ChristmaS star

Christmas in Killarney

Chorus:

The holly green, the ivy green

The prettiest picture you’ve ever seen

It’s Christmas in Killarney

With all of the folks at home

It’s nice, ya know, to kiss your beau

While cuddling under the mistletoe

Santa Clause, you know, of course

is one of the boys from home

Verse 1:

The door is always open

The neighbours pay a call

And Father John, before he’s gone

Will bless the ouse an’ all

Our hearts are light, our spirits bright

We’ll celebrate our joy tonight

It’s Christmas in Killarney

With all of the folks at home

Chorus:

Verse 2:

We’ll decorate the Christmas tree

When all the family’s here

Around the roaring fire

We’ll raise a cup of cheer

There’s gifts to bring and songs to sing

And laughs to make the rafters ring

It’s Christmas in Killarney

With all of the folks at home

It’s Christmas in Killarney

With all of the folks at home

Chorus:

Verse 3:

We’ll take the horse and sleigh an’ all

Across the fields of snow

Listening to the jingle bells, everywhere we go

How grand it feels to click your heels

and dance away to the jigs and reels

It’s Christmas in Killarney

With all of the folks at home

The holly green, the ivy green

The prettiest picture you’ve ever seen

Handing you no Blarney

No matter where you roam

It’s Christmas in Killarney

With all of the folks at home

-John Redmond, James Cavanaugh & Frank Weldon ©1950

Oíche Chiúin

Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé

Cách ‘na suan, dís araon

Dís is dílse ‘faire le spéis

Naíon beag, leanbh ceansa ‘gus caomh

Críost, ‘na chodhladh go sámh, Críost, ‘na chodhladh go sámh

Silent night, holy night

All is calm, all is bright

Round yon virgin, mother and child

Holy infant, so tender and mild

Sleep in heavenly peace, sleep in heavenly peace

Oíche chiúin, oíche Mhic Dé

Aoirí ar dtús chuala ‘n scéal

Allelúia aingeal ag glaoch

Cantain suairc i ngar is i gcéin

Críost an Slánaitheoir Féin, Críost an Slánaitheoir Féin.

-Trad.

Joy to the World

Joy to the world, the Lord has come

Let earth receive her King

Let every heart prepare Him room

And heaven and nature sing, and heaven and nature sing

And heaven, and heaven and nature sing

Joy to the world, the Saviour reigns

Let men their songs employ

While fields and floods, rocks hills and plains

Repeat the sounding joy, Repeat the sounding joy

Repeat, repeat the sounding joy

Let the whole earth His love proclaim

With all her different tongues

And spread the honours of His name

The angel voices sing, the angel voices sing

The angel, the angel voices sing

He rules the world with truth and grace

and makes the nations prove

The glories of His righteousness

And wonders of His love, and wonders of His love

And wonders, and wonders of His love

- Isaac Watts

Auld Stewarts of Forthergill by James Stewart Robertson

The Kerry Christmas Carol

Brush the floor and clean the hearth

And set the fire to keep

For they might visit us tonight

While all the world’s asleep

Don’t blow the tall white candle out

But leave it burning bright

So that they’ll know they’re welcome here

This holy Christmas night

Leave out the bread and meat for them

And sweet milk for the Child

And they will bless the fire that baked

And, too, the hands that toiled

For Joseph will be travel-tired

And Mary pale and wan

and they can sleep a little while

Before they journey on

They will be weary of the road

And rest will comfort them

For it must be many a lonely mile

From here to Bethlehem

Oh, long the road they have to go

The bad mile with the good

‘Til the journey ends in Calvary

Beneath a cross of wood

Leave the door upon the latch

And set the fire to keep

And pray they’ll rest with us tonight

When all the world’s asleep.

-Sigerson Clifford.

