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Nomadic Book of Folk Songs

by Nelson Poblete

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1.
The Raggle Taggle Gypsy There were three old gypsies came to our hall door they came brave and boldly-o And one sang high and the other sang low and the other sang a raggle taggle gypsy-o It was upstairs downstairs the lady went put on her suit of leather-o And there was a cry from around the door she's away wi' the raggle taggle gypsy-o It was late that night when the Lord came in enquiring for his lady-o And the servant girl she said to the Lord "She's away wi' the raggle taggle gypsy-o" "Then saddle for me my milk white steed - my big horse is not speedy-o And I will ride till I seek my bride she's away wi' the raggle taggle gypsy-o" Now he rode East and he rode West he rode North and South also Until he came to a wide open plain it was there that he spied his lady-o "How could you leave your goose feather bed your blankeys strewn so comely-o? And how could you leave your newly wedded Lord all for a raggle taggle gypsy-o?" "What care I for my goose feather bed wi' blankets strewn so comely-o? Tonight I lie in a wide open field in the arms of a raggle taggle gypsy-o" "How could you leave your house and your land? how could you leave your money-o? How could you leave your only wedded Lord all for a raggle taggle gypsy-o?" "What care I for my house and my land? what care I for my money-o? I'd rather have a kiss from the yellow gypsy's lips I'm away wi' the raggle taggle gypsy-o!"
2.
The Star of the County Down Near Banbridge town, in the County Down One morning in July Down a boreen green came a sweet colleen And she smiled as she passed me by. She looked so sweet from her two white feet To the sheen of her nut-brown hair Such a coaxing elf, I'd to shake myself To make sure I was standing there. Chorus From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay And from Galway to Dublin town No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen That I met in the County Down. As she onward sped I shook my head And I gazed with a feeling rare And I said, says I, to a passerby "Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?" He smiled at me, and with pride says he, "That's the gem of Ireland's crown. She's young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann She's the star of the County Down." Chorus I've travelled a bit, but never was hit Since my roving career began But fair and square I surrendered there To the charms of young Rose McCann. I'd a heart to let and no tenant yet Did I meet with in shawl or gown But in she went and I asked no rent From the star of the County Down. Chorus
3.
La Belle s'est Endormie La Belle s'est endormie, dans son beau lit de roses; Elle est blanch' comm' la neige, elle est bell' comme le jour, Ils sont tris capitain' qui vont y fair' l'amour. Le plus jeune des trois la prend par sa main blanche; Il la prend, il l'amène tout droit à son logis, Il la prend, il l'amène sur l'dos de son cheval gris. Quand la bell' s'est vu là, dans ces plus hautes chambres, "soupez, soupez la belle, prenez vos appétits, Avec votre capitaine vous y passerez la nuit". Tandis ce discours-là, la belle est tombée morte, "sonnez, sonnez les cloches, elle morte et tombée, Notre maîtresse, elle est morte, et moi le coeur peiné". Où c'qu'on va l'enterrer, cette jolie princesse-là, Dans le jardin sus son père, où qu'elle a tant resté, Dans le jardin sus son père, dessous un vieux pommier. Trois jours après sa mort, son père lui se promène, "cher père faisons la morte, ma tomb rouvrez, rouvrez, Trois jours faisons la morte, et moi le coeur peiné"
4.
Her Mantle so Green As I went out walking one morning in June, To view the fair fields and the valleys in bloom, I spied a pretty fair maid she appeared like a queen With her costly fine robes and her mantle so green. Says I, "My pretty fair maid, won't you come with me We'll both join in wedlock, and married we'll be, I'll dress you in fine linnen, you'll appear like a queen, With your costly fine robes and your mantle so green." Says she now, "You Young man, you must be excused, For I'll wed with no man, you must be refused; To the green woods I will wander to shun all men's view, ...(?) For the lad that I love fell in famed Waterloo." "O, then, if you won't marry, tell me your love's name, For I being in battle, I might know the same." "Draw near to my garment and there will be seen, His name is embroidered on my mantle so green." In raising her mantle there I did behold His name and his surname in letters of gold; Young William O'Reilly appeared in my view He was my chief comrade back in famed Waterloo. But when he was dying I heard his last cry 'If you were here, Lovely Nancy, contented I'd die;' Now Peace is proclaimed, and the truth I declare Here is your love token, the gold ring I wear." O, Nancy, dear Nancy, 'tis I won your heart In your father's garden that day we did part. Now the wars are all over, no trouble is seen And I'll wed with my true love in her mantle so green."
5.
