Origin: Ride On (Jimmy MacCarthy)

Subject: Ride On
From: GUEST,Mr Wiseman
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 09:24 PM

Way back in 1968 I was teaching music in Eltham at a school called Crown Woods.
There was this young musician there called Dave Kenningham. He was great, he sang a song called "Ride On" which became a hit over 30 years later for C Moore. I always wonder what happened to young David, and if he vere got any royalties.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: Peace
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 09:30 PM

Google his name.

You'll find stuff.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: katlaughing
Date: 15 Feb 07 - 09:55 PM

Looks as though he grew up and is still making music.:-)

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: rich-joy
Date: 16 Feb 07 - 12:13 AM

Dunno about Dave's royalties ... but we certainly hope the song's composer, Jimmy MacCarthy, got some!!
(had cause to Google this haunting song only a few days ago and so, discovered its true provenance!!)


Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: My guru always said
Date: 16 Feb 07 - 04:27 AM

Sounds like the Dave Kenningham known well in Kent, if so, he's still kicking! Am sure one of the FolkMob or Knockholt people will see this thread & give more info.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: Den
Date: 16 Feb 07 - 08:55 AM

As Rich pointed out Ride On was written by Jimmy MacCarthy.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: Scrump
Date: 16 Feb 07 - 11:45 AM

If Dave K recorded the song, he would get royalties from sales of the record. But the composer MacCarthy would get the composer's royalties for any recorded versions, including Dave K's and Christy Moore's.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 10:17 AM

I'm sure i read that mcarthy collected the song whilst travelling through eltham

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: GUEST
Date: 17 Feb 07 - 10:47 PM

As far as I know the Kennington version pre-dates the MacCarthy version by at least 20 years, but as so often happens in the greedy music business the silly sod forgot to copywright it!

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 01:22 PM

Copyrighting is convenient for legal purposes - but if it can be proved in some other way that someone wrote the song, the copyright as such is worthless. At least that's how I've always understood the legal position.

If Dave Kenningham wrote the song and was singing it before MacCarthy came along, he'd be in a good position to claim the author's royalties.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: Girl Friday
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 04:34 PM

Here we go again, Guest, Guest, Guest, I know who you are Michael.
Sounds like a MacCarthy Witch hunt to me.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: GUEST,Richard Bridge in high Dudgeon
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 04:46 PM

Take the piss out of folk music (or DK, who I think plays rather well) if you must, but if you know nothing about the law of copyright, shut the F*** up about it.

I know someone else who after enough drink taken claims to have written "Blue Tattoo", so there.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 05:56 PM

"Ride On," in the Benny Carter arrangement and sung by Anita O'Day, was a favorite of mine. That was in the 1940s.
Who are these guys?

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: McGrath of Harlow
Date: 18 Feb 07 - 06:06 PM

Different ride, I rather think.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: shepherdlass
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 06:08 PM

There is another very interesting version of this song by Mary Coughlan. Where is she these days?

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: GUEST,lox
Date: 19 Feb 07 - 06:18 PM

Would it be facetious to mention AC/DC at this point?

Let's not knock Christy though, he might be an easy target but he does it well on the night.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: Scrump
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 09:35 AM

Yes, if he 'forgot' to copyright it, it makes no difference legally. Copyright exists by default, and belongs to the originator.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: GUEST,nickr90
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 01:31 PM

Ride On was written by Jimmy MacCarthy and is also the title of his 'sort of' autobiography. It was his first hit when recorded by Christy Moore in 1984.
Presumably the song that started this thread is a song of the same name but no relation.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: Declan
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 02:01 PM

There is no doubt, as has been said above, that Jimmy MacCarthy wrote the song called "Ride On" recorded by Christy Moore.

I was in a local music shop today and checked out the copyright on the sheet music, which was 1984 Polygram Music. I know the song as performed by Jimmy for a good few years before Christy recorded it in 1983 or 84. I would definitely have heard it first in 1978 or 79. I think it was a fairly new composition at that stage.

It is actually quite a serious matter to accuse a professional songwriter of breaching copyright, as their reputation and ultimately their livelihood could be at risk. If the song has been misattributed for almost 25 years, I would have expected that we'd have heard about that before now.

So produce some evidence that the song is older or go away and stop defaming people!

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: Ruth Archer
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 02:05 PM

Personally, I've never been able to think of the song in quite the same way since Father Ted's Eurovision entry, My Lovely Horse...

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: Declan
Date: 20 Feb 07 - 02:45 PM

By the way Shepherdlass Mary Coughlan was on "The Late Late Show" here a couple of weeks back. She was relaunching her career again. A free CD of her Music was given away free with a national newspaper the following Sunday.

She's been through a rough time, but she sounds as if she's doing OK at the moment.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: GUEST,Dave Kenningham
Date: 21 Feb 07 - 07:09 PM

I heard about this thread during the week and have no idea who Mr Wiseman is.

I have been singing Ride On for some time I know but certainly not since 1968 (I was far too young ).

