The Old Turf Fire Lyrics
Guitar chords included for the version by Kenneth McKellar. The song was sent to the site by Patrick Burke. Norman King from the Wild Geese learned this song from his Aunt in Dublin
Mrs Mc Knight when he was about 6yrs old, the song was sung to him as a lullaby as a child.
Since then it has always being one of his favorites.
The Group have lifted the pace slightly & when you hear the Congress Reel in between & at the end ye will know why. The song was also recorded by Kenneth McKellar and by Steeleye Span who probably done the best version of the Old Maid In The Garrett Song , well in my view.
This Congress Reel really gets ye going they did a really super great job & its just really beautiful.
The Wild Gees also recorded The Galway Rebel Boys which Patrick also sent to me.
Wild Geese are Tony Small, Peadar OhUallaigh, Steve Power, Norman King
Information to the Congress Reel which was played with this song by The Wild Geese.
It does not appear in any of the older collections of Ireland & it was composed around the very early 1932, the year of the Eucharistic Congress which was held in Dublin Ireland at the time.
432- 1932 to celebrate the coming of St Patrick to Ireland & thus it may have received its name.
I have a Holy Picture at home from the 1932 Congress in Dublin.
By the way A transcription is given in Breandan Breathnach's Ceol Rinnce nah Eireann
It was Published in Dublin 1960.
This is another lovely jewl from the Wild Geese Lp The Quays of Galway Town.
This Lp from the Wild Geese was recorded in Germany way back in Janurary 1976 on a Joke Label
Mrs Mc Knight when he was about 6yrs old, the song was sung to him as a lullaby as a child.
Since then it has always being one of his favorites.
The Group have lifted the pace slightly & when you hear the Congress Reel in between & at the end ye will know why. The song was also recorded by Kenneth McKellar and by Steeleye Span who probably done the best version of the Old Maid In The Garrett Song , well in my view.
This Congress Reel really gets ye going they did a really super great job & its just really beautiful.
The Wild Gees also recorded The Galway Rebel Boys which Patrick also sent to me.
Wild Geese are Tony Small, Peadar OhUallaigh, Steve Power, Norman King
Information to the Congress Reel which was played with this song by The Wild Geese.
It does not appear in any of the older collections of Ireland & it was composed around the very early 1932, the year of the Eucharistic Congress which was held in Dublin Ireland at the time.
432- 1932 to celebrate the coming of St Patrick to Ireland & thus it may have received its name.
I have a Holy Picture at home from the 1932 Congress in Dublin.
By the way A transcription is given in Breandan Breathnach's Ceol Rinnce nah Eireann
It was Published in Dublin 1960.
This is another lovely jewl from the Wild Geese Lp The Quays of Galway Town.
This Lp from the Wild Geese was recorded in Germany way back in Janurary 1976 on a Joke Label
1
Oh the old turf fire
And the hearth swept clean
Sure there's no one half so happy
As myself and Paddy Keane
With the Baby in the cradle
You can hear her mammy say
Ah wouldn't you go to sleep Alanna
Ti'll I wet your Daddy's Tea.
2
Oh I've got a little house
And a tidy bit of land
Sure you'd never see the better
On this side of Cnoc na gCrann
I've no piano in the corner
And no pictures on the wall
Ah but sure I'm quite contented
In my little marbel hall.
3
Oh the man that I work for
Is a richer man than me
But somehow I'll be telling you
We never can agree.
He has big towering mansions
And he's castles over all
But sure I'd never exchange with him
Me little marbel hall
4
Oh the old turf fire
What a welcome now it brings
As the cricket chirups gaily
And the kettle also sings
We all join in the chorus
Of a merry lilting song
With the friendly neighbours dropping in
To join in the happy throng.
5
Round the old turf fire
Sit the old folk bent with years
As they watch us trippin'g lightly
And they're smilin' through their tears
For so sadly they are dreaming
Of their youthfull hearts desire
And those dear old days so long ago
Round the old turf fire.
Oh the old turf fire
And the hearth swept clean
Sure there's no one half so happy
As myself and Paddy Keane
With the Baby in the cradle
You can hear her mammy say
Ah wouldn't you go to sleep Alanna
Ti'll I wet your Daddy's Tea.
2
Oh I've got a little house
And a tidy bit of land
Sure you'd never see the better
On this side of Cnoc na gCrann
I've no piano in the corner
And no pictures on the wall
Ah but sure I'm quite contented
In my little marbel hall.
3
Oh the man that I work for
Is a richer man than me
But somehow I'll be telling you
We never can agree.
He has big towering mansions
And he's castles over all
But sure I'd never exchange with him
Me little marbel hall
4
Oh the old turf fire
What a welcome now it brings
As the cricket chirups gaily
And the kettle also sings
We all join in the chorus
Of a merry lilting song
With the friendly neighbours dropping in
To join in the happy throng.
5
Round the old turf fire
Sit the old folk bent with years
As they watch us trippin'g lightly
And they're smilin' through their tears
For so sadly they are dreaming
Of their youthfull hearts desire
And those dear old days so long ago
Round the old turf fire.
Guitar Chords
[Em]Oh the old turf fire
And the hearth swept clean
Sure there's[D] no one half so happy
As myself and Paddy Keane
With the [C]Baby in the cradle
You can [Bm]hear her mammy say
Ah wouldn't you [D]go to sleep A[C]lanna
Ti'll I [D]wet your Daddy's [Em]Tea.
Oh [Em]the man that I work for
Is a richer man than me
But [D]somehow I'll be telling you
We never can agree.
He has [Em]big towering mansions
And he's [Bm]castles over all
But [Em]sure I'd never exchange with him
Me little marbel hall
[Em]Oh the old turf fire
And the hearth swept clean
Sure there's[D] no one half so happy
As myself and Paddy Keane
With the [C]Baby in the cradle
You can [Bm]hear her mammy say
Ah wouldn't you [D]go to sleep A[C]lanna
Ti'll I [D]wet your Daddy's [Em]Tea.
Oh [Em]the man that I work for
Is a richer man than me
But [D]somehow I'll be telling you
We never can agree.
He has [Em]big towering mansions
And he's [Bm]castles over all
But [Em]sure I'd never exchange with him
Me little marbel hall