Key signature: Amajor
Submitted on August 15th 2002 by bdickler.
This tune has been added to 120 tunebooks.
Also known as Glenswilly, Homes Of Donegal, The Homes Of Donegal, Lilly Of The West.
Recordings of a tune by this name:
X: 1
T: Lakes Of Ponchartrain, The
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: waltz
K: Amaj
|:E2|A4 f2|e4 fe|c2 B2 e2|c4 B2|\
A F3 G2|A4 A2|(A6 |A4) e2|
e4 c2|e2 f2 g2|a4 a2|g2 f2 e2|\
c4 B2|c2 d2 e2|(f6 | f4) f2|
e4 c2|e2 f2 g2|a4 a2|g2 f2 e2|\
c4 B2|c2 d2 e2|(f6 | f4) A2|
A4 f2|e4 fe|c2 B2 e2|c4 B2|\
A F3 G2|A4 A2|(A6 |A4) :|>|
Transposing
This was found on another web site in this key but I would like to transpose it to G mag. I don't have the Musical skill to do so. If you can do this please do so. It's a real easy tune.
# Posted on August 15th 2002 by bdickler
There's a piece of software listed ubder the links section called ABC Tools here the url.
http://www.magma.ca/~scarlett/abc/
It can transpose tunes
# Posted on August 15th 2002 by Brad Maloney
The Lakes of Ponchartrain
This is a song I sing. There was a good discussion of its history on a thread at the Mudcat forum.
Alice Flynn
# Posted on August 15th 2002 by aliceflynn
Lily of the West
Mark Knofler does what I think is a great version of this song with the Chieftains on the Long Black Veil. Can't say I care for most of that CD, but I like Lily of the West.
# Posted on August 15th 2002 by pearse
Paul Brady
I had the great pleasure of seeing Paul Brady perform this song live a few years back.
I'm of the opinion that his version (first recorded on the "Welcome Here Kind Stranger" album) is the definitive one. I certainly prefer it to the Christy Moore version.
From what I can gather, the song is set in the closing stages (or right after) the war of 1812, told from the viewpoint of a soldier who has been fighting on the "wrong" side.
I'm guessing the story is set not long after the battle of New Orleans when the English army were roundly defeated. Technically, by the time the battle took place, the war had officially been declared over but because of the speed of communications at the time, the army had no way of knowing this.
I used to play this one quite a lot. Let's see if I can remember the words:
'Twas on one bright march morning
I bid New Orleans adieu.
And I took the road to Jackson town,
My fortune to renew.
I cursed all foreign money,
No credit could I gain.
Which filled my heart with longing for
The lakes of Ponchartrain.
I stepped on board a railroad car
Beneath the morning sun.
I rode the rods 'till evening
Then I laid me down again.
All strangers there, no friends to me
'Till a dark girl towards me came.
And I fell in love with a creole girl by
The lakes of Ponchartrain.
I said 'My pretty creole girl,
My money here's no good.
And if it weren't for the alligators
I'd sleep out in the woods.'
'You're welcome here kind stranger,
Our house is very plain.
But we never turn a stranger out on
The banks of Ponchartrain.'
She took me in to her mother's house
And treated me right well.
The hair upon her shoulders
In jet-black ringlets fell.
To try to paint her beauty,
I'm sure 'twould be in vain.
So handsome was my creole girl by
The lakes of Ponchartrain.
I asked her if she'd marry me.
She said this could never be.
For she had got a lover
And he was far at sea.
She said that she would wait for him
And true she would remain.
'Till he'd return to his creole girl by
The lakes of Ponchartrain.
So fare thee well my creole girl,
I never may see you more.
And I'll ne'er forget your kindness
In the cottage by the shore.
And at each social gathering
A flowing glass I'll drain.
And I'll drink a health to my creole girl by
The lakes of Ponchartrain.
# Posted on August 15th 2002 by Jeremy
Lakes of Ponchartrain
My feeling/information was that it was set during the American CIVIL war - they wouldn't have had any trains in 1812..Doh !..but the poor guy is trying to desert from the Confederates, who are trying to discourage this by showing extreme prejudice, as they say theses days. His money is confederate scrip, which is nouse anymore, but he's helped out of his difficulties by the lovely creole lady.
# Posted on March 29th 2004 by Guernsey Pete
Other names...
I was reading on the mudcat forum that this is the same, or very similar, melody as "Tramps and Hawkers", "Peter Emberlay," "Lakes of Ponchartrain," "Paddy West"...or "Homes of Donegal".
I was specifically looking for "Homes of Donegal" as a friend had mentioned it to me. Any opinions on this?
# Posted on April 28th 2004 by Grack
this is a question for all of you who are used to play this song. How do tou ornamate this one? With Long rolls in white notes?
# Posted on May 13th 2005 by eduard
"The Homes Of Donegal" - Sean Mc Bride
I've just dropped in to see you all
I'll only stay awhile
I want to hear how you're getting on
I want to hear you smile
I'm happy to be back again
And greet you big and small
For there's no place on earth just like
The homes of Donegal
I long to see your smiling children
Standing by the door
The kettle boiling on the hearth
As I walk up the floor
And then to see a welcome free
For travellers one and all
For your hearts are like your mountains
In the homes of Donegal
I'd like to stay along with you
And while away the night
With fairy lore and tales of yore
Beside the turf fire bright
And then to see laid out for me
A shake-down by the wall
For there's rest for weary wanderers
In the homes of Donegal
The time has come for me to go
And bid you all adieu
For the open highway calls me back
To do these things I do
But when I'm travelling far away
Your friendship I'll recall
And please God I'll soon return unto
The homes of Donegal
# Posted on May 20th 2005 by ceolachan
Actually, the American version of the song is set just after the end of the Civil War, not the War of 1812 as was set down by the submitter. Both sides in the war bought Irish slaves from England to fight; hence the song, "Battle of Bull Run," "If it haddna been for Irishmen, what would the Union done? Hand to hand we fought 'em at the Battle of Bull Run."
The Irish were set free by the south in major disarming centers such as New Orleans. They were paid off in Confederate specie which was worthless. Most wandered off toward Jackson, Mississippi hoping to find work, etc. This song, and the background are well known in New Orleans. One needs only to visit O'Flarity's to confirm. Enjoy yourself while you're there.
By the way, in 1814, there were no trains running from N. Orleans to Jackson-another way of dating.
# Posted on July 13th 2005 by lordmichael77
Glenswilly?
Is this the same tune as `Glenswilly'? I think it is, but maybe it's in a different key?
# Posted on March 2nd 2007 by hober
The Hills Of Glenswilly?
I wonder hober, if this song would be sung to the tune you mentioned - Glenswilly:
The Hills Of Glenswilly
Attention pay, my countrymen, and hear my native news,
Although my song is sorrowful, I hope you'll me excuse;
I left my native country a foreign land to see,
I bid farewell to Donegal, likewise to Glenswilly.
T'was on a summer's morning at the dawning of the day,
I left my peaceful, happy home to wander far away;
And as I viewed that grand old man, perhaps no more to see,
I thought my heart would surely break in leaving Glenswilly.
No more among the sycamore I'll hear the blackbird sing,
No more I'll hear the blithe cuckoo that welcomes back the spring;
No more I'll plow your fertile fields, a chuisle geal mo chroidhe,
On a foreign soil I'm doomed to toil far away from Glenswilly.
God bless you, dark old Donegal, my own, my native land,
In dreams I'll see your heathered glens and towering mountains grand;
God bless the day, will ere come 'round when I'll return to thee,
And live as my forefathers lived, and die in Glenswilly.
# Posted on March 19th 2007 by Ptarmigan