THE CLIFFS OF DOONEEN

BOTANY BAY

THE TOWN I LOVED SO WELL

THE GALWAY RACES

SHE MOVED THROUGH THE FAIR

THE WILD ROVER

SUMMER OF MY DREAMS

THE CLIFFS OF DOONEEN    Back to Top
  

YOU MAY TRAVEL FAR, FAR FROM YOUR OWN NATIVE HOME

FAR AWAY O’ER THE MOUNTAINS, FAR AWAY O’ER THE FOAM

BUT OF ALL THE FINE PLACES THAT I’VE EVER SEEN

OH, THERE’S NONE TO COMPARE WITH THE CLIFFS OF DOONEEN

TAKE A VIEW O’ER THE MOUNTAINS, FINE SIGHTS YOU’LL SEE THERE

YOU’LL SEE THE HIGH ROCKY MOUNTAINS ON THE WEST COAST OF CLARE

OH, THE TOWNS OF KILKEE AND KILRUSH CAN BE SEEN
  
FROM THE HIGH ROCKY SLOPES ROUND THE CLIFFS OF DOONEEN
  
IT’S A NICE PLACE TO BE ON A FINE SUMMER’S DAY

WATCHING ALL THE WILD FLOWERS THAT NE’ER DO DECAY

OH, THE HARE AND LOFTY PHEASANT ARE QUITE PLAIN TO BE SEEN
  
MAKING HOMES FOR THEIR YOUNG ROUND THE CLIFFS OF DOONEEN
  
FARE THEE WELL TO DOONEEN, FARE THEE WELL FOR A WHILE
  
AND TO ALL THE FINE PEOPLE I’M LEAVING BEHIND

TO THE STREAMS AND THE MEADOWS WHERE LATE I HAVE BEEN
  
AND THE HIGH ROCKY SLOPES ROUND THE CLIFFS OF DOONEEN
  
  
  
  

  
BOTANY BAY    Back to Top

FAREWELL TO YOUR BRICKS AND MORTAR; FAREWELL TO YOUR DIRTY LIES

FAREWELL TO YOUR GANGWAYS AND YOUR GANG PLANKS

AND TO HELL WITH YOUR OVERTIME

FOR THE GOOD SHIP RAGAMUFFIN IS LYING AT THE QUAY

FOR TO TAKE OUT PAT WITH A SHOVEL ON HIS BACK

TO THE SHORES OF BOTANY BAY
  
WHILE ON MY WAY DOWN TO THE QUAY WHERE THE SHIP AT ANCHOR LAYS
  
TO COMMAND A GANG OF NAVVYS THAT I WAS TOLD TO ENGAGE
  
I STOPPED IN FOR TO DRINK AWHILE BEFORE I GO AWAY
  
FOR TO TAKE A TRIP ON AN EMIGRANT SHIP
  
TO THE SHORES OF BOTANY BAY
  
WELL THE BOSS CAME UP THIS MORNING AND HE SAID, “WELL PAT YOU KNOW

IF YOU DIDN’T GET THOSE NAVVYS OUT I’M AFRAID YOU’LL HAVE TO GO”

SO I ASKED HIM FOR MY WAGES AND DEMANDED ALL MY PAY
  
AND I TOLD HIM STRAIGHT, WE WOULD ALL EMIGRATE
  
TO THE SHORES OF BOTANY BAY
  
AND WHEN I REACH AUSTRALIA ILL GO AND SEARCH FOR GOLD
  
THERE’S PLENTY THERE FOR DIGGING UP, OR SO I HAVE BEEN TOLD

OR ELSE I’LL GO BACK TO MY TRADE AND A HUNDRED BRICKS I’LL LAY

BECAUSE I LIVE FOR AN EIGHT HOUR SHIFT
  
ON THE SHORES OF BOTANY BAY
  
 


  

THE TOWN I LOVED SO WELL    Back to Top
  

IN MY MEMORY I WILL ALWAYS SEE THE TOWN THAT I HAVE LOVED SO WELL

WHERE OUR SCHOOL PLAYED BALL BY THE GASYARD WALL

AND WE LAUGHED THROUGH THE SMOKE AND THE SMELL

GOING HOME IN THE RAIN, RUNNING UP THE DARK LANE

PAST THE JAIL AND DOWN BEHIND THE FOUNTAIN

THOSE WERE HAPPY DAYS, IN SO MANY, MANY WAYS

IN THE TOWN I LOVED SO WELL.
  
IN THE EARLY MORNING THE SHIRT FACTORY HORN
  
CALLED WOMEN FROM CREGGAN, THE MOOR AND THE BOG
  
WHILE THE MEN ON THE DOLE PLAYED A MOTHER’S ROLE

FED THE CHILDREN AND THEN WALKED THE DOGS
  
AND THOUGH TIMES WERE TOUGH, THERE WAS JUST ABOUT ENOUGH
  
AND THEY SAW IT THROUGH WITHOUT COMPLAINING
  
FOR DEEP INSIDE WAS A BURNING PRIDE IN THE TOWN I LOVED SO WELL.
  
