Lyr Add: Blue Tar Road (Liam Weldon)

Subject: Lyr Add: BLUE TAR ROAD (Liam Weldon)
From: Wolfgang Hell
Date: 22 Jan 98 - 07:41 AM

In the "Songs about the homeless" thread, Martin Ryan has mentioned Liam Weldon's song "Blue tar road". Below you find my transcription from Weldon's vinyl "Dark horse on the wind". Every time I listen to him singing this fine mixture of traditional and his own songs I wonder why he isn't much better known than he actually is.

Martin, by the way, do you happen to know any Weldon songbook? Some other songs from him are much more difficult for me to understand than "Blue tar road". And please correct my mistakes in the one below. Shouldn't be too many, this time.

BLUE TAR ROAD
(Liam Weldon)

1. I am a true-born Irishman,
A traveller am I,
My home the road, no fixed abode,
I must travel 'til I die.
For few been given me camping space,
Aye, and fewer called me friend.
The hard road for the travelling man,
I must ravel 'til the end.

Hunger, hardship and poverty
Are the traveller's weary load,
Hunger, hardship, and poverty,
And the blue tar road.

2. I came to Dublin City fair
In the year of '59,
And I camped in Lansdowns green valley
With others of my kind.
But Dublin's corporation,
Good Christians to a man,
Drug down our tents, uprooted us,
Dragged out our caravans.

3. Out here in Cherry Orchards
No cherry blossoms bloom.
We're forgotten and unwanted
In dark, and muck, and gloom,
But the Man above who died for Love,
And nailed unto a tree,
Sure was, wasn't he, a traveller,
The same as you and me.

And please God, in his own good time,
He'll lift the travellers' load,
And we'll bid farewell to poverty
And the blue tar road.

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 22 Jan 98 - 04:56 PM

Wolfgang

Well done! I'm not aware of a songbook of Liam's, but should be able to pick up copies of several of his songs from friends of mine.

Liam died about two years ago. A very sad, very musical funeral. As his coffin moved into the crematorium, two old friends of his song "What's the life of a man"...

He made two tapes, as far as I recall, with some songs on both. A fine singer.

Regards

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From: Brendan Mc Mahon
Date: 26 Nov 98 - 05:04 PM

Wolfgang & Martin

May I make a few suggestions Re lyrics of 'The Blue Tar Road" by the late Liam Weldon. Please note that these suggestions come from my transcriptions from the same souce as Wolfgang !

Verse 1 line 5 For few men give me camping space, line 8 I must travel 'til the end.

Verse 2 line 7 tore down our tents ,uprooted us,

Comments welcome!

Subject: Lyr Add: BLUE TAR ROAD, etc. (Liam Weldon)
From: Antaine
Date: 26 Nov 98 - 06:03 PM

The record 'Dark Horse on the Wind' is soon to be re-released. Essential listening. In the meantime here are the transcriptions of the songs on it, which I did for the re-release. Liam's compositions are credited to him. Treat them with care please!
Sorry,..... don't have time for the HTML formatting of them all.
I'm sure Martin there has more free time on his hands than myself!!!!
By the way Martin, I will be in Miltown over the Christmas, so keep me a room in the house!!!!!

THE BLUE TAR ROAD (Liam Weldon)

1
I am a true-born Irishman, a traveller am I,
My home the road, no fixed abode, I must travel till I die.
For few men give me camping space, aye and fewer call me friend.
The hard road for the travelling man, I must travel till the end.

Refrain
Hunger, hardship and poverty are the traveller's weary load,
Hunger, hardship and poverty and the blue tar road.

2
I came to Dublin city fair, in the year of fifty nine,
And I camped in Landsdowne's green valley , with others of my kind,
But Dublin's Corporation, good Christians to a man,
Broke down our camps uprooted us, dragged out our caravan(s). (1)

3
Out here in Cherry Orchard, no cherry blossoms bloom. (2)
We're forgotten and unwanted, in dirt and muck and gloom.
But the man above who died for love ah (3) nailed unto a tree,
Sure wasn't he a traveller the same as you and me.
And please God in his own good time, He'll lift the traveller's load,
And we'll bid farewell to poverty and the blue tar road.

Notes :
1. Landsdowne Valley, Dublin
2. Cherry Orchard, Ballyfermot, Dublin.
3. ah/and (?)


