Bold Riley (Traditional) The rain it rains all day long, bold Riley O, bold Riley And the northern winds they blow so strong, bold Riley O, has gone away. Chorus: Goodbye my sweetheart, goodbye my dear O, bold Riley O, bold Riley Goodbye my darling, goodbye my dear O, bold Riley O has gone away. Well come on Mary don’t look glum, bold Riley O bold Riley Come white stocking day you’ll be drinking rum, bold Riley O, has gone away. Chorus We’re outward bound for the Bengal Bay, Bold Riley O, bold Riley Get bending me lads it’s a hell of a way, bold Riley O has gone away. Chorus
Maid in a Garret (Traditional)
I have often heard it said from my father and my mother That going to a weddin’ is the making of another Well, if this be true, I will go without a biddin’ O kind providence, won't you send me to a wedding?
Chorus: O dear me, how would it be, If I die an old maid in a garret
Well, there's my sister Jean, she's not handsome or good looking Barely sixteen and a fella she was courtin’ Now she’s twenty-four with a son and a daughter Here am I at forty-five and I've never had an offer!
Chorus
I can cook and I can sew, I can keep the house right tidy Rise up in the morning and get the breakfast ready There's nothing in this wide world would make me half so cheery As a wee fat man who would call me his own dearie.
Chorus
So come landsman or come kinsman, come tinker or come tailor Come fiddler or come dancer, come ploughboy or come sailor Come rich man, come poor man, come fool or come witty Come any man at all that will marry me for pity.
Chorus
Well now I'm away home ‘cause there’s nobody heedin’ There’s nobody heedin’ to poor old Annie's pleadin’ And I’m away home to my own wee bit garret If I can't get a man, then I'll surely get a parrot.*
Chorus
*Variation heard at a song festival in Scotland: “use a carrot”
William Taylor (Traditional)
I’ll sing you a song about two true lovers, from South Hampton Town they came
The young man’s name was William Taylor, the young lass’s name was Sara Jane
Chorus: Fa dal diddle lum, day oh, right oh, fa dal diddle lum, dum a dare I day
Going to church for to get married, Sara was dressed in rich array
William knew that he loved another, so he fled and went to sea
Chorus
Sara dressed in sailor’s clothing, sailor’s clothing she put on
She’s gone to find her own true lover, for to find him she has gone
Chorus
On the ship there was a battle, she was one among the rest
The jacket quickly fell to pieces, sailors spied that lady’s breast
Chorus
The Captain asked what brought her here and to him well she did say
I’ve come to find my own cruel lover, he left on our wedding day
Chorus
If your love is William Taylor, it happens that I know him well
He’s living with a rich young lassie, on the Isle of Man they dwell
Chorus
Rise up early in the morning and walk down by the silver strand
It’s there you’ll find your William Taylor with his bride at his right hand
Chorus
Sara rose in the morning early, a brace of pistols she did command
She fired and she shot her William Taylor with his bride at his right hand.
Chorus
Then the Captain was well pleased, he was well pleased by what she had done
Soon she became the bold commander of the captain and his men.
Chorus
My Johnny Was A Shoemaker (Traditional)
My Johnny was a shoemaker and dearly he loved me
My Johnny was a shoemaker but now he’s gone to sea,
With pitch and tar to soil his hands and to sail across the sea
Stormy sea, and sail across the stormy sea.
His jacket was a deep sky blue and curly was his hair
His jacket was a deep sky blue it was I do declare,
For the reef the topsails up against the mast and to sail across the sea
Stormy sea and sail across the stormy sea.
Some day he’ll be a captain bold with a brave and gallant crew
Some day he’ll be a captain bold with a sword and spyglass too,
And when he has a gallant captain’s sword he’ll come home and marry me, marry me
He’ll come home and marry me.
Come By the Hills (Traditional)
Come by the hills to the land where fancy is free Stand where the peaks meet the sky and the lochs reach the sea, Where rivers run clear and bracken is gold in the sun Ah, the cares of tomorrow can wait 'til this day is done.
Come by the hills to the land where life is a song Stand where the birds fill the air with their joy all day long, Where trees sway in time, even the wind sings in tune Ah, the cares of tomorrow can wait 'til this day is done.
Come by the hills to a land where legend remains Stories of old fill the heart and may yet come again, Where the past has been lost - the future is still to be won Ah, the cares of tomorrow can wait 'til this day is done.
Repeat first verse.
The Mountain (Tracy Grammer & David Carter)
I was born in a fork-tongued story
Raised up by merchants and drug store liars,
Now I walk in the paths of glory,
One foot in ice, one in fire.