THERE WAS MUSIC THERE IN THE DERRY AIR
  
LIKE A LANGUAGE THAT WE COULD ALL UNDERSTAND
  
I REMEMBER THE DAY THAT I EARNED MY FIRST PAY
  
WHEN I PLAYED IN A SMALL PICK UP BAND
  
THERE I SPENT MY YOUTH AND TO TELL YOU THE TRUTH
  
I WAS SAD TO LEAVE IT ALL BEHIND ME
  
FOR I LEARNED ABOUT LIFE AND I’D FOUND A WIFE

IN THE TOWN I LOVED SO WELL
  

BUT WHEN I RETURNED HOW MY EYES WERE BURNED
  
TO SEE HOW A TOWN COULD BE BROUGHT TO ITS KNEES
  
BY THE ARMORED CARS AND THE BOMBED OUT BARS
  
AND THE GAS THAT HANGS ONTO EVERY BREEZE
  
NOW THE ARMY’S INSTALLED BY THAT OLD GASYARD WALL

AND THAT DAMNED BARBED WIRE GETS HIGHER AND HIGHER
  
WITH THEIR TANKS AND GUNS OH MY GOD WHAT HAVE THEY DONE
  
TO THE TOWN I LOVED SO WELL
  
NOW THE MUSIC’S GONE BUT THE CARRY ON

FOR THEIR SPIRIT’S BEEN BRUISED, NEVER BROKEN

THEY WILL NOT FORGET, BUT THEIR HEARTS ARE SET
  
ON TOMORROW AND PEACE ONCE AGAIN
  
FOR WHAT’S DONE IS DONE AND WHAT’S WON IS WON

AND WHAT’S LOST IS LOST AND GONE FOREVER

I CAN ONLY PRAY FOR A BRIGHT BRAND NEW DAY
  
IN THE TOWN I LOVED SO WELL.
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
THE GALWAY RACES    Back to Top
  

WITH ME WHAK, FOL THE DO, FOL THE DID-DE-LEY, I-DIE-AY

AS I ROVED OUT THROUGH GALWAY TOWN TO SEEK FOR RECREATION

ON THE SEVENTEENTH OF AUGUST MY MIND BEING ELEVATED

THERE WERE MULTITUDES ASSEMBLED WITH THEIR TICKETS AT THE STATION

MY EYES BEGAN TO DAZZLE AND I’M OFF TO SEE THE RACES
  
WITH ME WHAK, FOL THE DO, FOL THE DID-DE-LEY, I-DIE-AY
  
THERE WERE PASSENGERS FROM LIMERICK AND PASSENGERS FROM NENAGH
  
THE BOYS FROM CONNEMARA AND THE CLARE UNMARRIED MAIDENS
  
AND THE PEOPLE FROM CORK CITY WHO WERE LOYAL, TRUE AND FAITHFUL
  
THAT BROUGHT HOME FENIAN PRISONERS FROM DYING IN FOREIGN NATIONS

WITH ME WHAK, FOL THE DO, FOL THE DID-DE-LEY, I-DIE-AY
  
IT’S THERE YOU’LL SEE CONFECTIONERS WITH SUGARSTICKS AND DAINTIES

THE LOZENGES, THE ORANGES, THE LEMONADE AND RAISINS
  
AND GINGERBREAD AND SPICES TO ACCOMMODATE THE LADIES
  
AND A BIG CRUBEEN FOR THREEPENCE TO BE PICKING WHILE YOU’RE ABLE

WITH ME WHAK, FOL THE DO, FOL THE DID-DE-LEY, I-DIE-AY
  
IT’S THERE YOU’LL SEE THE FIDDLERS AND PIPERS COMPETING

THE NUMBLE-FOOTED DANCERS AND THEY TRIPPING ON THE DAISIES
  
AND OTHERS CRYING “CIGARS AND LIGHTS AND BILLS OF ALL THE RACES

WITH THE COLORS OF THE JOCKEYS AND THE PRIZE AND HORSES’ AGES"

