Great Intentions
Words and music, Jimmy Fitzgerald
I’d great intentions for me and you.
And mighty plans to see us through
But angel sweet I never knew
That great intentions are like the morning dew.
Great intentions are like the morning dew.
The simplest deed is a flower growing
That blossoms and blooms from a tiny seed.
But great intentions, they’re an empty garden
Where the wind blows through those stones and weeds.
The wind blows through those stones and weeds.
Sure I’m only a fool with my great intentions
That cut and burn and bruise and bleed.
So take this man with his great intentions.
For a man like this you’ll have no need.
A man like this you’ll have no need.
I’d great intentions for me and you.
And mighty plans to see us through
But angel sweet I never knew
That great intentions are like the morning dew.
Great intentions are like the morning dew.
Tha- Chan ‘eil
(Argument Song)
C. Macdonald; Donnie `Large’ Macdonald
Seonag Dhonn ‘s a’ bhail’ ud thall, ‘na bean aig Calum Fhearchair
A’ trod gun sgur bho mhoch gu dubh, tha ‘n dithis tha siod a’
dearbhadh
Thubhairt Seonag Dhonn “Tha ‘n t-Sàbaid ann, ‘s ann theid sinn do ‘n
an t-searmon.
Cuir ort do dheis” – “Cha chuir mo chas; cha teid mi mach gu anmoch.”
Chorus:
Tha - chan ‘eil, bha - cha robh, ‘s ann – chan ann gun
taing dhut
‘S e – chan e, thig – cha tig, b’ e siod gu tric an cainntsan.
Moch Di-Luain bha Seonag truagh le fuachd ‘na ceann ‘s na cnàmhan
“Cha leig thu leas, chan ‘eil ort cnead, tha leisg ort mar a b’ àbhaist.”
Air oidhche Mhàrt bha ‘ gheallach làn, a’ deàlradh anns na h-àirdean
Ars’ is’ gun dàil – “Chan ‘eil i slàn, tha pàirt dhith anns na Stàitean.”
Bha Seonag Dhonn a’ togail fonn, ‘s a’ seinn air oidhche Chiàdain
Sheall I ‘ null, ‘s bha ‘n trod air bhonn, ‘nuair dh’ fhaighnich e robh
pìan oirr’.
Air di-ar-Daoin bha ‘n taigh fo sgaoil, chan aontaicheadh e rithe-se
Tha mis’ de ‘n bheachd, is tha mi ceart – tha each a’ cnàmh a chìre.
Seonag bhochd, le deudadh gort, a’ crònail fad di-h-Aoine
“Cuir pìos tombac ‘n ad chluais a steach, ‘s chan fhad’ g’ am faigh thu
faochadh.”
Rinn lite coirc’ air Calum cron, air maduinn latha’rna mhàireach
“Chan fhailicheadh ort an daga fort, ‘s chan fhairicheadh losgadhbraghad.”
SOUTH WIND
Traditional
South Wind of the gentle rain,
You banish winter weather.
Bring salmon to the pool again,
The bees among the heather.
If northward now you mean to blow,
As you rustle soft above me,
Godspeed be with you as you go,
With a kiss for those that love me.
From South I come with velvet breeze,
My word all nature blesses.
I melt the snow, and strew the leaves,
With flowers and sweet caresses.
I'll help you to dispel your woes,
With joy I'll take your greeting,
And bear it to your loved Mayo,
Upon my wings so fleeting.
My Connaught, famed for wine and play,
So leal, so gay, so loving,
Here's my fond kiss I send today,
Upon the wind in it’s roving.
These Munster folks are good and kind,
Right royally they treat me,
But this land I'd gladly leave behind,
With your Connaught pipes to greet me.
The King’s Shilling
Words and music, Ian Sinclair
Her love has left her wi’ bairnies twa
And that’s the last o’ him she ever saw
He joined the army and he marched awa’
He took the shilling, he took the shilling
And he marched awa’
Chorus:
Come Laddie Come, hear the cannon roar
Tak’ the king’s shilling, and we’re off tae war
He looked sae proud and sae gallant then
Wi’ his kilt an’ sporran, and’ musket gun
And the ladies kissed them, as they marched awa’
They sailed awa’ boys, they sailed awa’
By the Broomilaw
The pipes did play as they marched along
And the men they sang out, their battle song
March on! March on! cried the captain gay
For king and country, for king and country
You’ll fight today
The battle echoed tae the sound o’ guns
And the bayonets flashed in the morning sun
The drums they beat, and the cannons roared
And the shilling didn’t seem, no the shilling didn’t seem
Much worth no more
Some lost the battle, their bodies fell
Cut doon by bayonet or musket ball
And many o’ these brave young men
Will never fight for, would never fight
For their king again
Her love has left her wi’ bairnies twa
And that’s the last o’ him she ever saw
He joined the army and he marched awa’
He took the shilling, he took the shilling
And it wisnae braw
Mr. Connaughton
Words and music, Ralph McTell – IconicMusic
Mr. Connaughton my memory's long, though the years have flown
Though the years have gone.
Was your wife's name Marjorie or Mary?
Were you from Cork or Tipperary?
Mr. Connaughton when we lived underneath
Oh you said it was a lucky man had a gap between his teeth.
And for a while I had a gap too
But it closed when my big teeth came through.
Oh it closed when my big teeth came through.
Mr. Connaughton you seemed to laugh such a lot
And that would make us smile too, as often as not.
Did you have a friend who was a soldier?
Well I'm gonna join the army when I'm older.
Well I know you paid a fiver for that old motorbike
And they said it wouldn't run, but I thought that it might.
I was nearly asleep when it spluttered into life
And I clenched my fist and smiled a secret smile of delight.
Was your first name Kevin or Mike?
I remember when you built us a soap-box cart
With the wheels off a pram, and a plank out in the yard,
And you gave us a bit of string but we steered it with our feet.
Oh boy it was the best one on the street.
And you said "Jesus, that's the best one on the street".
I remember when your little girl was born.
You brought her downstairs to show us all,
And we were allowed to kiss her
And I wished she was my sister.
Mr. Connaughton, you moved away
With your wife and your baby, but we stayed
Till finally we got re-housed too
And I never will forget you.
Mr. Connaughton my memory's long, though the years have flown
Though the years have gone.
Was your wife's name Marjorie or Mary?
Were you from Cork or Tipperary?
Sands of Vatersay
Trad/P.M. Robertson
The moon over Castlebay shines candle-bright
Caolas and carraigean sleep in its light
Maoldonaich stands silent and steep in the night
As I watch and regret I am leaving.
Farewell sands of Vatersay
Fare you well dark rocks on the shore.
Seas run silver from Pabbay to Mingulay
Slowly Barra’s receding.
The Minch is calm and its wide acres lie
In slow heaving movements attuned to the sky.
My eyes search the darkness and vainly I try
To smother my thoughts and my feelings.
Gentle, gentle folk of the Hebrides
Part you must and ask not why.
Smile and turn your back on the the Hebrides
Smile though your hearts may be grieving.
Away from the pier and away through the gate
Emotions prevail o’er the calmness of late.
Seascapes are passing and Oban awaits
As I watch and regret I am leaving.
The Changing Face of Home
Words and music, James Keigher
It’s a strange old town,
with it’s wealthy and it’s poor.
And the church bell rings the Angelus
then we bless ourselves and bow.
The three streets are now in flower,
with their branches there’s much more.
The centre is a triangle
but it’s always been “the square”.
There’s a new road called the by-pass.
The surgery’s in full swing top gear.
New arteries for the cars and trucks
that double every year.
Oh I know it’s all for progress
and the young ones don’t have to roam.
But I can’t help the loss I feel
in the changing face of home.
I know I’m just a “blow-in”,
in Salford I was born.
But I was raised back in the days
when Thursday was the fair.
All the farmers lined the streets
with donkey, cart and yoke.
And Seamus Beirne and Patsy Dunne
would stand and have their smoke.
And poor old Johnny Bones,
you know we called him split the wind.
He’d sleep out in the back yard
or in my fathers car.
He’d land in town on Tuesday morning,
collect his weekly sum,
by Thursday night he’d be passed out
and all his money gone.
I know I’m just a “blow-in”,
I’ve heard it many times.
But I was raised back in the days
when the trains still ran the line.
And the central ballroom was the place
to try and be a man.
The Calter boys would always fight,
Big Aiden always ran.
I Know I’m just a “blow-in”,
Of that there’s little doubt.
But I’ll keep blowin’ back this way
like a wild bird headin’ north.
It’s in my line of vision,
in my heart and soul.
This family’s been good to me
so I’ll keep rolling home.
Oh it’s been much more than a town to me,
so I’ll keep rolling home.
