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26 Mar 03 - 12:26 PM (#918829) Subject: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: Bearheart Have found references to this song in other threads but no lyrics. Can some one post them for me? Thanks! Bekki |
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26 Mar 03 - 12:39 PM (#918843) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: IanC Seems to be originally a reel, but Niamh Parsons sings a song (to the same tune?) :-) |
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26 Mar 03 - 12:52 PM (#918852) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: Bearheart Yes she's my source. Bekki |
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26 Mar 03 - 12:54 PM (#918855) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: GUEST,Q A sound clip of Niamh Parsons singing the song on the Green Linnet label can be heard at their website, www.greenlinnet.com. Several others have done it. The clip is of a slow, ballad-like tune. |
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26 Mar 03 - 01:11 PM (#918871) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: Malcolm Douglas A poem of the early 20th century set to music, possibly by more than one person (Cathal McConnell, for example, set it to a song-tune from Cavan; I don't know if it's his setting that Naimh Parsons sings). Details in previous discussions; but, as Bekki points out, no text. |
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26 Mar 03 - 04:07 PM (#919002) Subject: ADD: Flower of Finae From: GUEST,bigJ THE FLOWER OF FINAE as sung by John Faulkner on "NOMADS - FANAITHE" CD on the Clo Iar-Chinnachta label CICD 071 (1992) Bright red is the sun on the waves of Lough Sheehan A cool gentle breeze from the mountain is stealing, And fair around its islets the small ripples play But fairer than all is the flower of Finae. Her hair is like night and her eyes like grey morning, She trips on the heather as if its touch scorning Her heart and her lips are as mild as May Day, She's Eileen MacMahon, the flower of Finae. Fergus O'Farrell was true to his sire-land, Till a dark hand of tyranny, it drove him from Ireland. He's joined the brigade in the wars far away And left his fond sweetheart, the flower of Finae. He fought at Cremona, she heard of his story, He fought at Casano, she's proud of his glory, And yet she still sings Shule a Rune all the day O come back my darling, come home to Finae. Eight long years have passed till she's nigh brokenhearted Her reel and her rock and her flax she has parted. She sails with the wild geese to Flanders away And leaves her fond parents to mourn in Finae. On the slopes of La Judoigne the French men are flying Lord Clare and his squadron the foe they're defying, Outnumbered and wounded, retreated in array And bleeding lies Fergus and thinks of Finae. In the cloisters of Ypres a banner is swaying And by it a pale weeping maiden is praying, That flag's the sole trophy of Ramilie's fray This nun is poor Eileen, the flower of Finae. According to the notes on Dave Webber and Anni's CD 'Solo Together' the song is about the war of the Spanish Succession. |
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26 Mar 03 - 09:04 PM (#919249) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: Stewie The Parsons recording has 3 additional stanzas. These two after stanza 2 and before 'Fergus O'Farrell was true ...': But who down the hillside like wild deer runs fleeter And who on this lakeside is hastening to greet her Who but Fergus O'Farrell that fiery young gay The darling and pride of the flower of Finae One kiss and one clasp, and one wild look of gladness But why does it change all a sudden to sadness? He has told his sad fortune he can no longer stay He must leave his poor Eily alone in Finae And this one comes in as third to last stanza before 'On the slopes ...': Lord Clare on the field of Rammillies is charging Before him the Sasanach squadrons enlarging Behind him the Cravats their sections display Beside him rides Fergus and shouts for Finae In Parsons' version, there are several other minor textual variations from the version in bigJ's posting. Parsons notes that it was 'written for "The Nation" by Thomas Davis some time between 1842 and his death in 1845'. She learned it from the Nuala Harris who recorded it in the 1980s. Above text from booklet accompanying Niamh Parsons 'Blackbirds & Thrushes' Green Linnet GLCD1197 --Stewie. |
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27 Mar 03 - 11:21 AM (#919698) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: Bearheart Thanks so much. Saw Niamh in Dublin Ohio at the Dublin Irish Fest several years ago. She was great! Will look for these other recordings too-- I'd be interested to hear some other versions. Bekki |
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07 Feb 06 - 12:59 PM (#1663933) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: GUEST,ju Just wondered if anyone knew/could explain to me the meaning of the line "Her reel and her rock and her flax she has parted" and also what are the "Cravats"? Thanks Jules |
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25 Jul 08 - 02:32 PM (#2397793) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: GUEST,Jessica I believe it's referring to the lyrics of Siuil A Run, which she is mentioned as singing. (Don't know about the Cravats though...) SIUIL A RUN I wish I was on yonder hill 'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill, And every tear would turn a mill, Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn. Chorus (in phonetic Gaelic) Shule, shule, shule aroon, Shule go succir agus, shule go kewn, Shule go dheen durrus oggus aylig lume, Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn. *****I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel, I'll sell my only spinning wheel, To buy my love a sword of steel Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn. Chorus I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red, And 'round the world I'll beg my bread, Until my parents shall wish me dead, Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn. Chorus I wish, I wish, I wish in vain, I wish I had my heart again, And vainly think I'd not complain, Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn. Chorus But now my love has gone to France, To try his fortune to advance; If he e'er come back, 'tis but a chance, Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn. Chorus |
