So close to March 17, we had to have a few numbers from Owen McBride to be sure, to be sure. And didn’t the audience have a good go at the chorus.
Firstly we had the light-hearted Percy French number “The Mountains of Mourne” about an Irish emigrant in Victorian London writing to his girl-friend back home.
Listen to Owen sing “Mountains of Mourne” click HERE
That was followed up by a Robbie McConnell song about what songs and singers are authentically Irish. “You’re not Irish, you can’t be Irish”
Listen to it click HERE
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Lyrics The Mountains of Mourne
Oh, Mary this London’s a wonderful sight
With the people here workin’ by day and by night
They don’t sow potatoes, nor barley, nor wheat
But there’s gangs of them diggin’ for gold in the street
At least when I asked them that’s what I was told
So I just took a hand at this diggin’ for gold
But for all that I found there I might as well be
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea
I believe that when writin’ a wish you expressed
As to how the fine ladies in London were dressed
Well, if you’ll believe me, when asked to a ball
They don’t wear no top to their dresses at all
Oh, I’ve seen them myself and you could not in truth
They say that if they were bound for a ball or a bath
Don’t be startin’ them fashions, now Mary McCree
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea
You remember young Peter O’Loughlin of course
Well, now he is here at the head of the force
I met him today, I was crossing the Strand
And he stopped the whole street with one wave of his hand
And there we stood talking of days that are gone
While the whole population of London looked on
But for all these great powers, he’s wishful, like me
To be back where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea
— Instrumental —
There’s beautiful girls here, oh, never you mind
With beautiful shapes nature never designed
And lovely complexions all roses and cream
But O’Loughlin remarked with regard to the same
That if at those roses you venture to sip
The colors might all come away on your lip
So I’ll wait for the wild rose that’s waitin’ for me
Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea…