Lyrics for Celtic Crossover:

Four Green Fields

"What did I have?" said the fine Old Woman,
"What did I have?" this fine Old Woman did say.
"I had four green fields and each one was a jewel
But strangers came and tried to take them from me.
I had fine young sons and they fought to save my jewels,
They fought and died, and that was my grief,"  said she.

"Long time ago," said the find Old Woman,
"Long time ago," this find Old Woman did say,
"There was war and death, plundering and pillage,
My children starved in mountain, valley, and sea,
And their wailing cries they shook the very heavens,
My four green fields ran red with their blood," said she.

"What have I now?" said the fine Old Woman
"What have I now?" this fine Old Woman did say.
"I have four green fields and one of them’s in bondage
In strangers’ hands who tried to take them from me.
But my sons have sons as brave as were their fathers.
"My fourth green field will bloom once again,"  said she.

"My fourth green field will bloom once again,"  said she.

Donald MacGilavry

Donald's gane up the hill hard and hungry,
Donald comes down the hill wil' and angry;
Donald will clear the gouk's nest cleverly,
Here's to the king and Donald MacGilavry.
          Come like a weighbauk, Donald MacGilavry,
          Come like a weighbauk, Donald MacGilavry,
          Balance them fair, and balance them cleverly:
          Off wi' the counterfeit, Donald MacGilavry.

Donald's run o'er the hill but his tether man,
As he were wud, or stang'd wi' an ether, man;
When he comes back, there's some will look merrily:
Here's to King James and Donald MacGilavry.
          Come like a weaver, Donald MacGilavry,
          Come like a weaver, Donald MacGilavry,
          Pack on your back, and elwand sae cleverly;
          Gie them full measure, my Donald MacGilavry.

Donald has foughten wi' rief and roguery;
Donald has dinner'd wi' banes and beggary,
Better it were for Whigs and Whiggery
Meeting the devil than Donald MacGilavry.
          Come like a tailor, Donald MacGilavry,
          Come like a tailor, Donald MacGilavry,
          Push about, in and out, thimble them cleverly,
          Here's to King James and Donald MacGilavry.

Donald's the callan that brooks nae tangleness;
Whigging and prigging and a' newfangleness,
They maun be gane:  he winna be baukit, man;
He maun hae justice, or faith he'll tak it, man.
          Come like a cobler, Donald MacGilavry,
          Come like a cobler, Donald MacGilavry,
          Beat them, and bore them, and lingel them cleverly,
          Up wi' King James and Donald MacGilavry.

Donald was mumpit wi' mirds and mockery;
Donald was blinded wi' blads o' property;
Arles ran high, but makings were naething, man,
Lord, how Donald is flyting and fretting, man.
          Come like the devil, Donald MacGilavry,
          Come like the devil, Donald MacGilavry,
          Skelp them and scaud them that proved sae unbritherly,
          Up wi' King James and Donald MacGilavry!

Patrick Street

You sailor lads, come lend an ear, and listen to me song
it's of a trick 'twas played on me, and won't detain you long:
I came home from sea the other day and a girl I chanced to meet
and she's asked me up along with her to dance in Patrick Street.

Well says I "me pretty fair maid, I cannot dance too well,
besides I'm bound for Newry town where my parents they do dwell.
I've been at sea these last few years and I've saved up fifty pounds,
and me parents are expecting me, tonight in Newry town."

"Well since you cannot dance too well then you shall have a treat:
You can have a glass of brandy, and something nice to eat.
At nine o'clock this evening I'll lead you to your train,
but don't forget to call on me when you come back again."

Well she seemed to be so friendly, I went and hired a car.
We both went down to Patrick Street and on arrival there,
some people on the other side, I thought I heard them say
"He'll sure be in need of a jaunting car, before he gets away."

We had not been long in the room when whiskey it came in,
and when everyone had had their fill, the dancing did begin.
Me and me love we danced around all to a merry tune,
while the other couples did the double-shuffle 'round the room.

And when dancin' it was over, for bed we did prepare -
and after that, I fell asleep - the Truth I do declare,
me darling and me fifty pounds - me gold'n'all had fled!
And there was I meself alone stark naked lying in bed!

In gazing all around me nothing could I spy
but a woman's skirt and jumper at the foot of the bed did lie.
I wrung me hands and tore me hair cryin' "Oh what will I do?
Oh fare the well sweet Newry town, I'm sure I'll ne'er see you!"

When night-time it had come again and daylight was away
I put on the skirt and jumper and I set off for the quay,
and when I got on board the ship the sailors all did say
"Oh Jack has grown much prettier since last she went away!

And is this the new spring fashion that you went to buy on shore?
And where's the shop that sells them, d'you think they may have more?"
The captain says "Now Jack, I thought you were for Newry town;
you might have bought a better suit than that for fifty pounds!"

