I fell in love with this song back in the mid-90′s when I traveled from Champaign, IL to the Irish American Heritage Center in Chicago to see The Makem Brothers perform. I was in the “market” for a new ballad and this one hit the spot. The only problem was that everyone else started playing it as well. I tucked it away and went back to it now and again. It’s a great song and fun and easy to play on frailing / clawhammer banjo.

Rose Of Allendale MP3

Rose Of Allendale (PDF)

The Rose of Allendale

The[G] morning was fair,the[C] sky’s were[G] clear
No breath came o;re the[D] sea
When[G] Mary left her[C] highland[G] home
And[C] wandered[D] forth with[G] me
Though[D] flowers decked the[G] mountain side
And[C] fragrance[G] filled the[D] vale
By[G] far the sweetest[C] flower[G] there
Was the[C] rose of[D] Allen[G]dale

[Chorus]
Was[G] the rose of Allen[C]dale,was the[Am] rose of Allen[D]dale
By[C] far the sweetest[G] flower there,was the[C] rose of [D7]Allen[G]dale

Where’er I wandered east or west,
Tho’faith began to lour
A solace still she was to me
In sorrow’s lonely hour
When tempest lashed our lonely barque
And rent her shivring sail
One maiden form withstood the storm
‘Twas the rose of Allendale

And when my fever’d lips were parched
On Afrie’s burning sands
She whispered hopes of happiness
And tales of distant lands
My life has been a wilderness
Unbiest by fortune’s gale
Had faith not linked my lot to hers
The rose of Allendale

The request came in to do one from Irish Pub Songs For The 5-String Banjo Vol 1, so here it is. This time around the Irish Pub Song Of The Day is A Nation Once Again.

This is a great one to play on frailing / clawhammer banjo. Play along and have fun!

A Nation Once Again MP3

A Nation Once Again (PDF)

A NATION ONCE AGAIN

When [G]boyhood’s fire was in my blood

I [C]read of [D7]ancient [G]freemen,

Of Greece and Rome who [Em]bravely stood,

Three [A]hundred men and [D7]three men;

And then I prayed I yet might see

Our [Em]fetters rent in [Bm]twain,

And [C]Ireland long a [Am]province [D7]be

[G]A Nation [D7]once [G]again.

A nation once [C]again,

A [Am]nation once [D7]again,

And [G]Ireland, long a [C]province [D7]be

A [G]Nation [D7]once [G]again.

And from that time, through wildest woe, That hope has shown a far light,
Nor could love’s brightest summer glow Outshine that solemn starlight;
It seemed to watch above my head In forum, field and fame,
Its angel voice sang round my bed, A Nation once again.

It whisper’d too, that freedom’s ark, And service high and holy,
Would be profaned by feeling dark And passions vain or lowly;
For, Freedom comes from God’s right hand, And needs a godly train;
And righteous men must make our land A nation once again.

So as I grew from boy to man I bent me to my bidding
The spirit of each selfish plan And cruel passions ridding
For thus I hoped some day to aid Oh, can such hope be vain?
When my dear country shall be made A nation once again.

I’m back after getting my butt kicked by DDP! Donegal Danny was a request and I had fun doing it, even though my family thought that it would be funny to try to throw me off by showing me pictures of Karen Gillan while I was recording.

Have fun with it and remember that all of the melody notes are in the first four frets.

Donegal Danny MP3

Donegal Danny (PDF)

Donegal Danny

I [G]remember the night when [C]he came [G]in from the [C]wintry cold and [G]damp

A giant of a man in an [Em]oilskin coat and a [Am]bundle which showed he was a [D7]tramp

He [G]stood at the bar and [C]called for a [G]pint and [C]turned to gaze into the [G]fire

On a night like this to be [Em]safe and warm Is my [Am]one and only [D7]desire

Chorus:

So [G]here’s to those that are [C]dead and [G]gone The friends that I left [D7]here

And [G]here’s to you then I’ll [C]bid you [G]adieu

Since Donegal [D7]Danny’s been [G]here me [Em]boys, [G]Donegal [D7]Danny’s been [G]here

