Get all 9 Ginger Ackley releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Elemental Song, EnCHANTica, Aquarius Calling, Wee Folk Stomp, Elf King's Horn, Connections, In The Old Style, It Is Time, and 1 more.
1. |
Barbara Allen
04:01
|
|||
|
In Scarlet town where I was born,
there was a fair maid dwellin'
Made every youth cry well-a-day,
her name was Barb'ra Allen.
T'was in the merry month of May,
when green buds they were swellin'
Sweet William on his death-bed lay
for the love of Barb'ra Allen.
He sent his servant to the town,
to the place where she was dwellin'.
My master bids ye come to him
if your name is Barbra Allen.
So, slowly, slowly she came up,
and slowly she came nigh him,
And all she said when there she came,
"Young man, I think you're dying!"
He turned his face unto the wall
and death was drawing nigh him.
Adieu, adieu, my dear friends all.
Be kind to Bar'bra Allen!
As she was walking o'er the fields,
she heard his death bell knellin',
And ev'ry stroke did seem to say,
“Hard-hearted Barb'ra Allen!”
When he was dead and in his grave,
her heart was struck with sorrow.
"Oh mother, mother, make my bed.
I'm dying on the morrow!”
She was buried in the old church yard.
Sweet William lay beside her.
From William's heart grew a red, red rose,
from Barbra Allen's, a briar.
And they grew and grew in the old church yard,
till they could grow no higher.
In the end they formed a true lovers' knot
and the Rose grew 'round the Briar.
|
||||
2. |
Maid Who Sold Her Barley
01:38
|
|||
|
It's cold and raw, the north winds blow, out in the morning early
When all the hills were covered with snow, then it was winter fairly.
As I was riding o'er the moor I met a farmer's daughter
Her cherry cheeks and coal-black hair, they caused my heart to falter.
I bowed my bonnet very low to let her know my meaning.
She answered with a courteous smile. Her looks they were engaging.
"Oh, where are you bound my pretty maid? It's now in the morning early."
The answer that she gave to me, "Kind sir, to sell my barley."
"Now twenty guineas I've in my purse and twenty more that's yearly.
You need not go to the market town for I'll buy all your barley.
If twenty guineas would gain the heart of the maid I love so dearly
All for to tarry with me one night and go home in the morning early."
As I was riding o'er the moor the very evening after
T'was my good fortune for to meet the farmer's only daughter.
The weather being cold and raw, with her I thought to parlay
The answer that she gave to me: "Kind sir, I've sold my barley."
|
||||
3. |
Spanish Lady
04:03
|
|||
|
As I was walking through Dublin City
about the hour of twelve at night
It was there I saw a fair, pretty female
washing her feet by candle light
First she washed them and then she dried them
over a fire of embery coals
In all my life I never did see
maid so neat about the soles...
Chorus: She had 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2, none...
She had 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3 and 1...
I stopped to look but the watchman passed.
Says he, "Young fellow, the night is late
Along with you home or I will wrestle you
Straight away through the Bridewell gate"
I got a look from the Spanish Lady,
hot as the fire of embery coals
In all my life I never did see
a maid so sweet about the soles... Chorus
As I came back through Dublin City
as the dawn of day was o'er
Oh, who should I spy but the Spanish Lady
when I was weary and footsore
Now, she had a heart so full of loving
and her love she longed to share
In all my life I never did see
a maid who had so much to share... Chorus
I've wandered north and I've wandered south
from Stoneybatter to Patrick's Close
Oh, and up and around by the Gloucester Diamond,
back by Napper Tandy's house
Old age has laid her hands upon me,
cold as a fire of ashy coals
And gone is the lovely Spanish Lady,
neat and sweet about the soles.... Chorus
Round and round the wheel of fortune.
Where it stops now wearies me
For fair young women are so deceiving,
sad experience teaches me . Chorus
|
||||
4. |
The Laird O'Cockpen
03:01
|
|||
|
The Laird O' Cockpen, he's proud and he's great,
His mind's taken up wi' the things o' the state.
He wanted a wife, his fine house tae keep
But favour by' wooin' was quite hard tae seek.
Doon by the dykeside a lady did dwell,
At his table-head he thoughtt she would look well.
MacLeish's ane dochter o' Clavers Ha' Lee,
A penniless lass wi' a lang pedigree.
