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14 Feb 07 - 08:36 AM (#1967264) Subject: Need help: irish folk-/protest-song From: Leadbelly Hi, long time ago I listened to an irish song performed by a group. All I can remember are fragments of the refrain which goes like this: The sea, oh(?) the sea is a good guarantee Long it (?) may roll between England and me ... Who knows about this song and its performers? Many thanks in advance, Manfred |
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14 Feb 07 - 08:48 AM (#1967276) Subject: RE: Need help: irish folk-/protest-song From: Den Is this what your looking for Manfred? Surrounded By Water (Dominic Behan) They say that the lakes of Killarney are fair That no stream like the Liffey can ever compare If it's water you want you'll find nothing more rare Than the stuff they make down by the ocean The sea, oh the sea is the gradh geal mo croide Long may it stay between England and me It's a sure guarantee that some hour we'll be free Oh! thank God we're surrounded by water Tom Moore made his waters meet fame and renown A great lover of anything dressed in a crown In brandy the bandy old Saxon he'd drown But throw ne'er a one into the ocean The sea, oh the sea is the gradh geal mo croide Long may it stay between England and me It's a sure guarantee that some hour we'll be free Oh! thank God we're surrounded by water The Scots have their whisky, the Welsh have their speech And their poets are paid about ten pence a week Provided no hard words on England they speak Oh Lord! What a price for devotion! The sea, oh the sea is the gradh geal mo croide Long may it stay between England and me It's a sure guarantee that some hour we'll be free Oh! thank God we're surrounded by water The Danes came to Ireland with nothing to do But dream of the plundered old Irish they slew "Yeh will in your Vikings", said Brian Boru And threw them back in the ocean The sea, oh the sea is the gradh geal mo croide Long may it stay between England and me It's a sure guarantee that some hour we'll be free Oh! thank God we're surrounded by water Two foreign old monarchs in battle did join Each wanting their head on the back of a coin If the Irish had sense they'd drown both in the Boyne And Partition throw into the ocean The sea, oh the sea is the gradh geal mo croide Long may it stay between England and me It's a sure guarantee that some hour we'll be free Oh! thank God we're surrounded by water |
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14 Feb 07 - 08:53 AM (#1967283) Subject: RE: Need help: irish folk-/protest-song From: Leadbelly Yes, it is, Den! At the same time I have had a look into Mudcat Lyrics and found "The sea around us". Seems to be similar resp. identical. Thank you very much.... Manfred |
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14 Feb 07 - 09:06 AM (#1967297) Subject: RE: Need help: irish folk-/protest-song From: McGrath of Harlow Sometimes it ends: God help poor old Scotland, they'll never be free. Thank God we're surrounded by water. |
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14 Feb 07 - 09:11 AM (#1967302) Subject: RE: Need help: irish folk-/protest-song From: Scrump Yes, I thought the proper title was The Sea Around Us, as stated by Leadbelly above. |
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14 Feb 07 - 09:17 AM (#1967312) Subject: RE: Need help: irish folk-/protest-song From: Leadbelly So what do we learn, McGrath? Apart from love (and joy) water is another thing that really counts. Manfred |
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14 Feb 07 - 09:34 AM (#1967329) Subject: RE: Need help: irish folk-/protest-song From: Wolfgang Not to forget a parody about Whisky, in particular the 100 proof variants: Thank God, it's surrounded by water. Wolfgang |
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14 Feb 07 - 09:50 AM (#1967345) Subject: RE: Need help: irish folk-/protest-song From: An Buachaill Caol Dubh The Welsh have their "leeks", Den. In "Borstal Boy", Brendan (Dominic's brother, of course) has the line about Scotland: "God help the poor Scotchmen, they'll never be free, But we're entirely surrounded by water" On a very old-fashioned RTE Radio One programme, "Failte Isteach" ("Welcome in"), Donncha O' Dulainn regularly plays a recording of this one; it's on on Saturday nights at 10pm. I say "old-fashioned"; to judge by the Requests and Dedications, there must be hundreds of Irish nuns scattered in convents all over England and America. |
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14 Feb 07 - 11:35 AM (#1967486) Subject: RE: Need help: irish folk-/protest-song From: Gulliver Hiya Leadbelly! The Dominic Behan lyrics from his book "Ireland Sings" has "speech" rather than "leeks" (but everyone sings "leeks"). Den's text is the same as in the book, but I've always heard it sung: "long may it flow between England and me". The book states that the tune is the old melody of "'S Fágaimid Siúd Mar Atá Sé", and that Dominic got the title line from his mother from a song that a friend Mick Byrne wrote. "gradh geal mo croide" (which should be "grá geal mo chroí" in modern Irish) is pronounced "graw gyall muh hree". MvG, Gulliver |
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14 Feb 07 - 01:33 PM (#1967605) Subject: RE: Need help: irish folk-/protest-song From: Leadbelly Gulliver, thanks for this additional info! Manfred |
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14 Feb 07 - 01:42 PM (#1967611) Subject: RE: Need help: irish folk-/protest-song From: Declan There's also a parody of this called Dollymount Strand. I only know the chorus which goes: The Sea Oh the Sea, it had crept up on me, And the water was rising up quite rapidly, So sez I to the mott get your hand off me knee, Can't you sea we're surrounded by Water. Mott is Dublin slang for a girlfriend. |
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14 Feb 07 - 02:11 PM (#1967639) Subject: RE: Need help: irish folk-/protest-song From: Den Gulliver, that's exactly where I got the words. So, An Buachaill Caol Dubh its Dominic Behans fault not mine. |
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14 Feb 07 - 03:09 PM (#1967698) Subject: ADD: Dollymount Strand (Shay Healy) From: Gulliver Here ya go Declan: DOLLYMOUNT STRAND (Shay Healy) On Dollymount Strand on a cold winter's night I put on the hand brake and switched out the light I looked at me Mot and said, "Are you all right?" Meself and the architect's daughter. Chorus: But the sea, oh the sea, it crept up on me And the water was risin' up quite rapidly I sez to the Mot, "Get your hand off me knee." "Can't yeh see we're surrounded by water." I switched on the ignition and put it in gear Could I get it movin', lads? No bloody fear! Not if I was there for the next bloody year There was sand in the old carburetor. Chorus With water the car soon filled up to the brim I sez to the Mot, "Dear, the chances are slim." "So love get them off yeh, we'll both have to swim." So I let down the window and scarpered. Chorus So if ever you down to Dollymount Strand Be sure that the tide's out and everything's grand For a bird in the bush is worth two in the hand Regardless to what you are after |