Gary Owen's

jig

Key signature: Dmajor

Submitted on January 25th 2003 by Caoimhin.

This tune has been added to 141 tunebooks.

Also known as Fieldtown, The Fieldtown, Garryowen, The Garryowen March, Gary Owen, Garyowen, Walk Of The Twopenny Postman, The Walk Of The Twopenny Postman.

Recordings of a tune by this name:

Buried Treasure Of The Toucan Pirates by Toucan Pirates
Cuaichin Ghleann Neifin (The Little Cuckoo Of Glen Nephin) by David Power
Rig-a-jig-jig: Dance Music Of The South Of England by Various Artists
The Civil War Collection by Jim Taylor
The Piping Of Patsy Touhey by Patsy Touhey

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

X: 1
T: Gary Owen's
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: Dmaj
dc |:BAG FED |FGF Fdc |BAG FED |EFE Edc |
BAG FED |FGF F2 G |ABc dAF |1EFE E dc :|2EFE EFG ||
|:A2 F A2 F |A2 F Adc |B2 G B2 G |B2 G B2 c |
d2 e f2 e |dcB AFG |ABc dAF |1|3EFE EFG :|2|4EFE E dc ||:|

Details ABC Sheetmusic Comments

Gary Owen's

I'm familiar with this tune from all my life though I only recently learned it on fiddle. Every time I hear it I think of Custer's last stand, as this is what he had his band play as they marched. I believe there are lyrics to go with the tune, but I don't know what they are.

# Posted on January 25th 2003 by stevefey

I've usually seen this spelled Garryowen. We play it on occasion, but in G maj (gf|edc BAG|BcB Bgf|etc.). War history buffs love it, but I've also seen people take umbrage at the tune. Here in Montana, it's important to know who's listening--some of the Crow tribe fought and died alongside Custer at Little Bighorn, while other Crow and the Northern Cheyenne fought against him. So it's still possible to spark hostilities by playing this tune in mixed company, at least in my corner of the world.

# Posted on January 25th 2003 by Miss Lonelyhearts

Owen's garden...

Popular basic great Highland bagpipe tune in northeast US..Title seems to be a variant of Irish for "Owen's garden": http://mockingbird.creighton.edu/english/micsun/IrishResources/Collegians/coll1.htm

# Posted on January 28th 2003 by pib

Sensitive

As I gather, the Garryowen has historically been played in Orange lodges as a prelude to an anti-Catholic riot. So it has some political baggage in some circles. Best avoided among Irish. It's overplayed anyway.

# Posted on May 3rd 2004 by Hickory6

Clan March?

I realize that there a limitation on tune catageories available here. But to clarify, I've always been told this tune is a Clan March? Do other, more knowledgeable here agree?

# Posted on February 17th 2005 by RogueFiddler

"Garyowen" ~ march

~ a march that was and can also played without the repeats, or simply AB. The following is with the repeats, AABB:

# Posted on May 15th 2007 by ceolachan

Garryowen

Garryowen is the unofficial song of the of the 5th Royal Irish Lancers (the Royal Dragoons of Ireland) in the 1700's whowhen dispanded in 1799 as one of the oldest andmost repected armies in the British Army, made up mostly of Irishmen. Former Dragoons emigrated to various parts of the world to ply their trade as cavalrymen.

The US 7th Cavalry adopted the song as their own and is played throughout the world still today.

Garryowen means Owen's Garden and was a pub in Limerick

# Posted on December 20th 2007 by undone

Sensitive by Hickory 6

I laughed when I read your comment, however I nust set you straight. The Orange Lodges don't play tunes anid they don't riot. The lodge may employ a band, which are not Orange , to accompany them on their traditional route.

The anti Catholic Riot as you say has confused me. It is well known by the security forces that the only riots in the past 15 years at any march are orchestrated by Republicans, who would wish to stop peacful marches through an area of a town which was once dominated by the Unionist people.

The Orange don't riot, if hey did they would be banned and rightly so, but Sinn Fein do, but maybe that's ok in your book.

# Posted on February 21st 2008 by Accordionstu

Garry Owen

This jig can be traced back to c.1750. It was composed re: a place in Limerick, known as Owens Garden (Gaghoire meaning garden in the Irish language.) a "park" of sorts for the local lads. There occurred at this place considerable drinking, trysting, general hooliganism, including the torture of geese. It was recorded that "the geese suffered" from the twisting of their necks which resulted in their deaths. It was later "adopted" by Gen. Geo. Custer. All this unpleasant association makes in impossible for some people to enjoy this tune.

C.Smitty

# Posted on March 24th 2008 by c.smitty

"Garyowen" ~ a bit more fun with it

X: 3
T: Garyowen
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: march
K: A Dorian
|: g/f/ |\
edc BAG | B>cB B2 g/f/ | edc BAG | A>BA A2 g/f/ |
edc BAG | B>cd g2 a | bag e/f/ge | dBG A2 :|
|: B/c/ |\
{d/e/}d2 B {d/e/}d2 B | {d/e/}d2 B {d/e/}dgf | {e/f/}e2 c {e/f/}e2 c | {e/f/}e2 c {e/f/}e2 f |
g2 a b2 a | gfe {d/e/}dBc | d>ef gdB | A>BA A2 :|

# Posted on October 12th 2008 by ceolachan