Then in a voice that was hushed and low he said: listen I’ll tell you a tale
How a man of the sea became a man of the road and never more will set sail
I’ve fished out of Howth and Killybegs, Ardglass and Baltimore
But the cruel sea has beaten me and I’ll end me days on the shore

One fateful night in the wind and the rain we set sail from Killybeys town,
There were five of us from sweet Donegal and one from County Down,
We were fishermen who worked the sea and never counted the cost
But I never thought’ere that night was done that my fine friends would all be lost

Then the storm it broke and drove the boat to the rocks about ten miles from shore,
As we fought the tide we hoped inside to see our homes once more
Than we struck a rock and holed the bow and all of us knew that she’d go down
So we jumped right into the icy sea and prayed to God we wouldn’t drown

But the raging sea was rising still as we struck out for the land
And she fought with all her cruelty to claim that brilliant band
By St John’s point in the early dawn I dragged myself to the shore
And I cursed the sea for what she’d done and vowed to sail her never more

Ever since that night I’ve been on the road travelling and trying to forget
That awful night I lost all my friends, I see their faces yet
And oft times at night when the sea is high and the rain is tearing at me skin
I hear the cries of drowning men floating on the wind

Brennan On The Moor is the Irish Pub Song Of The Day this time around. This is a fun song, especially if you have three or four people to help you out in singing the refrain!

Have fun with it and remember to sing the song, play the song, love the song, do the song and then repeat, repeat, repeat!

Brennan On The Moor MP3

Brennan On The Moor (PDF)

BRENNAN ON THE MOOR

‘Tis [G]of a brave young highwayman, this story I will tell

His name was Willie Brennan and in [C]Ireland he did [G]dwell

It was on the Kilwood Mountain that he [C]commenced his wild [G]career

And [C]many a wealthy nobleman [G]before him shook with [D7]fear.

It was [G]Brennan on the moor, [Bm]Brennan on the moor.

Bold,[C] brave and [G]undaunted, was young [D7]Brennan on the [G]moor.

One day upon the highway as young Willie he went down,
He met the mayor of Cashiell, a mile outside of town.
The mayor he knew his features, and he said, “Young man”, said he
Your name is Willie Brennan, you must come along with me.

Now Brennan’s wife had gone to town, provisions for to buy;
And when she saw her Willie, she commenced to weep and cry.
He said, “Hand to me that tenpenny”, as soon as Willie spoke,
She handed him a blunderbuss from underneath her cloak.

Now with this loaded blunderbuss, the truth I will unfold
He made the mayor to tremble, and he robbed him of his gold.
One hundred pounds was offered for his apprehension there
So he, with horse and saddle to the mountains did repair.

Now Brennan being an outlaw, upon the mountains high.
With cavalry and infantry to take him they did try.
He laughed at them with scorn until at last ’twas said:
By a false-hearted woman, he was cruelly betrayed.

They took Brennan to the crossroads and there he hung and died
And still they say that in the night that some can see him ride
They see him with his blunderbuss all in the midnight still
And all along the King’s Highway rides Willie Brennan still

The Irish Pub Song Of The Day this time around is McAlpine’s Fusiliers. It’s a great song and you can have a lot of fun with it.

Don’t be too put off by playing in the key of D. Once you get 2 or 3 under your belt, you be having fun!

McAlpine’s Fusiliers MP3

McAlpine’s Fusiliers (PDF)

MCALPINE’S FUSILIERS

As [D]down the Glen came [G]McAlpine’s men with their [D]shovels [A]slung [D]behind them.

It was in the pub that they [G]drank [A]their [G]sub or down in the [D]spike you’ll [G]find them.

We sweated blood and we [G]washed [A]down [G]mud with quarts and [D]pints of [G]beer.

But [D]now we’re on the [G]road again with [D]McAlpines [A]Fusili[D]ers.

