Spancill Hill Lyrics

Spancill Hill lyrics

Album: Folk-Lore (2002)

 

 [Arrangement: KF Words: Tradional]

 

 

 Last night as I lay dreaming

 of pleasant days gone by,

 Me mind been bent on rambling,

 to Ireland I did fly,

 I stepped on board a vision

 and followed with a will

 Till next I came to anchor

 at the cross near Spancill Hill.

 

 Delighted by the novelty,

 enchanted with the scene,

 Where in me early boyhood - often I had been,

 I thought I heard a murmur

 and I think I hear it still

 It's the little stream of water

 that flows down Spancill Hill.

 

 To amuse a passing fancy

 I lay down on the ground,

 And all my school companions

 they shortly gathered round

 When we were home returning

 we danced with bright goodwill,

 To Martin Moynahan's music

 at the cross at Spancill Hill.

 

 It was on the 24th of June,

 the day before the fair

 When Ireland's sons and daughters

 and all assembled there,

 The young, the old, the brave, the bold

 came their duty to fulfil,

 At the little church in Clooney,

 a mile from Spancill Hill.

 

 I went to see me neighbours

 to see what they might say,

 The old ones they were dead and gone,

 the young ones turning grey,

 I met the tailor Quigley, he was bold as ever still,

 sure he used to make my britches

 when I lived at Spancill Hill.

 

 I paid a flying visit to me first and only love,

 She's as fair as any lilly and gentle as a dove,

 She threw her arms around me

 crying "Johnny I love you still",

 She was a farmer's daughter,

 the pride of Spancill Hill.

 

 Well I dreamt I hugged and kissed her

 as in the days of yore

 She said "Johnny you're only joking"

 as many the times before,

 The cock crew in the morning,

 he crew both loud and shrill

 And I awoke in California,

 many miles from Spancill Hill.