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25 Jul 08 - 03:29 PM (#2397846) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: MartinRyan A possible explanation: At one point in Irish history, the "Cravats" were a revolutionary agrarian secret society - what we would now call "terrorists", for better or worse. The implication would be that Fergus was not alone! All that said, I'll need to check out the dates for consistency - but remember that Davis was essentially a romantic as well as a nationalist. Regards |
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25 Jul 08 - 04:04 PM (#2397865) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: MartinRyan On the other hand, This earlier thread glosses "Cravat" as meaning "Croat" - and may well be right! Regards |
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26 Jul 08 - 11:24 AM (#2398311) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: MartinRyan This site ties it up neatly.... Exit stage right... Regards |
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26 Jul 08 - 01:29 PM (#2398360) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: quokka Isn't Fergus O'Farrell a noted singer-songwriter from Cork? With a band called Interference? With a brilliant song called 'American Townland? Would love to find out more... maybe I should start a thread....... Cheers, Quokka |
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26 Jul 08 - 01:46 PM (#2398366) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: MartinRyan No shortage of 'em! Wasn't there a potter or weaver of that name who had a craft shop in Dublin for many years?! Regards |
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18 Nov 11 - 09:59 AM (#3259348) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: Jim Dixon From Irish Minstrelsy: A Selection of Irish Songs, Lyrics, and Ballads... edited by Henry Halliday Sparling (London: Walter Scott Ltd., [1888?]), page 145: [I have boldfaced the words that are different from the versions above. There are also some spelling differences that I have not marked.--JD] THE FLOWER OF FINAE. A BRIGADE BALLAD. Thomas Davis. 1. Bright red is the sun on the waves of Lough Sheelin, A cool gentle breeze from the mountain is stealing, While fair round its islets the small ripples play, But fairer than all is the Flower of Finae. 2. Her hair is like night, and her eyes like grey morning, She trips on the heather as if its touch scorning, Yet her heart and her lips are as mild as May day, Sweet Eily MacMahon, the Flower of Finae. 3. But who down the hill-side than red deer runs fleeter? And who on the lake side is hastening to greet her? Who but Fergus O'Farrell, the fiery and gay, The darling and pride of the Flower of Finae. 4. One kiss and one clasp, and one wild look of gladness; Ah! why do they change on a sudden to sadness— He has told his hard fortune, no more he can stay, He must leave his poor Eily to pine at Finae. 5. For Fergus O'Farrell was true to his sire-land, And the dark hand of tyranny drove him from Ireland; He joins the Brigade, in the wars far away, But he vows he'll come back to the Flower of Finae. 6. He fought at Cremona—she hears of his story: He fought at Cassano—she's proud of his glory, Yet sadly she sings "Shule Aroon" all the day, "O, come, come, my darling, come home to Finae." 7. Eight long years have pass'd, till she's nigh broken-hearted, Her "reel," and her "rock," and her "flax," she has parted; She sails with the "Wild Geese" to Flanders away, And leaves her sad parents alone in Finae. 8. Lord Clare on the field of Ramilies is charging— Before him the Sassanach squadrons enlarging— Behind him the Cravats their sections display— Behind him rides Fergus and shouts for Finae. 9. On the slopes of La Judoigne the Frenchmen are flying, Lord Clare and his squadrons the foe still defying, Outnumbered, and wounded, retreat in array; And bleeding rides Fergus and thinks of Finae. 10. In the cloisters of Ypres a banner is swaying, And by it a pale weeping maiden is praying; That flag's the sole trophy of Ramilies' fray, This nun is poor Eily, the flower of Finae. |
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18 Nov 11 - 05:33 PM (#3259614) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: Paul Burke Finely sung (if you want a CD) by the House Devils on Adieu to Old Ireland. |
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13 Oct 14 - 04:14 PM (#3668755) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: MartinRyan There's now a very nice archive recording at The Goilin Song Project, by Nuala Harris. Click here Regards |
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13 Oct 14 - 04:35 PM (#3668762) Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Flower of Finae From: Jim Carroll Flower of Finae John Joe McMahon A poem written by Thomas Davis (1814 - 1845) as a tribute to Daniel O'Brien, 3rd Viscount Clare, who raised a mounted dragoon regiment during the Jacobite war, Clare's Regiment, initially named 'O'Brien's Regiment' after its originator but later known as 'Clare's Dragoons'. When Clare's Dragoons left Limerick with the Flight of the Wild Geese they became a regiment of infantry, Clare's Dragoons remained loyal to the dethroned James II of England and fought against the army of William III of England, during the Williamite War in Ireland. Exiled Irish troops became known as "The Wild Geese" and fought as mercenaries. Clare's Dragoons greatest triumph, among many, was the Battle of Ramilles. When the English forces had turned the French, Lord Clare spurred his Irish troops into action with the battle cry "Cuimhnígí ar Luimneach" (Remember Limerick!). The English were routed. For information on Thomas Davis, see notes to 'Grave of Wolfe Tone'. Jim Carroll |