Page 179
Momus sang these words in the recording. The 2nd and 3rd verses given here are not found in the lyrics as printed in Volume I and there are many other small differences.
Track 15
Samhain, MMVIII
TdB Bardic Circle
Spancil Hill
by trad
Last night as I lay dreaming of pleasant days gone by
My mind being bent on rambling to Ireland I did fly
I stepped aboard a vision and I followed with a will
When next I came to anchor at the cross of Spancil hill
Delighted by the novelty, enchanted by the scene
where in my early boyhood, where often I had been
I thought I heard a murmur and I think I hear it still
its a little stream of water that flows by Spancilhill
to amuse a passing fancy I lay down on the ground
and all my school companions were shortly gathered around
When we were home returning, we would dance with good will
To Martin Monahan's music, at the cross at Spancilhill
It was on the 23rd of June the day before the fair
When Ireland’s sons and daughters and the friends assembled there
The young, the old, the brave and the bold their duty to fulfill
At the parish church at Clooney, just a mile from Spancilhill
I went to see my neighbors and to hear what they might say
The old ones were all dead and gone, the young one’s turning grey
I met with the tailor Quincey, he’s a bold as ever still
Sure he used to mend my britches when I lived at Spancilhill
I paid a flying visit to my first and only love
She’s as faie as any lily and as gentle as a dove
She threw her arms around me saying “Johnny I love you still"
Oh she was a farmers daughter and the pride of Spancil Hill
Well I dreamt I held and kissed her as in the days of yore
She said, "Johnny you’re only joking as many’s the time before"
Well the cock he crew in the morning he crew both loud and shrill
And I woke in California, many miles from Spancil Hill.
My mind being bent on rambling to Ireland I did fly
I stepped aboard a vision and I followed with a will
When next I came to anchor at the cross of Spancil hill
Delighted by the novelty, enchanted by the scene
where in my early boyhood, where often I had been
I thought I heard a murmur and I think I hear it still
its a little stream of water that flows by Spancilhill
to amuse a passing fancy I lay down on the ground
and all my school companions were shortly gathered around
When we were home returning, we would dance with good will
To Martin Monahan's music, at the cross at Spancilhill
It was on the 23rd of June the day before the fair
When Ireland’s sons and daughters and the friends assembled there
The young, the old, the brave and the bold their duty to fulfill
At the parish church at Clooney, just a mile from Spancilhill
I went to see my neighbors and to hear what they might say
The old ones were all dead and gone, the young one’s turning grey
I met with the tailor Quincey, he’s a bold as ever still
Sure he used to mend my britches when I lived at Spancilhill
I paid a flying visit to my first and only love
She’s as faie as any lily and as gentle as a dove
She threw her arms around me saying “Johnny I love you still"
Oh she was a farmers daughter and the pride of Spancil Hill
Well I dreamt I held and kissed her as in the days of yore
She said, "Johnny you’re only joking as many’s the time before"
Well the cock he crew in the morning he crew both loud and shrill
And I woke in California, many miles from Spancil Hill.