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Dancing Eyes jig

By Sean Ryan

Also known as Billy Caples’s Favourite, Clamp Of Turf, The Clamp Of Turf, The Dancing Eyes.

There are 28 recordings of this tune.

This tune has been recorded together with

Dancing Eyes appears in 1 other tune collection.

Dancing Eyes has been added to 22 tune sets.

Dancing Eyes has been added to 131 tunebooks.

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Two settings

1
X: 1
T: Dancing Eyes
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
G,B,D GBd|cAA BAG|ADD fed|cAG FDC|
B, D/D/D GAB|c/B/AG FGA|d^cd fed|cAF G2 D|
G,B,D GBd|{d}cAA {c}BAG|ADD fed|cAG FDC|
B, DD GAB|{d}c/B/AG FGA|d^cd {fg}fed|{d}cAF G2 D||
GBd {a}gag|f/g/ag fdc|B/B/B d cAA|{Bc}BAG AFD|
GBd gag|f/g/ag fdc|BB/c/d c[AD]F|AGF G2 D|
GBd gag|{a}f/g/ag fdc|{Bc}B2 d cA{B}A|BAG AFD|
GBd gag|(f/g/a)g fdc|(B/c/d)B cAF|AGF G2||
2
X: 2
T: Dancing Eyes
R: jig
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
K: Gmaj
|:D|G,B,D GBd|cAA BAG|AFD fed|cAG FDC|
G,B,/C/D G2 d|cAG FGA|d^cd fed|cAF G2:|
|:D|GBd gba|fag fdc|B2 d cAA|BAG AFD|
GB/c/d gba|f/g/ag fdc|B2 d cAF|AGF G2:|

Ten comments

Dancing Eyes

One of Sean Ryans His trademark seemed to be long descending scales going down to the G string

Gerry’s jig set

Gerry McCann plays this tune in a set in Manchester sessions (and sometimes in Liverpool, perhaps)…

Dancing Eyes/Little House Around the Corner (The House in the Glen - check relevant comments for Gerry’s setting)/Nova Scotia… nice set.

Oh, and he starts Nova Scotia with the anacrusis (the pick-up notes), emphasising and holding the first B for a fraction which gives a nice halt and lift to the rhythm - and catches out many an unsuspecting, visiting guitarist *hee hee*

“The Hidden Ireland:

The First Selection of Irish Traditional Compositions of
Séan Ryan“
Compiled by Brian Ryan

Page 11: “Dancing Eyes”
in G Major

Sean Ryan’s (The Dancing Eyes)

This tune is also on Peter and Angelina Carberry’s album “Memories from the Holla”. I think it’s the first tune on track 9.

Saved from deletion

X: 1
T: The Clamp Of Turf (or do you think they meant “clump”)
M: 6/8
L: 1/8
D: The Bridge Ceili Band
R: jig
K: Gmaj
|: D | G,B,D GBd | cAA BAG | AFD fed | cAG FDC |
G,B,/C/D G2 d | cAG FGA | d^cd fed | cAF G2 :|
|: D | GBd gba | fag fdc | B2 d cAA | BAG AFD |
GB/c/d gba | f/g/ag fdc | B2 d cAF | AGF G2 :|

Clamp as in charcoal clamp? I watched a program on TV recently where they were doing that. They were saying that it had to be supervised the whole time and it takes ages.

“The Clamp of Turf” ~ Definitely “clamp” ~ goodgle it 😉

Thanks Mark… You beat me to it…

“goodgle” ~ what’s a “goodgle”? ~ “google” was the intention…

In some parts “clamp” just means a “store”. So, it might be where you kept your turves for winter. Maybe.

Re: Dancing Eyes

A “ clamp“ of turf is one of a number of Irish colloquial words for a stand or shaped heap of turf sods. A “clamp” is a heap about 3’ round & 3’high. Next size up in turf heap world is a “reek” of turf…. Used as a noun & verb.

You can take the man out of the bog, but…!