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Songbook 5


The Highwayman

O Janie, O Janie, O Janie one day
She dressed herself in men's array.
With a bow and daggers all by her side
To rob her lover, away did ride,
To rob her lover, away did ride.

She met her lover out on the plain
On a coal-black charger she drew rein.
With a heavy bow she then did aim,
"Give me your gold, or suffer pain,
Give me your gold, or suffer pain."

He delivered up his gold in store,
Said she, "Young man, there is one thing more.
'Tis a diamond ring I have seen you wear.
Deliver that, and your life I'll spare,
Deliver that, and your life I'll spare."

"The diamond ring is my own true love's
Before I'll part with it my life I'll lose."
She being tender hearted as any dove,
She turned and rode from her own true love
She turned and rode from her own true love.

In a few days after, this couple was seen
A-walking in the garden green.
When he saw his watch hanging by her side
It made him blush like a bride,
It made him blush like a bride.

"Oh, Janie, Janie, what a horrid plot!
If I'd had my crossbow I might have shot
And left you bleeding out on the plain.
You would never see home or friends again,
You would never see home or friends again."


The Ash Grove

The ash grove, how graceful, how plainly tis speaking,
the harp wind through it playing has language for me.
Whenever the light through its branches is breaking
a host of kind faces is gazing on me.
The friends of my childhood again are before me,
each step wakes a memory as freely I roam.
With soft whispers laden its leaves rustle o'er me,
the ash grove, the ash grove again alone is my home.

Down yonder green valley where streamlets meander
when twilight is fading I pensively rove.
Or at the bright noontide in solitude wander
amid the dark shades of the lonely ash grove.
Twas there while the blackbird was cheerfully singing
I first met that dear one, the joy of my heart.
Around us for gladness the bluebells were springing
the ash grove, the ash grove that sheltered my home.

My laughter is over, my step loses lightness,
old countryside measures steal soft on my ears;
I only remember the past and its brightness,
the dear ones I mourn for again gather here.
From out of the shadows their loving looks greet me,
and wistfully searching the leafy green dome,
I find other faces fond bending to greet me,
the ash grove, the ash grove alone is my home.


Carrickfergus

I wish I was in Carrickfergus,
Only for nights in Ballygrant
I would swim over the deepest ocean,
The deepest ocean for my love to find.
But the sea is wide and I cannot cross over
And neither have I the wings to fly
I wish I could meet a handsome boatsman
I would ferry over to my love and die.

My childhood days bring back sad reflections
Of happy times I spent so long ago,
My boyhood friends and my own relations
Have all passed on now like melting snow.
But I'll spend my days in endless roaming,
Soft is the grass, my bed is free.
Ah, to be back now in Carrickfergus,
On that long road down to the sea.

But in Kilkenny, it is reported,
On marble stones there as black as ink
With gold and silver I would support her,
But I'll sing no more 'till I get a drink.
For I'm drunk today, and I'm seldom sober,
A handsome rover from town to town,
Ah, but I'm sick now, my days are numbered,
Come all you young men and lay me down.


The Unquiet Grave

Cold blows the wind to my true love,
And gently drops the rain.
I've never had but one true love,
And in green-wood he lies slain.

I'll do as much for my true love,
As any young girl may,
I'll sit and mourn all on his grave,
For twelve months and a day.

And when twelve months and a day was passed,
The ghost did rise and speak,
"Why sittest thou all on my grave
And will no let me sleep?"

"Go fetch me water from the desert,
And blood from out the stone,
Go fetch me milk from a fair maid's breast
That young man never has known."

"My breast is cold as clay,
My breath is earthly strong,
And if you kiss my cold clay lips,
You days they won't be long."

"How oft on yonder grave, sweetheart,
Where we were want to walk,
The fairest flower that e'er I saw
Has withered to a stalk."

"When will we meet again, sweetheart,
When will we meet again?"
"When the autumn leaves that fall from the trees
Are green and spring up again."


