 sj |
||
|
||
Origins: Famous Greyhound
|
|
|
Subject: Origins: Composer/Source for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: GUEST,celticsinger@hotmail.com Date: 26 May 06 - 02:29 PM Can anyone tell me who wrote a song which may (or may not) be titled "The Famous Greyhound" ? A friend of mine brought back a tape of the Ladies' English song competition at the 2004 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann, and on it is an unidentifed woman singing a song which begins with: "Come all you good people and gather around; I'll tell you the tale of a famous greyhound. She could [muffled], she could roar like a bear; And we thought we were made when we brought her to Clare; With a fold-de-dol-do, tra fol-de-da dol-de-da do-de-da do; tra fold-de-da fol-de-da- dol." It has some choice lines in it, about "From her father she had all the brains and the wit; from her mother she took the film-star looks" and "If you listened to her trainer, he'd tell you she talked, in long conversations when he took her for walks." It has the usual story of bringing your dog to the race and betting on her - sure thing that she is - only to have her balk and lose. It ends with the dog saying "Don't ever give up, even though you're behind." Hoping someone can help me find and contact either the singer or the composer - preferably the latter, as I'd like to get a full lyric set and permission to record the song. Cheers, Chris Messages from multiple threads combined. Messages below are from a new thread - there was only the one message in the first thread. |
|
Subject: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: GUEST,celticsinger@hotmail.com Date: 17 Jun 06 - 03:24 PM Dear Mudcatters: I need your help, and soon! I am headed into the recording studio at the top of July to record, and I need to find the composer of a song so that I can get permission to record it, and pay royalties. I learned the song in question - which may or may not be called "Famous Greyhound" - from a cassette tape of singers competing in the Ladies' English song competition at the 2004 Fleadh Cheoil na hÉireann in Clonmel, Ireland. The song begins like this: "Come all you good people and strangers around; I'll sing you a song of a famous greyhound. She could eat like a horse, she could roar like a bear; And we thought we were made when we brought her to Clare; With a fold-de-dol-do, tra fol-de-da dol-de-da do-de-da do; tra fold-de-da fol-de-da- dol." It has some choice lines in it, about "From her father she had all the brains and the wit; and she took from her mother the film-star looks" and "If you asked her trainer, he'd tell you she talked, in long conversations when he took her for walks" and "you had to wear shin-guards when she wagged her tail." It has the usual story of bringing your dog to the race and betting on her - sure thing that she is - only to have her balk and lose. It ends with the dog saying "Don't ever give up, even though you're behind." Can anyone help me find out who wrote the song? I've been searching the web for phrases from the lyric, but with no success, which leads me to believe the song may be new, or at least never recorded. I hope to find and contact either the singer or the composer - preferably the latter, as I'd like to get a full, correct lyric set and permission to record the song. Dearly hoping you can help, Chris |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: Peace Date: 17 Jun 06 - 04:49 PM There was a thread on this a few months (?) ago. (Well, it was about greyhounds--that I recall.) |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: Peace Date: 17 Jun 06 - 05:03 PM If you asked her trainer, he'd tell you she talked, in long conversations when he took her for walks Someone on Mudcat posted that line--or one very much like it in the past two months. I CANNOT RECALL the thread, but I remember reading that line. |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: Joe Offer Date: 17 Jun 06 - 06:19 PM Hi, Chris - I checked the Roud Index and the Traditional Ballad Index for "Greyhound," and came up with nothing that looked at all like your song. Can you post all the lyrics you have? It looks like an interesting song. The closest I could find was Master McGrath which matches the meter of the lyrics you posted, but not the words. -Joe Offer- (I combined your previous request thread with this one.) |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: Peace Date: 17 Jun 06 - 06:40 PM OK. That's the thread I meant. Sorry. |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: GUEST Date: 17 Jun 06 - 08:03 PM Hello, gents, and many thanks for your help. Yes, it was me who asked a while ago... with no results. I thought I'd try again, with "URGENT" appended to it, as I have about two weeks left to find the composer and make contact. Thanks for combining the threads. (I felt a bit guilty, opening it again.) The lyrics, as I've transcribed them from the (fairly crappy) cassette tape are as follows: Come all you good people and strangers around I'll sing you a song of a famous greyhound She could eat like a horse, she could roar like a bear And we thought we were made when we brought her to Clare With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do As a puppy, she came from the town of McCroom She was reared by Tim Early (sp?), a man of renown With her barrister breeding and bloodlines so rare, We ne'er saw her likes in the whole county Clare With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do And in no time at all, she was a great hound She stood