His wig was well-powdered, as good as when new
His waistcoat was white and his coat was blue;
He put on a sword, a ring and cocked hat
Now, who could refuse the good Laird, we ask that!
He jumped on his mare and he rode cannily
And he rapped at the gate o' the Clavers Ha' Lee'
"Go tell Mistress Jean tae come speedily ben,
She is wanted to speak wi' the Laird O' Cockpen!"
Mistress Jean she was makin' elderflower wine,
"What the de'il brings the Laird here at such a lite time?"
She put off her apron and donned her silk gown
Her cap wi' red ribbons, and went awa' doon.
And when she came ben she bobbit' fu' low
And what was his errand, he soon let her know.
mazed was the Laird when the lady said, "Na'"
And wi' a light curtsey she turn-ed awa'.
Dumfounded was he, but nae sigh did he gie
He jumped on his mare and he rode cannily.
And often he thought as he rode through the glen.
"She was daft tae refuse the Laird O' Cockpen."
|
||||
5. |
Nonesuch
01:27
|
|||
|
nd she shall bring the birds in spring and dance among the flowers.
In summer's heat her kisses sweet, they fall from leafy bowers.
She cuts the grain and harvests corn. The kiss of fall surrounds her.
The days grow old and winter cold. She draws her cloak around her.
|
||||
6. |
Juice of the Barley
02:34
|
|||
|
In the sweet country Lim'rick, one cold winter's night
All the turf fires were burning when I first saw the light;
And a drunken old midwife went tipsy with joy
As she danced round the floor with her slip of a boy,
Singing, “Bainne na mbó ar na gamhna!” and the juice of the barley for me!
Well when I was a young lad of eight years old or so
With me turf and me primer to school I did go.
To a dusty old school house without any door,
Where lay the school master blind drunk on the floor,
Singing, “Bainne na mbó ar na gamhna!” and the juice of the barley for me!
At the learning I wasn't such a genius I'm thinking,
But I soon beat the master entirely at drinking,
Not a wake or a wedding for five miles around,
But meself in the corner was sure to be found.
Singing, “Bainne na mbó ar na gamhna!” and the juice of the barley for me!
One Sunday the priest throwed me out from the altar
Saying you'll end up your days with your neck in a halter;
And you'll dance a fine jig between heaven and hell
And his words they did frighten me the truth for to tell,
Singing, “Bainne na mbó ar na gamhna!” and the juice of the barley for me!
So the very next morning as the dawn it did break
I went down to the vestry the pledge for to take,
And there in that room sat the priests in a bunch
Round a big roaring fire drinking tumblers of punch
Singing, “Bainne na mbó ar na gamhna!” and the juice of the barley for me!
Well from that day to this I have wandered alone
I'm a jack of all trades and a master of none,
With the sky for me roof and the earth for me floor,
And I'll dance out my days drinking whiskey galore
Singing, “Bainne na mbó ar na gamhna!” and the juice of the barley for me!
|
||||
7. |
Wild Mountain Thyme
05:50
|
|||
|
Oh, the summer time is comin' and the trees are sweetly bloomin'
And the wild mountain thyme grows around the bloomin' heather
Chorus: Will you go, lassie, go? And we'll all go together
To pluck wild mountain thyme all around the bloomin' heather
Will you go, lassie, go?
I will build my love a bower by yon pure crystal fountain
And around it I will place all the flowers of the mountain Chorus
If my true love e'er should leave me, I will surely find another
Where the wild mountain thyme grows around the bloomin' heather Chorus
Oh, the autumn time is coming and the leaves are gently fallin'
Where the wild mountain thyme grows around the bloomin' heather. Chorus
|
||||
8. |
Three Ravens
03:05
|
|||
|
There were three ravens sat on a tree, down-a-down hey down hey down
They were black as black might be, with a down
The one of them said to his mate: "Where shall we our breakfast take?"
With a down, derry derry derry down, down
Down in yonder green field, down-a-down hey down hey down
There lies a knight slain under his shield, with a down
His hounds, they lie down at his feet, so well do they their master keep.
With a down, derry derry derry down down.
