In the Month of January – Traditional
It was in the month of January, the hills were clad in snow
As over hills and valleys, my true love he did go
It was there he spied a pretty fair maid, with a salt tear in her eye
She had a baby in her arms, and bitter she did cry
"Oh, cruel was my father to bar the door on me
And cruel was my mother, this dreadful crime to see
Cruel was my own true love to change his mind for gold
Cruel was that winter's night that pierced my heart with cold"
Oh, the taller that the palm tree grows, the sweeter is the bark
And the fairer that a young man speaks, the falser is his heart
He will kiss you and embrace you, 'till he thinks he has you won
Then he'll go away and leave you all for some other one
So come all you pretty fair maids, a warning take by me
And never try to build your nest on top of any tree
For the roots, they will all wither, and the branches all decay
And the beauties of a false young man, must all soon fade away
Roseville Fair – Bill Staines
Oh, the night was clear, and the stars were shining
And the moon came up so quiet in the sky.
And the people gathered 'round and the band was a'tuning.
I can hear them now playing "Coming Thru the Rye."
And we danced all night to the fiddle and the banjo.
Their drifting tunes seemed to fill the air.
So long ago, but I still remember
When we fell in love at the Roseville Fair.
You were dressed in blue, and you looked so lovely,
Just a gentle flower of a small town girl.
You took my hand, and we stepped to the music.
And with a single smile, you became my world.
We courted well, and we courted dearly,
And we'd rock for hours in the front porch chair
Then a year went by from the time that I met you
And I made you mine at the Roseville Fair
So here's a song for all of the lovers,
And here's a tune that they can share
May they dance all night to the fiddle and the banjo
The way we did at the Roseville Fair.
I Wonder What’s Keeping My True Love Tonight – Traditional
I wonder what's keeping my true love tonight
I wonder what's keeping her out of my sight
It is little she knows of the pain that I endure
Or she would not stay from me this night, I am sure
Oh love, are you coming your cause to advance?
Oh love, are you waiting for a far better chance?
Or have you got a sweetheart laid by you in store?
And you're coming to tell me that you love me no more?
Oh love, I'm not coming my cause to advance
And love, I'm not waiting for a far better chance
But I have got a sweetheart laid by me in store
And I'm coming to tell you that I love you no more
For 'tis I can love lightly and 'tis I can love long
And 'tis I can love the old love 'til the new love comes along
I just said that I loved you for to set your mind at ease
But when I'm far from you, I'll love whom I please
Well, I've gold in my pocket and I've love in my heart
But I can't love a maiden who has got two sweethearts
Your love, it lies as lightly as the dew upon a thorn
Comes down in the evening, goes away in the morn
Green grass, it grows bonny, spring water runs clear
I am weary and lonesome for the love of my dear
You're my first and false true love and 'tis lately I knew
That the fonder I loved you, the falser you grew
Tennessee Waltz – Pee Wee King and Redd Stewart
I was dancin' with my darlin'
to the Tennessee Waltz
when an old friend I happened to see.
I introduced him to my darlin'
and while they were dancin'
my friend stole my sweetheart from me.
I remember the night
and the Tennessee Waltz
'cause I know just how much I have lost.
Yes, I lost my little darlin'
the night they were playing
that beautiful Tennessee Waltz
Now I wonder how a dance
Like the Tennessee Waltz
Could have broken my heart so complete
Well I couldn’t blame my darling and
Who could help falling in love with my darling so sweet
I remember the night
and the Tennessee Waltz
'cause I know just how much I have lost.
Yes, I lost my little darlin'
the night they were playing
that beautiful Tennessee Waltz
Red is the Rose – Traditional
Come over the hills, my bonnie Irish lass
Come over the hills to your darling
You choose the rose, love, and I'll make the vow
And I'll be your true love forever.
'Twas down by Killarney's green woods that we strayed
the moon and the stars they were shining
The moon shone its rays on her locks of golden hair
she swore she'd be my love forever.
