This is the 1st time for Take 1 of this to appear. I posted Take 10 in 2005 but now we can put out a better sound quality and so here is a aif file of the same song but a different Take.
thomas moore
minstrel boy
the moreen
irish air
Story behind the song
The music is an old traditional Irish Air called The Moreen. The words are by Thomas Moore, 1779-1852.
This is one of the happy, glorious war songs that Ireland is know for. The other type of song, the county is noted for, is the tragic love song.
This is the 1st time for Take 1 of this to appear. I posted Take 10 in 2005 but now we can put out a better sound quality and so here is a aif file of the same song but a different Take.
This is a traditional Irish that I play on guitar with voice and a keyboard bass.
It was recorded on October 8, 2000, and this is about the last song for me to do on 4 track cassette tape. I had a new digital recorder that I was not familiar with and was wondering, (with the high price of zip discs hat it needed,) how I could ever afford to do enough takes to for me to get it right. Well, this song went to 11 of the cassette, a number of takes I have yet to reach with digital. It has turned out that I don't save the false starts on the digital because it is easier to wind back.
Lyrics
The minstrel boy to the war is gone,
In the ranks of death you'll find him;
His father's sword he hath girded on,
And his wild harp slung behind him.
Land of Song, cried the warrior bard,
Though all the world betrays thee,
One sword, at least, thy right shall guard,
One faithful harp shall praise thee.
The Minstrel fell! But the foeman's chain
Could not bring that proud soul under;
The harp he lov'd ne'er spoke again,
For he tore its chords asunder;
And said No chains shall sulley thee,
Thou soul of love and bravery,
Thy songs were made for the pure and free
They shall never sound in slavery.