Christy Moore's version was the first one I ever heard. When I do perform it I credit it to Jimmy MacCarthy.
I have Jimmy MacCarthy's album which was recorded in 1989/90 and dated 1991 ' The song of the singing horseman' which includes Ride on. (As written, arranged and produced by Jimmy MacCarthy).

I also have the 1984 LP (at the time at a cost of £5.69) Christy Moore 'Ride On' and on the label Jimmy MacCarthy is credited.

Quite conclusive evidence.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: Lox
Date: 21 Feb 07 - 07:17 PM

Conclusive except in one respect,

"GUEST,Dave Kenningham"

It probably is really you, but you must admit, it could just as easily have been me.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: Declan
Date: 21 Feb 07 - 07:58 PM

Dave, (Assuming you are Dave),

Thanks for coming on and clearing this up.

There is an awful lot of misinformation on the Internet. This seems to be yet another example.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: Lox
Date: 21 Feb 07 - 08:02 PM

I would just like to comment that in all reasonableness it seems likely that that was dave kenningham who posted 21 Feb 07 - 07:09 PM and that wiseman is a fraud.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Feb 07 - 08:18 PM

I find that because Christy Moore wrote a lot of good songs , TOO many people think that EVERYTHING he sang was 'his' , even songs that he credits to other sources on his albums !

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: rich-joy
Date: 21 Feb 07 - 09:42 PM

I think that "Guest, Historian" and "bob dylan" who have posted in a few other Mudcat threads of late ("little known 60s folksingers", e.g. and "dave kenningham") could all be the same "person"!!!

"Guest, Historian"s post in that 60s thread re Dave K, is identical to "Guest, Mr Wiseman"s post that started this thread ...


Maybe some folks have just tooooooo much spare time on their hands?!


Cheers! R-J

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Feb 07 - 09:58 PM

I do have too much time - Just a bit of fun!

Still got ya going didn't it!

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: Richard Bridge
Date: 22 Feb 07 - 02:12 AM

This is all very silly and I'm pretty sure I can guess the culprit - he has both a certain style and a fixation with posting stuff about DK - and sometimes TDL.

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: GUEST,Bob dylan
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 05:49 PM

Dave kenningham wrote it man.Richard bridge mind your f..king language
you bad tempered man,

Subject: RE: Ride On
From: GUEST,Pete the hat.folkmob.
Date: 16 Apr 07 - 06:07 PM

The above is all very well but I think its a great song whosoever wrote it.Lets make it the Saturday night opener at knockholt?

Subject: RE: Origin: Ride On
From: GUEST,Pete.
Date: 07 Jun 07 - 06:14 PM

The above Bob Dylan message was submitted by me has a silly joke and was not intended to offend Richard or anybody else.Sorry.

Subject: RE: Origin: Ride On
From: GUEST,Tikki
Date: 26 Jul 07 - 12:22 PM

Is there anyone who finds there is some similarities between this song and the one called "Il est libre Max" by "Maxime Le Forestier" ?

Subject: RE: Origin: Ride On
From: Tim theTwangler
Date: 26 Jul 07 - 01:40 PM

Does anyone know the third verse?

Subject: RE: Origin: Ride On
From: GUEST
Date: 13 Jan 08 - 10:51 AM

i have it on extremely good authority that Jimmy McCarthy wrote Ride On. He is one of the most talented songwriters and musicians i have ever heard. i don't think it would be necessary for him to steal someone else's song.

Subject: RE: Origin: Ride On (Jimmy MacCarthy)
From: GUEST,John W
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 08:45 AM

"Ride on" is identical melodically to Freddie Aguilar's song, Anak, written 1978. Ok, who stole from who?

(email me at [e-mail] if you know the answer please!)

Subject: RE: Origin: Ride On (Jimmy MacCarthy)
From: Connacht Rambler
Date: 11 Mar 10 - 12:21 PM

Jimmy McCarthy was on Radio Eireann recently (Tubridy Show). He said he once worked as an apprentice jockey. While riding out, the older horses led, with the two-year-olds taking up the rear. As the younger horses got a bit frisky, the jockeys on the older horses were shouted at to "Ride On."
Simple as that!

Subject: RE: Origin: Ride On (Jimmy MacCarthy)
From: Pierre Le Chapeau
Date: 12 Mar 10 - 09:47 AM

This thread is donkeys years old?

Subject: RE: Origin: Ride On (Jimmy MacCarthy)
From: GUEST,Cockney
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 03:36 PM

Donkey's Ears

Subject: RE: Origin: Ride On (Jimmy MacCarthy)
From: GUEST,jeff
Date: 13 Mar 10 - 04:41 PM

One simply needs to take a look at the quality of Jimmy McCarthy's other works. Pretty strong stuff.

Subject: RE: Origin: Ride On (Jimmy MacCarthy)
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Sep 10 - 06:08 PM

I came on a reference to these words, that said they were actually written in verse by a late 1800' Irish poet. I should have written down the nam, cause now
I can't find it.The tune probably passed and chaged orally until Jimmyset it as the tune thatis now known so well, nut he didn't write it.