Chorus:
Red is the rose that in yonder garden grows
Fair is the lily of the valley
Clear is the water that flows from the Boyne
But my love is fairer than any.
It's not for the parting that my sister pains
It's not for the grief of my mother
'Tis all for the loss of my bonny Irish lass
That my heart is breaking forever.
The Blackest Crow – Traditional
As time draws near my dearest dear when you and I must part
How little you know of the grief and woe in my poor and my poor aching heart
Tis’ but I suffer for your sake believe me dear it’s true
I wish that you were staying here or I was going with you
I wish my breast were made of glass wherein you might behold
Written your name upon my heart in letters made of gold
In letters made of gold my love, believe me when I say
You are the one that I’ll adore until my dying day
The blackest crow that ever flew would surely turn to white
If ever I prove false to you bright day will turn to night
Bright day will turn to night my love, the elements will mourn
If ever I prove false to you the seas will rage and burn
I’m So Lonesome I Could Cry – Hank Williams
Hear that lonesome whippoorwill,
He sounds too blue to fly.
The midnight train is moaning low,
I'm so lonesome I could cry.
Have you ever seen a robin grieve
When leaves begin to die
That means he's lost the will to live,
I'm so lonesome I could cry.
Have you ever seen a night so long
When time goes drifting by
The moon just went behind some clouds
To hide his face and cry
The silence of a falling star
Lights up a purple sky.
And as I wonder where you are
I'm so lonesome I could cry.
Tecumseh Valley – Townes Van Zandt
The name she gave was Caroline
Daughter of a miner
Her ways were free
It seemed to me
That sunshine walked beside her
She came from Spencer
Across the hill
She said her pa had sent her
’cause the coal was low
And soon the snow
Would turn the skies to winter
She said she’d come
To look for work
She was not seeking favors
And for a dime a day
And a place to stay
She’d turn those hands to labor
But the times were hard, lord,
The jobs were few
All through Tecumseh valley
But she asked around
And a job she found
Tending bar at gypsy sally’s
She saved enough to get back home
When spring replaced the winter
But her dreams were denied
Her pa had died
The word come down from Spencer
So she turned to whorin’ out on the streets
With all the lust inside her
And it was many a man
Returned again
To lay himself beside her
They found her down beneath the stairs
That led to gypsy sally’s
In her hand when she died
Was a note that cried
Fare thee well... Tecumseh valley
The name she gave was Caroline
Daughter of a miner
Her ways were free
It seemed to me
That sunshine walked beside her
Shades of Gloria – Gerry O’Beirne
I am going to the country, going down that verdant lane
With nothing but a whistle in my hand and a pocketful of rain
Can you hear that distant sound coming down the West Clare Railway?
And running with the shades of gloria
The wind is full of memories that murmur and sigh
Hills rise in the foaming grass of Clare beneath the cold moon's eye
But you should come and see them now when they are on fire
And running with the shades of gloria
The waves roll at the headland when the tide is rising there
But here there is starlight falling down on the hills of Clare
I knew them when I was hungry and I knew them when I was scared
And running with the shades of gloria
I am going to the country where Micho in his prime
Weaved a thread of melody in his own sweet time
You can hear him sing and whistle anytime you care
To go running with the shades of gloria.
I am going to the country going down that verdant lane
With nothing but a whistle in my hand and a pocketful of rain
The Parting Glass – Traditional
Oh all the money that e'er I had, I spent it in good company
And all the harm that e'er I've done, alas, it was to none but me
And all I've done for want of wit to memory now I can't recall
So fill to me the parting glass, good night and joy be with you all
Oh all the comrades that e'er I've had, they are sorry for my going away
And all the sweethearts that e'er I've had, they would wish me one more day to stay
But since it falls unto my lot that I should rise and you should not
I'll gently rise and I'll softly call good night and joy be with you all
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