The Mountains of Mourne
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The lyrics to the song "The Mountains of Mourne" were written in 1896 by the 19th Century Irish musician Percy French. It is normally sung to the same tune used by Thomas Moore (1779–1852) for his song "Bendemeer's Stream".
The song is representative of French's many works concerning the Irish diaspora in both its subject matter and its maudlin and somewhat priggish tone, especially when compared with his many comic songs.
The Mourne Mountains of the title are located in County Down in present-day Northern Ireland.
[edit] Notable versions
- Baritone Australian singer Peter Dawson popularised this song in the 1920s.
- The Kingston Trio recorded the song in their 1960 album "Sold Out." Nick Reynolds sang the lead.
- The song featured on the 1958 album, The Immortal Percy French, featuring the voice of Irish tenor, Brendan O'Dowda.
- Singer-songwriter Don McLean, of "American Pie" fame, recorded a version of this song titled "Mountains O'Mourne".
- The song was also recorded by Tarkio, an alt-country band led by Colin Meloy later of Decemberists fame for their self-released EP "Sea Songs for Landlocked Sailors" in 1998, and also included on Omnibus, a collection of Tarkio's recordings released by Kill Rock Stars in 2006.
- Spanish composer and guitarist Fernando Sor set the melody in the second section of opus 6 number 11, one of a set of his celebrated studies for guitar, first published in 1815.
[edit] Lyrics
- "The Mountains of Mourne"
- by Percy French (1896)
- Oh, Mary, this London's a wonderful sight,
- With people all working by day and by night.
- Sure they don't sow potatoes, nor barley, nor wheat,
- But there's gangs of them digging for gold in the street.
- At least when I asked them that's what I was told,
- So I just took a hand at this digging for gold,
- But for all that I found there I might as well be
- Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
- I believe that when writing a wish you expressed
- As to know how the fine ladies in London were dressed,
- Well if you'll believe me, when asked to a ball,
- They don't wear no top to their dresses at all,
- Oh I've seen them meself and you could not in truth,
- Say that if they were bound for a ball or a bath.
- Don't be starting such fashions, now, Mary McCree,
- Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
- I've seen England's king from the top of a bus
- And I've never known him, but he means to know us.
- And tho' by the Saxon we once were oppressed,
- Still I cheered, God forgive me, I cheered with the rest.
- And now that he's visited Erin's green shore
- We'll be much better friends than we've been heretofore
- When we've got all we want, we're as quiet as can be
- Where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea.
- You remember young Peter O'Loughlin, of course,
- Well, now he is here at the head of the force.
- I met him today, I was crossing the Strand,
- And he stopped the whole street with a wave of his hand.
- And there we stood talkin' of days that are gone,
- While the whole population of London looked on.
- But for all these great powers he's wishful like me,
- To be back where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea.
- There's beautiful girls here, oh never you mind,
- With beautiful shapes nature never designed,
- And lovely complexions all roses and cream,
- But let me remark with regard to the same:
- That if of those roses you venture to sip,
- The colours might all come away on your lip,
- So I'll wait for the wild rose that's waiting for me
- In the place where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea.
