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Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen

27 Aug 99 - 01:10 PM (#109048)
Subject: Lyr Req: Dark Iniseoghain
From: Indy Lass

I'm trying to find the lyrics to this song. I heard it sung by Mary Dillon of Deanta. Does it have another title? I've checked every place I know to look for it. Please help!


27 Aug 99 - 01:57 PM (#109063)
Subject: Lyr Add: DARK INISEOGHAIN
From: Wolfgang

found at http://www.cse.msu.edu/~white/Music/Compilations/StorySongs/darkIniseoghain.txt thanks to ALTA VISTA search machine.

Enjoy it .....Wolfgang

DARK INISEOGHAIN

the maidens of beauty and swains so forlorn
that carelessly wander away from your home
i am off by the moonlight and break of the morning
i'll be found in the martins with dark iniseoghain

i stray to a place they call sweet kaylani
in search of the fair one that I might adore
but a maiden to love me I couldn't find any
from mendorn bridge to the gap of mamore

many's the colleen i cast my eye over
from mary of marlin to the rose of maville
all sweet with their smiles and eyes filled with laughter
but sure at the end was myself waiting still

at the bay of cultath where the wild waves are breaking
can donna with forest clad mountians and hemp
i sat but in vain with a heart that was aching
for one in my dreams of a bright world fulfilled

but then in the shades of old barnum i find you
not valley or shadowed by mountains so grand
and I prayed that god's angels would ever protect you
and i placed a keepsake in your littile white hand

and nigh I am stationed in kitey farlahna
far from the fair one that I do adore
but when i turn it will be to my delight
that I left in the martins of dark iniseoghain


27 Aug 99 - 03:55 PM (#109086)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dark Iniseoghain
From: Indy Lass

Wolfgang, thank you so much for the lyrics! I'll make a note of that website and I will enjoy learning the song. Thanks again! --annieglenn


31 May 00 - 03:20 AM (#236253)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dark Iniseoghain
From: Joe Offer

Somebody in the Seeking Irish Songs thread said these lyrics aren't too accurate, and the spelling of place names is bad. Can anybody improve on what we've got?
-Joe Offer-


31 May 00 - 05:05 AM (#236270)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dark Iniseoghain
From: MartinRyan

OK, here's a start. Given the location, I reckon it's "Mary of Malin" and "rose of Moville" in verse 3. I'll need to dig out a copy (and/or a map!) to check the others.

Regards

p.s. last line is surely "mountains" rather than "martins"?


31 May 00 - 05:14 AM (#236271)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Dark Iniseoghain
From: SueH

Have a look at this previous thread for place names:
Dark Inishowen
SueH


31 May 00 - 11:25 AM (#236368)
Subject: Lyr Add: DARK INISEOGHAIN / DARK INNISHOWEN
From: Peg

Yes, I asked for those place names in that thread! I also must say there are some other little mistakes in this other version Wolfgang posted...mountains of hemp? I'll be found in the martins?

Try this:

DARK INISEOGHAIN (or INNISHOWEN)

Oh, maidens of beauty and swains so forlorn,
That carelessly wander away from your home,
I am off by the moonlight and break of the morning.
I'll be found in the mountains of Dark Iniseoghain.

I strayed to a place they call sweet Clonmany
In search of a fair one that I might adore,
But a maiden to love me I couldn't find any
From Meendoran Bridge to the Gap of Mamore.

Many's the colleen I cast my eye over
From Mary of Malin to the rose of Moville,
And sweet were their smiles and eyes filled with laughter,
But sure in the end was myself waiting still.

At the Bay of Culdaff where the wild waves were breaking,
Carndonagh with forest-clad mountains and hill,
I sat but in vain with a heart that was aching
For one who my dreams of a bride would fulfill.

And then in the shades of old Barnan I found you,
That valley o'ershadowed by mountains so grand,
And I prayed that God's angels would ever protect you
And I placed a keepsake on your little white hand.

And now I am stationed in County Fermanagh,
Far from the fair one that I do adore,
But when I return it will be to my dear one,
That I left in the mountains of Dark Innishowen.

The version posted earlier kinda sounded like it was transcribed by someone whose first language is not English, judging by the grammar and construction...anyone else think so? I mean nothing derogatory in saying that, just an observation.

Peg


27 Oct 07 - 12:00 PM (#2180478)
Subject: Lyr Add: DARK INISHOWEN (David A. Campbell)
From: Jim Dixon

Found at movilleinishowen.com:

DARK INISHOWEN
(The Lament of a Young Soldier Parted from His Sweetheart)
by David A. Campbell

Ye maidens of Beauty and swains so forlorn,-
That carelessly wander away from your home,
I am off by the moonlight and by break of morn,-
I'll be found in the valleys of dark Inishowen.

I roved 'round a place that they called fair Clonmany,
In search of a sweetheart that I might adore,
But a maiden to love me I could not find any,
From Meendoran bridge to the Gap of Mamore.

Oh many's the colleen I cast my eye over
From Mary of Malin, to Rose of Moville
All sweet with their smiles and glad eyes filled with laughter
But sure in the end 'twas meself waiting still.

