"Shan Van Vocht"

While we title this "The Shan Van Vocht", this is by rights, simply an English phonetic spelling of the true title, which is the Irish Gaelic "An tSean Bhean Bhocht". As may be discerned from the following notes, this is generally an up-beat (rabble-)rousing song, (many sources refer to it as a Hornpipe, a Reel, or even, when described as an air, "Animated" or "Spirited, not too slow") but when we heard it, we decided to play it as a slow air.

Note that jaabc2ps doesn't seem to like the "acciaccatura" format (the backslash) for the grace notes, so I have to use the pdf printer from ABCedit to create the .pdf file from the .abc file. This is important because if the .abc fle gets edited, my scripts will choke on this, and will not run.

Notes, mostly stolen and modified from Wikipedia;

"An tSean Bhean Bhocht", Irish for the "Poor old woman" (often spelt phonetically in this song as "Shan Van Vocht"), is a traditional Irish song from the period of the Irish Rebellion of 1798, and dating in particular to the lead up to a French expedition to Bantry Bay, that ultimately failed to get ashore in 1796.

The Sean-Bhean bhoct is used to personify Ireland, a poetic motif which heralds back to the aisling of native Gaelic poetry.

Many different versions of the song have been composed by balladeers over the years, with the lyrics adapted to reflect the political climate at the time of composition. The title of the song, tune and narration of the misfortunes of the Shean Bhean bhoct remain a constant however, and this version, probably the best known, expresses confidence in the victory of the United Irishmen in the looming rebellion upon the arrival of French aid.

In relation to the tune "Logan Water", FC says; Bayard believes it is possible that the Irish dance air "The Poor Old Woman" (An eSeanbhean Bhocht) and related tunes grew out of this air (i.e. "Logan Water").

Lyrics

"Oh the French are on the sea," says the Sean Bhean Bhocht,
"The French are on the sea," says the Sean Bhean Bhocht,
"Oh The French are in the Bay, they'll be here without delay,
And the Orange will decay," says the Sean Bhean Bhocht.

"And their camp it will be where?" says the Sean Bhean Bhocht,
"Their camp it will be where?" says the Sean Bhean Bhocht.
"On the Curragh of Kildare and the boys will all be there
With their pikes in good repair." says the Sean Bhean Bhocht .

"And what will the yeomen do?" says the Sean Bhean Bhocht,
"What will the yeomen do?" says the Sean Bhean Bhocht,
"What will the yeomen do but throw off the red and blue,
And swear that they'll be true to the Sean Bhean Bhocht."

"Then what colour will be seen?" says the Sean Bhean Bhocht,
"What colour will be seen?" says the Sean Bhean Bhocht,
"What colour should be seen where our fathers' homes have been
But our own immortal green? " says the Sean Bhean Bhocht,

"And will Ireland then be free? " says the Sean Bhean Bhocht,
"Will Ireland then be free? " says the Sean Bhean Bhocht,
"Yes old Ireland will be free from the centre to the sea,
And hurrah! for liberty," says the Sean Bhean Bhocht.