Key signature: Gmajor
Submitted on March 6th 2004 by Kenny.
This tune has been added to 43 tunebooks.
Also known as The Galbally Farmer.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Thank God We're Surrounded By Water
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Gmaj
DGG GFG | ABc d2 e | fef ded | cAG FEF |
DGG GFG | ABc d2 e | fef dcA | G3 G3 :|
gdg gdg | gdg a2 g | fef ded | cAG F2 g |
gdg gdg | gdg a2 g | fef dcA | G3 G3 |
gdg gdg | gdg a2 g | fef ded | cAG F2 E |
DGG GFG | ABc d2 e | fef dcA | G3 G3 |
Thank God ..........
The Rakes Of Kildare in G which gives that old warhorse a new lease of life. A great flute jig. This comes from a recording of the great man himself, Willie Clancy. The title comes from the Kane sisters from Galway. I've used it, because the Am Rakes is already in the database.
# Posted on March 6th 2004 by Kenny
The same title is also used for this tune by The Lahawns (Andrew MacNamara et. al.) on their "Live at Lena's" CD. They play it first as a waltz and then as a jig. Great tune, great title.
# Posted on March 7th 2004 by GaryAMartin
Here's how Liz and Yvonne Kane play it on their cd, The Well Tempered Bow.
T: Thank God We’re Surrounded by Water
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: G
| D2 G GFG | ABc d2 g| f/g/a/f ded | cAG FDC |
| DCD GFG | ABc deg | {a}fed cAF |1 ~G3 G2 F :|2 ~G3 GBd ||
| ~g3 def | gfg a2 g | f/g/a/f ded | cAG FGA |
| d2 g gfg | aeg fag | fed cAF | GAG GB/c/d |
| ~g3 def | gfg a2 g | f/g/a/f ded | cAG FGA |
| ~B2 G cBG | ABc deg | fed cAF | ~G3 G2 F ||
# Posted on March 7th 2004 by Will Harmon
Thanks, Will. A mere seven hours ago I was wondering where I was going to find time to figure out the Kane Sisters' version.
# Posted on March 7th 2004 by GaryAMartin
Dominic Behan
Dominic Behan's song to this air is the source of the title. The chorus:
The sea, oh the sea is the gradh geal mo croide
Long may it stay between England and me
It's a sure guarantee that some hour we'll be free
Oh! thank God we're surrounded by water
# Posted on March 16th 2004 by blarneystar
Also similar to this tune: http://thesession.org/tunes/display.php/878
# Posted on January 26th 2005 by slainte
"The Rakes of Kildare"
Key signature: A Dorian
Submitted on May 25th 2001 by Jeremy.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display.php/84
I would interpret and play the series of notes given above, as "Thank God We're Surrounded by Water", in G Dorian...
# Posted on December 14th 2005 by ceolachan
A.k.a. The Galbally Farmer
Tommy Kearney & Jimmy Power have a nice setting of this tune on "The Master Pipers: Volume 2". They play it just after Cook in the Kitchen.
# Posted on May 18th 2006 by _Steph_
On "The Road from Ballinakill" CD, Mike Rafferty recorded this on the pipes. He calls it the Rakes of Kildare, but I wouldn't add it as an alternative title.
# Posted on May 31st 2007 by slainte
A Dorian...
# Posted on January 25th 2008 by ceolachan
"Get Up Early" ~ another member of the family
Key signature: g minor
Submitted on August 14th 2007 by riada.
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/7608
# Posted on January 25th 2008 by ceolachan
Is that song also called "thank god were surrounded by water"....
is that song also called "thank god were surrounded by water"....because if it is i want to learn it...love the chorus!!!!:]
# Posted on August 27th 2008 by Mrs.Lonal Dunny
"The Galbally Farmer" ~ Willie Clancy, another transcription
X: 3
T: Galbally Farmer, The
T: Rakes of Kildare
S: Source for notated version: piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, west Clare) [Mitchell].
S: http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/GAA_GAL.htm
R: Jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: DDor
|: C |\
ADD DCD | EGG A2 B | cBc AcA | GED C2 A, |
D3 DCD | EGG A2 B | cBA GEC | D3 D2 :|
|: G |\
Add dcd | dcd e2 d | cBc AcA | GED CEG |
Add dcd | dcd e2 d | cBA GEC | D3 D2 :|
This would have been transcribed from a flat set. Here it is again tranposed up a step to E Dorian, for an easier comparision with previous transcription...
X: 4
T: Galbally Farmer, The
T: Rakes of Kildare
S: Source for notated version: piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, west Clare) [Mitchell].
S: http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/GAA_GAL.htm
N: transposed from D Dorian to A Dorian
R: Jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: EDor
|: D |\
BEE EDE | FAA B2 c | dcd BdB | AFE D2 B, |
E3 EDE | FAA B2 c | dcB AFD | E3 E2 :|
|: A |\
Bee ede | ede f2 e | dcd BdB | AFE DFA |
Bee ede | ede f2 e | dcB AFD | E3 E2 :|
# Posted on May 3rd 2010 by ceolachan
"The Galbally Farmer" ~ a little history, 1912
X: 5
T: Galbally Farmer
T: Rakes of Kildare
S: "Roche Collection of Traditional Irish Music I", 1912
N: from page 39, tune # 87: "The Galbally Farmer" or "The Rakes of Kildare"
S: "Roche Collection of Traditional Irish Music II"
N: This was given in the book in a set with "Banish Misfortune", suspected for a specific dance set?
L: 1/8
M: 6/8
R: jig
K: G Dorian
|: D |\
DGG GFG | Add d2 e | fef ded | cAG F2 D |
DGG GFG | Add d2 e | fed cAF | G3 G2 :|
|: g |\
gdg gdg | gab a2 g | fef ded | cAG FGA |
B3- BAG | Add d2 e | fed cAF | G3 G2 :|
# Posted on May 3rd 2010 by ceolachan
"The Galbally Farmer" ~ Willie Clancy's take transposed to G Dorian
X: 6
T: Galbally Farmer, The
T: Rakes of Kildare
S: Source for notated version: piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, west Clare) [Mitchell].
S: http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/GAA_GAL.htm
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: GDor
|: F |\
dGG GFG | Acc d2 e | fef dfd | cAG F2 D |
G3 GFG | Acc d2 e | fed cAF | G3 G2 :|
|: c |\
dgg gfg | gfg a2 g | fef dfd | cAG FAc |
dgg gfg | gfg a2 g | fed cAF | G3 G2 :|
# Posted on May 3rd 2010 by ceolachan
Major takes ~
Having gone through the ringer lately, too many blows to give a full account of, I've needed some musical distractions, this one included. I've been enjoying giving it a Major take in several keys and on more than one instrument, and it has been a kick. I haven't managed to find a recording of it in Major, and I so would have liked to hear one by Willie Clancy, if there is one, or the Kane sisters, but so far there's only me moving what I usually play from Dorian to Major, and enjoying it. But what's new there, eh?
It's always good to revisit old friends, as "The Rakes of Kildare", "The Galbally Farmer" is, a long association across two continents and many ways. Unlike some, I never tire of a tune and this one is one I still enjoy, though I'm also enjoying it in Major too, thanks to an email from one friend to this transcription of a couple of others, Kenny's and Will's, and visiting it elsewhere again, from Alaska to Newfoundland, Tory Island to Germany and down to Australasia too... A good tune gets around...
# Posted on May 3rd 2010 by ceolachan
P.S. ~ and no surprise, whatever the take, I prefer it with the second ending returning to the last 4 bars of the A-part, such sweet agreement, and great for dancing too...
# Posted on May 3rd 2010 by ceolachan