"Well I might have bought a better suit if I had had the chance.
I met a girl in High Street and she's asked me to a dance.
I danced me own destruction and I've done it so complete,
that I swear I'll never go back again to dance in Patrick Street."

Come all of you young sailor lads, a warning take by me,
and always keep good company when you go on a spree.
Be sure'n stay clear of Patrick Street or else you'll rue the day
In a woman's skirt and jumper they will ship you back to sea!

Rattlin' Roarin' Willie

O rattlin’, roarin’ Willie, O he held to the fair,
An’ for to sell his fiddle and buy some ither ware;
But parting wi’ his fiddle the saut tear blin’t his e’e;
and rattlin’ roarin’ Willie, ye’re welcome hame to me.

O Willie, come sell your fiddle, come, sell your fiddle sae fine!
O Willie, come sell your fiddle, And buy us a pint o’ wine!
If I should sell my fiddle, the warld would think I was mad;
For monie a rantin day me fiddle and I hae had.

As I cam by Crochallan, I cannilie keekit ben;
Rattlin’, roarin’ Willie was sitting at yon boord-en’,
Sittin at yon boord-en’, amang gude company;
Rattlin’, roarin’ Willie, ye’re welcome hame to me!

The Ash Grove

The ash grove how graceful, how plainly is speaking
The wind through is playing has language for me.
Whenever the light through its branches is breaking,
A host of kind faces is gazing at me.
The friends from my childhood again are before me
Each step brings a memory and freely I roam.
With soft whispers laden the leaves rustle o’er me
The ash grove, the ash grove that once was my home.

Down yonder green meadow where streamlets meander
When twilight is fading I pensively roam
Or in the bright noon tide in solitude wander
Amid the dark spaces of that lonely ash grove.
‘Twas there while the black bird was cheerfully singing
I first met my dear one the joy of my heart
Around us for gladness the blue bells were springing
The ash grove, the ash grove that sheltered my home

The laughter is over, my step loses lightness.
Those country side measures fall soft on my ears
I only remember the past and its brightness
The dear ones I long for again gather here.
When out of the shadows their loving looks greet me,
And wistfully searching the leafy green dome,
Find other fond faces soft bending to great me
The ash grove, the ash grove, again is my home.

The Blacksmith

A Blacksmith courted me for nine months or better
He fairly won my heart, wrote me a letter
With his hammer in his hand, he looked so clever
And if I were with my love I would live forever.

Oh, what did you promise me when you laid beside me?
You said you’d marry me and not deny me.
If I said I’d marry you, ‘twas only to try you
So bring your witness in and I’ll not deny you.

Well a witness have I none save God almighty
And may s/he reward you well for the slighting of me!
Her lips grew pale and wan, it made her poor heart tremble
To think  she had loved one who had proved deceitful.

Oh, where has my love gone with his cheeks like roses?
He has gone across the sea gathering primroses
I’m afraid the shining sun might burn and scorch his beauty
And if I were with my love I would do my duty

Strange news has come to town, strange news is carried
Strange news flies up and down, that my love is married
Oh, I wish them both much joy but they don’t hear me
I will never die for love young men believe me.

The Burning of Auchindoun

As I came in by Fiddich-side,
On a May morning,
I spied Willie MacKintosh,
An hour before the dawning.
          "Turn again, turn again,
          Turn again I bid ye;
          If ye burn Auchindoon,
          Huntley he will heid ye."

          "Heid me or hang me,
          That will never fear me;
          I will burn Auchindoon
          Ere' the life leaves me."

As I came in by Fiddich-side,
On a May morning,
Auchindoon was in a blaze,
an hour before the dawning.
          "Crawing, crawing,
          For all your crowse a crawing,
          You've  burnt your crops and tint your wings
          An hour before the dawning."

Rocky Road to Dublin

In the merry month of June, from me home I started
I left the girls of Tuam, nearly broken-hearted,
Saluted father dear, kissed me darling mother,
I drank a pint a beer, my grief and tears to smother.
Then off to reap the corn, and leave where I was born,
I cut a stout black thorn to banish ghosts and goblins.
A brand new pair of brogues, rattlin' in the bogs,
Frightening all the dogs on the Rocky Road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five, hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road
All the way to Dublin, whack fol all de ra

In Mullingar that night, I rested limbs so weary,
I started by daylight, next morning bright and early;
Took a drop o' pure to keep me heart from sinking,
That's the paddy's cure when er'e he's on for drinking.
See the lassies smile, laughing all the while,
At your curious style, 'twould set your heart a bubbling,
Asked me was I hired, the wages I required,
'Till I was almost tired of the Rocky Road to Dublin
One, two, three, four, five, hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road,
All the way to Dublin, whack fol all de ra.