BARBARY ALLEN

1
'Twas early in the month of May,
When the green buds they were swelling,
Young Jemmy Groves on his death-bed he lay,
For the love of Barbary Allen. (1)

2
He called a servant to his side.
He called a servant by him.
"Oh go you down to yonder town,
And seek ye Barbary Allen."

3
His servant went into the town,
To the inn where she'd her dwelling.
"My master's sick for love of you,
If your name is Barbary Allen."

4
Slowly, slowly she arose,
And slowly she came nigh him.
"I'm greatly 'feared, young man," said she, (2)
"Ah young man you are a-dying."

5
Now when he'd heard these fatal words :
"Young man, young man you're dying."
He turned his face into the wall,
And he bursted out a-crying.

6
"Do you recall in yonder town,
In my father's tavern dwelling,
You gave sweet wine to the ladies there,
But you slighted Barbary Allen?"

7
"Well I recall down in the town,
In your father's tavern dwelling,
Sweet wine I gave to the ladies there,
But my heart to Barbary Allen."

8
Slowly, slowly she went home,
And she heard the death-bell knelling.
At every toll it seemed to say :
"Ah cruel Barbary Allen."

9
And the very next day down in the town,
She saw his funeral coming.
"Will you lay him down this one last time,
So that I may look upon him."

10
"Father, father make my grave,
And make it long and narrow,
Young Jemmy's died for love of me,
I will surely die of sorrow."

11
They laid him then in the old grave-yard,
And beside him on the morrow,
They laid her there, Barbary Allen so fair,
For 'twas true she died of sorrow.

Notes :
1. "Ellen" is truer to the rhyme with :
"swelling" (Verse 1),
"dwelling" (Verse 3, Verse 6, Verse 7),
"knelling" (Verse 8).
The song is named on the original recording as "Barbary Allen".
2. afeared, afraid, I greatly fear,

DARK HORSE ON THE WIND (Liam Weldon)

1
Oh those who died for liberty, have heard the eagle scream.
All the ones who died for liberty, have died but for a dream.
Oh rise, rise, rise, Dark Horse on the wind,
For in no nation on the earth, more broken dreams you'll find.
2
The flames leaped high, reached to the sky, till they seared a nation's soul.
In the ashes of our broken dreams, we've lost sight of our goal.
Oh rise, rise, rise, Dark Horse on the wind,
And help our hearts seek Róisín, our soul again to find.
3
Now charlatans wear dead mens' shoes, aye and rattle dead mens' bones.
E'er the dust has settled on their tombs, they've sold the very stones.
Oh rise, rise, rise, Dark Horse on the wind,
For in no nation on the earth, more Pharisees you'll find.
4
In grief and hate our motherland her dragon's teeth has sown.
Now the warriors spring from the earth, to maim and kill their own.
Oh rise, rise, rise, Dark Horse on the wind,
For the one-eyed Balor still reigns king, in our nation of the blind.


JAMES CONNOLLY

1
Where oh where is our James Connolly?
Where oh where is our gallant man?
He's gone to organise the union,
To smash the bonds of slavery.

2
Where oh where are the citizen army?
Where oh where are our fighting men?
They've gone to join the great rebellion,
And break the chains of slavery.

3
Who'll be there to lead the van?
Who'll be there for to lead the van?
Oh who but our own James Connolly,
The hero of each working man.

4
They carried him up to Kilmainham,
They carried him up to that jail,
And there they shot him of a bright May morning,
Laid him in a quick-lime grave.

5
Who mourns now for our James Connolly?
Who mourns now for our gallant man?
"Oh lay me down in yon green garden.
Make my bearers union men."

6
They laid him down in that green garden,
Union men each and every side,
And they swore they'd forge one mighty union,
And fill that gallant man with pride.


JINNY JOE (Liam Weldon)

1
Where will you be my blue-eyed son,
Oh when your daddy's race is run?
When your sire his song has sung,
Where will you be my little one?

2
Where will you be my black-haired son,
Oh when your daddy's time has come?
When no more the flesh I heed,
Where will you be, seed of my seed?

Refrain
Jinny Joe, winds will blow,
Carrying you onward your seed to sow,
While fading dandelions lie on the earth below.

3
Your mother pushed you from her womb,
And your birth-cry echoed through the room,
Through heart and mind and then past me, (1)
To echo through eternity.

4
I am the tree, leaf branch and root.
Whose hands shall gather of my fruit?
For flowers must blossom to fade and die,
Cast seed on the wind and reason why.

