Moreton Bay (Youghal Harbour)

[dededom]

Damien

No doubt you will be asked to sing at many Australia Day and citizenship ceremonies in the years to come.

Perhaps to add to your Tenterfield Saddler repetoire, you might consider singing "Moreton Bay".

The song tells the story of convicts in the early 1800s in Australia, many of whom were sent out from Ireland.

There is a fine arrangement by John Denver, played with guitar, and is set to a traditional Irish folk ballad called Youghal Harbour with which you may already be familiar. Each verse is the same melody, so it is built with tonal variation etc.

This song was released on the Live at the Sydney Opera House album by John Denver in 1997 (released by RCA and BMG Entertainment as it then was). It is the only album of Denver's that it has been released on. It is a little hard to get.

Perhaps a perfect mix of Irish and Australian history for you?

Might also be good for an Aussie St Patrick's Day concert or two?

*thanks to my Redcliffe muso mates who suggested this after we went to your Norths show on Sat night*

MORETON BAY

One Sunday morning as I was walking
By Brisbane Waters I chance to stray
I heard a convict his fate bewailing
As on the sunny riverbank he lay

I am a native of Erin, Ireland
But banished now from my native shore
They stole me from my independence
And from the maiden whom I do adore

I've been a prisoner at Port Macquarie
At Norfolk Island and Emu Plains
At Castle Hill and Curstune Garbby [?s]
At all these settlements I've been enchained

But of all places of condemnation
And penal stations in New South Wales
To Moreton Bay I have found no equal
Excessive tyranny each day prevails

For three long years I was beastly treated
And heavy irons on my legs I wore
My back from flogging was lacerated
And oft times covered with my crimson gore

And many a man from downright starvation
Lies smouldering now beneath the cave
And Captain Logan he had us mangled
On the triangles of Moreton Bay

Like the Egyptians and ancient Hebrews
We were oppressed under Logan's yore
Till a native black lying bare and ambush
Did deal out tyrant with his mortal stroke

My fellow prisoners be exhilarated
Let all such monsters like death shall find
And when from bondage we're extricated
Our former suffering shall will fade from mind

One Sunday morning as I was walking
By Brisbane Waters I chance to stray
I heard a convict his fate bewailing
As on the sunny riverbank he lay

The original words of Youghal Harbour are below

Youghal Harbor

At Boulavogue, as the sun was setting
O'er bright May meadows of Shelmalier,
A rebel hand set the heather blazing
And brought the neighbors from far and near.
Then Father Murphy, from old Kilcormack,
Spurred up the rocks with a warning cry;
"Arm! Arm!" he cried, "for I've come to lead you,
For Ireland's freedom we fight or die."

He led us on 'gainst the coming soldiers,
The cowardly Yeomen we put to flight;
'Twas at the Harrow the boys of Wexford
Showed Bookey's regiment how men could fight.
Look out for hirelings, King George of England,
Search every kingdom where breathes a slave,
For Father Murphy of the County Wexford
Sweeps o'er the land like a mighty wave.

We took Camolin and Enniscorthy,
And Wexford storming drove out our foes;
'Twas at Slieve Coillte our pikes were reeking
With the crimson stream of the beaten yeos.
At Tubberneering and Ballyellis
Full many a Hessian lay in his gore;
Ah, Father Murphy, had aid come over,
The green flag floated from shore to shore!

At Vinegar Hill, o'er the pleasant Slaney,
Our heroes vainly stood back to back,
And the Yeos at Tullow took Father Murphy
And burned his body upon the rack.
God grant you glory, brave Father Murphy,
And open Heaven to all your men;
The cause that called you may call tomorrow
In another fight for the green again.

[olddantucker]

Looks like a great choice to me - great lyrics, the whole Irish Australian connection and chance for a simply guitar and vocals arrangement that would be perfect for Damien.

[dededom]

Thanks ODT. The John Denver arrangement might be a tad too high (the rolling melody wouldn't work very well going in and out of Damien's falsetto range, so needs to be placed squarely in his traditional tenor range), but it would still work fine transposed down a few tones.

[olddantucker]

Hey - I tracked it down. Bernard Fanning actually does a cover of this on the Ned Kelly soundtrack.

[dededom]

Ooo clever ODT!

Wikipedia says Fanning appeared in the 2003 film Ned Kelly as a musical performer in the bar. I can't remember the detail of the film - I wonder if he sang it in the film?

I also wonder how different the Fanning/Claire Jordan arrangement is to the John Denver version.

[dededom]

Hey ODT, thanks for the link and here is the Bernard Fanning version - www.megaupload.com/?d=9XAAR5PR

It is done in a much more “Irish” style if that makes sense – just strumming spare guitar compared to the more acoustic banjo style of the Denver arrangement. You would want to hear both I think because the Denver version is more melodic/sweeter and more in the style of Waiting on an Angel singing than the rough Irish style that Bernard is doing here (I'm guessing he was in character for the film).

Might be even nicer if you could do your own arrangement with a little more melodic variation in the later stanzas.