Claddagh

O if I were in Claddagh I'd stand on the pier
It's there I'd see fishermen mending their gear
I'd stand there forever where the (?) still
Here's a toast to you, Claddagh, at the foot of Fairhill

It's there we had hurlers, but now they're all gone
May their fame live forever like the great Father Tom
In their green and black jerseys I remember them still
Here's a toast to you, Claddagh, at the foot of Fairhill

I can see white-robed clergy out blessing the bay
I can see young and old fishermen kneeling to pray
May the good Lord protect them by His holy will
Here's a toast to you, Claddagh, at the foot of Fairhill

And now to conclude, here's a toast to you all
On land or on sea, whereer you may fall
May your homes and your families be peaceful and still
Here's good luck to you, Claddagh, at the foot of Fairhill

Nora Daley

O there may be pleasant places
Lots of gold and lovely faces
In our own land and away beyond the sea
But my heart was free from sorrow
And I thought not of the morrow
Where pretty Nora Daley smiled on me

She is kind and sweet and simple
In her cheeks there is a dimple
And her little feet trip lightly oer the lea
There's no other girl in Galway
So I've minded to stay always
In Kilbennan where my Nora waits for me

Where the roundtower casts its shadow
By its sweet and fragrant meadows
There runs the River Clare with happy glee
They may praise the banks of Shannon
But my heaven's in Kilbennan
With Nora Daley there to smile on me

When the big campaign is over
Sure I'll be no more a rover
But settle down with Nora for my wife
In Kilbennan Church I'll wed her
We'll not think of war or weather
For I feel I've had enough of single life

O there may be pleasant places
Lots of gold and lovely faces
In our own land and away beyond the sea
But give me bog and tillage
In that little roundtower village
With Nora Daley there to smile on me

The S(?)

Many rivers of Ireland are famed the world oer
But now to that number we'll add just one more
It's a sweet little river I'll sing of to you
Of a stream called the S(?) that flows through Cloon(?)

It is not a great river, it's just a small stream
But in faraway lands many times in my dreams
I have seen the dear S(?) far over the blue
As it quietly meanders along by Cloon(?)

In the days long ago, the itinerant class
Never paid a red cent for a feed for an ass
They turned them out loose as they all used to do
To graze round the S(?) that flows through Cloon(?)

There's a bridge cross the river not far from the plan
We've courted and played there from boyhood to man
Many a horsecart of turf and an asscartload too
Has crossed over the S(?) that flows through Cloon(?)

Now they say S(?) waters can banish all ills
So forget about spas and quack doctors and pills
Just strip off your clothes down the old Moneen Row
And bathe in the S(?) that flows through Cloon(?)

Sure there's fish in the S(?) and (?) galore
And why would you go all the way to Cloonmore?
You can catch all you want from Sniperidge to Cl(?)
If ye fish in the S(?) that flows through Cloon(?)

Now around Cl(?) harbor there are many fair scenes
To compare with the best in this island so green
But all of them take second place in my view
To that stream called the S(?) that flows through Cloon(?)

Gentle Annie

Thou wilt come no more, gentle Annie
Like a flower thy spirit did depart
Thou art gone, alas, like the many
That has flown in the summer of my heart

Refrain:
Shall I ever more behold you
Ever hear thy winning voice again
When the springtime comes, gentle Annie
When the wildflowers are scattered oer the plains?

We have roamed and loved amid the bowers
When thy downy cheeks were in their bloom
Now I stand alone amid the flowers
Whilst they mingle their perfume oer thy tomb

(Refrain)

Ah the hours grow sad as I ponder
Near the silent spot where thou art laid
And my heart bows down when I wander
Through the streams and the meadows where we played

(Refrain)

Matt Hyland

There was a lord who lived in a town
Who had a lovely handsome daughter
She was courted by a fair young man
Who was a servant to her father

But when her parents came to know
They swore they'd ban him from the island
The maid she knew her heart would break
Had she to part with young Matt Hyland

So straightaway to her love she'd go
Into his room to awake him
Saying Arise, my love, and go away
This very night you will be taken