The Lakes of Pontchartrain It was on one bright March morning I bid New Orleans adieu. And I took the road to Jackson town, My fortune to renew, I cursed all foreign money, No credit could I gain, Which filled my heart with longing for The lakes of Pontchartrain. I stepped on board a railroad car, Beneath the morning sun, I road the roads till evening, And I laid me down again, All strangers there no friends to me, Till a dark girl towards me came, And I fell in love with a Creole girl, By the lakes of Pontchartrain. I said, "My pretty Creole girl, My money here's no good, But if it weren't for the alligators, I'd sleep out in the wood". "You're welcome here kind stranger, Our house is very plain. But we never turn a stranger out, From the lakes of Pontchartrain." She took me into her mammy's house, And treated me quite well, The hair upon her shoulder In jet black ringlets fell. To try and paint her beauty, I'm sure it would be in vain, So handsome was my Creole girl, By the lakes of Pontchartrain. I asked her if she'd marry me, She said it could never be, For she had got another, And he was far at sea. She said that she would wait for him And true she would remain. Till he returned for his Creole girl, By the lakes of Pontchartrain. So fare thee well my Creole girl, I never will see you no more, But I'll ne'er forget your kindness In the cottage by the shore. To try and paint her beauty, I'm sure it would be in vain, So handsome was my Creole girl, By the lakes of Pontchartrain.
6.
Barbara Allen In Scarlett town where I was born, There was a fair maid swellin', Made all the youths cry well-a-day, Her name was Barbara Allen. 'Twas in the merry month of may, And the green buds they here swellin' Young William Green of his death bed lay For the love of Barbara Allen. So slowly, slowly she came up, And slowly she came by him, The only words she say to him Were "young man I think you're dying". Oh mother, oh mother, come make my bed, Make it long and make it narrow, Sweet William died for me today, I'll die for him tomorrow. They buried her in the old church yard, They buried him beside her, And in his grave grew to a red rose, From her grave a green briar. They grew and they grew very high, Till they could grow no higher, And there they twintd in a true love knot, And the rose grew 'round the briar. In Scarlett town whre I was born, There was a fair maid swellin', Made all the youths cry well-a-day, Her name was Barbara Allen.
7.
The Foggy Dew As down the glen one Easter morn To a city fair rode I There armed lines of marching men In squadrons passed me by No pipe did hum, nor battle drum Did sound its loud tatoo But the angelus bells o'er the liffey swells Rang out in the foggy dew Right proudly high in Dublin town Hung they out the flag of war 'Twas better to die 'neath an Irish sky Than at Suvla or Sud-El-Bar And from the plains of Royal Meath Strong men came hurrying through While Britannia's Huns with their long range guns Sailed in through the foggy dew. Their bravest fell and the requiem bell Rang mournfully and clear For those who died that Eastertide In the springing of the year While the world did gaze with deep amaze At those fearless men but few Who bore the fight that freedom's light Might shine through the foggy dew As back through the glen I rode again And my heart with me fell sore For I parted then with valiant men Whom I never shall see 'more But to and fro in my dreams I go And I kneel and pray for you For slavery fled a glorious dead When you fell in the foggy dew
8.
The Fields Of Athenry By a lonely prison wall, I heard a young girl calling Michael they have taken you away, For you stole trevelyn's corn So the young might see the morn, Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay Low lie, The Fields Of Athenry Where once we watched the small free birds fly Our love was on the wing We had dreams and songs to sing, Its so lonely round the Fields of Athenry By a lonely prison wall I heard a young man calling 'Nothing matters Mary, when you're free' Against the famine and the crown, I rebelled, they brought me down Now you must raise our child with dignity Low lie, The Fields Of Athenry Where once we watched the small free birds fly Our love was on the wing We had dreams and songs to sing, Its so lonely round the Fields of Athenry By a lonely harbour wall She watched the last star falling As the prison ship sailed out against the sky Sure she'll live in hope and pray For her love in Botney Bay Its so lonely round the Fields Of Athenry Low lie, The Fields Of Athenry Where once we watched the small free birds fly Our love was on the wing We had dreams and songs to sing, Its so lonely round the Fields of Athenry
9.
The Black Velvet Band In a neat little town they called Belfast Apprentice to trade I was bound And many an hour's sweet happiness Have I spent in that neat little town As sad misfortune came over me Which caused me to stray from the land Far away from me friends and relations Betrayed by the black velvet band. Her eyes they shown like diamonds I thought her the queen of the land And her hair, it hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band I took a stroll down broadway Meaning not long for to stay When who should I meet but this pretty fair maid Come a-traipsing along the highway She was both fair and handsome Her neck, it was just like a swan And her hair, it hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band Her eyes they shown like diamonds I thought her the queen of the land And her hair, it hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band I took a stroll with this pretty fair maid And a gentleman passing us by Well, I knew she meant the doing of him By the look in her roguish black eye A gold watch she took from his pocket And placed it right into my hand And the very first thing that I said, was Bad luck to the black velvet band. Her eyes they shown like diamonds I thought her the queen of the land And her hair, it hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band Before the judge and the jury Next morning, I had to appear The judge, he says to me "Young man, you're case it is proven clear We'll give you seven years penal servitude To be spent far away from the land Far away from your friends and relations Betrayed by the black velvet band". Her eyes they shown like diamonds I thought her the queen of the land And her hair, it hung over her shoulder Tied up with a black velvet band
10.
