Lyr Req: Galtimore Mountains - Grehan Sisters

03 Aug 00 - 01:25 AM (#270825)
Subject: Galtimore Mountains - Grehan Sisters
From: GUEST,Constance

Would anyone have the lyrics for The Galtimore Mountains from the Grehan Sisters? It is very similar to white, orange, and green - yet the last two verses I've never heard before.

Thanks

---

03 Aug 00 - 09:40 AM (#270958)
Subject: Lyr Add: GALTEE MOR MOUNTAINS
From: Jimmy C

Constance

I first heard this song about 1950. Here are the words as I learned them.

In the Galtee Mor Mountains not far far away
I'll tell you a story that happened one day
To a young Irish Colleen whose age was sixteen
And she hoisted her banner, white, orange and green.

A young British Soldier was pasing that way
He spied the young maid with ther colours so gay
He cursed and he swore, he jumped off his machine
Detrermined to capture the flag of Sinn Fein

You shan't have these colours the young maiden cried
Or your blood or mine down this valley will ride
For I have a rifle and thats nothing mean
And I'll lay down my life for the flag of Sinn Fein

The young british soldier turned white as the snow
Jumped on his machine and away he did go
For there's no use in fighting a maid of sixteen
Who would lay down her life for her flag of Sinn Fein

Early next morning near Tipperary town
I saw the young maid from the Galtees come down
Her heart is was torn, twas plain to be seen
For that morning Tom Ashe gave his life for Sinn Fein

I imagine the song has been added to through the years. The last verse of the Grehan Recording that starts:

So young men and maidens from Erin's green shore
Raise a cheer for the maid from the broad Galtee Mor
etc may be an additional verse that has been added to the original.

Also the reference to Tom Ashe in the last verse above has been changed to " Mick Keane", my guess would be that Mick Keane was a victim of the recent troubles and as such became part of these additions or changes.

The British soldier has also became an English Bobby. The Grehan's version has an extra 3rd verse about the Bobby demanding the emblem.

Many changes - but thats folk music for you, it happens a lot and I hope it always will.

Slainte

---

05 Aug 00 - 08:52 AM (#271862)
Subject: Lyr Add: THE GALTYMORE MOUNTAINS (Grehan Sisters)
From: Snuffy

Constance,

Here are the words as sung by the Grehan Sisters

On the Galtymore Mountains, so far, far away
I will tell you a story that happened one day
It's about a young caulin, her age was sixteen
And she carried a banner, white, orange and green.

A bold English bobby by chance passed that way
Saying "Who is the maid with the banner so gay?"
With a laugh and a sneer he got off his machine
Determined to capture the flag of Sinn Fein.

"O give me that banner", the bold bobby cried,
"Give me that banner, and do what is right.
Give me that banner, and do not be mean,
For I must have that emblem, the flag of Sinn Fein."

"I'll not give you that banner", the young maiden cried
"Till your blood and my blood its colours have dyed.
For I have here a rifle and that's nothing mean,
And 'tis proudly I'll die for the flag of Sinn Fein".

The peeler's red face turned white as the snow
He mounted his cycle and started to go,
Saying "What is the use, when a maid of sixteen
Would die for her colours, white, orange and green?"

That very same day in sweet Tipperary town
That gallant young girl from the Galtees come down.
Her poor heart was torn with anguish and pain
For that very same day Mick Keane died for Sinn Fein.

Now you young men and maidens from Erin's green shore
Raise a cheer for the maid from the proud Galtee Mor,
And please keep on fighting the cause of Sinn Fein
Till we make dear old Ireland a Republic again.

Wassail! V

---