His hawks they fly so eagerly, down-a-down, down-a-down hey down hey down
No other fowl dare him come nigh, with a down
Down there comes a fallow doe, as heavy with young as she might go
With a down, derry derry derry, down, down
She lifted up his bloody head, down-a-down, down-a-down hey down hey down
And kissed his wounds that were so red, with a down
She got him up upon her back and carried him to the earthen lack
With a down derry derry derry down, down
She buried him before the prime, down-a-down hey down hey down
She was dead herself, ere evening song time, with a down
God send every gentle man, Such hawks, such hounds and such leman
With a down derry derry derry down, down...
With a down derry derrry derry down, down
|
||||
9. |
Red-Haired Mary
03:00
|
|||
|
As I was going to the fair of Dingle
One fine morning last July
And walking down the road before me
A red haired girl I chanced to spy
Come ride with me, my red haired maiden,
My donkey he can carry two
She looked at me, her eyes a twinklin'
And her cheeks a rosy hue!
Chorus: Oh! Keep your hands off red haired Mary
Her and I will soon be wed
We'll see the priest this very morning
Tonight we'll lie in a marriage bed!
Now, when we reached the town of Dingle
I took her hand to say goodbye
When a tinker man stepped up beside me
And belted me in my left eye Chorus
Well, I was feeling kind of peevish
My poor old eye felt sad and sore
When I tapped him gently with my hobnail
And he flew back through Murphy's door Chorus
He galloped off to find his brothers
The tallest men I e'er did meet
When he tapped me gently with his knuckles
I was minus two front teeth! Chorus
Now, a peeler, he came round the corner
Said, “Young man, you done broke the law!”
When my donkey kicked him in the kneecaps
He fell down and broke his jaw! Chorus
Well, that red haired girl, she kept a-smiling
“Young man, 'I'll go with you,”' she said
'We'll forget the priest this very morning
Tonight we'll lie in Murphy's shed!” Chorus
|
||||
10. |
Siúil a Rún
05:03
|
|||
|
I wish I was on yonder hill. 'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill,
And every tear would turn a mill. Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán
Chorus: Siúil, siúil, siúil a rún
Siúil go socair agus siúil go ciúin
Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom
Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán
I'll sell my rod, I'll sell my reel, I'll sell my only spinning wheel,
To buy my love a sword of steel. Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán
I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red, and 'round the world I'll beg my bread,
Until my parents shall wish me dead. Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán
But now my love has gone to France, to try his fortune to advance;
If he e'er comes back, 'tis but a chance. Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain, I wish I had my heart again,
And vainly think I'd not complain,. Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán
Walk, walk, walk, my love! Come to me softly, quickly move
Come to the door and away we'll flee and safe forever may my darling be!
|
||||
11. |
Dawning of the Day
02:53
|
|||
|
Instrumental
|
||||
12. |
Crúiscín Lán
02:26
|
|||
|
Let the farmer praise his grounds
Let the huntsman praise his hounds
Let the shepherd praise his dewy-scented lambs
But I, more wise then they, spend each happy night and day
With me darling little cruiscín lán, lán, lán,
With me darling little cruiscín lán.
Chorus: Oh, gradh mo chroide mo cruiscín
Slainte geal Mauvorneen,
Gradh mo chroide mo cruiscín lán, lán, lán,
Oh gradh mo chroide mo cruiscín lán.
Immortal and divine, great Bacchus, god of wine
Create me by adoption, your own son
In the hope that you'll comply, that my glass shall ne'er run dry
Nor me darlin' little cruiscín lán, lán, lán,
Nor me darlin' little cruiscín lán.
And when grim death appears in a few but happy years
He'll say,"Oh, won't you come along with me?
"I'll say, "Begone ye knave, for King Bacchus gave me lave
For to fill another cruiscín lán, lán, lán,
For to fill another cruiscín lán.
So fill your glasses high. Let's not part so dry
Though the lark proclaims it is the dawn
And since we can't remain, may we shortly meet again
To share another cruiscín lán, lán, lán,
To share another cruiscín lán.
|
||||
13. |
Little Beggarman
02:09
|
|||
|
Oh, I am a little beggarman, a-beggin' I have been
For three score years in this little isle of green
I am known along the Liffey from the Basin to the Zoo
And everybody calls me by the name of Johnny Dhu.
Of all the trades a-goin' sure the beggin' is the best
For when a man is tired he can sit him down and rest
He can beg for his dinner - he has nothing else to do
But to slip around the corner with his ould rigadoo. (That's Johnny Dhu!)
