Galway Bay waltz

Our favourite takes on this one are by Dolores Keane on “Sail Óg Rua” and Frank Harte on “The Hungry Voice: The Song Legacy of Ireland’s Great Hunger”…

http://sniff.numachi.com/pages/tiGALWYBA2.html
http://www.contemplator.com/ireland/galway.html

http://www.irishmusicreview.com/fharte3.htm

“ ~ My Own Dear Galway Bay was composed by Francis A. Fahy who emigrated from Kinvara to London in 1873 and wrote a number of other popular pieces, including The Old Plaid Shawl.” ~ Geoff Wallis, written for Musical Traditions

& here is another transcription in A Major, with ‘suggested’ chords, gleaned from the Internet ~

X: 2
T: My Own Dear Galway Bay
M: 3/4
C: Francis A. Fahy
R: waltz
L: 1/8
Z: Alf warnock
K: A Major
E2 |\
“A” A,4 C2 | “C#m” E4 A2 | “D” F3 E F2 | “A” E2 C2 B,2 |
“C#m” C3 B, C2 | “D” A,4 A,2 | “A” A,6 - | A,4 C2 |
E4 E2 | “E7” B4 G2 | “A” A4 C2 | “D” D4 F2 |
F4 A2 | A2 G2 F2 | “E7” E6 - | E6 |
E4 E2 | “Bm” B4 G2 | “A” A4 C2 | “D” D4 F2 |
F4 A2 | A2 G2 F2 | “E7” E6 - | E4 E2 |
“A” A,4 C2 | “E” E4 A2 | “D” F3 E F2 | “A” E2 C2 B,2 |
C3 B, C2 | “D” A,4 A,2 | “A” A,6 - | A,6 |]

~ /discussions/16107

Someone had just requested this in the ‘discussions’ and as I was reading it, it went “POOF!” Dear ol’ Muse had actually just added the previous cut-and-paste when suddenly it was no more… So, here it is two-fold…

Muse’s words ~ “John Chambers has this waltz”

This is one of the greatest waltzes and such a contrast to the other Bing Crosby version that’s been murdered by so many drunks down through the years. I think it was Dolores Keane that I first heard sing this some 20 or so years ago and what a performance that was with a great singer, great melody and superb lyrics. Rather than giving a link to the song, I’ve pasted it in below to encourage any “would be singers” out there to learn and give it an airing at their local session.


My Own Dear Galway Bay
(Frank Fahy)

It’s far away I am today
from scenes I roamed a boy
And long ago the hour, I know
I first saw Illinois
Not time nor tide nor water wide
could wean my heart away
But straight and true ’twill fly to you
my own dear Galway Bay

My chosen bride is by my side
her brown hair silver-grey
Our daughter Rose as like her grows
as April dawn to day
Our eldest son, our chosen one
his father’s pride and stay
With gifts like these I’d live at ease
Beside you Galway Bay

By shore and creek both grey and bleak
the rugged rocks abound
But sweeter green the grass between
than grows on Irish ground
So friendhip fond all else beyond
and love to live always
Bless each dear home beside your foam
my own dear Galway Bay

Had I youth’s blood and hopeful mood
and heart of fire once more
For all the gold the earth could hold
I’d never leave your shore
I’d live content whatever God sent
midst neighbors old and grey
And leave my bones ’neath churchyard stones
beside you Galway Bay

The blessings of a poor old man
be with you night and day
The blessings of a poor old man
whose heart will soon be clay
’Tis all the heaven I ask of God
upon my dying day
My soul to soar forever more
above you, Galway Bay

Thanks to Mudcat for the Digital Tradition!

We used to duet this one, when we were feeling jolly enough… Yes, I have to admit, it is a favourite of ours…

Can any one tell me why the first anawer was removed

‘anawer’ ~ ? I suspect you’re asking about why the ‘discussion’ disappeared? Was it you that asked for the waltz?

Anyway, I suspect, it was because it wasn’t a ‘discussion’. There is another area where you can request tunes. However, I do appreciate your urgency… And that’s why I bypassed my usual protocols and submitted the melody here under ‘tunes’, and tried to remember what else I’d seen there before it went la-la, or, in other words “POOF!”…

Normally I would have moved the request over as well. As I can remember it, someone, possibly you, was asking for this for a wedding, your daughters? Anyway, I hope what’s here helps…

X: 3
T: Galway Bay
M: 3/4
L: 1/8
R: waltz
K: Gmaj
D2 |\
G4 B2 | d4 g2 | e3 f e2 | d4 BA | B3 ^A B2 | G4 G2 | G6- | G4 B2 |
d4 f2 | a3 b a2 | g4 B2 | c4 d2 | e4 g2 | g2 (3fgf e2 | d6- | d2 B2 c2 |\
d4 f2 | a3 b a2 | g4 B2 | c4 d2 | e4 g2 | g2 f2 e2 | d6- | d2 B2 A2 |
G4 B2 | d4 g2 | e6 | d4 BA | B3 ^A B2 | G4 F2 | G6- | G4 |]

~ the Alf Warnock transcript above transposed from A to D, & minus the chords…to give you choice…

X: 2
T: My Own Dear Galway Bay
M: 3/4
C: Francis A. Fahy
R: waltz
L: 1/8
K: D Major
A2 |\
D4 F2 | A4 d2 | B3 A B2 | A2 F2 E2 | F3 E F2 | D4 D2 | D6- | D4 F2 |
A4 A2 | e4 c2 | d4 F2 | G4 B2 | B4 d2 | d2 c2 B2 | A6- | A6 |
A4 A2 | e4 c2 | d4 F2 | G4 B2 | B4 d2 | d2 c2 B2 | A6- | A4 A2 |
D4 F2 | A4 d2 | B3 A B | A2 F2 E2 | F3 E F2 | D4 D2 | D6- | D4 |]