J'ai passé devant ta porte J'ai passé devant ta porte, J'ai crié "bye-bye" à mon beau Y'a personne qui m'a répondu, Oh yé yaille, mon coeur fait mal Quand je m'ai mis à observer, Là j'ai vu des chandelles allumées Tout le tour de son cercueil, Oh yé yaille, mon coeur est malade
11.
The Fisherman's Farewell Parting words he said that night As he lay opun her breast, When my boat sails out of sight, Look out to the west. If the wind begins to blow, And waves begin to crest, Think of me and know Remember what I've said. Like the colours of a raimbow, Like footprint in the sand, Like a river in the moonlight I'll be there once again. If the ocean was desire, And wishes were the wind, I'd stay with you forever The storm to you would send. My heart upon the clouds, Nevermore to grieve, Like rising misty shrouds, My words upon the breeze. Like the colours... Into the storm he shouted And prayed out to the sea, The waves were all around, Oh please, do give her peace. By this time tomorrow She'll know that I am gone, Help her in her sorrow, Reward her with this song. Like the colours... A year has come and gone, She walks along the shore, The tide goes up and down, And she watches evermore. She gazes to the sea, Until the break of day, Falls into a dream, And seems to hear him say. Like the colours... Images like water, Often do remind, How long we do remember Those we've left behind. Some say the fisherman When all is still and quite, Still walks upon the sand, And sings into the night. Like the colours of a raimbow, Like footprint in the sand, Like a river in the moonlight I'll be there once again. Like the softness of a snowfall And the morning cloaked in white, Like a blossom in the springtime, I'll be there by your side.
12.
The wild mountain thyme O the summer time has come And the trees are sweetly bloomin' And the wild mountain thyme Grows around the bloomin' heather Will you go, lassie, go? Chorus And we'll all go together, To pull wild mountain thyme, All around the purple heather. Will you go, lassie, go? I will build my love a bower By yon cool crystal fountain And round it I will pile All the wild flowers o' the mountain Will you go, lassie, go? Chorus And we'll all go together, To pull wild mountain thyme, All around the purple heather. Will you go, lassie, go? I will range through the wilds And the deep glen sae dreamy And return wi' their spoils Tae the bower o' my dearie Will you go, lassie, go? Chorus And we'll all go together, To pull wild mountain thyme, All around the purple heather. Will you go, lassie, go? I will range through the wilds And the deep glen sae dreamy And return wi' their spoils Tae the bower o' my dearie Will you go, lassie, go? Chorus And we'll all go together, To pull wild mountain thyme, All around the purple heather. Will you go, lassie, go? If my true love she'll not come, Then I'll surely find another, To pull wild mountain thyme, All around the purple heather. Will you go, lassie, go? Chorus And we'll all go together, To pull wild mountain thyme, All around the purple heather. Will you go, lassie, go?
13.
On Raglan Road On Raglan Road on an Autumn Day, I saw her first and knew That her dark hair would weave a snare That I may one day rue. I saw the danger, yet I walked Along the enchanted way And I said let grief be a falling leaf At the dawning of the day. On Grafton Street in November, We tripped lightly along the ledge Of a deep ravine where can be seen The worst of passions pledged. The Queen of Hearts still baking tarts And I not making hay, Well I loved too much; by such and such Is happiness thrown away. I gave her the gifts of the mind. I gave her the secret sign That's known to all the artists who have Known true Gods of Sound and Time. With word and tint I did not stint. I gave her reams of poems to say With her own dark hair and her own name there Like the clouds over fields of May. On a quiet street where old ghosts meet, I see her walking now away from me, So hurriedly. My reason must allow, For I have wooed, not as I should A creature made of clay. When the angel woos the clay, he'll lose His wings at the dawn of the day.
14.
Whiskey in the jar As I was a goin' over the famed Kill 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 he were a bold deceiver Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da Wack fall the daddy-o, wack fall the daddy-o There's whiskey in the jar I counted out his money and it made a pretty penny I put it in me 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 Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da Wack fall the daddy-o, wack fall the daddy-o There's whiskey in the jar I went up to my chamber, all for to take a slumber I dreamt of gold and jewels and for sure 't was no wonder But Jenny drew me charges and she filled them up with water Then sent for captain Farrell to be ready for the slaughter Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da Wack fall the daddy-o, wack fall the daddy-o There's whiskey in the jar 'twas early in the morning, just before I rose to travel Up comes a band of footmen and likewise captain Farrell I first produced me pistol for she stole away me rapier I couldn't shoot the water, so a prisoner I was taken Mush-a ring dum-a do dum-a da Wack fall the daddy-o, wack fall the daddy-o There's whiskey in the jar

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released July 10, 2019

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Nelson Poblete France

Nelson Poblete, an author, composer, and performer, has cultural roots in Chilean, Catalan, and British backgrounds. He spent much of his career in Barcelona, winning awards at festivals. He lived in Manchester, playing Irish music in pubs, and performed across Europe. He now resides in Brittany, France. ... more

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