These books were created for the friends and bards of Tuatha de Bhriain of the Bog and the Irish folk band Bardic Circle from the County Suffolk.
The Book of Song Vol. I is a lyrics and music reference for the bards of Bardic Circle. The 2009 edition is 8.5″ x 11″ paperback 207 pages. This is the version with the classic tunes from the Mainlia era, the early Comyns years, and Momus’ hits. This volume is expected to be re-released in a 2nd edition next year with corrections and hopefully more music notation.
While certainly usable, this version contains many errors.
Contents
A Bunch of Thyme A Nation Once Again Ailie Bain O’ the Glen All For Me Grog All the way from Tuam Andrew Lammie Annie Laurie Ar Eirinn Ni Neosfainn Ce Hi Arthur McBride and the Sergeant As I Roved Out Auld Lang Syne Back home in Derry Ballad of the Lady Jane, The Band Played Waltzing Matilda, The Barbara Allen Bard of Armagh Barrett’s Privateers Battle of Harlaw, The Bhudnahi! (by Mainlia) Black Velvet Band Blackbird, The Blacksmith, The Bold Fenian Men (Down by the Glenside) Caledonia Carrickfergus Chandler’s Wife, The Charlie Mopps Cliffs of Dooneen Cold Blow & the Rainy Night Colin’s Shabeen (by Aonghus) Come out ye black and tans Courtin’ in the Kitchen Crazy Man Michael Cruiscin Lan Dick Darby Dig it by Momus Dirty Old Town Donald MacGillavry Drunken Sailor, The Ed Keeney’s Wild Rover Faellon’s Cellar by Momus Fair Game by Momus Far over yon hills Farmer’s Lament by Momus Fhear A Bhata Table of Contents~ 3 ~ Fiddler’s Green Foggy Dew, The Follow Me Up to Carlow Four Green Fields God Save Ireland Good Ale Green Fields Of France Greenland Whale Fisheries Harp that Once, The Heave Away Here’s A Health To The Company I’ll Tell Me Ma I’m A Man You Don’t Meet Every Day (Jack Stewart) I’m a Rover Immigrant Song Into the Drink Irish Ballad, The Johnson’s Motor Car Jolly Beggarman, The Jug of Punch Juice of the Barley, The Kilkelly Lanigan’s Ball Leaving Nancy Leaving of Liverpool Lord Randal Love is teasing Lowlands of Holland, The Maids When You’re Young MaryAnne Matty Groves Mayhem Maybe Mermaid, The Minstrel Boy, The Mo Ghile Mear Moonshiner, The My Gentle Harp Nancy Whiskey Night Paddy Murphy Died Nora Norseland Warrior’s Reply Now Be Thankful Old Triangle, The Paddy’s Green Shamrock Shore Pagan Ways Parting Glass, The Queen of Argyll, The Wearing of the Green, The Ramblin’ Rover, The Real old Mountain Dew Red is the Rose Reynardine Ride On Rising of the Moon, The Rivendell Rocky Road to Dublin Rooster, The Rose of Tralee, The Rosin The Bow Sally MacLennane Santianna Scarborough Fair Seven Drunken Nights Shan Van Vocht (Poor Old Woman) Shule Agra Sick Bed of Cuchulainn Sloop John B Sonnatorrek, The South Australia Spancil Hill Spotted Cow Star of the County Down Steal Away Streams Of Whiskey Three Drunken Maidens Twa Corbies Waxie’s Dargle What Will I Think Of by Momus Where Now Whiskey Down by Momus Whiskey in the Jar Whiskey, you’re the devil Whistler, The Whistling Gypsy Rover, The Wickerman, The Wild Colonial Boy, The Wild Rover, The Will Ye Go, Lassie, Go? Wond’ring Aloud Xmas - Adeste Fideles Xmas - God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen Xmas - Good King Wenceslas Xmas - Hark the herald angels sing Xmas - The Holly and the Ivy
The Book of Song, Vol I (2009) and Vol II (2012) each contain an entirely different set of songs. This all new Book of Song Vol II, 2nd edition (2015) is 8.5" x 11" spiral bound 197 pages and includes all of the songs originally published in Vol II, 1st edition (2012) but includes corrections and notations made during practices and performances since that time and has been expanded to include 48 new tunes learned and performed since then.