Tàladh Chrìosda

Mo Ghaol, mo ghràdh, is m’fheudail thu

M’ionntas ùr is m’èibhneas thu

Mo mhacan àluinn ceutach thu

Cha ‘n fhiu mi fhèin bhi nad’dhàil

Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah

Ged is leanamh dìblidh thu

Cinnteach ‘s Righ nan Righrean thu

‘S tu ‘n t-oighre dligheach, firinneach

Air Rioghachd Dhè nan gràs

Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah

Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah

Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah.

Christmas Star

Christmas star is strong tonight

Shining light upon us

And in the night, there is faith

We’ll embrace those around us

Chorus:

Ease the pain when others fall

He with the loving name

Light shines in on the troubled soul

Peace will come from within

Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah

Oh, the season’s rushing past

Dream holds fast inside of us

Like a burning light of the Christmas star

Fill each heart with solace

Chorus:

Ease the pain when others fall

He with the loving name

Light shines in on the troubled soul

Peace will come from within

Peace must come from within

Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah, Alleluiah…

-Heather Rankin - Backstreet Music Limited.

There’s Still my Joy

I took my tree down to the shore

The garland and the silver star

To find my peace, and grieve no more

To heal this place inside my heart

On every branch, I laid some bread

And hungry birds filled up the sky

They rang like bells, around my head

They sang my spirit back to life

Chorus:

One tiny child can change the world

One shining light, can show the way

Through all my tears, for what I’ve lost

There’s still my joy, there’s still my joy

For Christmas day

The snow comes down on empty sand

There’s tinsel moonlight on the waves

My soul was lost, but here I am

So this must be amazing grace

Chorus:

There’s still my joy, for Christmas day.

-Beth Nielson Chapman, Matthew Charles Rollings, Melissa Toni Manchester.

©Universal Music Publishing Group

KAREN SCHAUBEN PUBLISHING ADMINISTRATION,

BMG Rights Management.

Auld Lang Syne

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And never brought to mind?

Should auld acquaintance be forgot

And auld lang Syne?

Chorus:

For auld lang Syne, my Jo

For auld lang Syne

We’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet

For auld lang Syne

And surely ye’ll be your pint stoop

And surely I’ll be mine

And we’ll tak’ a cup o’ kindness yet

For auld lang Syne

Chorus:

We twa have run aboot the braes

And pulled the gowans fine

But we’ve wander’d mony a weary fit

Sin’ auld lang Syne

Chorus:

And there’s a hand, my trusty fiere!

And gie’s a hand o’ thine!

And we’ll tak’ a right good willie-waught

For auld lang Syne

Chorus:

-Robert Burns.

rise Up

Sweet Lover of Mine

As I came o’er by Bonny Moor Hill,

Every rose grows bonny in time,

I met a wee lass and they called her Nell,

Longing to be a sweet lover of mine.

It’s questions three I’ll ask of thee,

Every rose grows bonny in time,

It’s questions three, you must answer me,

Before you’ll be a sweet lover of mine.

You must make me a cambric shirt,

Every rose grows bonny in time,

Without one stitch of your needle work,

Before you’ll be a sweet lover of mine.

Then wash it down in yonder well,

Every rose grows bonny in time,

Where water ne’er ran, or rain never fell,

Before you’ll be a sweet lover of mine.

Then dry it out on yonder thorn,

Every rose grows bonny in time,

Where blossom ne’er bloomed since Adam was born,

Before you’ll be a sweet lover of mine.

You must get me an acre of land,

Every rose grows bonny in time,

Between the salt sea and sea water strand,

Before you’ll be a sweet lover of mine.

Then plough it all with an auld ram’s horn,

Every rose grows bonny in time,

Then sow it o’er with one grain of corn,

Before you’ll be a sweet lover of mine.

You must sheer it with a sickle of leather,

Every rose grows bonny in time,

Then bind it up with a peacock’s feather,

Before you’ll be a sweet lover of mine.

Then stook it o’er yonder sea,

Every rose grows bonny in time,

And bring the shell sheaf dry unto me,

Before you’ll be a sweet lover of mine.