Chorus: I see the mountain, mountain come to me, I see the mountain and that is all I see
Miller take me and miller grind me,
Scatter my bones on the wild green tide,
Maybe some roving bird will find me,
Over the water we’ll ride.
Chorus: Over the mountain…
Some build temples and some fine altars
Some come in tall hats and robes spun fine,
Some in rags some in gemstone halters
Some push the pegs back in line.
Chorus: I see the mountain…
Some poor prophet comes some finds solace,
Some lay him down in a junkyard bay
Some will chase us and some will call us
Gone, gone, gone, in a day.
Chorus: Gone to the mountain…
The Bergen (Jez Lowe)
Sleep while you wake me with these dreams you bring
Dreams came to me where I lay,
And deep the melody the wild waves sing
My love is far, far away.
Chorus: Pity the heart the wild waves part
My love sails the bonny boat, the Bergen
They heap their nets upon the decks by night
Dreams came to me where I lay,
And creep out softly ‘til the dead of night
My love is far, far away.
Chorus
They reap the harvest of a cold night’s sea
Dreams came to me where I lay,
It leaps with herring ‘neath its decks for me
My love is far, far away.
Chorus
Steep waves rise above his cold bare head
Dreams came to me where he lay,
And keep him safe as I lie in my bed
My love is far, far away.
Chorus
It weeps with rain tonight where my love lies
Dreams came to me where I lay,
And sweep the foreign sands from out his eyes
My love is far, far away.
Chorus
Green Grow The Rushes, O (Robert Burns)
Chorus: Green grow the rushes, O; Green grow the rushes, O;
The sweetest hours that ever I spend, Are spent among the lasses, O.
There is not but care on every hand, In every hour that passes, O, What signifies the life of man, And it were not for the lasses, O.
Chorus
The worldly race may riches chase, And riches still may fly them, O, Until at last they catch them fast, Their hearts can never enjoy them, O.
Chorus
But give me a quiet hour at ten, My arms around my dearie, O, Worldly cares and worldly men May all go topsy-turvy, O!
Chorus
Old Nature swears, the lovely dears Her noblest work she classes, O, Her apprentice hand she tried on man, And then she made the lasses, O.
Chorus
Broom of the Cowdenknowes (Traditional)
How blithe each morn was I to see, my lass came o'er the hill, She skipped the burn and ran to me, I met her with good will.
Chorus: O the broom, the bonnie, bonnie broom, broom of the cowdenknowes,
Fain would I be in the North Country herding her father's ewes.
We neither herded ewes nor lamb, while the flock near us lay, She gathered in the sheep at night and cheered me all the day.
Chorus
Hard fate that I should banished be gone way o'er hill and moor, Because I loved the fairest lass that ever yet was born.
Chorus
Adieu, ye cowdenknowes, adieu farewell all pleasures there, To wander by her side again is all I crave or care.
Chorus
North Amerikay (Traditional)
Ye lovers all both great and small , that dwell in Ireland
I hope you pay attention, whilst I my pen command
Oh it was my father’s anger that stole my love away
But I still have hopes, we’ll meet again in North Amerikay.
Oh my love he is tall and handsome to him I gave my heart
But little was my notion that we would ever part
It was in my father’s garden, this flower it did decay
But I still have hopes it will bloom again, in North Amerikay.
Now we did not want for money, kind fortune on us shone
Out of my father’s castle I stole 500 pounds
It was in the town of Belfast, my passage I did pay
My mind made up to follow my love to North Amerikay
Well the captain’s wife was kind to me, as you may understand
And she kept me in her cabin until we reached dry land
It was in the town of Quebec we landed on the Cay
And I knew not where to find my love in all Amerikay.
Now I being sick and sore and tired, I went into an inn
And its there I met my William the lad I loved, within
Oh I took him gently by the hand and to him I did say
Oh I never thought to find my love in North Amerikay
And its now this couple have got wed as you may understand
And I hear they live quite happy in a town they call Saint John
And the money that she stole from home in gold she paid it down
And she thinks no more of Ireland nor Enniskillin Town.
The Night is Young (Colum Sands)
Chorus: Rest for a while now, the night is young
The time is short and the road is long,
Tell me a story and I’ll sing you a song
For tomorrow the road will be calling us on.
Don’t let your journey be stopped at the start
There’s times when your feet have to follow your heart
The faster you travel the less you can see
The more that you have well the less you can be.
Chorus
Looked for the house with the smile at the door
Where we sat round the table and danced on the floor
Found warmth at the fire we came back for more
There was grass on the chimney and a lock on the door.
Chorus
Let the reel have its turn and the song its refrain
And here’s to the day we’ll all meet again
Long may the sun shine wherever you are
You still need the darkness to show you the stars.
