Lyr Req: Free and Green (Carl Funk, David Kincaid)

Subject: Lyr Req: Green and Free - Irish Rebel Song
From: GUEST,Matt Routledge
Date: 26 Feb 07 - 03:10 PM

Looking for a song called "Green and Free"

All i remember is the line - Whiskey in the Morning, Whiskey in the Evening.


Cheers for any help!

Matt

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Green and Free - Irish Rebel Song
From: Shaneo
Date: 26 Feb 07 - 03:35 PM

I think I found that song here check out the site.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Green and Free - Irish Rebel Song
From: GUEST
Date: 26 Feb 07 - 03:52 PM

Thankyou Very Much!

Subject: Lyr Add: FREE AND GREEN (Carl Funk, David Kincaid)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 28 Feb 07 - 11:44 PM

Lyrics and notes copied from here:

Following a visit to Ireland in 1980, Carl Funk, a young singer-songwriter from Seattle, felt compelled to write this song, expressing his vision of Ireland's tragedies and hopes, presenting it to me in basic form upon his return. Originally, the song's protagonist was "Captain Farrell," the same name from the old Irish folk-song "Whiskey In The Jar," which Carl had learned on the trip. I thought the song was brilliant, but thought that we ought to find a different, previously unused name for the captain. Days later, he called saying he had just seen the name "Taggart" on the side of a moving company's van, and wondered if the name might work. I looked into it--the name was indeed an Irish one, and worked beautifully. For my part I did minor work to the vocal melody, composed the instrumental sections, arranged of the song structure and harmonies, and we soon had a finished song. Neither Carl nor I had any knowledge of the Irish Brigade of the American Civil War at this time.

Eight years later we would learn of some very strange coincidences surrounding this song: First, that the uncommon, almost randomly chosen name turned out to have been a real person, of the same name and rank: Captain Samuel Taggart of Co. I, 116th PVI, Irish Brigade. Secondly, that he was as beloved by his men in real life as his fictional counterpart, and died on August 25th, 1864, at the battle of Ream's Station, VA, in the same manner as described in the song. Lastly, that eight years later I would unknowingly join the reenactment company portraying Taggart's men, and finally be made aware of these bizarre coincidences. Initially, I debated using the song on the album, as my purpose was to present a collection of only period songs of the Irish in the Civil War. I soon came to the conclusion that there seemed to be some unearthly forces at work with the song, compelling us to tell the world of Samuel Taggart's story, this being reason enough to justify putting it on the album. The song has become an anthem of sorts for the men in my company, and I don't think they would have ever forgiven me if I hadn't.

FREE AND GREEN
(Carl Funk, David Kincaid)

Captain Taggart took the field
With his men as hard as steel
And we drove the bloody rebels to the sea.
Before the guns were stilled,
There were many hundreds killed.
There's many an Irish girl sad tonight.
When the smoke had cleared,
It was just as we had feared.
Captain Taggart lay wounded on the ground.
With his head upon my knee,
There he met eternity.
I proudly closed his eyes and then I cried.

CHORUS: Its whiskey in the mornin', whiskey in the night.
Another Irish soldier lad has fought his final fight.
We'll toast him till we're drunk, boys, and dowse the candle light.
Tell them Captain Taggart is comin' home tonight.

Well, we took his body home,
And the drums and pipes did drone,
And pulled a fine black casket through the streets.
We told his grievin' wife
That he loved her more than life,
And gave to his young son his father's sword.
Now the people, they all dream
Of an Ireland free and green,
Where nowhere can be heard the battle cry.
The fighting's gone too long
And it just drags on and on.
I'd like to know some peace before I die.