Come My Little Son Tin Whistle Notes
Come My Little Son Sheet Music Notes For The Tin Whistle. This song was recorded by Luke Kelly of The Dubliners. It was written by Ewan McColl. Lyrics and chords for Come My Little Son is also included on the site for all you ballad singers.
Come my little son tin whistle notes
Come my little son letter notes
Here are the tin whistle and piano keyboard notes. The bold text
are the high D and E notes. These are the one's I'm playing in the video.
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 900 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
are the high D and E notes. These are the one's I'm playing in the video.
Below is the list of sheet music and tin whistle songs that are in my ebooks. This is the largest collection of tin whistle songs ever put together.[over 900 songs ] Including folk, pop and trad tunes plus German And French songs along with Christmas Carols.
All of the sheet music tabs have been made as easy to play as was possible.
The price of the ebooks is €7.50
Woman playing ''Come My Little Son'' on tin whistle
About the song
"Come My Little Son" is a poignant and well-loved folk song, famously performed by the iconic Irish singer Luke Kelly of The Dubliners. While often associated strongly with Kelly's powerful and emotive rendition, the song was actually written by the acclaimed British folk singer-songwriter, folk song collector, and labour activist, Ewan MacColl (James Henry Miller).
Origin and Theme:
MacColl wrote "Come My Little Son" as part of his Radio Ballad "Song of a Road" (also known as "The Ballad of the M1"), which was broadcast on BBC radio in 1959. This radio ballad focused on the lives and experiences of the workers who built the M1 Motorway in England, a massive infrastructure project of its time.
The song tells the story from the perspective of a mother speaking to her young son, explaining why his father is often absent. It paints a stark picture of the hardships faced by migrant workers, often Irish, who travelled to England for arduous and dangerous labour to provide for their families back home.
Key Themes:
Emigration and Separation: The central theme is the pain of separation due to economic necessity. The father is "far away from home, far away from you and me" because he's "working on England's motorways."
Hardship and Sacrifice: The lyrics convey the demanding nature of the work, "in the cold and heat, eighty hours a week." It highlights the sacrifices made by working-class families for survival and a better future.
Childhood Perspective: The song's genius lies in presenting this harsh reality through the innocent questions of a child and the gentle, yet sorrowful, explanations of his mother.
Social Commentary: Like many of Ewan MacColl's songs, and indeed many of Luke Kelly's repertoire, "Come My Little Son" serves as a powerful piece of social commentary, shedding light on the often-overlooked struggles of the working class and migrant labourers.
Luke Kelly's Rendition:
Luke Kelly's deep, resonant voice and his ability to convey profound emotion made his version of "Come My Little Son" particularly impactful. He imbued the song with a raw honesty and empathy that resonated deeply with Irish audiences, many of whom had direct experience or connections to emigration and the construction trade in Britain. For many, Kelly's performance made the song his own, to the point where some mistakenly believe he composed it.
It remains a beloved song in the folk tradition, a testament to the enduring human stories of sacrifice, love, and the challenges of economic migration.