When you’ve done and finished your work,

Every rose grows bonny in time,

You may call to me for your cambric shirt,

Then you’ll be a sweet lover of mine.

The Banks of Sweet Dundee

It's of a farmer's daughter, so beautiful I'm told.

Her parents died and left her five hundred pounds in gold.

She lived all with her uncle, was the cause of all her woe,

So, soon you’ll hear this maid so fair that caused his overthrow.

Her uncle had a ploughboy young Mary loved fair well

‘Twas in her uncle's garden some tales of love they'd tell.

But there was a wealthy squire, who oft her came to see

But still she loved her ploughboy on the banks of sweet Dundee.

‘Twas early one May morning, when Mary's uncle rose,

Straight away to Mary's room so speedily did go;

“It's rise you up young Mary, a lady you will be,

The squire's waiting for you on the Banks of Sweet Dundee.”

“Oh, I don't want your squires, nor lords, or dukes likewise,

Young Willie he appeared to me like diamonds in my eyes.”

“Begone, unruly female, you ne'er shall happy be,

For I will banish William from the banks of sweet Dundee.“

The press gang came to William when he was all alone,

He boldly fought for liberty though there was ten to one;

The blood it flew in torrents. “Oh kill me now,” said he,

“I would rather die for Mary on the Banks of Sweet Dundee.”

This maid one day was walking, lamenting for her love,

She met the wealthy squire down in her uncle's grove.

He put his arms around her, “Stand off, stand off,” said she;

“You sent the only lad I love from the banks of sweet Dundee.“

He clashed his arms around her and tried to throw her down;

Two pistols and a sword she spied beneath his morning gown.

Young Mary took the pistols and the sword he used so free;

And she did fire and shot the squire on the banks of sweet Dundee.

Her uncle overheard, and hastened to the ground,

“Oh since you killed the squire, I'll give you your death wound!”

“Stand off!” oh then, young Mary cried, “undaunted I will be!”

The sword she drew and her uncle slew on the banks of sweet Dundee.

Young William he was sent for and quickly did return,

As soon as he came back again young Mary ceased to mourn;

The day it was appointed, they joined their hands so free,

And now they live in splendour on the Banks of Sweet Dundee.

The Wife of Usher’s Well

There was a woman and she lived alone,

Babies, she had three;

She sent them away to the north country,

To learn their grammarie.

They’d not been gone but a very short time,

Scarcely six weeks to the day,

When death, cold death, spread through the land,

And swept them babes away.

She prayed to the Lord, in Heaven above;

Wearing a starry crown,

“Oh, send to me my three little babes;

Tonight, or in the morning soon.”

It was very close to Christmas time,

The nights was cold and long,

And the very next morning, at the break of day,

Them babes come a-running home.

She set the table for them to eat,

Upon it, spread bread and wine.

“Come eat, come drink, my three little babes;

Come eat, come drink, of mine.”

“Oh, mother, we can’t eat your bread;

Neither can we drink your wine,

For tomorrow morning, at the break of day,

Our Saviour we must join.”

She made the bed in the back-most room,

Upon it, she spread a sheet,

Upon the top, a golden spread,

For to help them babes asleep.

“Rise up, rise up!”, said the eldest one,

“Rise up, rise up!”, said she,

For tomorrow morning, at the break of day,

Our saviour we must see.

“Cold clods of clay roll o’er our heads,

Green grass grows on our feet,

And thy sweet tears, my mother dear,

Will wet our winding sheet.”

Neillí Pluincéad

A Neilí, an chúil chraobhaigh,

Bhfuil do dhá shúil ar dháth

An fhéir ghlais,

'S tú a' féachaint gach lá,

Ar na bréag-bhfuil mé rá,

Tú ghoil na bhfear

Ó Ard-Mhacha bréige,

Fuair clú-mhór ó Ghaolaibh

Le tréana do lámh.