Refrain.

Notes :
1. passed (?)


MY LOVE IS A WELL (Liam Weldon)

1
My love is a well, a deep dropping-well,
As deep as the bottomless sea.
Immersed am I, in the well of my love,
Immersed in ecstasy,
Immersed in ecstasy.
2
My love is an eagle and fierce is her cry,
As she calls me to mate, with her for to fly,
To the land of the mountains, the mist and the sky,
Where our young eagles scream at the dawning,
Our young eagles scream at the dawning.
3
My love is a fraughan, royal purple and black,
A fraughan that dwells by the rude mountain track.
And we'll sink deep our roots, in the mountain's broad back,
And our seed will spread over the mountain,
Our seed will spread over the mountain.
4
My love is a flower, so shy to behold,
A primrose emerging from winter's cold,
A song of the dream-time that's new and yet old,
And I love my bright love till the dawning,
I will love my bright love till the dawning.


SMUGGLING THE TIN

1
Young Cooney (?) and Colley (?) and ould Martin Quinn, (1)
Well they made up together to smuggle the tin,

Refrain :
With me right toorin-arinan, right toorin-arinan,
Right toorin-anay.

2
Well they walked all the day boys till the heels they grew raw,
Well they hadn't the comfort of lying in the straw.

3
"I'll yoke her", says Colley (?) "I'm wise to her tricks." (2)
But the more that he yoked her, the more the mare kicked.

4
"The hills they are high boys, th'oul' mare she is thin,
And my heart lies a-trembling for fear she'll give in."

5
"I once had a pie-ball all covered in dots,
And it's many's the fiver she's won in the trots."

6
Up came th'oul' sergeant with a laugh and a grin,
"I'll have ye inside boys for the smuggling of tin."

7
Up came th'oul' sergeant with a laugh and a smile,
"I'll have ye inside boys for smuggling a while."

8
Young Cooney (?) stood up boys to make the excuse, (1)
"If you l(e)ave us all go sir, it's home we will scoot."
9
We crossed back the border, we blessed our ould face. (3)
"To hell with the black North, we're in the Free-State."
Notes :
1. Cooney (surname) and Colley ?
2. The word "wide" in Dublin slang means "aware" , "wise".
3. faith (?)

THE TOWN OF CASTLE D'OLIVER

1
In the town of Castle d'Oliver near to Waterford's own town,
It was there all on the green grass my young love and I sat down,
It was there all on the green grass we did roll in sport and play,
But my mind is discontented since my Jemmy's gone away.

2
I knocked at my love's window three long hours before the dawn,
Crying "Rise up gentle Jemmy and with me come along."
"Oh I have no clothing save these old clothes I have on."
"Will you rise my gentle Jemmy for the wee cock crows the dawn."

3
I've no gold in my pocket, I've no silver in my purse.
When my baby he is born I cannot hire him a nurse.
When my baby he is born I will dance him on my knee,
I will sing the lonesome story of my own lost love Jemmy.

4
In the middle of the ocean there stands a Myrtle tree.
While there's hope all from the ocean there is no hope for me.
There is hope all from the ocean there is hope from the wave.
Aye there's hope from the ocean but there's no hope from the grave.

5
Now some say he is a sailor and he may never return.
Others say he is in prison for some cruel crime he's done.
Let them all talk all about him, let they say just as they will,
While there's breath in my body I will love my own love still.


THE WELL BELOW THE VALLEY

1
There's been a maid by a washing well,
Green grows the lilies oh.
There's been a maid by a washing stone,
In the well below the valleys oh.

2
There's been a man and he's rode by,
There's been a man and he rode by,

3
He axed (asked) for drink as he felt dry,
He asked for drink as he felt dry,

4
"Come in sir and drink your fill."
"Come in sir and drink your fill."

5
"What would happen if I fall in?"
"What would happen if I fall in?"

6
"Your body will make a floating boat."
"Your body will make a floating boat."

7
"If that should happen then God help me."
"If that should happen then God help me."

VIA EXTASIA (Liam Weldon)

1
If you were the restless sea, and I the steadfast stone,
You the waving kelp above, I the bleaching bones,
Your little waves to lap my feet, advance and kiss, encroach, retreat,
Surround, submerge, at last complete, Oh you and I truly one.

