The Glens of Arlow

O twas on a summer's evening as I rambled from my home
Down by a lovely running stream I carelessly did roam
I overheard a female voice as the tears from her eyes did flow
Lamenting on her true love in the Glens of Arlow

O my Johnny was a rebel bold and fond of liberty
And in 1916 he fought the enemy
And in the Black and Tan regime he never feared the foe
It was British guns that shot my love in the Glens of Arlow

O twas late last night I heard the news and it nearly broke my heart
(?) came oer the hills and said that we must part
Now parting from my true love (?) I loved so dear you know
For he lies deadly wounded in the Glens of Arlow

Or never mind your true love but come along with me
For I have money plenty and it's married we will be
O what's the use of money when the one I love lies low
And his blood is sprinkled the heather in the Glens of Arlow?

Sure if you had all the money that Germany do own
Or all the wealth and happiness a king (?) on his throne
Or all the gold and diamonds that eer a queen did owe
Sure I'd rather have my rebel boy from the Glens of Arlow

There is one request I ask of you, now grant it to me, please
It is not much I'm askin but twill set my mind at ease
Take pity on a poor girl who knows not where to go
Will you come with me till I find my love in the Glens of Arlow?

So they both stepped out together her true love for to find
For three long days and three long nights against the rain and wind
Until they came to a lonely hill where his heart's blood it did flow
It was there she found her own true love in the Glens of Arlow

So she then began to dig his grave and she laid him down to rest
An evergreen tree she planted for to grow upon his breast
She then knelt down to kiss his lips that were as cold as snow
Saying, Goodbye, goodbye, my rebel boy from the Glens of Arlow

The Jacket of Blue

It was down in yon valley not far from Langshire
Where I roamed in splendor and free from love's care
Where I roamed in splendor and lovers were few
I was won by a Scotch lad in his jacket of blue

It was early next morning as quickly as she rose
She called down pretty Polly to put on her clothes
Saying, Dress me as neat as your (?) can do
Until I go and see my jacket of blue

To the barracks next morning to hear her love's name
When she got there they were all on parade
(?) she called him, he answered most true
You're my bonny Scotch lad in your jacket of blue

When parade it was over with the gun in his hand
She tried to speak to him but his horse would not stand
She tried to speak to him, in his arms she flew
And (?) with the jacket of blue

Ah soldier, dear soldier, I'll buy your discharge
I'll free you from the army and set you at large
If you once say you love me and to me you'll be true
Sure I'll neer put a stain in your jacket of blue

Ah lady, dear lady, you'd buy my discharge
You'd free me from the army and set me at large
If I once say I love you and to you I'd be true
But what would my own Scotch lassie do?

I've a lassie down in my own countrie
I will never despise her (?) poverty
I will never despise her and to her I'll be true
And I'll make her the heiress of the jacket of blue

When I Had Six Girls

Sure I used to be the ladies' man but that's all over now
For courting six girls all at once didn't suit me anyhow
My mother said twas naughty, sure I laughed (?)
Although I knew twas naughty yet I thought it very nice

So on Monday I met Mary Ann, on Tuesday Mary Jane
On Wednesday charming Miss McGann, on Thursday Kitty Paine
On Friday Polly Hopkins, on Saturday Miss Wall
And Sunday night I stayed inside for fear I'd meet them all

O I wrote a letter to Mary Ann addressed to Mary Jane
Signed to charming Miss McGann in care of Kitty Paine
To give to Polly Hopkins in care of one Miss Wall
And that was how they found me out and made me pay for all

O I never will forget the night I met those blessed six
Those darlings cried, It's now you'll pay for all your little tricks
Mary Ann she pulled me hair and Mary Jane me coat
And Miss McGann she got a man that caught me by the throat

Kitty Paine she scratched me face till it ran red with blood
And dirty Polly Hopkins she covered me with mud
And now to make the job complete that rascal one Miss Wall
O she banged me hat till it was flat against the garden wall

So on Monday I met Mary Ann, on Tuesday Mary Jane
On Wednesday charming Miss McGann, on Thursday Kitty Paine
On Friday Polly Hopkins, on Saturday Miss Wall
And tis now I'm right when either night I haven't one at all

Edinburgh Town

Come all you tender lovers and listen to my rhyme
It's all about young Caroline who was drowned all in her prime
As she meets the blushing roses, admired by all around
She was once the lovely Caroline from Edinburgh Town

Young Henry being a highwayman a-courting her he came
And when her parents heard of this they did not like that same
Young Henry got offended and those words to her did say
Arise, arise, my Caroline, and with me come away

We'll both go off to London, it's there we will with speed
And by the time we will get there, we'll have happiness, peace indeed
So being enticed by Henry she put on her other gown
And they went away without delay from Edinburgh Town

And they were not long in London but scarcely half a year
When cruelhearted Henry to her he proved severe
He said, My dearest Caroline, your parents did on me frown
So beg your way without delay to Edinburgh Town

