“Oh! Steer My Bark to Erin's Isle”
Description
"Oh, I have roamed o'er many lands ... In Erin's isle I'd pass my time." If the singer's home were England or Scotland, he'd love that home; "pleasant days in both I've past," But he'll "steer my bark to Erin's isle, For Erin is my home."
Notes
Bodleian makes the author N.T.H Bayly; O'Conor has F.H. Bayly. - BS
The latter, of course, is an easy misreading of "T. H. Bayly." Spaeth's _A History of Popular Music in America_ also credits the lyrics to Bayly (p. 85), adding that the tune is German, arranged by Ignaz Moscheles.
Curiously, the uncredited book _The Library of Irish Music_ (published by Amsco) credits the *music* to T. H. Bayly with words by "S. Nelson"!
Incidentally, there seem to be conflicting dates for Bayly; Spaeth says he lived 1797-1829. - RBW
Broadsides
- Bodleian, Firth b.25(537), "Oh, Steer my Barque to Erin's Isle", J. Moore (Belfast), 1852-1868; also 2806 c.15(318), 2806 c.15(257), "Oh, Steer my Bark to Erin's isle"
References
- O'Conor, p. 155, "Oh! Steer My Bark to Erin's Isle" (1 text)
- BI, OCon155