Chorus
Caledonia (Dougie MacLean)
I don't know if you can see the changes that have come over me In these last few days I've been afraid that I might drift away So I've been telling old stories, singing songs that make me think about where I came from And that's the reason why I seem so far away today.
Chorus: Oh, but let me tell you that I love you and I think about you all the time Caledonia you're calling me and now I'm going home If I should become a stranger, you know that it would make me more than sad Caledonia's been everything I've ever had.
Now I have moved and I've kept on moving proved the points that I needed proving Lost the friends that I needed losing found others on the way, I have kissed the ladies and left them crying stolen dreams, yes there's no denying I have traveled hard with coattails flying somewhere in the wind. Chorus
Now I'm sitting here before the fire the empty room, the forest choir The flames that could not get any higher they've withered now they've gone But I'm steady thinking my way is clear and I know what I will do tomorrow When the hands are shaken and the kisses flow then I will disappear.
Chorus
West Virginia Chose Me
West Virginia Chose Me (Colleen Anderson)
Someone’s always leaving here, it’s just that kind of place
It’s just that kind of world today you learn to live with loss
The grass is always greener there, just on the other side
The air is always cleaner there, the sky is twice as wide
I’m not the type to argue, I won’t say it isn’t true
It’s just the kind of place for passing through.
Tom’s in California now, and John’s up north in Maine
Will went down to Raleigh, says he won’t be back again
Annie’s in Chicago and she likes it by the lake
Even Katie crossed the border, finally made the break
And if I had a dollar for every time I’ve said goodbye
There’s nothing in this world I couldn’t buy.
Chorus
But a few of us are staying and it’s not a point of choice
It’s not we who do the choosing we are chosen by the place
And West Virginia Chose Me, sure as my own mother knows me
If I leave you West Virginia, it don’t matter where I roam
I don’t know where I’m going, but I know I’m coming home.
They say home is where the heart is, and I guess that’s true enough
But the heart’s a stubborn muscle and there’s no explaining love
I dream of higher mountains, and a cottage by the sea
But West Virginia won’t let go of me.
Chorus
And a few of us are staying and it’s not a point of choice
It’s not we who do the choosing we are chosen by the place
And West Virginia Chose Me, sure as my own mother knows me
If I leave you West Virginia, it don’t matter where I roam
I don’t know where I’m going, but I know I’m coming home.
Wraggle-Taggle Gypsies (Traditional)
There were three gypsies a’ come to my door
And downstairs ran this a lady-o
One sang high and the other sang low
And the other sang of bonny, bonny Biscaye-o.
Then she pulled off her silk finished gown
And out of hose of leather–o
It was the cry all around the door
She’s gone with the wraggle taggle gypsies-o.
It was late last night when my Lord came home
Inquiring about his a lady-o
The servants said on every hand
She’s gone with the wraggle-taggle gypsies-o.
And then saddle for me my milk white steed
And go fetch me my pony-o
That I may ride and seek my bride
Who’s gone with the wraggle-taggle gypsies-o.
Then he rode high and he rode low
He rode through the woods and the copses-o
Until he came to a wide open field
And there he a’spied his a’ lady-o.
What makes you leave your house and your land
What makes you leave your money-o
What makes you leave your new wedded Lord
To go with the wraggle-taggle gypsies-o?
What care I for my house and my land
What care I for my money-o
What care I for my new wedded Lord?
I’ve gone with the wraggle-taggle gypsies-o.
Last night you slept in a goose feather bed
With the sheets turned down so bravely-o
Tonight you’ll lie in a cold open field
Along with the wraggle-taggle gypsies-o.
What care I for a goose feather bed
With the sheets turned down so bravely-o?
Tonight I’ll lie in a cold open field
In the arms of my wraggle-taggle gypsy-o.
(additional verse by Peggy Longwell)
And they chased the fox and they drank from the brook
That ran through the woods and the copses-o
At night the fire warmed her heart and her soul
In the arms of her wraggle-taggle gypsy-o.
River (Bill Staines)
I was born in the path of the winter wind,
I was raised where the mountains are old.
Their springtime waters came dancing down,
And I remember the tales they told.
The whistling ways of my younger days
Too quickly have faded on by,
But all of their memories linger on
Like the light in a fading sky.
Chorus
River, take me along
In your sunshine, sing me a song
Ever moving, and winding and free;
You rolling old river, you changing old river,
Let's you and me, river, run down to the sea.
I've been to the city and back again,
I've been moved by some things that I've learned;
Met a lot of good people and I’ve called them friends
Felt the change when the seasons turned.
