The lyrics to the song The Mountains of Mourne (originally spelt The Mountains o' Mourne) were written by Irish musician
Percy French (1854–1920). The music was adapted by
Houston Collisson (1865–1920) from the traditional
Irish folk tune "Carrigdonn" or "Carrigdhoun".[1][2] The latter had been similarly used by
Thomas Moore (1779–1852) for his song Bendemeer's Stream.
The song is a whimsical look at the styles, attitudes and fashions of late nineteenth-century London as seen from the point of view of an emigrant labourer from a village near the Mourne Mountains. It is written as a message to the narrator's true love at home. The "sweep down to the sea" refrain was inspired by the view of the mountains from
Skerries in north
County Dublin.[3] It contrasts the artificial attractions of the city with the more natural beauty of his homeland.
Notable versions
During
World War I, the song Old Gallipoli's A Wonderful Place used phrases from this song as a basis for some of its verses. Verses in the Gallipoli song include: "At least when I asked them, that's what they told me" and "Where the old Gallipoli sweeps down to the sea".
Singer-songwriter
Don McLean recorded a version titled Mountains o' Mourne on Playin' Favorites in 1973, which reached number two on the
Irish Singles Chart,[4] and appears on several of his "Greatest Hits" collections.
In 1973,
Frank Hyde covered the song on his first album, Frank Hyde Sings.
Folk singer
Charlie King recorded the song on his album Somebody's Story in 1979.
The song was referenced ("Where the Mountains of Mourne come down to the sea, is such a long, long way from Tipperary") in 1979 on the title track of Black Rose: A Rock Legend, the ninth studio album by Irish
rock band
Thin Lizzy
The song was recorded by
Tarkio, an
alt-country band led by
Colin Meloy, later of
The Decemberists for their EP Sea Songs for Landlocked Sailors in 1998, and included on Omnibus, a collection of Tarkio's recordings released by
Kill Rock Stars in 2006.
Finbar Furey covered the song on the album Chasing Moonlight: Love Songs of Ireland in 2003.
In 2008,
Celtic Thunder released the song on their eponymous debut album. Their recording is adapted from
Don McLean's version of the song and performed by
Keith Harkin.
Lyrics
The Mountains o' Mourne
by Percy French (1902)
Oh, Mary, this London's a wonderful sight,
With people all working by day and by night.
Sure, they don't sow potatoes, nor barley, nor wheat,
But there's gangs of them digging for gold in the street.
At least when I asked them that's what I was told,
So I just took a hand at this digging for gold,
But for all that I found there I might as well be
Where the Mountains o' Mourne sweep down to the sea.
I believe that when writing a wish you expressed
As to how the fine ladies in London are dressed,
Well if you'll believe me, when asked to a ball,
They don't wear no top to their dresses at all.
Oh I've seen them meself and you could not in truth,
Say if they were bound for a ball or a bath.
Don't be starting such fashions, now, Mary, mo chroí,
Where the Mountains o' Mourne sweep down to the sea.
I've seen England's king from the top of a bus
And I've never known him, but he means to know us.
And tho' by the Saxon we once were oppressed,
Still I cheered, God forgive me, I cheered with the rest.
And now that he's visited Erin's green shore
We'll be much better friends than we've been heretofore
When we've got all we want, we're as quiet as can be
Where the Mountains o' Mourne sweep down to the sea.
You remember young Peter O'Loughlin, of course,
Well, now he is here at the head of the Force.
I met him today, I was crossing the Strand,
And he stopped the whole street with a wave of his hand.
And there we stood talkin' of days that are gone,
While the whole population of London looked on.
But for all these great powers he's wishful like me,
To be back where the dark Mournes sweep down to the sea.
There's beautiful girls here, oh, never you mind,
With beautiful shapes nature never designed,
And lovely complexions all roses and cream,
But let me remark with regard to the same
That if of those roses you ventured to sip,
The colours might all come away on your lip,
So I'll wait for the wild rose that's waiting for me
In the place where the dark Mourne sweep down to the sea.
References
^Tongue, Alan (1990). A Picture of Percy French. Greystone Books. p. 46.
ISBN1 870157 117.
^Folksongs & Ballads Popular in Ireland, Loesberg, p. 63.