Lyr/Tune Req: several Irish songs

Subject: Need words and sheet music to irish songs
From: Skeeta
Date: 09 Jun 98 - 03:14 AM

Does any one know the words or sheet music to these following songs, If so i would really apreciate them.

Big Strong Man : Not sure who sings it Sally MacLeane : Pogues Seven Drunken Nights : Dubliners Whisky in a Jar : Dubliners

Thanking you in Anticipation

Skeeta

Subject: RE: Need words and sheet music to irish songs
From: Joe Offer
Date: 09 Jun 98 - 04:12 AM

Hi, Skeeta - we have lyrics and MIDI files here, but we don't have sheet music on this site. We usually ask people to search the database before requesting a song, and then to be specific in the title of their request. I'm not sure if I can help with "Big Strong Man." I put [big strong man] in square brackets in the search box in the upper-right corner of this page, and came up with two songs. I think MY BROTHER SYLVESTE (click here) may be the song you're looking for - I heard a different version by the house band at Tommy Condon's in Charleston, and I wish I had the lyrics to that one (Hey, Chet, do you know it? All I remember is "big chest."). I couldn't get the MIDI to work, though, so I hope Max is going to fix it.

It's sometimes a challenge to get what you want out of the database. If you put whiskey jar in the search box, you will come up with many different variations on the song (Without brackets gets you all songs with both words, in whatever order; with square brackets gets you that exact phrase). You may want to try the alternate spelling, whisky, or you can cover all words starting with "whisk" by putting whisk* in the box.

Now, I guess I have to admit that "Seven Drunken Nights" might be a challenge. I think it's the same as FIVE NIGHTS DRUNK (OUR GOODMAN). You will notice at the bottom of the lyrics that it is Child Ballad #274. If you put #274 (with the number sign) in the search box, you will find there are three versions of the song in the database. Now, if you do a forum search (try searching for "drunk" or maybe "goodman"), you will find that we have discussed this song several times, and people have posted lyrics that tell what happened on the sixth and seventh nights.
I hope that give you some help in searching our database, Skeeta. Always look there first. this forum is supposed to be for requesting folk songs or exchanging folk music information that isn't in the database. If you have trouble searching, come on back to the forum and ask for help. A good suggestion is to try to pick a very distinctive word or two from the song, words that other songs aren't likely to have. Folk songs can have variations in the title, but they often have word combinations you won't find elsewhere.

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Need words and sheet music to irish songs
From: Big Mick
Date: 09 Jun 98 - 09:08 PM

The song is indeed "Big Strong Man", and it is referred to incorrectly as "My Brother Sylvest", who is the subject of the song. It was popularized by the Wolfetones and is available on there 25th anniversary CD. The music is published in several books, including "The Wolfetones Song Book (pronounced buke for my english speaking friends:)), Vol. 1". It is referred to as traditional in that book,although the lyrics suggest that it is not very old. I believe it is in other books as well.

Subject: RE: Need words and sheet music to irish songs
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 10 Jun 98 - 12:50 AM

Big Mick-- My Brother Sylveste (with that title) was popular in Canada during WWII.

Joe- I'll try to fix the MIDI. WE've managed to install a large number of missing MIDIs in the past few days.

Subject: RE: Need words and sheet music to irish songs
From: handiman
Date: 10 Jun 98 - 05:53 AM

skeeta can help you with a few but I dont have a home e mail My home address is 25 Dennison Av Hoppers Crossing Victoria Australia 3029

Ive got seven drunken nights and Im after the music to Lord of the dance.

Subject: RE: Need words and sheet music to irish songs
From: Mick Lowe
Date: 10 Jun 98 - 05:51 PM

Skeeta, Both Seven Drunken Nights and Whiskey in the Jar can be found in volume two of "A Pocketful of Balads", published by John Ellison, Corballis, Rathdrum, Co. in Wicklow - I think they call themselves Wicklow Press Ltd. These contain words, music and guitar chords. Whiskey in the Jar can also be found in volume 1 of "Folksongs and Ballads Popular in Ireland", published by Ossian Publications, P.O. Box 84, Cork, Ireland.

If you have trouble finding these drop me an e-mail at [e-mail] and I'll send you copies.

Mick.