An Cailin Rua (The Red-headed Girl)

Nach doiligh domhsa mo chailin a mholadh
'S ni he amhain mar bhi si rua
Bhi si mar gath greine a dhul in eadan na gloinne
Is bhi sceimh mhna na finne le mo cailin rua

Thug me liom i o bhaile go baile
O gheaftai Dhoire is go Baile an Luain
Chan fhiul aon mhile ar shiul me 'r a fad sin
Nach dtug me deoch leanna do mo chailin rua

B'fhearr liom i na bo is na bearrach
A bhfuil da loinghis a' tarraingt chun cuain
B'fhearr liom aris na cios cluain maidne
Go mbeinn is mo chailin in mBaile an Luain

Thug me liom i o bhaile go baile
O gheaftai Dhoire is go Baile an Luain
Chan fhiul aon mhile ar shiul me 'r a fad sin
Nach dtug me deoch leanna do mo chailin rua

Chuir me mo chailin go margadh Shligidh
B'e sin fein an margadh bhi daor
Bhi scilling agus punt ar a pheice mine
No go dtug mise na fuinneadh do mo chailin rua

Thug me liom i o bhaile go baile
O gheaftai Dhoire is go Baile an Luain
Chan fhiul aon mhile ar shiul me 'r a fad sin
Nach dtug me deoch leanna do mo chailin rua

Chuaigh si siar le broga breach' uirthi
Ribini glasuaine teannta 'ar a gruaig
D'ealaigh si uaimse le buachaill an tsiopa
'S a Ri, nar dheas i mo chailin rua

Thug me liom i o bhaile go baile
O gheaftai Dhoire is go Baile an Luain
Chan fhiul aon mhile ar shiul me 'r a fad sin
Nach dtug me deoch leanna do mo chailin rua


Mo Ghile Mear

Seal da rabhas im'mhaighdean shiimh
'S anois im' bhaintreach chaite thriith
Mo chiile ag treabhadh ne dtonn go trian
De bharr na gcnoc is in imigiin.

'Si mo laoch, mo Ghile Mear
'Si mo Chaesar, Ghile Mear.
Suan na sian nm bhfuaireas fiin
O chuaigh in gciin mo Ghile Mear.

Bmmse buan ar buairt gach ls
Ag caoi go ctuaidh 's ag tuar na ndeor
Mar scaoileadh uaim an buachaill beo
'S na rmomhtar tuairisc uaidh mo bhrsn.

'Si mo laoch, mo Ghile Mear
'Si mo Chaesar, Ghile Mear.
Suan na sian nm bhfuaireas fiin
O chuaigh in gciin mo Ghile Mear.

Nm lagnrann cuach go suairc ar nsin
Is nml guth gadhair i gcoillte cns
Na maidin shamhraidh i gcleanntaibh ceoi
O d'imigh uaim an buachaill beo.

'Si mo laoch, mo Ghile Mear
'Si mo Chaesar, Ghile Mear.
Suan na sian nm bhfuaireas fiin
O chuaigh in gciin mo Ghile Mear.

Marcach uasal uaibhreach sg
Gas gan gruaim is suairce sns
Glac is luaimneach luath i ngleo
Ag teascadh an tslua 's ag tuairgan tria

'Si mo laoch, mo Ghile Mear
'Si mo Chaesar, Ghile Mear.
Suan na sian nm bhfuaireas fiin
O chuaigh in gciin mo Ghile Mear.

Seinntear stair ar chlairsigh cheoil
Is liontair tainte cart ar bord
Le hinntinn ard gan chaim gan cheo
Chun saol is slainte d'fhail don leon.

'Si mo laoch, mo Ghile Mear
'Si mo Chaesar, Ghile Mear.
Suan na sian nm bhfuaireas fiin
O chuaigh in gciin mo Ghile Mear.

Ghile mear 'sa seal faoi chumha
'S Eire go liir faoi chlscaibh dubha
Suan na sian nm bhfuaireas fiin
O luaidh i gciin mo Ghile Mear.

'Si mo laoch, mo Ghile Mear
'Si mo Chaesar, Ghile Mear.
Suan na sian nm bhfuaireas fiin
O chuaigh in gciin mo Ghile Mear.














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Revison 3 -- Revised Dec 29 1998
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