The Flower Of The County Down
Track Information
Original Track ID
SA1962.072.B10
Original Tape ID
Summary
In this song, a man is smitten with a girl he passes on the road near Banbridge town. He makes sure to pass her again the next day, finding her receptive to his smile.
Item Notes
2 verses of 4 lines, with a chorus of 2 lines; the Hayward text (see
below) includes another middle verse beginning "She'd an eye as lush
as a clockin' thrush".
This is an adaptation of the well-known song, 'The Star of The County
Down', originally by Cathal Garvey (1866-1927) of Ramelton, County
Donegal. Richard Hayward reworked the lyrics (substituting placenames
more local to County Down) and included this reinterpretation in his
collection of Irish songs, 'Ireland Calling', published by Mozart
Allen, Glasgow, sometime in the early to mid-20th century.
See:
'More Irish Street Ballads' (C. O Lochlainn, 1978) p.203
'Ireland Calling' (R. Hayward, date unknown [1950s?])
'Songwriters of Ireland in the English Tongue' (C. O Lochlainn, 1967)
Language
English
Genre
Collection
Classification
Source Type
Reel to reel
Audio Quality
Fair