Subject: RE: Need words and sheet music to irish songs
From: Bob Bolton
Date: 10 Jun 98 - 06:32 PM

G'day Handiman,

I note that you need "Lord of the Dance" sheet music. I would have expected that the popularity of the (relatively unrelated) dance show might bring a sheet music reprint of Sydney Carter's original but I do have the Sydney Carter songbooks (~late 60s/early 70s. These have the music laid out in full sheet music form - several pages to some of the some of the more strophically written items.

I think the format is roughly B4(250mm x 177mm)so, if you can't purchase the sheet music, it could be copied up (121%)to A4 fairly easily and would be essentially the same as the original sheet music. I will watch this thread to see how you go.

I am in Sydney and can be contacted by email on < [e-mail] >, so we can keep postage to a minimum.

Regards,

Bob Bolton

Subject: RE: Need words and sheet music to irish songs
From: Will
Date: 10 Jun 98 - 10:43 PM

There's an audio of the Pogues' Sally Maclennane at

http://assd.net/index/english/punk.htm

Subject: Lyr Add: SALLY MACLENNANE^^
From: Will
Date: 10 Jun 98 - 10:54 PM

And, from www.lyrics.ch

Sally Maclennane (from the Pogues' "Rum Sodomy & The Lash"

Well Jimmy played harmonica in the pub where I was born
He played it from the night time to the peaceful early morn
He soothed the souls of psychos and the men who had the horn
And they all looked very happy in the morning

Now Jimmy didn't like his place in this world of ours
Where the elephant man broke strong men's necks when he's had too many
powers
So sad to see the grieving of the people that he's leaving
And he took the road for God knows in the morning

We walked him to the station in the rain
We kissed him as we put him on the train
And we sang him a song of times long gone
Though we knew that we'd be seeing him again
(Far away) sad to say I must be on my way
So buy me beer and whiskey cos I'm going far away (far away)
I'd like to think of me returning when I can
To the greatest little boozer and to Sally MacLennane

The years passed by the times had changed I grew to be a man
I learned to love the virtues of sweet Sally MacLennane
I took the jeers and drank the beers and I crawled back home at dawn
And ended up a barman in the morning

I played the pump and took the hump and watered whiskey down
I talked of whores and horses to the men who drank the brown
I heard them say that Jimmy's making money far away
Some people left for heaven without warning

We walked him to the station in the rain
We kissed him as we put him on the train
And we sang him a song of times long gone
Though we knew that we'd be seeing him again
(Far away) sad to say I must be on my way
So buy me beer and whiskey cos I'm going far away (far away)
I'd like to think of me returning when I can
To the greatest little boozer and to Sally MacLennane

When Jimmy came back home he was surprised that they were gone
He asked me al the details of the train that they went on
Some people they are scared to croak but Jimmy drank until he choked
And took the road for heaven in the morning

We walked him to the station in the rain
We kissed him as we put him on the train
And we sang him a song of times long gone
Though we knew that we'd be seeing him again
(Far away) sad to say I must be on my way
So buy me beer and whiskey cos I'm going far away (far away)
I'd like to think of me returning when I can
To the greatest little boozer and to Sally MacLennane

(Shane MacGowan)

Subject: RE: Need words and sheet music to irish songs
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 12 Aug 98 - 10:02 PM

For What It's Worth, "Big Strong Man" (My Brother Sylvest) was published 1n 1908 as Bruda Sylvest, a stage-Italian dialect number that referred to the Spanish-American War.

Subject: RE: Need words and sheet music to irish songs
From: Tinwhistler's Mutha
Date: 13 Aug 98 - 02:07 PM

WOW....you guys did a great job with that bunch of requests.
also, thanks for referrencing www.lyrics.ch
i was not familiar with that one.

Dan

ps. that RA clip of Sally McLennane is great...The Pogues

Subject: Lyr Add: FIVE NIGHTS DRUNK (OUR GOODMAN)^^^
From: Tinwhistler's Mutha
Date: 13 Aug 98 - 02:15 PM

Seven Drunken Nights

Now, when I came home on Monday night, As drunk as drunk could be.
I saw a horse outside the door, Where my own horse should be.
So, I called my wife and I said to her, "Would you kindly tell to me,
Who owns that horse outside the door, Where my own horse should be?"

She said, "You're drunk, you're drunk, you silly old fool. Still, you cannot see!
That's a lovely cow that my mother gave to me."
Sure, it's many a day I've traveled A hundred miles or more.
But a saddle on a cow, Sure, I never saw before.

Now, when I came home on Tuesday night, As drunk as drunk could be.
I saw a coat upon the rack, Where my own coat should be.
So, I called my wife and I said to her, "Would you kindly tell to me,
Who owns that coat upon the rack, Where my own coat should be?"

She said, "You're drunk, you're drunk, you silly old fool. Still, you cannot see!
That's a lovely blanket that my mother gave to me."
Sure, it's many a day I've traveled A hundred miles or more.
But buttons on a blanket, Sure, I never saw before.

Now, when I came home on Wednesday night, As drunk as drunk could be.
I saw a pipe upon the chair, Where my own pipe should be.
So, I called my wife and I said to her, "Would you kindly tell to me,
Who owns that pipe upon the chair, Where my own pipe should be?"

She said, "You're drunk, you're drunk, you silly old fool. Still, you cannot see!
That's a lovely tin whistle that my mother gave to me."
Sure, it's many a day I've traveled A hundred miles or more.
But tobacco in a tin whistle, Sure, I never saw before.

Now, when I came home on Thursday night, As drunk as drunk could be.
I saw two boots beside the bed, Where my own boots should be.
So, I called my wife and I said to her, "Would you kindly tell to me,
Who owns those boots beside the bed, Where my own boots should be?"

She said, "You're drunk, you're drunk, you silly old fool. Still, you cannot see!
That's a lovely dog that my mother gave to me."
Sure, it's many a day I've traveled A hundred miles or more.
But laces on a dog, Sure, I never saw before.

Now, when I came home on Friday night, As drunk as drunk could be.
I saw a head upon my bed, Where my own head should be.
So, I called my wife and I said to her, "Would you kindly tell to me,
Who owns that head upon the bed, Where my own head should be?"

She said, "You're drunk, you're drunk, you silly old fool. Still, you cannot see!
That's a lovely cabbage that my mother gave to me."
Sure, it's many a day I've traveled A hundred miles or more.
But whiskers on a cabbage, Sure, I never saw before.

Monday through Friday makes Five Nights, but who's counting?. -JoeClone, 13-Jul-01.

Subject: RE: Need words and sheet music to irish songs
From:
Date: 13 Aug 98 - 06:11 PM

Do a thread, not a database search, back for several months or a year for Seven Drunken Nights and you will find all seven nights and many variations thereof.

I thought it was properly Seven Nights Drunk, but I suppose it doesn't matter.

There is a Scottish fiddle tune with the same tune as this, but I can never remember its name.

Subject: Lyr Add: GILGARRY MOUNTAIN (There's whiskey...^^^
From: C. Adams
Date: 30 Aug 98 - 01:59 AM

I've seen a few different versions of lyrics to "Whiskey in the Jar," but these are the ones I know:

As I was going over the far famed Kerry mountains
I met with Captain Farrell and his money he was counting
I first produced my pistol and I then produced my rapier
Saying "Stand and deliver, for you are a bold deceiver"

Chorus
Mush a ring drum a do drum a da
Whack fol da daddio
Whack fol da daddio
There's whiskey in the jar

I counted out his money and it made a pretty penny
I put it in my pocket and I took it home to Jenny
She sighed and she swore that she never would deceive me
But the devil take the women for they never can be easy
Chorus

I went up to my chamber all for to take a slumber
I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure it was no wonder
But Jenny drew my charges and she filled them up with water
And sent for Captain Farrell to be ready for the slaughter

Next morning I rose early and as I made to travel
Up came a band of footmen and likewise Captain Farrell
I first produced my pistol for she'd stolen away my rapier
But I couldn't shoot the water so a prisoner I was taken

If anyone can aid me 'tis my brother in the Army
If I can find a posting in Clark or in Killarny
And if he'll go with me we'll go roving in Kilkenny
And I'm sure he'll treat me better than my only sporting Jenny.

(excuse any typos please, it's getting late and my fingers don't work as well as they used to)