Ach a cheannsacht chiúin chéile,

Más léir leatsa-’n spórt

Ó-ní-bheidh tú gan ceol,

Dá gcloisfinn uait scéala,

Ghluaisfinn do 'd fhéachaint a phéirlin an chúil bhreá

Le-d’ ghruadh ar dháth na gcaortha,

Ós tú-a fuair an bua

Thar na céadaibh de mhnáibh.

Lady Diamond

There lived a king, and a glorious king,

And a king of noble fame

And he had daughters only one

Lady Diamond was her name, her name,

Lady Diamond was her name.

She had a boy, a kitchen boy, 

And a boy of muckle scorn,

But she loved him deep and she loved him high,

As the grass grows through the corn, the corn,

As the grass grows through the corn.

And it fell about a winter’s night

The king could get no rest 

And-he’s come-up to his daughter dear

Just like some wandering ghost, a ghost

Just like some wandering ghost

“Rise up, rise up out of your bed,

Rise up, put on your gown,

Come tell to me, my Diamond dear,

To whom you grow so round, so round,

To whom you grow so round.”

“Is it a baron or a lord

Or a man of high degree?

Come tell to me, my Diamond dear

And I pray don't lie to me, to me,

And I pray don't lie (triplet down) to me.”

“Well it's not a baron, nor a lord,

Nor a man of high degree,

But it's my darling kitchen boy

Where but I lie to thee, to thee, 

Where but I lie to thee.”

Oh come to me my merry men all,

By thirty and by three,

And bring to me this kitchen boy,

We’ll murder him secretly.

And they’ve torn the heart from out of his breast,

Placed it in a cup of gold,

Presented it to his Diamond dear, 

For she was both stout and bold, so bold,

She was both stout and bold

So she's taken up his bonny heart

And placed it by her own,

And she's washed it with her falling tears

And by morning she was gone.

Oh, where were you my merry men all

That I give meat and wage

Could you not stay my cruel hand

When I was in a rage, a rage,

When I was in a rage.

For gone is all my heart’s delight,

Oh, gone is all my joy,

For my own dear Diamond, she is dead,

Likewise, my kitchen boy.

light up the dark

Canadee-i-o

It’s of a fair and handsome girl, she’s all in her tender years

She fell in love with a sailor boy and it’s true that she loved him well

For to go off to sea with him, like she did not know how

She longed to see that seaport town, called ‘Canadee-i-o’

So she bargained with a young sailor boy, it’s all for a piece of gold

Straightway then he led her all down into the hold

Saying, “I’ll dress you up in sailor’s clothes, you’re jacket shall be blue,

You’ll see that seaport town, called ‘Canadee-i-o”

Now, when the other sailors heard the news, they fell into a rage

And with all the whole ship’s company they were willing to engage

Saying, “we’ll tie her hands and feet, me boys, overboard we’ll throw her,

She’ll never see that seaport town, called ‘Canadee-i-o”

Now, when the captain he’s heard the news, he too fell in a rage

And with all the whole ship’s company, he was willing to engage

Saying, “she’ll stay all in sailor’s clothes, her collar shall be blue,

She’ll see that seaport town, called Canadee-i-o”

Now, when they came down to Canada, scarcely above half a year

She’s married this bold captain, who called her his dear

So, if the sailors prove false to you, the captain might be true

To see the honour that I have gained, by the wearing of the blue

Set You Free

If you did, oh if you did, even if you did

Been where you shouldn’t have been,

Seen what you shouldn’t have seen,

Dreamed what you shouldn’t have dreamed,

That doesn’t mean you have to be locked up here forever

I’m gonna set you free

If you did, oh if you did, even if you did

Done what you shouldn’t have done,

Run when you shouldn’t have run,

Lost when you shouldn’t have won,

That doesn’t mean you have to be paying the price forever,

I’m gonna set you free

If you did, oh if you did, even if you did,

Strayed from the beaten track,

maybe you never got back,

Went in off the black, t

hat doesn’t meant you have to be lying around here forever,

I’m gonna set you free

If you did, oh if you did, even if you did,

Suffered from a broken heart, got off to a poor start,

Maybe you fell apart,

That doesn’t mean you have to be locked up here forever,

I’m gonna set you free

If you did, oh if you did, even if you did

Known what you shouldn’t have known,

Shown what you shouldn’t have shown,

Thrown what you shouldn’t have thrown,

That doesn’t mean you have to be paying the price forever

If you did, oh if you did, even if you did

Been where you shouldn’t have been,

Seen what you shouldn’t have seen,

Dreamed what you shouldn’t have been,

That doesn’t mean you have to be locked up here forever

I’m gonna set you free

Do You Love an Apple?