At Bay of Culdaff where the wild waves were breaking.
Carndonagh, with forest-clad mountain and hill
I sought but in vain with a heart that was aching
For one who my thoughts of a bride would fulfil.

Still 'twas back in the shade of old Barnan I found you,
That valley o'ershadowed by mountains so grand,
And I prayed that good angels would ever protect you,
As I placed a keepsake on your little white hand.

And now I am stationed in County Fermanagh,
So far from my loved one and far from my home,
But when I return it will be to the dear one,
That I left in the mountains of dark Inishowen.

[Google Book Search indicates that there is a copy of this poem in Swan, Harry Percival, 'Twixt Foyle and Swilly: Panorama of Ireland's Wonderful Peninsula; a Guide Book and Conspectus of Information Relating to the Barony of Inishowen, County Donegal. Dublin: Hodges, Figgis, 1949.]


02 Sep 12 - 02:50 PM (#3399093)
Subject: Tune Add: Dark Iniseoghain Sheet Music/Melody
From: GUEST

Hi, Does anyone know where to obtain sheet music or a melody for this song? I can find information about the poem, but not the melody used. Thank you!!


03 Sep 12 - 02:47 AM (#3399336)
Subject: RE: Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen
From: Mick Pearce (MCP)

There are at least 12 entries on youtube for the song, so the melody is available there. Or do you need someone to transcribe it for you?

Mick


04 Sep 12 - 11:42 AM (#3399983)
Subject: RE: Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen
From: GUEST

Hi, yes, I was hoping for the melody. My transcription skills are not the best. Thanks to anyone who can help!!


04 Sep 12 - 12:35 PM (#3400006)
Subject: RE: Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen
From: GUEST,leeneia

It sounds like a good flute tune, so I've transcribed it, and will send it to Joe. Check back here for a MIDI. Then perhaps some kind soul will provide an ABC file of it.

Please note: Joe could be out of town or something, so don't get discouraged if the MIDI doesn't show up immediately. The timing may not be perfect, so feel free to modify it to make it sound right to you.

On the YouTube recording, the singer is singing in the key of A. That's too low for some instruments, so I wrote it out in A, put in a modulation (played by a kindly African who wandered past with his kalimba) and then wrote it again in the key of D. The tune has a big range of an octave and a fourth (low A to high D on the video.)

Now to send the MIDI to Joe...


04 Sep 12 - 03:23 PM (#3400083)
Subject: RE: Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen
From: GUEST

That's so wonderful - I will look forward to the MIDI. Thank you so much!!!


04 Sep 12 - 03:26 PM (#3400085)
Subject: RE: Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen
From: GUEST,leeneia

You're very welcome. I've been playing it on my flute already.


04 Sep 12 - 08:05 PM (#3400208)
Subject: RE: Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen
From: Joe Offer

Here's leeneia's MIDI. It ends rather abruptly, so I'm not sure I got the whole thing. I'll e-mail her and ask.

Click to play (joeweb)


04 Sep 12 - 10:00 PM (#3400270)
Subject: RE: Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen
From: GUEST

Thank you so much - I really appreciate it!!


04 Sep 12 - 10:29 PM (#3400281)
Subject: RE: Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen
From: GUEST,leeneia

Yes, that's the whole thing, Joe - in two keys, as I mentioned.


05 Sep 12 - 10:27 AM (#3400375)
Subject: RE: Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen
From: GUEST,leeneia

I should say that that's the ending as required by counting the beats. Nothing says one can't draw out the last note of the song after the final verse to let hearers know it's over. People do that all the time.


07 Sep 12 - 01:39 PM (#3401392)
Subject: RE: Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen
From: GUEST

Thanks again!! Much appreciated.


08 Sep 12 - 01:51 PM (#3401701)
Subject: RE: Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen
From: GUEST,Molly

I've only just noticed this thread! I had the same agonising search for this song a few years ago! If Wolfgang is the man I remember (friend of John Waltham's?) I'm sure he won't mind me saying that many Germans seem to love Irish folksongs and learn them phonetically which can result in some hilarious (sorry!) mistakes!
I have a mini disc recording of Michael McGonigle of Inishowen singing me his version of the words and of course the tune! Unfortunately I now have no mini disc player and no way of transferring it to any other medium. I will lend it for copying to anyone who is interested as long as they give me a copy I can play!
e-mail << mallaidh49@aol.com >>


16 Sep 12 - 04:01 PM (#3405789)
Subject: RE: Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen
From: GUEST,Guest, Sandra

Hi, Molly. I might be interested, let me see if I have the right equipment for the mini-disc.


17 Sep 12 - 07:56 AM (#3406081)
Subject: RE: Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen
From: GUEST,Molly

If you have and want to proceed, please e-mail me as above.


03 Oct 12 - 02:53 PM (#3413786)
Subject: RE: Lyr/tune Req: Dark Iniseoghain / Dark Innishowen
From: GUEST

Hi Can you help please.

I have a copy of this song from the McGlinchey summer school book vol 7 BUT it has different Lyrics. Mentions a girl called Mcdaid from Urrismenagh. Any idea please.