The Soor Milk Cairt
Traditional
Oh I am a country Chappie and I'm serving at Polnoon
On a fairm near to Eaglesham, that fine auld-fashioned toon
Whaur, wi' the milk each mornin', a little after three
We tak' the road richt merrily, my auld black horse and me
Chorus:
Wi' her cheeks sae red and rosie, and e'en sae bonnie blue
Dancin' and glancin' she pierced me through and through
She fairly won ma fancy, and stole awa' ma hert
Drivin' into Glesga on a soor milk cairt
I raised her up beside me and we soon got on the crack
I slipped my airm aroond her waist as by my side she sat
I telt the auld, auld story as the woods around me rang
Wi' the singing o' the mavis and the blackbird's cheery sang
I've heard o' lads and lasses making love in shady bowers
And hoo they woo'd and won amang the roses and the flowers
But I ne'er forget the morning wee Cupid threw his dart
And made me pop the question in the soor milk cairt
Since the lassie has consented next term time cams roon
I mean tae buy a harness plaid and a bonnie silken goon
We're settling tae get marret just aboot next August fair
When a' oor auld acquaintances I hope to see them there
The lass had never had a hurl in a carriage a' her days
Sae when that I proposed tae hae a coach and pair o' greys
"Na, na" quo' she, "The siller's scarce, ye ken we canna spare 't
And I'd rather hae the jooglin' o' the soor milk cairt"
Black is the Colour
Traditional
Black is the colour of my true love's hair.
Her lips are like some roses fair.
She has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands
I love the ground whereon she stands.
I love my love and well she knows
I love the ground whereon she goes.
I wish the day it soon would come
When she and I could be as one.
I go to the Clyde and I mourn and weep
For satisfied I never can be
I write her a letter, just a few short lines,
And suffer death a thousand times.
Black is the colour of my true love's hair.
Her lips are like some roses fair.
She has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands
And I love the ground whereon she stands.
Airigh Shamhraidh Mo Ghaoil
(My Beloved Summer Sheiling)
K.A. Macleod/Donnie `Large’ Macdonald
Airigh shamhraidh mo ghaoil, àite comhnaidh mo ghràidh
Bothan na mointich air innis na slàint’
Cha b’e clach agus aol cha b’e saothair luchd-ceard
Ach scrathan a’ chruathlaich ‘s seòl ruadh a bh’ air bàt’
Leabaidh fraoich agus luachrach ann an uachdar an làr
Leac an teine air an ùrlar le craos a bhitheadh blàth
Cagailt gach taobh dhith, slabhraidh slaoght ri spàrr
‘S fàile cùbhraidh na monadh ri d`sgail na càil
Lit’ is bainne air a’ bhòrd, ìm is gruth agus càis’
Sgadan sàillt agus reòstas ar leòr de bhuntàt’
Chuac ‘g a dòrtadh gu òl ar deoch phàisd
Aran coirc’ agus eòrna le eòrlach de bhàrr
Tha ‘ ghearraigh ‘n diugh lom, tha ‘n tòm an diugh fàs
Chan ‘eil lorg air an t-sluagh a bha uair ann ri tàmh
Na cagailte fuara fo chluaran ‘s fo bhlàth
‘S n tobhtaichean uaine ‘ toirt luaigh air a’ bhàs
Nam faighinn laithean saora agus roghainn air àit’
Gu àirigh shamhraidh Loch Griogaig bheirinn sgrìob ann gun dàil
Ghabhainn fois bho mo shaothair ghabhainn saorsa gu tàmh
Nach ceannaichinn le òr an taigh-òsd’ anns an Spàin
Angel Town (The Galway Shawl)
Words and music, James Keigher/Trad.
It’s twenty years or more ago
I can’t recall just when.
“The stack of Barley” and “Galway Shawl”
We did them all back then.
What I remember most of all
You taught to me a truth,
That we could bring it all back home
If only in a tune.
Are you still out footin’ sods of turf?
Or bringing in the hay?
Or hanging out with Caoimhin and Cooley
The San Francisco way?
Many’s the night in this Angel Town
You’d look at me and say,
“They’ll just be getting’ up at home
And startin’ out the day”.
And so I leave this town behind
Like many times before.
Just like yourself I’m the rovin’ kind
From Mayo to Oregon.
The tongs were tossed some time ago
In the misty morning dew.
So I’ll see you in the star’s old friend
I’ll keep an eye on you.