Thank God We’re Surrounded By Water jig

The Rakes Of Kildare in G which gives that old warhorse a new lease of life. A great flute jig. This comes from a recording of the great man himself, Willie Clancy. The title comes from the Kane sisters from Galway. I’ve used it, because the Am Rakes is already in the database.

The same title is also used for this tune by The Lahawns (Andrew MacNamara et. al.) on their “Live at Lena’s” CD. They play it first as a waltz and then as a jig. Great tune, great title.

Here’s how Liz and Yvonne Kane play it on their cd, The Well Tempered Bow.

T: Thank God We

Thanks, Will. A mere seven hours ago I was wondering where I was going to find time to figure out the Kane Sisters’ version.

Dominic Behan’s song to this air is the source of the title. The chorus:

The sea, oh the sea is the gradh geal mo croide
Long may it stay between England and me
It’s a sure guarantee that some hour we’ll be free
Oh! thank God we’re surrounded by water

Also similar to this tune: https://thesession.org/tunes/878

Key signature: A Dorian
Submitted on May 25th 2001 by Jeremy.
https://thesession.org/tunes/84

I would interpret and play the series of notes given above, as “Thank God We’re Surrounded by Water”, in G Dorian…

Tommy Kearney & Jimmy Power have a nice setting of this tune on “The Master Pipers: Volume 2”. They play it just after Cook in the Kitchen.

On “The Road from Ballinakill” CD, Mike Rafferty recorded this on the pipes. He calls it the Rakes of Kildare, but I wouldn’t add it as an alternative title.

😉 ~ another way with it… So many names and ways…

Key signature: g minor
Submitted on August 14th 2007 by riada.
https://thesession.org/tunes/7608

is that song also called “thank god were surrounded by water”….because if it is i want to learn it…love the chorus!!!!:]

X: 3
T: Galbally Farmer, The
T: Rakes of Kildare
S: Source for notated version: piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, west Clare) [Mitchell].
S: http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/GAA_GAL.htm
R: Jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: DDor
|: C |\
ADD DCD | EGG A2 B | cBc AcA | GED C2 A, |
D3 DCD | EGG A2 B | cBA GEC | D3 D2 :|
|: G |\
Add dcd | dcd e2 d | cBc AcA | GED CEG |
Add dcd | dcd e2 d | cBA GEC | D3 D2 :|

This would have been transcribed from a flat set. Here it is again tranposed up a step to E Dorian, for an easier comparision with previous transcription…

X: 4
T: Galbally Farmer, The
T: Rakes of Kildare
S: Source for notated version: piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, west Clare) [Mitchell].
S: http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/GAA_GAL.htm
N: transposed from D Dorian to A Dorian
R: Jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: EDor
|: D |\
BEE EDE | FAA B2 c | dcd BdB | AFE D2 B, |
E3 EDE | FAA B2 c | dcB AFD | E3 E2 :|
|: A |\
Bee ede | ede f2 e | dcd BdB | AFE DFA |
Bee ede | ede f2 e | dcB AFD | E3 E2 :|

X: 5
T: Galbally Farmer
T: Rakes of Kildare
S: “Roche Collection of Traditional Irish Music I”, 1912
N: from page 39, tune # 87: “The Galbally Farmer” or “The Rakes of Kildare”
S: “Roche Collection of Traditional Irish Music II”
N: This was given in the book in a set with “Banish Misfortune”, suspected for a specific dance set?
L: 1/8
M: 6/8
R: jig
K: G Dorian
|: D |\
DGG GFG | Add d2 e | fef ded | cAG F2 D |
DGG GFG | Add d2 e | fed cAF | G3 G2 :|
|: g |\
gdg gdg | gab a2 g | fef ded | cAG FGA |
B3- BAG | Add d2 e | fed cAF | G3 G2 :|

X: 6
T: Galbally Farmer, The
T: Rakes of Kildare
S: Source for notated version: piper Willie Clancy (1918-1973, Miltown Malbay, west Clare) [Mitchell].
S: http://www.ibiblio.org/fiddlers/GAA_GAL.htm
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
R: jig
K: GDor
|: F |\
dGG GFG | Acc d2 e | fef dfd | cAG F2 D |
G3 GFG | Acc d2 e | fed cAF | G3 G2 :|
|: c |\
dgg gfg | gfg a2 g | fef dfd | cAG FAc |
dgg gfg | gfg a2 g | fed cAF | G3 G2 :|

Having gone through the ringer lately, too many blows to give a full account of, I’ve needed some musical distractions, this one included. I’ve been enjoying giving it a Major take in several keys and on more than one instrument, and it has been a kick. I haven’t managed to find a recording of it in Major, and I so would have liked to hear one by Willie Clancy, if there is one, or the Kane sisters, but so far there’s only me moving what I usually play from Dorian to Major, and enjoying it. But what’s new there, eh?

It’s always good to revisit old friends, as “The Rakes of Kildare”, “The Galbally Farmer” is, a long association across two continents and many ways. Unlike some, I never tire of a tune and this one is one I still enjoy, though I’m also enjoying it in Major too, thanks to an email from one friend to this transcription of a couple of others, Kenny’s and Will’s, and visiting it elsewhere again, from Alaska to Newfoundland, Tory Island to Germany and down to Australasia too… A good tune gets around…

P.S. ~ and no surprise, whatever the take, I prefer it with the second ending returning to the last 4 bars of the A-part, such sweet agreement, and great for dancing too…

is taken from the playing of Paul O’Shaughnessy:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AXr5mRGq20w

play video

It’s not a particular take, but a mixture with a couple of variations incorporated.
Note bars 9 and 25, where he goes to the B instead of the usual DGG figure. This is also the reason why I wrote it out in full; otherwise it would have become somewhat confusing with the alternate endings, I think.

Sebastian-What a great clip. it reminds me of the way Seamus Ennis or Bobby Casey would spin variation after variation, effortlessly stretching a 16 bar jig out for 3-4 minutes,or more, without repeating themselves.

Version #6 is mostly based on David Power’s playing of the tune. His version has a nicer second part.

Not a good tune to play in South West England right now.

Robin Williamson has a setting of this in his fiddle book that occupies that netherworld between G major and G mix. He titles it Rakes of Kildare but that’s usually played in A dorian of course. Robbie’s version is similar to the one in O"Neill’s but with a few more F naturals. I don’t totally trust my memory, but once I get all my things out of storage I’ll post his version from the dots.

It’s also the tune to the humorous song The Kilkenny Louse House.
’The start of me downfall, I went to the door
And strayed on me way through sweet Carrick-on-Suir…."

The is very close to the Kane Sister’s version from ‘The Well Tempered Bow’

Originally X: 4
# Added by ceolachan - May 3rd, 2010

= “The Galbally Farmer” ~ Willie Clancy’s take transposed to G Dorian

https://youtu.be/UCWF389-wi8

play video

Transcribed from Willie Clancy’s playing on the Farewell to Lissycasey CD, where it is called the Rakes of Kildare. This 1960’s recording of Willie also appeared as the Rakes of Kildair on the Smithsonian’s Folkways LP of Traditional Music of Ireland vol.2