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(This song was first published in 1880, and credited to Patrick Carpenter, a poet from Skibbereen. John Lomax recorded Irish immigrants singing it in Michigan in the 1930s. In many traditional versions of Skibbereen, the last verse (not recorded), in response to the father’s story, features the son declaring that he will now return to Ireland and join other rebel patriots in a takedown of the English.)

lyrics

Oh, father dear, and I oft’ times hear, you talk of Erin’s Isle
Her lofty scenes, her valleys green, her mountains rude and wild
They say it is a lovely land wherein a prince may dwell
Then why did you abandon it?
The reason to me tell.

Oh son, I loved my native land with energy and pride
‘Til a blight took over all my crops, my sheep, my cattle died
The rent and taxes were so high, I could not them redeem
And that’s the cruel reason we left old Skibbereen

Yes, well do I remember that cold December day
The landlord and the sheriff came to drive us all away
They lit my roof on fire with their cursed English spleen
And that’s another reason we left old Skibbereen

Your mother too, God rest her soul, fell on the snowy ground
She fainted in her anguish seeing the desolation round
She never woke but passed away, from life to immortal dream
She found a quiet grave, my boy, in dear old Skibbereen

And you were only two years old, and feeble was your frame
I could not leave you with my friends, for you bore your father’s name
I wrapped you in my cota more in the dead of night unseen
I heaved a sigh, then waved goodbye, to dear old Skibbereen

credits

from Halfway Home, released October 8, 2014

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Seth Mountain 이산 image

Seth Mountain 이산 South Korea

Seth Martin (aka Seth Mountain or 이산), is a roots musician originally from the Pacific Northwest (US).

Continuing in the radical tradition of artists like Pete Seeger, Woody Guthrie, and Utah Phillips, Martin has been living in Seoul since 2015. He regularly performs with Korean and foreign folk, indie and rock acts.

"Quite possibly the closest thing we have to Woody Guthrie."
--Bill Mallonee ... more

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