
Or how can I face Lismore?
I'll bring you before the recorder
In Waterford town next March,
And you will be hung or transported
For trespassing on the law.