WITH ME WHAK, FOL THE DO, FOL THE DID-DE-LEY, I-DIE-AY
  
  
IT’S THERE YOU’D SEE THE JOCKEYS AND THEY MOUNTED SO STATELY

THE PINKS, THE BLUES, THE IRISHER GREEN THE EMBLEM OF OUR NATION
  
WHEN THE BELL WAS RUNG FOR STARTING ALL THE HORSES SEEMED IMPATIENT
  
I THOUGHT THEY’D NEVER STOOD ON GROUND, THEIR SPEED WAS SO AMAZING

WITH ME WHAK, FOL THE DO, FOL THE DID-DE-LEY, I-DIE-AY
  
THERE WAS HALF A MILLION PEOPLE THERE OF ALL DENOMINATIONS
  
THE CATHOLIC, THE PROTESTANT, THE JEW AND PRESBYTERIAN
  
THERE WAS YET NO ANIMOSITY, NO MATTER WHAT PERSUAUSION
  
BUT SPORT AND HOSPITALITY INDUCING FRESH ACQUAINTANCE

WITH ME WHAK, FOL THE DO, FOL THE DID-DE-LEY, I-DIE-AY
  
  
  
  
  

  
SHE MOVED THROUGH THE FAIR     Back to Top
  

MY YOUNG LOVE SAID TO ME, “MY MOTHER WON’T MIND

AND MY FATHER WON’T SLIGHT YOU FOR YOUR LACK OF KINE"
 
AND SHE STEPPED AWAY FROM ME AND THIS SHE DID SAY

“IT WILL NOT BE LONG LOVE TILL OUR WEDDING DAY.”

AND SHE STEPPED AWAY FROM ME AND SHE MOVED THROUGH THE FAIR
  
AND FONDLY I WATCHED HER MOVE HER AND MOVE THERE
  
THEN SHE WENT HER WAY HOMEWARD WITH ONE STAR AWAKE
  
LIKE THE SWAN IN THE EVENING MOVES OVER THE LAKE
  
LAST NIGHT SHE CAME TO ME, SHE CAME SOFTLY IN
  
SO SOFTLY SHE CAME THAT HER FEET MADE NO DIN
  
AND SHE LAID HER HAND ON ME AND THIS SHE DID SAY
  
“IT WILL NOT BE LONG LOVE, TILL OUR WEDDING DAY.”
  
  
  
THE WILD ROVER     Back to Top
  

AND IT’S NO, NAY, NEVER, NO NAY NEVER NO MORE
WILL I PLAY THE WILD ROVER, NO, NEVER NO MORE


I’VE BEEN A WILD ROVER FOR MANY A YEAR

AND I SPENT ALL ME MONEY ON WHISKEY AND BEER

BUT NOW I’M RETURNING WITH GOLD IN GREAT STORE

AND I NEVER WILL PLAY THE WILD ROVER NO MORE
  
I WENT INTO AN ALEHOUSE I USED TO FREQUENT
  
AND I TOLD THE LANDLADY MY MONEY WAS SPENT
  
I ASKED HER FOR CREDIT SHE ANSWERED ME, “NAY,

SUCH A CUSTOM AS YOURS I CAN HAVE ANY DAY.”

I TOOK FROM MY POCKET TEN SOVEREIGNS BRIGHT
  
AND THE LANDLADY’S EYES OPENED WIDE WITH DELIGHT

SHE SAID, “I HAVE WHISKEYS AND WINES OF THE BEST,

AND THE WORDS THAT I SPOKE, SURE WERE ONLY IN JEST.”

I’LL GO HOME TO MY PARENTS, CONFESS WHAT I’VE DONE

AND I’LL ASK THEM TO PARDON THEIR PRODIGAL SON

AND IF THEY CARESS ME AS OFT TIMES BEFORE
  
THEN I NEVER WILL PLAY THE WILD ROVER NO MORE. 

  
  
  
  
  
  
SUMMER OF MY DREAMS    Back to Top
  
IN THE SHADE OF THIS OLD TREE IN THE SUMMER OF MY DREAMS
  
BY THE TALL GRASS BY THE WILD ROSE
  
WHERE THE TREE STANDS AND THE WIND BLOWS
  
AS THE DAYS GO OH SO SLOWLY, AS THE SUN SHINES OH SO HOLY
  
ON THE GOOD AND GRACIOUS GREEN IN THE SUMMER OF MY DREAMS
  
  
BY THE BANKS OF THIS OLD STREAM IN THE SUMMER OF MY DREAMS
  
BY THE DEEP HOLE WHERE THE FISH WAIT FOR THE OLD FOOL WITH THE WRONG BAIT
  
THERE’S A FIELD OF COPPER CLOVER THERE’S A SMALL CLOUD PASSING OVER

AND THEN THE RAIN COMES WASHING CLEAN IN THE SUMMER OF MY DREAMS
  
  
SEE THE RAINDROPS ON THE GRASS NOW JUST LIKE DIAMONDS LYING THERE
  
BY THE OLD ROAD WHERE I PASS NOW THERE’S A TWILIGHT IN THE AIR

AND AS THE SUN SETS DOWN BEFORE ME I SEE MY TRUE LOVE WAITING FOR ME
  
STANDING BY THE BACK DOOR SCREEN IN THE SUMMER OF MY DREAMS
  
  
IN THE SHADE OF THIS OLD TREE IN THE SUMMER OF MY DREAMS
  
BY THE TALL GRASS BY THE WILD ROSE
  
WHERE THE TREE STANDS AND THE WIND BLOWS
  
AS THE DAYS GO OH SO SLOWLY, AS THE SUN SHINES OH SO HOLY
  
ON THE GOOD AND GRACIOUS GREEN IN THE SUMMER OF MY DREAMS
  
IN THE SUMMER OF MY DREAMS.
  
