I heard this the other day in the soundtrack of Wicked Wicked West (actually a feminist film). Haunting air IMO, would like some info on it. Searched most popular tune-finding websites and came up empty. Actress Bronough Gallagher sings it early on in the film. This film’s soundtrack is not available on CD as far as I can tell.
Lisa
This is a very well known song, but a gem nonetheless. Try searching for “My Lagan Love” with one g and no apostrophe…
On the sleeve of a 1969 LP by Packie Byrne are the following notes:
The lovely words of this song were written by Irish poet Joseph McCall, and the collector Herbert Hughes attached them to a traditional tune. He says in “Songs of Uladh” that the tune was originally used for a ballad “The Belfast Maid”.
Packie sings the usual three verses, which I can write out for you if you don’t find them anywhere else. A few years ago I heard Toronto-based singer Eithne O Kane (sp.?) sing a more complete version that made a whole lot more sense, and I never got around to asking her about or for the extra verses.
[ This Message was edited by: StevieJ on 2002-03-22 15:37 ]
Thanks for sharing StevieJ!
I have a recording of the song being sung during the end credits of the film–I started writing the words out but the grammar is strange, so I didn’t know if I was hearing the words right. I’m going to try the search with the alternate spelling you suggested. The “lyrical-ness” of this tune makes me want to try singing it with the trio I play with–but I really don’t have a singing voice…
Lisa
[ This Message was edited by: ysgwd on 2002-03-22 15:45 ]
I just found the tune My Lagan Love with JC’s ABC Tune Finder–it is otherwise known as The Fairy Mistress. The melody of the midis weren’t as pretty as the version sung in the film I mentioned IMO. What I really wanted was background info and StevieJ generously provided that! This leads to further my study of Irish verse.
Lisa