Genealogy Chat

Hi all Please can anyone help me with any information on an Irish song / poem that my late uncle wrote about. It may be titled ‘things that can happen’ and appears to be about a murder. I realise that this is not a true genealogy question but we have been typing up his memoirs and he wanted it completed, as he finished it with the following words. To be continued at a later date. Anyone that can finish it for me right now as I don’t feel like it) This is what I have. As I roved out one morning Down by a riverside And looking all around me A pretty girl I spied I asked her if she would walk with me Along the riverside We walked along the river Till we came to a lonely lake It was then I told this pretty girl Her life I was going to take For mercy she did cry Please, please don’t kill me here I am not prepared to die I paid her no attention But beat her more and more Until the ground around her Was in a bloody gore I put her on my bended knees And pulled her shoulders down And threw her into the river That passed way out of town Lie there, lie there you pretty girl For you are not for me Thanks in anticipation Tricia

Please see below

Tricia As it happens, I have recently been looking at a Ballads site, which covers ballads written about murders. I don't know if your Uncle ever actually SANG this - and therefore it got onto the ballads site. I will see if I can find the site I was looking at.... OK try this site: http://www.mustrad.org.uk/articles/bbals_14.htm This may not be exactly what you are looking for, but it is a site about ballads and crime. OC

Thank you OC I would appreciate the name of the site. I don't recall him singing it so am not sure if it is a poem or song. Tricia

Tricia Our posts crossed - I have updated my reply, above, with the addy. OC

Thanks OC I am off to have a look. Tricia

I do not know much about this poem or indeed any particular poem/song about 'murders', but if you are into Ireland and want to know more about Irish Rebel songs then just google 'Irish Rebel Songs' for a feast of interest. Janet

Hi Janet I did not have any joy with the site OC found for me so I will try googling from another angle, I will also try your suggestion. regards Tricia

Having just read an article about folk songs and ballads in this months Your Family Tree, I remembered there was a box at the end for resources. One of the websites mentioned is www(.)traditionalmusic(.)co(.)uk/index.htm (remove the brackets). There are also a couple of books for Irish Street Ballads by Colm O'Lochlainn, 1978, Macmillan. Athena

Hi Athena Thanks for your reply. I have had a look at the site but have not been able to find anything. There is a link to email the site owner for help, which I have done. regards Tricia