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Lyr Req: Sweet Carnlough Bay (McKay)

14 Aug 97 - 07:33 AM (#10376)
Subject: Lyr Add: SWEET CARNLOUGH BAY (McKay)
From: Laoise, Belfast

I was looking on the DT to see if there were any more verses to this song. I couldn't find it at all so I thought I would post what I have here. (I got it from Folksongs & Ballads Popular in Ireland, vol. 3). If anyone has any information on this song or more verses I would be much obliged.

SWEET CARNLOUGH BAY

When winter was brawling, o'er high hills and mountains
And dark were the clouds o'er the deep rolling sea.
I spied a wee lassie as daylight was dawning
She was asking the road to sweet Carnlough Bay.

I said 'My wee lassie, I canna weel tell ye
The number of miles or how far it might be.
But if you'll consent I'll convoy you a wee bit
And I'll show you the road to sweet Carnlough Bay.

'You turn to the right and pass down by the churchyard
Cross over the river and down by the sea:
We'll call in Pat Hamill's and have a wee dram there
Just to help us along to sweet Carnlough Bay.'

Here's a health to pat Hamill likewise the wee Lassie
And to every laddie that's listening to me.
And ne'er turn your back on a bonnie wee lassie
When she's asking the road to sweet Carnlough Bay.

I'm sure there must be more verses, you know the old story - he asks her to marry him and she says nay for she's off to marry her man in Carnlough Bay.
Does anyone know it?

Laoise.

HTML line breaks added in place of double spacing. --JoeClone, 11-Mar-02.

14 Aug 97 - 07:46 AM (#10378)
Subject: RE: Lyrics, Sweet Carnlough Bay
From: Wolfgang

Hi Laoise,

"Carnloch" is the DT's spelling

14 Aug 97 - 08:32 AM (#10380)
Subject: RE: Lyrics, Sweet Carnlough Bay
From: Laoise, Belfast

Cheers Wolfgang,

Now WHY didn't I think of that!

Interesting that the DT has come to the same conclusion as I did on the fact that there are probably more verses to this song. I wonder if it was a sad or a happy ending.

Laoise.

14 Aug 97 - 08:50 AM (#10382)
Subject: RE: Lyrics, Sweet Carnlough Bay
From: Wolfgang

Hi Laosie,

I'll check tonight at my small folk library, but I doubt, I ever saw an ending to this song.

As for the search operation, place names can be tricky as I know from my own bad experience. It is sometimes easier when you use bits from the lyrics. "Winter brawling" did the job for me.

Wolfgang

14 Aug 97 - 09:26 AM (#10388)
Subject: RE: Lyrics, Sweet Carnlough Bay
From: Bert Hansell

That sounds like a version of "The Road to Dundee" which is in DT.
Bert.

14 Aug 97 - 12:22 PM (#10410)
Subject: RE: Lyrics, Sweet Carnlough Bay
From: dick greenhaus

It is a variant of Road To Dundee; Several folk have told me that they've heard some erotic aand even some downright bawdy verses, but I haven't found them yet.

22 May 07 - 11:57 AM (#2058412)
Subject: RE: Lyrics, Sweet Carnlough Bay
From: GUEST,sid

Carnlough (correct spelling) is on the Co. Antrim coast.The song was composed by "The Poet McKay" from the same area. What you have of the song is all there is. It is of course like the Road to Dundee which is older. There is a big Scottish influence on music in the Glens of Antrim because of the proximity to Scotland. Likewise there is an Irish influence on the opposite coast.
regards Sid (Carnlough)

20 Feb 17 - 10:21 AM (#3840154)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Sweet Carnlough Bay (McKay)
From: Gabriel

As a rough rule of thumb, the fully or partly enclosed expanse of water is called a 'loch' in Scotland and 'lough' in Ireland.