I've heard all the songs that the children sing,
And listened to love's melodies;
I've felt my own music within me rise
Like the wind in the autumn trees.
Chorus
Someday when the flowers are blooming still
Someday when the grass is still green
My rolling waters will round the bend
And flow into the open sea.
So here's to the rainbow that's followed me here,
And here's to the friends that I know;
And here's to the song that's within me now
I will sing it where'ere I go.
Chorus
Kilkelly (Peter Jones)
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 60, my dear and loving son John
Your good friend the schoolmaster
Pat McNamara's so good as to write these words down.
Your brothers have all gone to find work in England,
the house is so empty and sad
The crop of potatoes is sorely infected,
a third to a half of them bad.
And your sister Brigid and Patrick O'Donnell
are going to be married in June.
Your mother says not to work on the railroad
and be sure to come on home soon.
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 70, dear and loving son John
Hello to your Mrs and to your 4 children,
may they grow healthy and strong.
Michael has got in a wee bit of trouble,
I guess that he never will learn.
Because of the dampness there's no turf to speak of
and now we have nothing to burn.
And Brigid is happy, you named a child for her
and now she's got six of her own.
You say you found work, but you don't say
what kind or when you will be coming home.
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 80, dear Michael and John, my sons
I'm sorry to give you the very sad news
that your dear old mother has gone.
We buried her down at the church in Kilkelly,
your brothers and Brigid were there.
You don't have to worry, she died very quickly,
remember her in your prayers.
And it's so good to hear that Michael's returning,
with money he's sure to buy land
For the crop has been poor and the people
are selling at any price that they can.
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 90, my dear and loving son John
I guess that I must be close on to eighty,
it's thirty years since you're gone.
Because of all of the money you send me,
I'm still living out on my own.
Michael has built himself a fine house
and Brigid's daughters have grown.
Thank you for sending your family picture,
they're lovely young women and men.
You say that you might even come for a visit,
what joy to see you again.
Kilkelly, Ireland, 18 and 92, my dear brother John
I'm sorry that I didn't write sooner to tell you that father passed on.
He was living with Brigid, she says he was cheerful
and healthy right down to the end.
Ah, you should have seen him play with
the grandchildren of Pat McNamara, your friend.
And we buried him alongside of mother,
down at the Kilkelly churchyard.
He was a strong and a feisty old man,
considering his life was so hard.
And it's funny the way he kept talking about you,
he called for you in the end.
Oh, why don't you think about coming to visit,
we'd all love to see you again.
The Song Will Remain (Steeleye Span)
If I were a singer I'd sing you a song,
A song that would live in your heart forever;
I'd sing it loud and strong,
Every single word,
So that when my life is over,
And I never see you again,
The singer may die but the song will remain.
For all I have is gold and silver,
And such things so easy to find,
And that's all I have to leave you,
When I leave you behind.
But if I were a singer I'd sing you a song,
A song that would live in your heart forever;
I'd sing it loud and strong,
Every single word,
So that when my life is over,
And I never see you again,
The singer may die but the song will remain.
Sailin’ Alone (Si Kahn)
I once saw a ship that drew so tall and it stood on a mountainside
And I was drawn to this tall, tall ship and I sailed on the morning tide
I was wrecked on a foreign shore where the people lived wild and free
With the ones that leaned their backs so strong left out on an empty sea.
Chorus
Sailin’ alone on the ocean of life, tossed on a foreign shore
Roll me home safe into my harbor lights I’ll never go sailin’ no more
The winds blow hard and the canvas fills, the captain turns of me
There’s a wind that blows from the left hand side and it’s dark and stormy I fear
I longed so hard for the lights of home but the wind blows the waters black
I’m tryin’ to run three sheets to the wind knowin’ I’ll never get back.
Sailin’ alone on the ocean of life tossed on a foreign shore
Roll me home safe into my harbor lights, I’ll never go sailin’ no more
Repeat chorus
...I’ll never go sailin’ no more
John of Dreams (Traditional)
When midnight comes good people homeward tread
Seek now your blankets and your feather bed
Home is a rover, his journey’s over
Yield up the nighttime to old John of Dreams (repeat)
Across the hill, the sun has gone astray
Tomorrow’s cares are many dreams away
Home is a rover, his journey’ over
Yield up the darkness to old John of Dreams (repeat)
Both man and master in the night are one
All things are equal when the day is done
The prince and the plowman, the slave and the free man
All find their comfort in old John of Dreams (repeat)
Now as you sleep the dreams come winging clear
The hawks of morning cannot harm you here
Sleep is a river...goes on forever
And for you boatman, choose old John of Dreams (repeat)