Up to a spreading lofty oak as she sat down to cry
Watching on those gallant ships as they were passing by
She gave three cries for Henry as she plunged her body down
And away floated Caroline from Edinburgh Town

And twas on a stone she wrote a note saying, Alas I am no more
And when she thought of Henry it grieved her ten times more
Saying, I'm fast asleep down in the deep where the fishes swim around
To devour the body of Caroline from Edinburgh Town

And come all you tender lovers, never on your true love frown
Or you'll meet the fate of Caroline from Edinburgh Town

Peter Crowley

As I rambled out one evening, it being in the month of June
I strayed into an old churchyard for to view a new-made tomb
I overheard an old man say as the tears rolled from his eyes
For here beneath the cold cold clay poor Peter Crowley lies

The place where Peter Crowley lies beneath the grass grows green
And underneath poor Peter sleeps because he loved the Green
It grieves me for to see you there all in your youth and bloom
But sure you died a rebel bold to fill the silent tomb

O Crowley, dear Crowley, come tell to me the truth
Who went along that night with you to (?) lovely wood?
Who went along that night with you and fired a signal gun?
O fought and died for Ireland, twas Crowley's only son

So fare thee well, young Crowley, and fare thee well again
Tis many the mile we shouldered you through bullets and through rain
Tis many the mile we shouldered you, a storÌn geal mo chroÌdhe
Because you were a rebel bold and died for liberty

That Dear Little Isle So Far Away

At the setting of the sun
When my daily work was done
Sure I rambled down the seashore for a walk
Although I being all alone
I sat down upon a stone
For to view the pretty scenery of New York

Refrain:
O then Širinn geal mo chroÌdhe
You're the only land for me
You're the fairest that my eyes can eer behold
You're the land Saint Patrick blessed
You're the bright star of the west
You're that dear little isle so far away

Twas on a cold cold winter's night
And the turf fire burning bright
And the snow falling all on a winter's day
Sure I being all alone
I thought all on me own
In that dear little isle so far away

(Refrain)

On the day that I did start
Sure it broke my mother's heart
Shall I ever see my dear ones anymore?
Not until my bones are laid
In a cold cold silent grave
In that dear little isle so far away

(Refrain)

The Road by the River That Flows through Raheen

O I've walked along Broadway, I've been down the Strand
I've seen the great highways of every land
But of all the big cities the likes I've not seen
Like the road by the river that flows through Raheen

I can see myself now as a gossoon of four
As I climb to look over the creek in (?)
To watch the sun shine in the valley so green
And the road by the river that flows through Raheen

I had only one brother, a gay lad in the roll
He was shot in an ambush, may God rest his soul
In the spot where he fell a white cross can be seen
In the road by the river that flows through Raheen

After that the returning, expectin to find
The familiar old scenes that I still bear in mind
Not forgettin the village, the valley so green
And the road by the river that flows through Raheen

Rows and rows of new houses are built on the green
And a cinema stands where my cottage had been
O the river is there but no trace can be seen
Of the road by the river that flows through Raheen

Sure everything changes and we change as well
And with you it's the same if the truth you would tell
Wander back to some beloved spot in your dream
Like the road by the river that flows through Raheen

The Boys of Cleary's Van

O comrades come and listen, I will tell you one and all
The news the birds are singing from Cork to Donegal
From Dublin to the Wicklow hills we heard them to a man
How a darin Galway rebel escaped in Cleary's van

His comrades sat in council all on a long May night
They swore they'd give him liberty or wage a bloody fight
The leaders giving orders, Let each man bring a gun
And we'll take him from the tyrant's grasp and set him on the run

In Dublin's streets they met next day, all present to a man
And motorcars being rather scarce, they held up Cleary's van
Drivin to the Mansion gate, the entrance to Dundrum
And they told the gate officials it was from Cleary's they had come

O the gateman bad them welcome and he opened wide the door
But Cleary's men with (?) he never saw before
They drove up to the buildings in a free and easy way
A-wishin to all the warders a pleasant time of day

O one man said the ground was neat and blooming were the flowers
While another man said that I do believe some of these men are ours
And rising up he halloed out, I say, where is Jack Kehoe?
O come on my man, get in the van, be quick and let us go

I'm here, said Kehoe, right well you know I'll reach you when I can
Three days I have been waiting for the boys of Cleary's van
But now that I'm arrived at last tis I that do feel glad
And we'll show them now a rebel's fight although they drove me mad

And this good old rebel now, my boys, is well upon the run
He has got some ammuntion and a tried and trusty gun
The bloodhounds they may follow him but one or two will fall
For the rebel on the hillside are good men one and all

O some received the news with joy, their names you all know well
And those that received it otherwise their names I need not tell
And to complete my story, sure I've done the best I can
So God bless that Galway rebel and the boys of Cleary's van

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