I slept in a barn one night in Currabawn,
And a shocking wet night it was - I slept till the dawn
There was holes in the roof and the rain was pourin' 'thru
And the rats and the cats were all playing tinka-boo
Who did awaken but the woman of the house
With her white-spotted apron and her calico blouse
She began to get excited and all I said was Boo!
Sure and don't you be afraid at all, its only Johnny Dhu (That's Johnny Dhu!)
I met a little girl when a walkin' out one day
Good mornin', little flaxen-haired girl, I did say
Good mornin', little beggarman, and how do you do
With your rags and your tags and your ould rigadoo
I'll buy a pair of leggins and a collar and a tie
And a nice young lady I'll go courtin' by and bye
I'll buy a pair of goggles and I'll color them with blue
And an ould-fashioned lady I will make her too! (That's Johnny Dhu!)
So all along the high road with my bag upon my back
Over the fields with me bulgin' heavy sack
With holes in me shoes and me toes a peepin' through
Singin' skill-a-mack-a-doodle with my auld rigadoo
Oh, I must be off' to bed for it's getting late at nite
The fire's all raked and now 'tis out the light
Now you've heard my story of my ould rigadoo
So good-night and God be with you, says ould Johnny Dhu. (That's Johnny Dhu!)
|
||||
14. |
Skibbereen
04:29
|
|||
|
O, Father dear, I’ve oft times heard you talk of Erin's Isle,
Her valleys green, her lofty scene, her mountains rude and wild;
You said it was a pleasant place wherein a prince might dwell,
Why have you then forsaken her, the reasons to me tell
My son, I loved our native land with energy and pride
Until a blight fell on the land and the sheep and cattle died,
The rents and taxes were to pay, I could not them redeem,
And that's the cruel reason why I left Old Skibbereen.
It's well I do remember on a bleak November's day,
The landlord and his agent came to drive us all away;
He set my house on fire with his demon yellow spleen
And that's another reason why I left Old Skibbereen.
Your mother, too, God rest her soul, lay on the snowy ground,
She fainted in her anguish of the desolation round.
She never rose, but went her way from life to death's long dream,
And found a quiet grave, my boy, in lovely Skibbereen.
It's well I do remember the year of forty eight,
When we arose with Erin's boys to fight against our fate;
I was hunted through the mountains as a traitor to the Queen,
And that's another reason that I left Old Skibbereen.
Oh father dear, the day will come when vengeance loud will call
And we'll arise with Erin's boys and rally one and all,
I'll be tbe man to lead the van, beneath our flag of green,
And loud and high we'll raise the cry, Revenge for Skibbereen!
|
||||
15. |
||||
|
My life goes on in endless song above earth's lamentations
I hear the sweet, though far-off hymn that hails a new creation.
Through all the tumult and the strife I hear its music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul: How can I keep from singing?
While though the tempest loudly roars I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness 'round me close, songs in the night it giveth.
No storm can shake my inmost calm while to that rock I'm clinging
Since Love is lord of heav'n and earth, how can I keep from singing?
When tyrants tremble in their fear and hear their death knell ringing
When friends rejoice both far and near, how can I keep from singing?
In prison cell and dungeon vile our thoughts to them are winging
When friends by shame are undefiled, how can I keep from singing?
|
||||
Ginger Ackley Cleveland, Ohio
Starting out in Texas, Ginger made it to Ohio as quickly as she could! Her music is full of magic and stories, seasoned with a love of folk and Celtic music. Her penny whistles often accompany her, too!
Ginger Ackley recommends:
There is great beauty & deep passion in this album. Mama Gina's voice resonates in a way that even the sad songs lift me up. It's like she can see my soul & I know I am alone.
go to album
Antlered Crown and Standing Stone
by Damh the Bard
These songs never fail to make my heart smile and my spirit fly!
go to album
S. J.'s one of the best musical storytellers I know! LOVE her music!!!
go to albumIf you like Ginger Ackley, you may also like:
From Cork, Ireland, Lewis Barfoot writes mystic, majestic songs derived from regional folk, with an ambient music aura.
go to album
This album speaks to the continuum of African diasporic culture that is central to the vibrant canon of Americana folk music.
go to album
Sweet Old Religion
by Pharis & Jason Romero
Sweet harmonies & strummed melodies; the duo delve into decades-old folk, jazz, and country to find a timeless kind of love and connection.
go to album
