Lyr Req: Newry Town? / Crossmaglen

Subject: Looking for Newry Town
From: GUEST,Mark M.
Date: 05 Sep 02 - 11:09 PM

I have some friends from South Armagh and have heard them belt out a rebel tune that begins "As I went down by Newry Town..." Not to be confused with the Newry Highwayman which I have, but that is not the one I am looking for. Any help locating this song or the lyrics would be greatly appreciated. Mark

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Looking for Newry Town
From: GUEST,divilthebit
Date: 06 Sep 02 - 05:41 AM

Hi Mark I think the song might be on the Patrick Street album with clocks on the front. In Good Time or something like that. The song is about a sailor who comes to town falls foul of the local hospitality and has to leave shore dressed in women's clothes. Hope this helps

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Looking for Newry Town
From: Fibula Mattock
Date: 06 Sep 02 - 06:00 AM

The one divilthebit is referring to is this one:
Patrick Street.
Doesn't start with the lyrics you're looking for though.
("Sweet" Newy town indeed! ;) Anyway, it's a big city now, with the inner-city crime to match. *g*)

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Looking for Newry Town
From: Declan
Date: 06 Sep 02 - 07:37 AM

I'm probably only leading you further down a wild goose chase here, but the song which Patrick Street recorded as "Patrick Street" for obvious reasons, is more commonly known as "Barrack Street" and has been recorded by many others including Nic Jones - from memory his version is either on the "In Search of" album or "Penguin Eggs" - it must be one of those two because until recently they were the only two of Nic's albums I had.

As with the name of the Street, the name of the town which the sailor is intending to get to tends to change around quite a lot.

Anyway this one isn't a rebel song and doesn't start with the lyrics you mention, so its probably not the one your looking for.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Looking for Newry Town
From: GUEST,Oliphant
Date: 07 Sep 02 - 09:47 AM

There is a song which begins

As I came in by Newry Town
Who do you think I saw?
I met the first battalion of the men from South Armagh

This is followed by a nonsense chorus or refrain.

Have you crossed the border?
And have you travellled far?
Did you meet the army on the road
Were they in armoured car?

If this is the song you're looking for I'll try to find out more. I think it's called "Crossmaglen" and it is, purely and simply, a rebel song.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Looking for Newry Town
From: mmsarge
Date: 14 Sep 02 - 08:42 PM

Oliphant, That is exactly the tune I am looking for. Way to go!!! Anything further you can find out would be greatly appreciated. Thanks again. Mark

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Looking for Newry Town
From: GUEST,oliphant
Date: 15 Sep 02 - 10:28 AM

Good. I'm glad I got the right song. But here's what I need to do. See how much of the song is still in my memory, make a phone call or two , key in the words, get somebody to format it for me. Probably have it done tomorrow but don't hold your breath. As the man said, I'm going out now, I may be some time.

And someone might like to draw this thread to the attention of mudcat member "belfast". He may have some info about it.

Subject: Lyr Add: CROSSMAGLEN
From: GUEST,Oliphant
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 08:28 AM

Here it is. It was recorded by the Men of No Property in 60's or 70's. The tune is a version of the Battle of Harlaw. You'll find that in the digitrad search – I can't do the little blue thingy. And the words will probably really irritate some people.

CROSSMAGLEN

As I came in by Newry town, who do you think I saw?,
I met the first battalion of the men from south Armagh,

chorus. With a biddy-i-o and the pal and the do and the biddy-i-o-i-aye.

Have you crossed the border and have you travelled far?
Did you meet the army on the road were they in armoured car?

Yes, I have crossed the border and I have travelled far
I met the army on the road they were in two armoured car.

If this be true, their leader said, here we'll make a stand
McVerry gave the order with a big T in his hand

The army came along the road and into view at last
A young man pulled the plunger out and there was a mighty blast

We opened up along the ditch with everything we had,
Before the ambush finished well we knew we'd hit them bad

Politicians raise their hands, "An act of terror" say
They let us rot for fifty years, it was their only way.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Looking for Newry Town
From: GUEST,mmsarge
Date: 16 Sep 02 - 08:48 PM

Oliphant, you are the best!!! Wait 'til the Boys hear a 41 y/o cop from a suburb of West Philadelphia USA belt this one out when the session starts. Thanks also for the reference to belfast, who has already helped me on another thread I had regarding a song called "Belfast Graves" by Ray McAreavey. All the best!!! Mar

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Looking for Newry Town
From: mmsarge
Date: 09 Feb 05 - 05:15 PM

Anybody know where this song could be downloaded? Been searching for a while with no luck at all. Thanks for any help!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newry Town? / Crossmaglen
From: GUEST
Date: 30 Dec 13 - 09:51 AM

https://sites.google.com/site/longkeshdocuments/republican-songs

A site that may be of interest to people interested in Republican songs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newry Town? / Crossmaglen
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 31 Dec 13 - 03:57 AM

Off topic, but I ever hear the name Crossmaglen mentioned without remembering the Travellers song about dishonest horse-dealing which ends:
"'Twas the dealer-men of Crossmaglen put the whisky in my tea".
Jim Carroll

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newry Town? / Crossmaglen
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 13 - 05:13 AM

http://comhaltasarchive.ie/system/documents/CPP/TRE-1983-1/TRE-1983-1.original.pdf

The song is in the DT and another on p.31 of that link.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newry Town? / Crossmaglen
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Dec 13 - 10:01 PM

Declan Affley recorded this song yonks ago on the Rake and a Travelling Man LP I think, and a fine job he made of it too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newry Town? / Crossmaglen
From: GUEST,Michael
Date: 14 Apr 14 - 05:04 PM

There is another very, very old song ( not republican) that begins:

As I went down through Newry town some fres fish for to buy
It was there I met a pretty little maid and on her I cast my eye...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Newry Town? / Crossmaglen
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 15 Apr 14 - 08:27 AM

"As I went down through Newry town "
That's - The Keach in the Creel, or The Ride in the Basket, (Child 281).
It's a Scots Ballad; the version that mentions Newry Town was recorded from Michael Gallagher of Fermanagh (Paddy Tunney's uncle)in 1953.
It's known in here in Clare as 'Cuchie Cuchie Coo, Go Way'
The other song that mentions 'Newry Town', 'The Newry Highwayman' is probably of English origin; the English versions bedin "In Newlyn Town I was bred and born".
- all very confusing!!
Jim Carroll