two foot six, and she weighed forty pound From her father she took all the brains and the wits And she took from her mother the film-star looks With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do And she going over the fields, you couldn't beat her for power For she swept toward the ground like a bad thunder shower With her head and her tail curled up in a bow If you blinked, or you winked, you'd not see her at all With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do And if she took the notion, she was a devil to fight Not a cat in the parish but she'd put to flight On a head or a [?] she would pounce without fail You had to wear shin guards when she wagged her tail! With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do Now, if you met her trainer, he'd tell you she talked On long conversations when he took her for walks To shorten the journey around the wood-road Himself and his hound could be heard in dispute With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do [... GAP IN TAPE ...] Well, then 'twas too late, for our money was on We'd fifty-to-one at the sound of the gong The trapsters (?) flew up, and the greyhounds sprang o'er She crept behind and she brought up the rear. With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do Well, we all had post-mortems on what could have been And the creature looked lonely as she came over the line But a lesson she taught us, of a valuable kind: Don't ever give up, even though you're behind With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do That's more or less it, though there are places where I've made my best guess as to what the woman was singing, and to the spelling. I'm afraid I don't have the full story/lyric because the tape apparently ran out mid-song, and resumes (??? how many verses are missing?) on the other side! If anyone can help me find the composer for this, I'd be eternally grateful! Cheers, Chris |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: Declan Date: 17 Jun 06 - 08:53 PM I can't offer too much on this except that the song is not Master McGrath although it may be written to the same air. The name of the town in verse two is not McCroom but Macroom (máigh cromtha in Gaelic) which is in County Cork, sounds like the dog was bred there and brought to County Clare later. I have heard songs about greyhounds that come from the area of Baile Mhuinre (Ballyvourney) which is a Gaelic speaking area quite near Macroom. One of these was called "The Big Black Bitch from Clare" which to my memory was about a dog rather than a person. I don't think this title refers to the song you're looking for, but I hope this limited information might assist you in your searches. |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: Peace Date: 17 Jun 06 - 09:07 PM Chris, Have you attempted to get in touch with the organizers and maybe get a list of the people who were in the Ladies Song Competition? The list may have the entrants and the songs they sang. I am getting NOTHING on the 'net. |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: GUEST Date: 17 Jun 06 - 09:18 PM Well now, I hadn't thought about contacting the Fleadh Cheoil folk. That's a great suggestion, and I will try that next. Like you, I found absolutely nothing that matched on the web, which leads me to believe it is newly composed (perhaps specially for the Fleadh?) and unrecorded. Cheers, Chris |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: Peace Date: 17 Jun 06 - 09:19 PM Please let me know if there is some looking around I could do, Chris. |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: Peace Date: 17 Jun 06 - 09:24 PM Comórtas 33 Amhráin Bhéarla(Mná)/English Singing(Ladies) Fé 12 1st Amy Ní Dubhslaine, CCÉ, Cúl aí tSudaire, Laois 2nd Aisling Ní Throithigh, CCÉ, Béal Átha Buí, Uibh Fhailí 3rd Aisling OíHanlon, CCÉ, Leac Sná, Ciarraí 12-15 1st Darina Ní Ghliosain, CCÉ, Cuan aí Bhainbh, Loch Garman 2nd Lorraine Doyle, CCÉ, Gleann Fleisce, Ciarraí 3rd Nuala McBride, CCÉ, Droim Mór/Trillick 15-18 1st Nollaig Nic Aindriú, CCÉ, Caisleán aí Bharraigh, Maigh Eó 2nd Siobhán OíDonnell, CCÉ, Sligeach Theas, Sligeach 3rd Tara Mulvihill, CCÉ, Maigh Mheáin/Cnoc an Iúir, Ciarraí Over 18 1st Cristín Ní Phiarais, CCÉ, Ros Comáin 2nd Ann Marie Kavanagh, CCÉ, Buiríos Ó Luigheach, Tiobraid Árann 3rd Michelle McGirr, CCÉ, Clogher Valley, Tír Eoghain |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: Peace Date: 17 Jun 06 - 09:28 PM That's from here. |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: GUEST Date: 17 Jun 06 - 09:46 PM Great thanks to you, Declan -- your information does help, in terms of context and correcting the lyrics that I already have to hand. I appreciate that very much! Thanks, as well, to Joe for both the research and combining my threads together. You might want to also do that for the "My Father's Cabin" request, which I posted a few weeks ago, and again today. My apologies for the extra work I've made for you! Thanks, too, to Peace. I would guess from the rich alto of the singer's voice that she was in the over-18 category. Perhaps she's one of the three you found listed? Unfortunately, she's not identified on the tape. I know only that she sang very late in the day, and that she also sang "My Love at Waterloo." (I can identify her voice on the tape as being the same woman.) Per your suggestion, I dropped a line on the Comhaltas folk, and I hope they'll be able to help. But I'm also still hoping some intrepid Mudcatter can save the day... people around here often confound me with their