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Lyr Req: Skibbereen + Irish Soldier Laddie

24 Jul 97 - 03:07 PM (#9499)
Subject: Skibereen
From: dalex@mindspring.com

I am looking for the words to two Irish rebel songs that could not be found on this database. I'm looking for the words to "Skibereen" and "Irish Soldier Laddie". If anyone knows these or can tell me where to find them, please e-mail me and let me know! :)

24 Jul 97 - 03:14 PM (#9500)
Subject: RE: Skibereen
From: Wolfgang

The DT has the one as "Skibbereen".

24 Jul 97 - 03:29 PM (#9502)
Subject: RE: Skibereen
From: Raven-Skies

thanks for the reply, wolfgang. i am also VERY interested in the lyrics for "Irish Soldier Laddie" which i have tried a number of combinations for on the database, but turned up nothing of what i was looking for. its chorus goes something like "will you stand and (defend?) like a true Irishman?, will you go and fight the forces of the crown? will you follow O'Neil to an Irish battlefield for tonight we go and (?) Wexford town."

24 Jul 97 - 03:30 PM (#9504)
Subject: RE: Skibereen
From: Wolfgang

Irish Soldier Laddie can be found in this song collection.

24 Jul 97 - 07:53 PM (#9527)
Subject: Lyr/Chords Add: SKIBBEREEN
From: ALison

Hi

Hope this is the one you're looking for.

SKIBBEREEN
     Em            Bm                   Em            Bm
  O, Father dear, I oft-times heard you talk of Erin's Isle,
       G                F#m               D                  Bm
  Her lofty scene, and valley green, her mountains rude and wild;
       G              F#m               D                   Bm
  You said it was a pleasant place wherein a prince might dwell,
        Em           Bm             Em     G     Bm
  Then why did you abandon it, the reason to me tell?
My son, I loved our native land with energy and pride
Until a blight fell on the land and sheep and cattle died,
The rents and taxes were to pay, I could not them redeem,
And that's the cruel reason why I left Old Skibbereen.

It's well I do remember on a bleak November's day,
The landlord and his agent came to drive us all away;
He set my house on fire with his demon yellow spleen
And that's another reason why I left Old Skibbereen.

Your mother, too, God rest her soul, lay on the snowy ground,
She fainted in her anguish of the desolation round.
She never rose, but went her way from life to death's long dream,
And found a quiet grave, my boy, in lovely Skibbereen.

It's well I do remember the year of forty-eight,
When we arose with Erin's boys to fight against our fate;
I was hunted through the mountains as a traitor to the Queen,
And that's another reason why I left old Skibbereen.

Oh father dear, the day will come when vengeance loud will call
And we'll arise with Erin's boys and rally one and all,
I'll be the man to lead the van, beneath our flag of green,
And loud and high we'll raise the cry, "Revenge for Skibbereen!"

Slainte

ALison

24 Jul 97 - 08:27 PM (#9530)
Subject: RE: Skibereen
From: Alice

In Herbert Hughes "Irish Country Songs" Vol. 2, 1909, he has all the verses that Alison posted as well as one more that comes after the verse in which the mother dies.

And you were only two years old
and feeble was your frame.
I could not leave you with your friends
you bore your father's name.
I wrapped you in my cottamore
at the dark of night unseen,
I heaved a sigh and bid goodbye
to dear old Skibbereen.

Hughes does a beautiful job of piano accompaniment arrangements as well. Alice

24 Jul 97 - 08:45 PM (#9533)
Subject: RE: Skibereen
From: Wolfgang

The phrase "revenge for Skibbereen" has been used by Christy Moore in his song "Joxter goes to Stuttgart", celebrating a victory (the only one?) of the Irish against the English in football. This is by the way the only football song I like, for it freely uses Irish (folk) tradition and mocks in a gentle way about football supporters.

Wolfgang (soccer, for the other half of the world)

20 May 98 - 06:52 AM (#28825)
Subject: RE: Skibereen
From: AndreasW

In Alices verse of "Skibbereen", there is the line
I wrapped you in my cottamore

I looked into all the dictionaries I could get hold of (online and paper versions) but could not find the meaning of cottamore.

Can anyone help?
TIA,
Andreas

20 May 98 - 10:25 AM (#28833)
Subject: RE: Skibereen
From: Alice

A type of coat. It is spelled in different ways. Also have seen it printed cóta mór, and probably other versions of spelling exist.. Cotta is latin for a surplice, with or without sleeves.

alice

20 May 98 - 02:15 PM (#28849)
Subject: Lyr Add: IRISH SOLDIER LADDIE (Pat McGuigan)
From: Brack&

IRISH SOLDIER LADDIE

'Twas a mornin' in July, I was walking through Tipperary
When I heard the battle cry, from the mountains overhead
As I looked up to the sky, I saw an Irish Soldier laddie
he looked at me right fearlessly and said

CHORUS: Will you stand in the band like a true Irishman,
And go and fight the forces of the crown
Will you march with O'Neill to an Irish battlefield
For tonight we're going to free old Wexford town

Says I to that soldier lad, would you take me to your captain
It would be my pride and joy for to march with you today
I've a brother died at Cork and a son at Enniscorthy
To the noble captain I did say: CHORUS

We marched back again in the shadow of the evening
With our banners flying low to the memory of the dead
We came back to our homes but without our soldier laddie
But I still can hear those brave words he said: CHORUS

Written by Pat McGuigan

Mick

20 May 98 - 04:31 PM (#28854)
Subject: RE: Skibereen
From: Martin Ryan

"cota mor" is, literally, "greatcoat".

Regards

20 May 98 - 06:39 PM (#28869)
Subject: RE: Skibereen
From: Antaine

cóta = coat mór = big (meaning in this case an over-coat)

20 Sep 17 - 09:59 AM (#3877827)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Skibbereen + Irish Soldier Laddie
From: GUEST,equilibrium

It's in the dictionary as"COTHAMORE" (with an "H" instead of the double"T")