Don McLean

This clip is from a 1983 Irish TV programme called 'Siamsa Cois Laoi' which is Irish for 'Music Beside the Lee'. The story goes is that the Irish built a giant new Gaelic (Irish Football) stadium just ouside Ireland's second largest city Cork, beside the River Lee which flows through Cork. The GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association) had a huge debt to pay off, so someone suggested a giant music festival every summer with a host of irish bands and a famous headline artist. Don McLean fitted the bill on two of the yearly shows, this being the first. The irish artists included bands like The Furey Brothers and Davy Arthur, The Wolfetones and various local artists. Problems struck when there was a TV strike just after the show had been recorded and about 8 months went by before they figured out how to use the footage which was quite old then. So when Don arrived in Ireland again, they decided on an interview with irish presenter Donncha O'Dulaing in a field amongst the haystacks, looking back at the concert the previous summer. The 25 minute TV show only featured four songs, the two featured here and then Vincent and American Pie, the usual suspects as they say. Further info. The song about the Mountains of Mourne (which are in Northern Ireland) is a very famous irish song, second only to Danny Boy. When Don first performed the song on Irish TV in the late 70s, it caused quite a stir because he changed the lyrics or sort of updated them. The original lyrics are below for comparison. "The Mountains of Mourne" by Percy French (1896) Oh, Mary, this London's a wonderful sight, With people all working by day and by night. Sure they don't sow potatoes, nor barley, nor wheat, But there's gangs of them digging for gold in the street. At least when I asked them that's what I was told, So I just took a hand at this digging for gold, But for all that I found there I might as well be Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea. I believe that when writing a wish you expressed As to know how the fine ladies in London were dressed, Well if you'll believe me, when asked to a ball, They don't wear no top to their dresses at all, Oh I've seen them meself and you could not in truth, Say that if they were bound for a ball or a bath. Don't be starting such fashions, now, Mary mo chroi, Where the Mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea. I've seen England's king from the top of a bus And I've never known him, but he means to know us. And tho' by the Saxon we once were oppressed, Still I cheered, God forgive me, I cheered with the rest. And now that he's visited Erin's green shore We'll be much better friends than we've been heretofore When we've got all we want, we're as quiet as can be Where the mountains of Mourne sweep down to the sea. You remember young Peter O'Loughlin, of course, Well, now he is here at the head of the force. I met him today, I was crossing the Strand, And he stopped the whole street with a wave of his hand. And there we stood talkin' of days that are gone, While the whole population of London looked on. But for all these great powers he's wishful like me, To be back where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea. There's beautiful girls here, oh never you mind, With beautiful shapes nature never designed, And lovely complexions all roses and cream, But let me remark with regard to the same: That if of those roses you venture to sip, The colours might all come away on your lip, So I'll wait for the wild rose that's waiting for me In the place where the dark Mourne sweeps down to the sea. Source: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mourne_Mountains

• published: 31 May 2009
• views: 67574