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Lyr Req: The Shamrock and the Thistle (The Corries

14 Jan 02 - 05:34 AM (#627509)
Subject: The Corries:The Shamrock and the Thistle
From: GUEST,sean.keatings@apw.com

I am looking for the lyrics of a Corries song 'The Sharocka and the Thistle'

14 Jan 02 - 05:36 AM (#627511)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Corries:The Shamrock and the Thi
From: GUEST

Sorry typing error. The correct Title is 'The Shamrock and the Thistle'

14 Jan 02 - 08:11 AM (#627545)
Subject: Lyr Add: ALONG THE FAUGHAN SIDE (A & F Brolly)
From: Paddy Plastique

Hello Seán,

Is this the song you're looking for? I've been meaning to start a thread on it for a while. I noted down these lyrics from one of those cornball 'Irish Songs' compilations a while ago. It was one of the least syrupy (but still fairly gooey) tracks of the collection. The song aroused my interest as I'd heard a great song with the same phrase regarding the 'shamrock, rose and thistle' during a BBC Norn Iron documentary about Ulster Singing that was on telly when I went home to Ireland last year. Their version was unaccompanied and I forget the melody The one I've noted down is sung on the tape to a variant of 'Pontchartrain' It's credited, incidentally to Ann & Francie Brolly. I know the phrase in question has a heavy symbolic significance when it comes to Ulster. It also gave Hugh Shields the title for his book on Ulster singing which I hear you're to 'beg, borrow or steal' - not that I've managed either yet. Anyone know if this is the song from which Shields took his title, or better still, if it's the same version as that used for the documentary I mention?

ALONG THE FAUGHAN SIDE

A stream like crystal it flows down
It's plain for to be seen
It's there you'll find the Irish oak
Trimmed with the ivy green
Where shamrock, rose and thistle grow
The lily too beside
And they flourish all together, boys
Along the Faughan side

It's just three miles from Derry
To the bridge at Drumahoe
It's there I've spent some happy days
I'll have you all to know
Where lambs do sport
Fair maids do court
And small fish gently glide
And there's blooming corn on a bright May morn
Along the Faughan side

If you could see this lovely place
All in the summertime
Each bush and tree there looms so gay
Each meadow in its prime
Where the blackbird and the golden thrush
Sing there the livelong day
But now I have a notion of
Going to Amerikay

Oh the leaving of this lovely place
It grieves my heart full sore
But the leaving of my own true love
It grieves me ten times more
But if ever I return again
It's her I'll make my bride
And I'll roll her in my arms, me boys
Along the Faughan side

14 Jan 02 - 08:57 AM (#627568)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Corries:The Shamrock and the Thi
From: Dave the Gnome

Couldn't find it - I'm sure I used to have it on an old Corries album but it's nae there noo!

Found this cracking Robert Service poem with a line mentioning the Shamrock and the Thistle while I was looking though. Click here

Not the right one I know but I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.

14 Jan 02 - 09:38 AM (#627587)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Corries:The Shamrock and the Thi
From: Malcolm Douglas

The set in Shields' book was from Eddie Butcher, who called it The Faughan Shore; unfortunately, I haven't seen that book either.  There's another in Songs of the People (H621: 26 Oct 1935), from D. Ellis of Crumlin, Co. Antrim, set to a Lowlands of Holland tune.  The Anne & Francie Brolly set appeared on Beautiful Ireland (Homespun HRL 116, 1976) according to the discography in S.O.P.

14 Jan 02 - 10:41 AM (#627620)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Corries:The Shamrock and the Thi
From: GUEST,Sean

I am 100% sure that the title is "The Shamrock and the Thistle". It tells the story of Irishmen going to Glasgow at New Year for a true Scots Hogmany. I can vaguely remember the first couple of verses that I will try to relay here. (Apologies to anybody that does remember it properly.)

Well come on, you true born Glasgow boys, and listen to my song.
I come to speak of harmony. It won't detain you long.
I wrote this little tune for you and I'll play it on my whistle,
And I think the name I'll give to it is The Shamrock and the Thistle.

Well, aboard the Royal Ulster Man, we had a dram or twa.
As daylight broke, we all awoke and spied the Broomalaw.
We journeyed o'er and went ashore for whiskey, stout and beer,
And soon the word was going round: "The Irishmen are here."
....

Maybe this will inspire a memory in someone out there.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 14-Oct-02.

14 Jan 02 - 10:58 AM (#627624)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Corries:The Shamrock and the Thi
From: Malcolm Douglas

Oh, that one.  It's always a good plan to give some background information with a request; there's an awful lot of songs out there with shamrocks and thistles in them!  See  Lyr Req: The Shamrock & The Thistle.

18 Jan 02 - 05:43 AM (#630317)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Corries:The Shamrock and the Thi
From: GUEST

Has anyboby had any inspiration?

18 Jan 02 - 08:23 AM (#630393)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Corries:The Shamrock and the Thi
From: kendall

I thought the line was, ...I'm for the CROWN, so we went along wi' him.

18 Jan 02 - 10:21 AM (#630497)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Corries:The Shamrock and the Thi
From: Malcolm Douglas

Guest (Sean, presumably): if you follow that link I put in my previous message, you'll find a set of words posted here a while back.