In Dublin next arrived, I thought it such a pity,
To be so soon deprived of a view of that fine city,
So then I took a stroll, all among the quality,
Me bundle it was stole, all in a neat locality.
Something crossed my mind, when I looked behind,
No bundle could I find upon me stick a wobblin'
Inquiring for rogue, they said my connaught brogue,
wasn't much in vogue, on the Rocky Road to Dublin.
One, two, three, four, five, hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road,
All the way to Dublin, whack fol all de ra.

From there I got away, my spirits never failing,
I landed on the quay, just as the ship was sailing,
The captain at me roared, said that no room had he,
When I jumped aboard, a cabin found for paddy,
  Down among the pigs, I played some hearty rigs,
  Danced some funny jigs, the water round me bubbling.
  Off from Holyhead, I wished meself were dead,
  Or better off, instead on the Rocky Road to Dublin,
  One, two, three, four, five, hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road,
  All the way to Dublin, whack fol all de ra.

The boys of Liverpool, saw me safely landed,
Called meself a fool, I could not longer stand it,
Blood began to boil, temper I was losing,
Poor old Erin's Isle, they began abusing,
  Hurrah my soul says I, my shillelagh I let fly,
  Some Galway boys were nigh and saw I was a hobblin'
  And with a loud hurray, joined in the 'fray
  We quickly cleared the way for the Rocky Road to Dublin.
  One, two, three, four, five, hunt the hare and turn her down the rocky road,
  All the way to Dublin, whack fol all de ra!

Fiddler's Green

As I roved by the dockside one evening so rare,
to view the still water and take the salt air,
I heard an old fisherman singing this song:
"Oh take me away boys, me time is not long.

[Chorus:]
Wrap me up in me oilskins and jumper.
No more on the docks I'll be seen.
Just tell me ol' shipmates I'm takin' a trip mates
and I'll see them someday in Fiddler's Green."

Now Fiddler's Green is a place I hear tell
where fishermen go when they don't go to hell.
The weather is fair and the dolphins do play,
and the cold coast of Greenland is far, far away.

[chorus]

The sky's always clear and there's never a gail,
and the fish jump on board with a flip o' their tail.
You can lie at your leisure, there's no work to do
And the skipper's below making tea - for the crew.

[chorus]

And when you're in dock and your long trip is thru,
there's pubs, and there's clubs and there's lassies there too.
The girls are all pretty and the beer is all free,
and there's bottles of rum hangin' from every tree

[chorus]

I don't want a harp, nor a halo, not me -
just give me a breeze and the smooth rolling sea.
I'll play me ol' squeezebox, as we sail along,
with a wind in the riggin' to sing me this song:

[chorus]

The Old Dun Cow

Some friends and I in a public house were playing Dominos one night
When into the room a fireman come, his face all chalky white.
"What’s up?" says Brown, "Have you seen a ghost?  Have you seen your Aunt Mariah?"
"Oh, me Aunt Mariah be buggered!" says he, "The bleeding pub's on fire!"
"On fire?," says Brown, "What a bit of luck.  Everybody follow me
and its down to the cellar if the fire’s not there then we’ll have a rare old spree!"
So we all went down with Good Ol’ Brown and the booze we could not miss
and we hadn’t been there 10 minutes or more when we were all bloody pissed.

And there was Brown, upside down, sucking up the whisky from the floor!
"Booze!  Booze!" the firemen cried as they came banging on the door.
"Don’t let ‘em in ‘til its all mopped up!"
Somebody shouted "MacIntire!"
And we all got stone blind paralytic drunk the day the Old Dun Cow caught fire.

Well, Smith walked over to the port wine tub and gave it just a few hard knocks.
Started stripping off his pantaloons likewise his stinking socks.
"Oh, no," says Brown, "that ain’t allowed.  You dunna be doing that here.
Don’t be washing your trotters in the port wine tub.  We’ve got plenty of American beer.

And there was Brown, upside down, sucking up the whisky from the floor!
"Booze!  Booze!" the firemen cried as they came banging on the door.
"Don’t let ‘em in ‘til its all mopped up!"
Somebody shouted "MacIntire!"
And we all got stone blind paralytic drunk the day the Old Dun Cow caught fire

Then there came this terrible crash!  Half the bloody room gave way.
We were all drenched in the firemen’s hose but we were feeling gay.
So we got some tacks and some old wet sacks and we sealed ourselves inside
and we sat there getting all bleary eyed drunk when the Old Dun Cow caught fire.

And there was Brown, upside down, sucking up the whisky from the floor!
"Booze!  Booze!" the firemen cried as they came banging on the door.
"Don’t let ‘em in ‘til its all mopped up!"
Somebody shouted "MacIntire!"
And we all got stone blind paralytic drunk the day the Old Dun Cow caught fire.