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Particular version of The Irish Girl

12 Jul 11 - 12:25 PM (#3186143)
Subject: Particular version of The Irish Girl
From: artsfem

Back a few years ago, there was some conversation about a song called The Irish Girl, but not the one I am looking for. Here are the lyrics and the tune notes. I want to know if anyone recorded this version:


The tune I am looking for is like this (hope you can decipher. Lower case letters are 8th notes)

4/4 _ __ __ A/ Bflat A G E/ F G middleC C /de F middleC C/ C_ _F/ G C (up) C Bflat/A G G F/ G C (up)c bflat A/ G _ _   ...

THE IRISH GIRL

Abroad as I was walking
Down by the river side,
I gazed all around me,
An Irish girl I spied;
So red and rosy were her cheeks,
And yellow was her hair,
And costly were the robes of gold
My Irish girl did wear.

Her shoes were of the Spanish black,
All spangled round with dew,
She wrung her hands, and tore her hair,
Crying 'Love! what shall I do?
I'm going home, I'm going home,
I'm going home,' said she,
'Why will you go a-roving,
and slight your dear Pollie?'

The very last time I saw my love
She seemed to lie in pain,
With sorrow, grief and anguish
Her heart was broke in twain:
'Oh! there's many a man that's worse than he,
Then why should I complain?
Oh! love is such a killing thing!
Did you ever feel the pain?'

I wish my love was a red rose,
And in the garden grew,
And I to be the gardener;
To her I would be true.
There's not a month throughout the year,
But love I would renew:
With lilies I would garnish her,
Sweet William, thyme, and rue.

I wish I was a butterfly,
I'd fly to my love's breast;
I wish I was a linnet,
I'd sing my love to rest;
I wish I was a nightingale,
I'd sing till morning clear,
I'd sit and sing to you, Pollie,
The girl I love so dear.

(This verse may be omitted when singing)
I wish I was at Exeter,
All seated on the grass,
With a bottle of whiskey in my hand,
And on my knee a lass.
I'd call for liquor merrily,
And pay before I go;
I'd hold her in my arms once more,
Let the wind blow high or low
============================

Thanks for your help! Niela Miller


www.peoplesystemspotential.com
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12 Jul 11 - 12:41 PM (#3186149)
Subject: RE: Particular version of The Irish Girl
From: Fred McCormick

Various recordings have been made of this song including

Bob Copper. Coppersongs CD2
James McDermott. Musical Traditions MTCD329-0
Walter Pardon. Topic. TSCD 660
Ken Hall. Fellside. FECD 155
Sarah Makem. BBC. REC 28M. Last three verses only.

So far as I recall all those listed have that last verse about I wish I was in........ It's beautiful and I can't imagine why anybody would want to omit it.