2
And were you then a yellow bloom, dancing in the grass, (1)
I a hunting honey-bee pausing e'er I'd pass.
As I'd sip your nectar sweet, your pollen grains surround my feet, (2)
In that ecstatic moment meet, (3)
Oh you and I truly one.

3
And were I then a single seed, of all the millions in the field,
And you a gentle rain-drop from the sky,
As you'd fall upon my breast, to awaken me from my long rest,
In that moment by the old Gods blessed,
Oh you and I truly one.

4
And were you then the last wild leaf, on the Autumn bough,
I the wind, a wanton thief, to blow as I blow now,
And when you'd fall, as fall you must,
I to be the waiting dust,
Beyond sorrow, pain, or lust,
And to lie, forever, truly one.

Notes :
1. Liam sings "dancing in the grass" here. However he also on occasion used "swaying in the grass".
2. Liam sings "surround my feet" here. However he also on occasion used "cling to my feet".
3. ecstatic? or static? (Via Exstasia : The way to Ecstasy)

WILD CROPPY TAILOR

1
There once was a tailor that lived in Fairmont,
And there was a wee damsel he had his eye on.
"Five shillings, five shillings," the tailor did cry,
"Five shillings I'll give you my beauty,
If you tell me tonight, you'll be my delight.
If you tell me you husband's on duty."

Refrain
With his right-fal-dor-ah, right-fal-dor-ah,
Right fol-doraddy, aye-addy, aye-ay.

2
"I think mister tailor you are about right,
For my husband he will be on duty tonight,
And if you come down ah you'll be my delight."
"I'll be there to be sure," said the tailor.

With my right-fal-dor-ah….

3
They leapt into bed and about two o'clock,
Sure there on the door came a bloody big knock.
"Oh hide me, oh hide me," the tailor did cry,
"I hear the bould (bold) knock of your trooper."

With his right-fal-dor-ah …..

4
"There is an ould (old) cupboard behind the back door,
In that cupboard my tailor you'll be safe and secure.
I'll go down the stairs and I'll open the door.
I'll welcome my husband the trooper."

With his right-fal-dor-ah …..

5
She went down the stairs and she opened the door,
With hugs and with kisses now you could be sure.
"I don't want your hugs or your kisses," he cried,
"Come and light me a fire," said the trooper.

With his right-fal-dor-ah …..

6
"What about that ould cupboard behind the back door?"
"Ah that cupboard," says she, "it's too good for the fire,
And in it I keeps a game-cock I desire."
"Come and show me your cock," said the trooper.
With his right-fal-dor-ah …..

7
He picks up the axe and the cupboard he whacks,
And out leps (leaps) the tailor no longer secure.
He picks up the shears and whips off his two ears,
And away leps (leaps) the wild croppy tailor.

With no right-fal-dor-ah …..

8
Now all you young fellows that's listening here,
Should never make free with another man's care.
For if you do now the day you may rue,
End up like the wild croppy tailor.

With no right-fal-dor-ah …..

Notes :
At the end of this song Liam can be heard saying :
"What did you think yourself?"

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From: Martin Ryan.
Date: 26 Nov 98 - 06:49 PM

Antaine

Don't know what you're muttering about - ta do HTML comh maith le mo chuid Gaeilge!

Look foward to seeing you over New Year.

Regards

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From: Art Thieme
Date: 26 Nov 98 - 09:52 PM

and a happy U.S. Thanksgiving to y'all!!!!!!!!!

I'm sure the first (title of thread) song be related to Woody Guthrie's "I'm Blowin' Down The Hot Dusty WOAD"---ie. blue...

Art

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From: Wolfgang
Date: 27 Nov 98 - 10:33 AM

What a nice unexpected Christmas present for me. When I opened the thread I expected what Brendan has posted, corrections to my transcription. But your lyrics file, Antaine, is great. I once have transcribed all of the lyrics on that LP but the known ones and two titles I couldn't understand enough of. Now I can compare and learn. Thanks so much.

Questions: what's "fraughan" (My love is a well) and who's Balor (Dark horse).

