Is there any connection between the tune “The Rights of Man” and T. Paine’s document of the same name?
At least one musician thinks so:
http://www.blackflute.com/music/tunes/hornpipes/rightman.html
via Google search on [“rights of man” paine tune]
M
I’ve always understood the tune name to refer to Thomas Paine’s book. The tune has strong Northumbrian connections, I’ve always heard, perhaps because of the James Hill thing mentioned below..
Here is what Ceolas’ Fiddlers’ Companion has to say about it:
Thank you. So when I introduce the song I’ll just say that it has a patriotic sounding title and it may be connected in some way to T. Paines book, but nobody knows for sure.
First, I’d introduce it as a tune not a song. Second I would state that it is named the Rights of Man in reference to Paine’s book of the same title, in the same vein of many tunes with titles making (more or less veiled) reference to the cause for liberty and against oppression. For example: The Home Ruler, The Wild Geese.
The Title is probably a corruption of “Reithe na Man” The Ram of Man (Isle of), Ram is another name for the Manx cat but thereby doesn’t hang a tale.
It could also be the Riots of Man a very appropriate title for this period of history.
John S
Hello
The ‘Home Ruler’ was written by a fiddler from Ballycastle Co. Antrim whose name escapes me. He was referring to his missus when he gave the tune its title. 
Nothing at all to do with Daniel O’Connell.
Regards
John Moran
Okay, I’m interested. Now I want to know the story behind The Wild Geese. I thought it might refer to the Children of Lir who were turned into geese to save them from their step-mother.
In Irish history the Wild Geese were a group of Irishmen who fled Ireland after yet another defeat at the hands of the english and became soldiers on the European continent, mostly in France, Spain and Austria. This happened, I think, after the Battle of Limerick in 1601. My memory on the time and place is a bit fuzzy as my education was delivered mostly with the help of a leather strap (a charming addition to a Christian Brothers education in Dublin in the 50’s and 60’s) and immediately forgotten as soon as I escaped their clutches. The good old days, how are ya.
A correction on my previous (erroneous) post.
The Wild Geese came about after the war between the Catholic James II of England and William of Orange (battle of the Boyne, battle of Aughrim etc.) circa 1690’s. After the Treaty of Limerick was signed and then ignored by the winners Patrick Sarsfield led a group of Irishmen to the Continent to serve in foreign armies. This group became known as the Wild Geese. I was off by about a hundred years. Mea culpa.
And as to my erroneous post, the Children of Lir were turned into swans, not geese, and it was their step-mother who made them so…
I think the “Bonnie Bunch of Roses” means Ireland.</random thought>
'Fraid not fancy.
The Bonny Bunch of Roses refers to Great Britain. Us Irish looked upon the French as allies in a war against a common enemy.
Slan,
D.
Didn’t they make a film about that? Roger Moore was in it I think.
Sarcasm is unbecoming of you, you cheeky little monkey.
Roger Moore my arse!
Slan,
D.
I afraid I don’t understand the distinction. Would you please enlighten me?
It’s true! I read it on the internet!
“Wild Geese: Richard Burton plays Col. Allen Faulkner, a middle-aged, cynical mercenary who enlists his old friends Rafer Johnson (played by Richard Harris) and Sean Finn (Roger Moore) to help him with one last mission.”
See? 
If you sing it, it’s a song. If you don’t sing it, it’s not a song.
If you play it, it’s a tune, unless you could have sung it but didn’t, in which case it’s an air.
Songs usually have words sung to a tune and have verses and a chorus. That is, if I know what a song it.
Dance tunes have different parts, usually played (2 part tune) aabb or abab.
Isn’t the correct title “The Wrongs of Women”?
…and, to air is human and to slipjig divine.
Thank you so much for clearing that up. I could have made a great fool of myself someday.