Play recording: Lord Gregory
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- Teideal (Title): Lord Gregory.
- Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 781515.
- Uimhir Chnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann (National Folklore of Ireland Number): none.
- Uimhir Roud (Roud Number): 49.
- Uimhir Laws (Laws Number): none.
- Uimhir Child (Child Number): 76.
- Cnuasach (Collection): Joe Heaney Collection, University of Washington, Seattle.
- Teanga na Croímhíre (Core-Item Language): English.
- Catagóir (Category): song.
- Ainm an té a thug (Name of Informant): Joe Heaney.
- Ainm an té a thóg (Name of Collector): Cynthia Thiessen.
- Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): 06/03/1978.
- Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): University of Washington, United States of America.
- Ocáid an taifeadta (Recording Occasion): day class.
- Daoine eile a bhí i láthair (Others present): Fredric Lieberman.
- Stádas chóipcheart an taifeadta (Recording copyright status): unavailable.
This girl from Cappoquin – Cappoquin was the seat of the kings one time, Waterford – and this was a king’s daughter that got into trouble with Lord Gregory. In fact, she had a baby and she was carrying the baby around with her. And she went to Lord Gregory’s house, and he was asleep, and the mother – the mother behind the door – was answering the girl. And she told the girl that Lord Gregory wasn’t home; and when Lord Gregory woke up and found the girl was there – because the girl was after going down to the sea and committing suicide, drowning herself – he cursed his mother for not waking him up…
I am a king’s daughter who strayed from Cappoquin
In search of Lord Gregory, pray God I find him
The rain beats at my yellow locks, the dew wets my skin
My babe is cold in my arms. Lord Gregory, let me in!
Lord Gregory is not home my love, and still can’t be seen
He’s gone to bonnie Scotland to bring home his new queen
So leave you these windows and likewise this hall
For it’s deep in the ocean you should hide your downfall.
Who’ll shoe my babe’s little feet, who’ll put gloves on her hand?
And who’ll tie my babe’s middle with a long and green band?
Who’ll comb my babe’s yellow locks with an ivory comb?
And who’ll be my babe’s father till Lord Gregory comes home?
I will shoe your babe’s little feet, I’ll put gloves on her hand
And I’ll tie your babe’s middle with a long and green band
I will comb your babe’s yellow locks with an ivory comb
And I’ll be your babe’s father till Lord Gregory comes home.
But leave you these windows and likewise this hall
For it’s deep in the ocean you must hide your downfall.
Till I find the lass of Aughrim and sleep by her side.
I am a king’s daughter who strayed from Cappoquin
In search of Lord Gregory, pray God I find him
The rain beats at my yellow locks, the dew wets my skin
My babe is cold in my arms. Lord Gregory, let me in!
Lord Gregory is not home my love, and still can’t be seen
He’s gone to bonnie Scotland to bring home his new queen
So leave you these windows and likewise this hall
For it’s deep in the ocean you should hide your downfall.
Who’ll shoe my babe’s little feet, who’ll put gloves on her hand?
And who’ll tie my babe’s middle with a long and green band?
Who’ll comb my babe’s yellow locks with an ivory comb?
And who’ll be my babe’s father till Lord Gregory comes home?
I will shoe your babe’s little feet, I’ll put gloves on her hand
And I’ll tie your babe’s middle with a long and green band
I will comb your babe’s yellow locks with an ivory comb
And I’ll be your babe’s father till Lord Gregory comes home.
But leave you these windows and likewise this hall
For it’s deep in the ocean you must hide your downfall.
So don’t leave you these windows, don’t leave this hall
For it’s d-
Oh now. Well, that’s it anyway. Ah, there’s only another line somewhere1.
Notes
1. All of the other recordings in the collection — or on commercial recordings from Joe — end with the last two lines precisely as they are elsewhere in the song. It’s hard to imagine why Joe tried to change them here.
Of the Child Ballads collected in Ireland, this one appears to have been particularly popular in Conamara. Unlike An Tiarna Randal, however, it was never translated into Irish, but was sung only in English. Joe told Lucy Simpson that he heard it from a number of people growing up, including his father and his second cousin, Colm Keane.
This was recorded while Joe was Artist in Residence at University of Washington.