Wolfgang (who strongly recommends to buy the rerelease)

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From: Antaine
Date: 30 Nov 98 - 10:31 AM

A 'fraughan' is a type of berry, a mulberry I think. The following description of Balor is taken from 'Myth, Legend and Romance' An Encyclopaedia of the Irish Folk Tradition by Dr.Daithí Ó hÓgáin ISBN 0-13-275959-4 Balor/Balar : A Mythical tyrant 'He had a single eye in his forehead, a venomous fiery eye. There were always seven coverings over this eye. One by one Balar removed the coverings. With the first covering the bracken began to wither, with the second the grass became copper-coloured, with the third the woods and timber began to heat, with the fourth smoke came from the trees, with the fifth everything grew red, with the sixth it sparked. With the seventh they were all set on fire, and the whole countryside was ablaze!' All the best.

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From: Martin Ryan.
Date: 30 Nov 98 - 06:58 PM

"fraughan" is whortleberry aka bilberry or blaeberry, according to Dineen's Irish dictionary.

Regards

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From: Antaine
Date: 01 Dec 98 - 08:24 PM

Martin , Are you going to Éigse Dhiarmuidín? Where we could have some whortles together?

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From: Martin Ryan.
Date: 02 Dec 98 - 04:41 AM

Antaine

Can't resist this one: "Whortle we do when we have no money?"

No Coolea, I'm afraid. Dublin this weekend, a few songs in the Goleen and a start at the Christmas shopping!
Enjoy the Eigse!

Slan

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From: Micheal "Lysh young byrebroom" Breathnach
Date: 15 Jan 99 - 04:52 PM

The transcriptions of Liam`s songs are much appreciated. I have just spent a very pleasant afternoon with Nellie and Shay Weldon listening to recordings made in Liams memory for ballyfermot community radio.

I am at present collecting information about Liams life with a view to preparing a short biographical publication. I got to know Liam while working in the library service where Liam was always very supportive of work with children and young people and in promoting traditional music and community arts through the library service, especially through his involvement with the ballyfermot arts festival. I would be grateful to hear from anyone with particular memories or anecdotes about Liam which they would be willing to share for this proposed publication.

I was an irregular attender of Liam's sessions in Taylors Hall and Mother Redcaps tavern up to the time of his death, but sadly never heard him singing live as his health was in decline during the years I got to know him best. However, the recordings of "The Blue Tar Road" and "Black Horse on the Wind" made my hair stand on end when I heard them for the first time in the Music Archive.

Antaine agus Martin B'fheidir Chifidh me sibh anocht san cumann an goilin! Ath bhlian faoi mhaise dhaoibh!

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 24 Apr 99 - 02:08 PM

The CD reissue of Liam's album "Dark Horse on the Wind" (1976) has just been released. Full of strong, honest singing of strong, honest songs - it is essential listening for lovers of the Irish tradition. Insert includes the words of all songs (thanks to Antaine - see earlier in this thread), a lovely biographical introduction by the poet Pearse Hutchinson and Liam's own notes on the songs.

The reissue is by Mulligan Records (LUN CD 006) and shouldn't be too difficult to source. I'm sure Antaine will come up with a way of getting copies to anyone interested!

Regards

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From: Stewart
Date: 07 Feb 02 - 08:07 PM

I've just listened to a new CD by Susan McKeown - "Lowlands" Green Linnet. On it is one powerful song "Dark Horse on the Wind" "Written by Liam Weldon, it is both an ode to and a lament against the battle for Ireland's freedom. McKeown tackles this one a cappella with stunning results. Her powerful voice is clear yet wavers with the raw emotion this song demands, and she delivers it with such a grace and passion that the listener can be moved at once to tears over the horrors of war and a patriotic rage -- no matter where your place of birth - against those who seek to use and twist that battle for their own purposes." The lyrics are posted earlier in this thread. Liam Weldon is new to me, but what I've read in this thread and elsewhere, I have just ordered his reissue CD "Dark Horse on the Wind." BTW, the other songs on the CD "Lowlands" are also quite good for trad Irish and English songs, and I highly recommend it.

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 08 Feb 02 - 03:58 AM

Stewart

Good to see this thread resurface. You'll enjoy the CD - fine singing .

Regards

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From:
Date: 09 Jun 02 - 11:03 AM

I have on Video , Kevin Mitchell singing his version of The Blue Tar Road ( he was singing it on the Renfrew Ferry around 1991 during an Aly Bain TV programme }. A very talented singer and a great song !

Subject: RE: Blue tar road
From: GUEST,Frances
Date: 04 Jul 04 - 07:49 AM

Dia duit,
I am really enjoying this tread and these powerful songs.
Keep up the good work.
Thanks,
Frances