The Medusa Fora

Zuzana wrote:

Maija wrote:There was this one song that I had on a tape years and years ago, called "Only our rivers run free". I can't really remember much about it, who sung it or the lyrics, but I keep thinking that was an intelligent "rebel song".

There is a lovely version of "Only Our Rivers" on the first Planxty album. It's a great song, both in melody and lyrics (lyrics here), more on the sad, nostalgic side than on the rebellious one.

I think I may have a version of this song by Christy Moore somewhere.

Could be the same version, since he was with Planxty

Harald Schmidt aka Paddy from Paddy goes to Holyhead does the song solo too. Dunno why I've never bought an album by him, really.

Zuzana wrote:

Maija wrote:There was this one song that I had on a tape years and years ago, called "Only our rivers run free". I can't really remember much about it, who sung it or the lyrics, but I keep thinking that was an intelligent "rebel song".

There is a lovely version of "Only Our Rivers" on the first Planxty album. It's a great song, both in melody and lyrics (lyrics here), more on the sad, nostalgic side than on the rebellious one.

It's a beautiful version, isn't it? Couldn't agree more. Sad? Yes. Nostalgic? Certainly. But let's not forget the magic element here - it's also an intensely hopeful song - a sense of hope for an improved future.
I particularly love the use of juxtaposition in the lyrics ( a quintessentially 'Celtic / bardic / oral traditon' kinda thingy way of reinforcing the importance of the message on as many different levels as possible in the mind of the listener), such as as the reversals of the natural order of things blossoming, growing, flowing, and dying - such a beautiful song, and such a truly humbling version of it played by Planxty, I'm gonna have to put it on now.

TOSCS wrote:Could be the same version, since he was with Planxty

No I think it's on a Christy album, don't know which one though, but I'm sure I've got it. I know Im not getting it mixed up with Planxty because I haven't got any Planxty albums.

Heather wrote:

TOSCS wrote:Could be the same version, since he was with Planxty

No I think it's on a Christy album, don't know which one though, but I'm sure I've got it. I know Im not getting it mixed up with Planxty because I haven't got any Planxty albums.

Hi Heather... you are correct. It's on "The Time Has Come", Christy's solo effort from 1987. Great album, fine song, and the singer...well, 'nuff said.

Maija wrote:There was this one song that I had on a tape years and years ago, called "Only our rivers run free". I can't really remember much about it, who sung it or the lyrics, but I keep thinking that was an intelligent "rebel song".

Apropos your original comment about "Only Our Rivers", here's a pic of the memorial in Sydney's Waverley Cemetery to the 1798 Uprising. One of the leaders of this rebellion - an amazing man named Michael Dwyer - held out against the enemy for 5 years in the Wicklow Hills; earning him his title "The Wicklow Chief". When finally apprehended, through treachery he was transported to Australia. Som time after his death, and with the construction of this memorial, he and his loving wife's remains were re-interred here by the local Irish community. R.I.P.

Fintan wrote:

Heather wrote:

TOSCS wrote:Could be the same version, since he was with Planxty

No I think it's on a Christy album, don't know which one though, but I'm sure I've got it. I know Im not getting it mixed up with Planxty because I haven't got any Planxty albums.

Hi Heather... you are correct. It's on "The Time Has Come", Christy's solo effort from 1987. Great album, fine song, and the singer...well, 'nuff said.

In that case I do have it.

By reading through this thread it seems to me that the vast majority don't have a clue about Irish Rebel Music. What makes me come to this conclusion is the fact ye are all arguing about the song ONly our rivers. This song written by O'Connell from Fermanagh is probably one of the most well-known and respected rebel ballads of the contempoary age. Ye are all mystified by this song and those who know rebel songs should know this song of by heart. When i play it, it and Joe McDonnell are the songs ye get most [/i]cunis for. Terry O'Neill (Cruncher) has the best version of it btw.

Secondly as someone above pointed out, Rebel songs are much more than singing 'up the ra'. It has a long tration stretching back to Fiach MacHugh in 'Follow me up to Carlow' in teh 1600s right up to the present day. In fact 'Follow me up to Carlow' is still shouted for in many gigs.

I urge ye to download a few 'rebel songs' and don't think they are all like Shane mcGowans 'paddy the public enemy number 1.'

Derry Mucker wrote:...one of the most well-known and respected rebel ballads of the contempoary age...
...should know this song of by heart...
...back to Fiach MacHugh...

It certainly is.
I certainly do. And I play it regularly with an old friend of Christy's.
"Fiach will do what Fiach will dare..."

Derry Mucker wrote:What makes me come to this conclusion is the fact ye are all arguing about the song ONly our rivers.

Arguing? We were simply talking about it. I did once know it by heart, but I must admit that as the years passed by and tiny Maija grew up... she stopped listening to rebel music. All in all my political beliefs have changed and I prefer the "make no war" version of Follow me up to Carlow to the original one.

Derry Mucker wrote:those who know rebel songs should know this song of by heart.

Point taken! as soon as I memorize Millwall Chainsaws' Fuck Off I'll set to it !

Fintan wrote: And I play it regularly with an old friend of Christy's.

I wonder how many people claim to be old friends of Christy's, I know someone aswell who works at Liverpool University. I also know the bloke who wrote "The Peoples Own MP"

Heather wrote:I wonder how many people claim to be old friends of Christy's...

Probably thousands, just like those who claim to know/have known the Pogues... I referred to a musician, now semi-retired, living near me down the mountains a bit.

Heather wrote:...I also know the bloke who wrote "The Peoples Own MP"

Bruce Scott? Nice one. How'd you know him? Not that it matters...

Fintan wrote:

Heather wrote:...I also know the bloke who wrote "The Peoples Own MP"

Bruce Scott? Nice one. How'd you know him? Not that it matters...

Through the music.

I first bumped into him when he was running a session at the Atlantic (a jazz pub) on the dock road in Liverpool around 1997/1998, every Irish musician in Liverpool knows him.

And that's not my only claim to fame....