“Bold O'Donahue”

Description

"Well, here I am from Paddy's land... I've broke the hearts of all the girls for miles round Keady town." The singer boasts of his ability to court, wishes his love were a rose so he could rain on her, and speaks of courting Queen Victoria's daughter

Notes

The Sam Henry text (reportedly sung to the tune "Irish") is only a fragment, a dialect version of

I wish my love was a red rose

Beside yon garden wall,

And I myself a drop of dew

Upon that rose to fall.

This (half)-stanza almost certainly floats, but the only song I've met it in is "Bold O'Donahue," so here it files. - RBW

References

  1. SHenry H10i, p. 3, "(Old Choir Rhymes -- Additional Verses, text #1)" (1 text)
  2. DT, BOLDODON
  3. BI, HHH010i

About

Author: unknown
Earliest date: 1975 (fragment in the Sam Henry collection from 1924)
Keywords: courting flowers
Found in: Ireland