I overheard my parents say
In spite of me they would transport you
So arise, my love, and go away
I wish to God I'd gone before you

They both sat down upon the bed
Just for the sake of one last hour
And neer a word did either speak
As down her cheeks the tears did shower

She laid her head upon his chest
Around his neck her arms entwined him
No duke or lord or earl I'll wed
I'll wait for you, my own Matt Hyland

Her father talked with his daughter fair
One night alone in her bedchamber
Saying We'll give you leave for to bring him back
Since there's no one can win your favor

She wrote a letter then in haste
For him her heart was still repining
They brought him back, to the church they went
And made a lord of young Matt Hyland

Just a Little Love

O when the scented night of summer covers
Fields and city with its veil of blue
All the lanes are filled with straying lovers
Murmuring the words I say to you

Just a little love, a little kiss
I would give you all my life for this
Eyes that shine and twinkle like the stars above
Whispering the words I say, I love you

Night will come and day will follow after
Other trials will come again someday
And through all the weeping and the laughter
You will always hear these words I say

Just a little love, a little kiss
I would give you all my life for this
As I hold you close and bend above you
You will always hear me say, I love you

?

Do you recall that night in June when first we met?
Do you remember, love, the words we spoke?
Have you forgotten all those tender vows we made
Neath the silent magical moonbeams' light?
Gone are the golden dreams mid summer roses
And all those tender vows were made but to be broken
Song of songs, song of memories
And broken melody of love and life nevermore for me
Can that melody fill the heart with the joy once it knew?
O night of bliss, night of June and love
Beneath the stars, amid the roses
O dream of delight that's faded at dawn
O song of songs, O night of bliss
When you were my whole world of love

My Heart and I

We are in love with you
My heart and I
And we are always true
My heart and I
When you are far away
It smiles a tear
But it's a lovely day
When you are near

Refrain:
Maybe that love is blind
When passions rule
And that my heart and I
Are but two fools
And yet my darling if you ever say goodbye
I know we both should die
My heart and I

Once in a lifetime a love dream comes true
Just once in a lifetime or never
I met my fate on the day I met you
The moment we met I knew
Strange fascination seemed to fill and hold me
Fateful temptation such as no one ever told me
Everything I would endure for you
Come what may, O I'll keep smiling through
My heart is yours, so you just take it
It's only asking not to break it

(Refrain)

Calling for You

I'm calling, calling for you
My beloved, what can I do?
Though we're apart, yet still my love is only for you

C(?), C(?), how I adore you C(?) my darling
Although your heart is cold, remember not so long ago
You loved me too and promised to be true
My C(?) I love you so

C(?), C(?), my love you can't deride
Life was sweet when you were by my side
Under the moon and stars beside the ocean
You said your love was ever mine and now

I'm calling, calling for you
My beloved, what can I do?
Though we're apart, yet still my love is only for you

The Collier's Reel

O they invited me down to a party
And I brought me bagpipes by chance
Sure they asked me to play but I said No, no
I'll give you a bit of a dance
Then I took up me pipes and began to go playing
When somebody went fooling about
Sure they put a big hole in the bag of me pipes
And this is the tune that came out:

Fro &c.

Sure tis well I remember the night I was born
Me grandmother told me I'd seventeen teeth
And me father he looked to see if I'd any corns
O begorrah, says he, he has two crooked feet
And me grandmother said I was just like me daddy
With joy I went dancing and hopping about
But again she said I was just like me mammy
But she didn't say that till me dadda went out

Fro &c.

On the fourteenth of November
In the middle of July
The morning it was raining
And the afternoon was dry
I met an old old woman
Beside an old oak tree
And the devil a word I spoke to her
And she said the same to me

Fro &c.

So Mary sat down and she told the old story
Over and over and over again
Now says Patsy to Mary you told it so easy
Why don't you sit down and tell it again

So Mary sat down and she told the old story
Over and over and over again
Now says Patsy to Mary you told it contrary
Why don't you sit down and tell it again

So Mary sat down and she told the old story
Over and over and over again
Now says Patsy to Mary you told it completely
Now don't you sit down and tell it again

Fro &c.

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