knowledge! Cheers to all, Chris |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: Wolfgang Date: 18 Jun 06 - 03:42 PM I have been looking for the lyrics to this song since long, so thanks a lot for a good start of a transcription. I have it on a CD from the South Roscommon Singers' circle titled What will we do? which I got from Mudcatter Martin Ryan. The song is titled 'The Greyhound' on the recording and sung by Christina Pierse. The notes to the song with the CD are these: Many times All Ireland champion Christina got this one from Gene Anderson. Gene runs the thatched pub near Elphinon the road to Carrick-on-Shannon. He first heard the song sung by Sean Garvey from Kerry somewhere in West Clare. It's been around for a long as the electric hare. Well, 'Sean Garvey from Kerry', now the rest of the sleuthing looks easy (grin). I'll PM Martin Ryan to point him to this thread and I'll try to fill the gap some time next week. Wolfgang |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: GUEST,celticsinger@hotmail.com Date: 18 Jun 06 - 04:59 PM Well, now -- that's several fabulous clues! I am many steps closer to finding the composer now. Thanks so much, Wolfgang! You wouldn't happen to be able to provide a full lyric set, transcribed from that CD, would you? It looks as though this Christina Pierce of the South Roscommon Singers' Circle is the same as 2004 All-Ireland champ Cristín Ní Phiarais from Ros Comáin, and I should be looking for some way to contact her for any information on the composer. Although the liner notes say the song "has been around as long as the electric hare," it's definitely modern, and therefore attributable (and royalty-payable) to SOMEONE. Since she got it from Gene Anderson near Carrick-on-Shannon (who in turn had it from Sean Garvey of Kerry) if I can find contact information for any one (or all) of the three, I might just have some more luck. Does anyone out there know one of these individuals? If so, please send their email address to me at celticsinger@hotmail.com I've already written to Comhaltas, but now I think I'll write again and ask them to forward my message to Ms. Pierce. Perhaps that will generate some answers. Many, many thanks to the Mudcatters - you AMAZE me !!! Fingers crossed for continued success, Chris |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: Peace Date: 18 Jun 06 - 05:07 PM www.irishrochester.org/singers.html It might be useful to check also at that site. It is South Roscommon Singers' Circle site. There is an e-mail addy there also. |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: MartinRyan Date: 18 Jun 06 - 06:04 PM I can check with Christine - she or her father may know the author. Regards |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: GUEST Date: 18 Jun 06 - 10:55 PM Wow - thanks very much Mr. Ryan. That sounds promising, indeed! At the very least, one or the other of them might be able to point me toward another person with a piece of the puzzle. Before I write to any more people, I'll wait to hear what you discover. Thanks, too, to Peace for the continuing help -- if Mr. Ryan's enquiry peters out, I'll drop a line at the SRSC site and see if I can scare up some help there. Another friend recommended I try the Ennis singers' circle, so that's a third line of inquiry. My sincere thanks, again, to all you Mudcatters, both with this quest and the one for "My Father's Cabin." Isn't it amazing what "collective brain" can achieve ?! Cheers, Chris |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: Wolfgang Date: 19 Jun 06 - 08:42 AM I'll try to transcribe the missing bits, but they'll be farther from correct than your verses, Chris. Wolfgang |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: MartinRyan Date: 20 Jun 06 - 05:26 AM Chris I know Christine well - we both sang on the SRSC CD mentioned by Wolfgang. It's quite likely that she can trace it no further than Sean Garvey, who in turn.... etc! We'll trace it eventually. Regards |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: GUEST,celticsinger@hotmail.com Date: 20 Jun 06 - 05:19 PM Serendipity, indeed! Thanks again, Mr. Ryan, for helping me several steps along in my treasure hunt. I look forward to hearing from you again, with another piece of the puzzle> (How to contact Mr. Garvey, for instance.) Cheers to you, and to all the Mudcatters, Chris |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: GUEST,celticsinger@hotmail.com Date: 26 Jun 06 - 08:42 PM Hello, Mr. Ryan. Have you had a chance to speak with Ms. Pierce about the Greyhound song origins? If so, what news? Cheers, Chris |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: Wolfgang Date: 02 Jul 06 - 04:43 PM THE (FAMOUS) GREYHOUND Come all you good people and strangers around I'll sing you a song of a famous greyhound She could eat like a horse (whore?), she could roar like a bear And we thought we were made when we brought her to Clare With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do As a puppy, she came from the town of Macroom She was reared by Tim Early (sp?), a man of renown With her barrister (Bannister?) breeding and bloodlines so rare, We ne'er saw her likes in the whole county Clare With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do And in no time at all, sure she was a greyhound She stood two foot six, and she weighed forty pounds From her father she took all the brains and the wits And she took from her mother the film-star looks With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do And she going over the fields, you couldn't beat her