Key signature: Aminor
Submitted on November 2nd 2008 by mrkelahan.
This tune has been added to 11 tunebooks.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Mild Mabel Kelly
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: waltz
K: Amin
|: d/c/ | A2 A2 Ac | d2 de de | dc AG Ac | d2 de d2 |
cB AG ED | C2 CD C2 | AG ED EG | A2 Ac A2 |
c2 ce ce | d2 de d2 | ed eg ag | e3 d c2 |
cB cd ed | cd cB AG | E>D CE GE | D2 DE ~D ||
D/C/ | A,2 A,2 DE | GE GA G2 | GE DC EG | A2 Ac A2 |
cB cd ed | cA cd eg | ag ed ce | d2 de d2 |
cB AG E>D | C2 CD C2 | AG ED EG | A2 Ac A2 |
c2 GE C2 | d2 cB AG | E>D CE GE | D2 DE ~D :|
Mild Mabel Kelly- O'Carolan
I'm hoping this isn't a duplicate, as I wasn't able to find it here.
I'm familiar with this tune from a Dorian Recordings release of an album called 'The Reel of Tulloch', performed by Chatham Baroque with Chris Norman (see Recordings). It's the first tune of a set called 'The Kelly Set' arr. by Chris Norman, followed by 'Daniel Kelly', 'Castle Kelly' and 'Captain Kelly'. The first two are credited to Turlough O'Carolan. The third, already on this site, can be found here-
http://www.thesession.org/tunes/display/21
And appears to be one of the first few submittals to this site. I'll submit the second and forth, 'Daniel' and 'Captain Kelly', respectively, assuming they aren't already here.
Any historical reference to 'Mild Mabel Kelly' would be welcome.
Enjoy!
# Posted on November 2nd 2008 by mrkelahan
Words...
Apparently a planxty, here are the words written to go with the melody:
MILD MABEL KELLY
(From the Irish of O'Carolan)
Whoever the youth who by Heaven's decree
Has his happy right hand 'neath that bright head of thine,
T ' is certain that he
From all sorrow is free,
Till the day of his death, if a life so divine
Should not raise him in bliss above mortal degree.
Mild Mabel Ni Kelly, bright coolun of curls!
All stately and pure as the swan on the lake.
Her mouth of white teeth is a palace of pearls,
And the youth of the land are love-sick for her sake.
No strain of the sweetest e'er heard in the land
That she knows not to sing, in a voice so enchanting,
That the cranes on the sand
Fall asleep where they stand.
Oh, for her blooms the rose, and the lily ne'er waiting
To shed its mild luster on bosom or hand.
The dewy blue blossom that hangs on the spray
More blue than her eyes human eye never saw.
Deceit never lurked in its beautiful ray.
Dear lady, I drink to you, slainte go bragh! (1)
To gaze on her beauty the young hunter lies
'Mong the branches that shadow her path in the grove.
But alas, if her eyes
The rash gazer surprise,
All eyesight departs from the victim of love,
And the blind youth steals home with his heart full of sighs.
O, pride of the Gael of the lily-white palm!
O coolun of curls to the grass at your feet!
At the goal of delight and of honor I am
To boast such a theme for a song so unmeet.
(1) Slainte go bragh, your health for ever!
"Irish Literature, Vol. III"; McCarthy, Justin. John D. Morris & Co., Philadelphia: 1904.
# Posted on November 2nd 2008 by mrkelahan