Sheet music has been added to many of the less common tunes (and originals), and there are some handy reference sheets for chords in DADGAD and on mandolin. Many new illustrations add color. While Vol I contains primarily Irish folk tunes, this work is slightly more eclectic. While you'll certainly find more Irish, Scottish, and Welsh folk tunes, there are some classic rock songs and folky re-workings of metal tunes that Bardic Circle regularly performs, as well.
Contents - Songs and Ballads
A Bar in Amsterdam A Song for Ireland Always Look on the Bright Side of Life Amhran na bhFiann As I Roved Out Banna Strand Bardic Circle Revealed (May the Circle Be Unbroken) Binnorie Birkin Tree, The Bogie's Bonnie Belle Boys of Bluehill Brennan on the moor Bridget O'Malley Bushes and Briars Ca the Yowes to the Knowes City of New Orleans Cnoc-An-Ar Come By the Hills Danny Boy Dark-eyed Sailor, The Death of Queen Jane, The Effervescing Elephant Effen Bee, The Fair Annie Fairytale Of New York Ferryman, The Fields of Athenry, The Fisherman's Blues Freight Train First of May Galway Races Girl I Left Behind, The Gnome, The Grannia Weal Greenwood Laddie, The Hard Times Haul Away for Rosie Holly Bears a Berry, The (Christmas) Holy Ground, The Hosts of Faery I Don't Know You Anymore I'll Follow You into the Dark I Wish I Was in England Irish Pub, The Irish Rover, The Irish Soldier Laddie Isn't It Grand, Boys? (Look at the Coffin) Jock O' Hazeldean James Connolly Karma Police Kelly's, The Lady in Black Lean and Unwashed Tiffy Long Long Road Lord Franklin Man in the Moon (came down too soon) Marie's Wedding Mary and the Soldier Martinmas Time Missus McGrath More You Pay, The Mountains of Mourne Moving On Song, The Muirsheen Durkin N17 No Time For Love O'-Dark Thirty Old Dun Cow Old Maid in the Garrett Old Man Said to his Daughter Dear, The On Board the Kangaroo Ordinary Man Oro, Oro The Patriot Game Poor Paddy on the Railway Port of Amsterdam Pursuit of Vikings Rain Rambles of Spring, The Red Haired Mary Riffraff Roddy McCorley Rolling Down to Old Maui Sad Songs and Waltzes Sally's Song Saucy Sailor Saucy Ward Set the Controls for the Heart of the Sun Sheep are 'neath the Snow, The Sing, Sing a Song Skibereen Some Say the Devil is Dead The Stache Ten Thousand Miles Away Tennessee This ships going down Those Were The Days Tippin' Along Together for Norseland Town I loved so well, The Two Magicians, The Troll Sat Alone Water is Alright in Tay Wearin' the Britches What a Wonderful World What Did You Learn In School When My Time Comes Where's the Boy Who'll Stop The Rain Whiskey Johnny Wickerman Working Class Hero Ye Jacobites! About the Book of Song
Contents - Sheet Music
Birken Tree, The Boys of Bluehill Bridget O'Malley Bushes and Briars Ca the Yowes to the Knowes Cnoc-An-Ar Come By The Hills Danny Boy The Dark Eyed Sailor The Death of Queen Jane Fair Annie Fields of Athenry Galway Races, The Haul Away for Rosie Holly Bears a Berry, The Irish Rover, The Irish Soldier Laddie Isn't It Grand Boys Mary's Wedding Martinmas Time Mountains of Mourne Old Maid in the Garret Old Dun Cow Good Ship Kangaroo Reel Sheep are 'neath the snow, The Ten thousand Miles Away Dennis Murphy's Polka Bill Sullivan's Polka Britches Full of Stitches, The Drowsy Maggie Foxhunter's Jig Humours of Trim, The Harvest Home Lord Inchiquin Maggie in the Woods Mooncoin, The Mrs McGrath Out on the Ocean Kesh, The Si Bheag Si Mhor