I stripped to the skin with Darky Finn down upon the Isle of Grain,
With Horseface Toole I learned the rule, no money if you stop for rain.
For McAlpine’s god is a well filled hod with your shoulders cut to bits and seared
And woe to he who looks for tea with McAlpines Fusiliers.

I remember the day that the Bear O’Shea fell into a concrete stair,
What Horseface said, when he saw him dead, well it wasn’t what the rich call prayers.
“I’m a navvy short,” was his one retort that reached unto my ears,
When the going is rough, well you must be tough, with McAlpine’s Fusiliers.

I’ve worked till the sweat near had me beat with Russian, Czech and Pole,
At shuttering jams up in the Hydro Dams, or underneath the Thames in a hole,
I grafted hard and I got me cards and many a ganger’s fist across me ears.
If you pride your life, don’t join, by Christ, with McAlpine’s Fusiliers

I’m back after the longest break from making these videos that I have ever taken. I have never been so busy in my entire life. It was fun having some projects to work on, but I’m glad that everything has slowed down enough for me to get back to my first love.

The song is a request and as always, I am happy to oblige.

Have fun with Black Velvet Band and remember that the frailing banjo strum is “strike, bush-thumb, brush-thumb.”

Black Velvet Band MP3

Black Velvet Band (PDF)

BLACK VELVET BAND

In a [G]neat little [C]town they call [G]Belfast, apprenticed to [C]trade I was [D7]bound,

And [G]many an hour’s sweet [Em]happiness, have I [C]spent in that [D7]neat little [G]town.

A sad [C]misfortune came [G]over me, which caused me to [C]stray from the [D7]land,

Far [G]away from me friends and [Em]relations, [C]betrayed by the [D7]black velvet [G]band.

Her eyes they [C]shone like [G]diamonds, you’d think she was [C]queen of the [D7]land,

And her [G]hair hung over her [Em]shoulders, tied [C]up with a [D7]black velvet [G]band.

As I went strolling down Broadway not meaning to go very far
When I met with a fickle some damsel she was selling her trades at the bar
When a watch she took from her pocket and placed it right into my hand
And the law came in put me in prison, bad luck to her black velvet band.

Chorus

Next morning before judge and the jury, for trial I had to appear
The judge he says “Young fellow the case against you is quite clear.
And seven long years is your sentence, you’re going to Van Damien’s land
Far away from your friends and relations, Betrayed by the black velvet band.”

Chorus

So come all you jolly young fellows, a warning take by me,
When you are out on the liquor, me lads, beware of the pretty colleens.
They’ll feed you with strong drink, me lads,’till you are unable to stand,
And the very first thing that you know me lads, you’ve landed in Van Diemen’s Land.

My wife was kind enough to get me a third camera I wanted, so I thought I would try it out with an easy song to start off with. I’ll Tell Me Ma is great song to try on frailing banjo. I really feel that the song was perfectly made for playing frailing / clawhammer banjo. Try it out and have fun with it!

I’ll Tell Me Ma

I’ll Tell Me Ma(PDF)

I’LL TELL ME MA

I’ll [G]tell me ma when I go home,

The [D7]boys won’t leave the [G]girls alone,

They pulled me hair and stole me comb,

But [D7]that’s alright ’till [G]I go home,

She is handsome [C]she is pretty,

[G]She is the belle of [D7]Belfast city,

[G]She is a courtin’ [C]one two three,

[G]Please won’t you [D7]tell me who is [G]she.

Albert Mooney says he loves her,
All the boys are fightin’ for her,
They knock at the door and they ring at the bell,
Saying Hello me true love, are you well?
Out she comes, white as snow,
Rings on her fingers, bells on her toes,
Ould Johnny Morrissey says she’ll die,
If she doesn’t get the fella with the rovin’ eye.

(Chorus)

Let the wind and the rain and the hail blow high,
And the snow come travellin’ through the sky,
She’s as sweet as apple pie,
She’ll get her own lad by and by.
When she gets a lad of her own,
She won’t tell her ma when she gets home.
Let them all come as they will,
For it’s Albert Mooney she loves still.