for power For she sweeps oe'r the ground like a bad thunder shower With her head and her tail curled up in a ball If you blinked, or you winked, you'd not see her at all With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do And when she took the notion, she was a devil to fight Not a cat in the parish but she'd put to flight On a hen or a duck she would pounce without fail You had to wear shin guards when she wagged her tail! With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do Now, if you met her trainer, he'd tell you she talked On long conversations when he took her for walks To shorten the journey around the wood-road Himself and his hound could be heard in dispute With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do Now the Ennis boys heard of this dog of great fame And they swore they could beat her or something the same. They had a good dog and the challenge was put from (Herdown ??? a placename?) to Clare castle we'd see what she's worth With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do We took her down to (her mean???) and the coursing commenced And in less than two courses the crowds was convinced And in the final she led from the gate To show the world she was best of the eight. With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do We went back to the pub with the cup and the prize. There was fiddling and dancing I tell you no lies, There was Guinness and gin flowing free from the tup And everyone says that she was the best yet. With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do There was fortunes to be met (I don't hear 'made') we'd never go back, So we headed to Galway to conquer the track. When she saw the dummy she said 'tis a joke, Do you think I'm a fool to run after that joke. With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do Well, then 'twas too late, for our money was on We'd fifty-to-one at the sound of the gong The trapsdoors flew up, and the greyhounds sprang o'er She crept behind and she brought up the rear. With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do Well, we all had post-mortems on what might have been And the creature looked lonely going over the line But a lesson she taught us, of a valuable kind: Don't ever give up, even though you're behind With me fal-de-da-do La fal-de-da la-dee-da la-dee-da-do Fa la-de-da la-ta-dee-do Well, that's it including the four missing verses as I hear them and some minor changes to Chris's transcription (I'm sure I have solved the ? in verse 5). Wolfgang |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: GUEST Date: 19 Jul 06 - 03:16 PM Thanks so very, very much, Wolfgang! I'm just back from Chicago. I didn't end up recording this song, but I would like to know who wrote it, just the same, as I plan to use it on the next CD! I've more time to do research, now, so I'll still be looking for contact info for Christine Pierce and Mr. Garvey. If anyone knows how I can get in touch with them, please drop me a line at celticsinger@hotmail.com Cheers to all of you, Christa |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: GUEST,Martin Ryan Date: 21 Jul 06 - 05:51 PM Got it! Christine knew nothing of the origins of the song. I met Sean Garvey in deepest Kerry during the week, by a happy coincidence, and asked him. The song was written by John Flanagan of Corofin - from whom Sean got it around 1979. John also wrote the "other Fields of Athenry" (a.k.a. Down By the Clarin's Mossy Banks). The latter song is around here somewhere - I'll post a link later. As you'll gather, John is very fond of greyhounds! Regards |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: Declan Date: 21 Jul 06 - 08:38 PM Fair play to you Martin. My suspicion was that this was a Cork rather than a Clare song, but you've sorted that one out. I'm glad to know there's another Fields of Athenry! I'll follow the link with interest when you post it. |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: GUEST,Martin Ryan Date: 22 Jul 06 - 06:34 PM Declan Here you go! . Tim Dennehy has recorded a version. Tune is a slow version of The Star of the County Down, basically - like many another! Regards |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: MartinRyan Date: 26 Jul 06 - 01:52 PM Refresh. Email sent. |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: GUEST,celticsinger Date: 08 Aug 06 - 03:26 AM I want to belatedly thank you all again for the marvelous detective work you did on this song. It's lovely to have all the verses, and to be able to trace the pedigree right back to the author. Extra thanks to Mr. Ryan for tracking down the full lineage. The only piece of the puzzle still missing is: how to contact Mr. Flanagan of Corofin. I may yet find the opportunity to record this song, and when the time comes, I'd like to be able to ask Mr. Flanagan for his blessing, and send him the royalty cheque! Mr. Ryan, you seem to be the man with the answers. If you know how I can reach Mr. Flanagan, please send a line to celticsinger@hotmail.com Wholeheartedly, cheers to you all, Chris |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: MartinRyan Date: 08 Aug 06 - 04:14 AM Chris I'll see if I can get contact details. Regards |
|
Subject: RE: URGENT: Composer for 'Famous Greyhound'? From: GUEST Date: 09 Aug 06 - 03:33 AM It's been my experience that 'Mr Flanagan, Corofin' would probably get there eventually - wouldn't send a cheque though! Tom Lenihan sent us a Christmas card once addressed Jim and Pat, Topic, London - it arrived on 24th December. Jim Carroll |
| Share Thread: |