This is a great tune and also a lovely song normally sung in Irish. I’m not happy with the description though of hornpipe as it’s nothing like one - it’s more like an air or a 4/4 march played quite slowly.
Relevant Stuff
this piece was done from tune which I got from the Chieftains Long Black Veil. I have no idea what kind of tune it is, hence ‘hornpipe’ (I was thinking ‘march’ but that wasn’t an option).
I think the words to the chorus go like this (spelling not quite sure): is e mo laoch mo ghile mear/is e mo chaesar ghile mear/suan na sean ni bhfuireas (sp.) fein/O chauigh gcein mo ghile mear
Words for Song
Thanks Micel - it’s a pity there’s no category for marches as they do come up in sessions from time to time. You’re correct on the words for the chorus, and after a bit of a search I found the complete song at http://www.twilightbridge.com/hobbies/festivals/patrick/music/barry/moghile.htm - it also plays the melody on the site.
March category
There is no category for marches because there is no set time signature for marches. Some are 2/4, some are 6/8 and some are 4/4.
More Relevance
Wow, I actually learned this beautiful tune just this week, and now noticed it was new here. First, a freind told that in Kerry in the old days people would stand up when the song was sung as a mark of respect to the beautiful stranger across the sea in the song , as you rightly said the young pretender - one of the Stewarts. It was also put forward to be the national anthem for Ireland at one time.
As well, it was the theme tune to the wonderful movie, "Waking Ned Divine." I have the words in Gaelic and phonetics and am trying to learn it. Mary Black also sings it in Gaelic beautifully. I learned the tune from 110 of Ireland’s Best Airs. I play it with a Kerry Low D whistle… Slan,
Mo Ghile Mear
is this tune the same as the parting glass? Its one of the tune in the Ned Devine movie.
Mo Ghile Mear
As I don’t pose to be an expert on the tune, I asked the same question of my freind last week. The answer is no, it is not the same as the parting glass (Sinead O’Connor sings a beautiful version) I was told there is no direct translation, but I believe the Cheiftans use "Hero" and I have also seen "My Gallant Darling". But, the song is dedicated to Bonnie Prince Charles. Type the song in any major search engine and there will be a lot to come up.
Sting
This is Sting’s track in the aforementioned Chieftains album. I believe it’s about Bonnie Prince Charlie. Thinking of this as a hornpipe makes me laugh! 🙂
Now someone should post the title track (The Long Black Veil) as sung by Mick Jaegger. I’m sure it will lovely as a slide. 🙂
Guitar Chords
Could someone please post the guitar chords?
Lyrics & pronounciation
I love this tune, but the trouble is that I can’t sing it because I can’t pronounce the words. Does anyone know where I could find help with that?
also playe on Relativity´s 1st. album. Marvellous one
Isn’t this the same tune as the Scot song "Will Ye No Cam Back Again"?
Sheepdog shaving
It’s also on the Specsavers ‘Sheepdog’ advert sung by Una Palliser.
Gile Mear
Jacobite Song … …As Gaeilge … … An Old March NOT a Hornpipe - it’s nothing like a Hornpipe / Barndance or Set Dance !
Mo Ghile Mear
Everything you need to know will be found everywhere else online but there’s some extra info on how the song got to the one it is today. Seán Ó Riada got lots of different verses from different people around the country and made a collection. When he died, his son Peadar knew that his father loved the tune and because he respected his father, he brought the verses together to be sung by the choir at his father’s funeral. He recorded it with the choir and some other performers which he called Claisceadal Chúil Aodha on a record called Ceol & Cibeal Chúil Aodha. This was the first time the tune was recorded and everyone else from the Chieftains to Mary Black used this version.
Mo Ghile Mear
Tune that the song/polka ‘Spanish Lady’ is based on?
Re: Mo Ghile Mear
Would this be appropriate for a Burns Supper? I feel it has a Scottish flavor to it. Wasn’t Bonnie Prince Charlie a Scot? I bet the crowd would like it. Maybe alongside Skye Boat Song. Just heard a version with a Burns Poem attached by the singer Len Graham. I’ll post it here if it’s OK by Jeremy. https://songoftheisles.com/2013/08/22/over-the-hills-and-far-away-mo-ghile-mear/
Re: Mo Ghile Mear
It’s usually a tune more closely associated with Robert Burns that’s played at a Burns supper. Probably most commonly "A man’s a man for a’ that" https://thesession.org/tunes/4145
Re: Mo Ghile Mear
the words were composed by Aodh Mac Angaill, Charles Stuart’s secretary from Downpatrick Co Down
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