I did this song two years ago and got asked to do it again so you could see what both hands are doing. I love the song so I have no problem doing it again. I usually perform this song in D out of G tuning, but I didn’t want to throw anyone off this week. Next week…we’ll see!

Enjoy this because Whatever You Say, Say Nothing is the Irish Pub Song Of The Day and it’s a great frailing banjo lesson for those of us under any kind of “Authoritarian.”

Whatever You Say, Say Nothing mp3

Whatever You Say, Say Nothing (PDF)

WHATEVER YOU SAY, SAY NOTHING

[G]Whatever you say, say nothing when you [D7]talk about you know [G]what
For if you know who should hear ya, [A]you know what you’ll [D]get
They’ll [C]take you off to [G]you know where for ya wouldn’t know how [Em]long
So for [G]you know who’s sake don’t let anyone [D7]hear you singing this [G]song

You all know who I’m speakin’ of when I mention you know what
And I feel it’s very dangerous to even mention that
For the other ones are always near, although you may not see
And if anyone asks who told ya that, please don’t mention me (chorus)

You all know who I’m speakin’ of when I mention you know who
For if you know who should hear ya, you know what he’d do
So if you don’t see me again, you’ll know why I’m away
Any if anyone asks you where I’ve gone, here’s what you must say (chorus)

Well that’s enough about so and so, not to mention such and such
Well I’d better end my song, now I’ve already said too much
For the less you say and the less you hear, the less you’ll go astray
And the less you think and the less you do, the more you’ll hear them say.

(chorus) X 2

The Irish Pub Song Of The Day this time around is Winds of Morning. It’s a great song by Tommy Makem. It’s a great song for a frailing banjo lesson. Every melody note is right out of the chords.

Have fun with it and enjoy!

Winds of Morning

Winds of Morning(PDF)

WINDS OF MORNING

I’ve walked the [G]hills when rain was [C]falling rested [D7]by a wide oak [G]tree

Heard a lark sing high at [C]evening caught a [D7]moonbeam on the [G]sea

Chorus:

Softly blow ye winds of [C]morning. Sing ye [D7]winds your mournful [G]sound

Blow ye from the earth’s four [C]corners. Guide this [D7]traveler where he’s [G]bound

I’ve helped a ploughman tend his horses
Heard a rippling river sing
Talked to stars when night was falling
Seen a primrose welcome spring

Chorus

By foreign shores, my feet have wandered
Heard a stranger call me friend
Every time my mind was troubled
Found a smile around the bend

Chorus

There’s a ship stands in the harbor
All prepared to cross the foam
Far off hills were fair and friendly

This is one of the songs that I miss seeing the late, great Tommy Makem perform. With a smile and a tinwhistle intro he would have the entire audience singing and clapping along.

A Place In The Choir is the Irish Pub Song Of The Day. The song makes for a great frailing banjo lesson. It’s a simple three chord song and it doesn’t take too much to pull off the melody.

Have fun with it and play along!

A Place In The Choir

A Place In The Choir(PDF)

Place in the Choir

[G]All God’s creatures got a place in the choir,

[D]Some sing low, [G]some sing higher,

Some [C]sing out loud on the [G]telephone wire,

[D]Some just clap their [G]hands, or paws, or anything they got.

Listen to the bass, it’s the one on the bottom,
Where the bullfrog croaks and the hippopotomus
Moans and groans with a big to-do,
And the old cow just goes “moo”.

The dogs and the cats, they take up the middle,
Where the hummingbirds hum and the cricket fiddles,
The donkey brays and the pony neighs,
The old coyote howls.

{c:Chorus.}

Listen to the top where the birds sing
On the melody with the high notes ringin’,
While the hoot owl hollers over everything,
The jay bird disagrees.

Singin’ in the nighttime, singin’ in the day,
The little duck quacks and he’s on his way,
The opossum ain’t got much to say,
And the porcupine talks to himself.
{c:Chorus.}

It’s a simple song of livin’ sung everywhere,
By the ox, the fox, and the grizzly bear,
The grumpy alligator and the hawk above,
The sly raccoon and the turtle dove.