THE RED-HEADED ANNE
  
SMALL BIRDS WERE LINING THE BLEAK AUTUMN BRANCHES
  
PREPARING TO FLY TO A FAR SUNNY SHORE
  
WHEN THE TINKERS MADE CAMP AT THE BEND ON THE RIVER
  
COMING BACK FROM THE HORSE FAIR AT BALLINASLOUGH
  
  
NOW THE HARVEST BE OVER THE FARMER WENT WALKING
  
ALL ALONG THE FAIR RIVER THAT BORDERS HIS LAND
  
AND ‘TWAS THERE HE FIRST SAW HER TWIXT FIRE LIGHT AND WATER

THE TINKERMAN’S DAUGHTER, THE RED-HEADED ANNE
  
NEXT MORNING HE ROSE FROM A NIGHT WITHOUT SLUMBER
  
HE WENT STRAIGHT TO THE FATHER AND HE MADE HIS CASE KNOWN
  
AND AS THE STORY WAS TOLD, THEY STRUCK OUT A BARGAIN
  
FOR THE TINKER THE PONY, TO THE DAUGHTER A HOME
  
  
WHERE THE TREES CAST THEIR SHADOWS ALONG THE FAIR RIVER
  
THE TINKER AND THE FARMER INSPECTED THE LAND
  
AND A WILD GALLANT PONY WAS THE PRICE THEY AGREED ON
  
FOR THE TINKERMAN’S DAUGHTER, THE RED-HEADED ANNE.
  
NOW THE WEDDING’S OVER, THE TINKERS DEPARTED

THEY WERE EAGER TO TRAVEL ON SOUTH DOWN THE ROAD
  
BUT THE CRUNCH OF THE IRON SHOD WHEELS ON THE GRAVEL
  
WAS AS BITTER TO HER AS THE WAY SHE’D BEEN SOLD
  
BUT SHE TRIED HARD TO PLEASE HIM; SHE DID ALL HIS BIDDING
  
SHE SLEPT IN HIS BED AND SHE WORKED ON HIS LAND
  
BUT THE WALLS OF THEIR CABIN PRESSED TIGHTER AND TIGHTER
  
FROM THE TINKERMAN’S DAUGHTER, THE RED-HEADED ANNE
  
NOW AS WHITE AS THE HANDS ON THE PRIEST OR THE HANGMAN
  
THE SNOW SPREAD ITS BLANKET THE NEXT CHRISTMAS ROUND
  
AND THE TINKERMAN’S DAUGHTER GOT OUT FROM THE BEDSIDE

TURNED HER BACK TO THE LAND AND HER FACE TO THE TOWN
  
  
AND IT’S SAID SOMEONE SAW HER AT DUSK THAT SAME EVENING

SHE WAS MAKIN’ HER WAY DOWN BY EIRE FROM BANN

AND THAT WAS THE LAST THAT THE CITY FOLKS SAW HER
  
THE TINKERMAN’S DAUGHTER, THE RED-HEADED ANNE
  
WHERE THE NORTH KERRY HILLS CAST A PALL AT THE STORM
  
AT A FARM ON ITS BANKS LIVES A BITTER OLD MAN
  
AND HE SWEARS BY THE SHOTGUN HE KEEPS AT HIS BEDSIDE
  
THAT HE’LL KILL ANY TINKER THAT COMES ON HIS LAND
  
AND YET WHEN HE HEARS IRON-SHOD WHEELS CRUNCH ON GRAVEL
  
OR A HORSE IN THE SHAFTS OF THE BRIGHT CARAVAN
  
HIS DAYS WERE TORMENTED HIS SLEEP WAS DEMENTED
  
BY THE TINKERMAN’S DAUGHTER, THE RED-HEADED ANNE

Irish Song Charts are available in pdg format at Spike's Music Collection.

The song playing on this page is
"Galaway Races" 

<bgsound src="midi2/galwayraces.mid" loop="1">

If the music doesn't automatically play for you, click the song title above and open the midi in your media player. 

Please do NOT link to any of the midis. I change the names frequently.
They are here for your listening pleasure and enjoyment
and are believed to be in the public domain.
All copyrights belong to their respective authors.