Do you love an apple, do you love a pear,

Do you love a laddie with curly brown hair?

And still, I love him I can’t deny him,

I’ll be with him wherever he goes

Before I got married I wore a black shawl,

But since I got married I wear bugger all

Ah but still, I love him I can’t deny him

And I’ll be with him wherever he goes

He stood at the corner, a fag in his mouth

Two hands in his pockets he whistled me out

Ah but still, I love him I can’t deny him

And I’ll be with him wherever he goes

He works at the pier for nine bob a week

On Saturday night he comes rolling home drunk

Ah but still, I love him I can’t deny him

And I’ll be with him wherever he goes

Before I got married I’d sport and I’d play

But now, sure the cradle gets in me way

Ah but still, I love him I can’t deny him

And I’ll be with him wherever he goes

Do you love an apple, do you love a pear,

Do you love a laddie with curly brown hair?

And still, I love him I can’t deny him,

I’ll be with him wherever he goes

Peter’s Dream

I still get up before the day breaks, I still walk down to the shore

I watch the sunrise from the eastern ocean, but I don’t sail to meet anymore

How could they have let this happen? We saw it coming years ago

The greedy ships kept getting bigger and bigger

And the sonar told them where to go

Chorus:

Lastnight, I dreamed that I was sailing out on the sea of Gallilee

We cast our nets upon the water and Jesus pulled them in with me

Where am I gonna go now? What about this ship I own?

What about this old piano? What about my father’s bones?

(Chorus)

Someone sang an old sea chanty. Neally told a mainland joke

Kelly cursed and swore until his voice gave out,

And then he asked me for a smoke

Then he took his father’s shotgun, went to the harbour through the town

He fired fourteen times, woke everyone up and we all watched that boat go down

(Chorus x 2)

Get Me Through December

How pale is the sky that brings forth the rain?

As the changing of seasons prepares me again

For the long bitter nights and the wild winter’s day,

My heart has grown cold, my love store away

I’ve been to the mountains, left my tracks in the snow

Where souls have been lost and the walking wounded go

I’ve taken the pain no girl should endure,

But faith can move mountains, of that I am sure (x2)

Chorus:

Just get me through December, a promise I’ll remember

Just get me through December, so I can start again

There’s no divine purpose that brings freedom from sin

And peace is a gift that must come from within

I’ve looked for the love that will bring me to rest,

Feeding this hunger that beats in my chest (x3)

(Chorus)

Trouble in the Fields

Baby, I know that we’ve got trouble in the fields,

When the bankers swarm like locust out there, turning away our yield

The trains roll by our silos, silver in the rain

They leave our pockets full of nothing, but our dreams and the golden grain

Have you seen the folks in line, downtown at the station?

They’re all buying their ticket out and talkin’ the great depression

Our parents had their hard times fifty years ago

When they stood out in these empty fields, in dust as deep as snow

Chorus:

And all this trouble in our fields, if this rain can fall, these wounds can heal

They’ll never take our native soil,

And if we sell that new John Deere, we’ll work these crops with sweat and tears

You’ll be the mule, I’ll be the plough, come harvest time, we’ll work it out

There’s still a lot of love, here in these troubled fields

There’s a book upon the shelf about the dustbowl days,

And there’s a little bit of you and a little bit of me in the photos on every page

Now our children live in the city and they rest upon our shoulders,

They never want the rain to fall, or the weather to get colder

(Chorus)