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Description
This is a traditional song and there’s a number of versions of it that I’m aware of. This one is based on the first version I ever heard which was by the Oyster Ceilidh Band (who, coincidentally come from around the part of the world I now live in…) I know very little about this song other than it seems to be Irish and there doesn’t appear to be a lake called Cool Flynn (or Col Fin as it sometimes appears) although it might once have been a wide point in a river.
There’s something strange about the song which suggests to me that at least bits of two songs have been stuck together and the final verse has something of the apotheosis about it – the imagery of this verse has stuck in my mind over the years and inspired me to add a sort of slow march section at the end. When recording this song I couldn’t help thinking of ‘Ode to Billy Jo’ by Bobby Gentry.
This track is a bit of a departure for me as it’s the first time that I’ve ever really tried to record my vocals so it’s been quite a voyage of exploration – any advice you can give will be most welcome!
KK
There’s something strange about the song which suggests to me that at least bits of two songs have been stuck together and the final verse has something of the apotheosis about it – the imagery of this verse has stuck in my mind over the years and inspired me to add a sort of slow march section at the end. When recording this song I couldn’t help thinking of ‘Ode to Billy Jo’ by Bobby Gentry.
This track is a bit of a departure for me as it’s the first time that I’ve ever really tried to record my vocals so it’s been quite a voyage of exploration – any advice you can give will be most welcome!
KK
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Lyrics
It was early one morning Willie Leonard arose
Into his comrades bedchamber he goes
Saying arise my loyal comrades, let nobody know
It's a fine summer's morning and bathing we'll go
But as they were walking all down a long lane
Who should they meet with but a keeper of game
Go back, Willie Leonard, do not venture in
There's deep and false waters in the lakes of Cool Flynn
Young Willie lumped in and he swam the lake round
Till he came to an island but not the right ground
Go back my loyal comrades, do not follow me in
There's deep and false waters in the lakes of Cool Flynn
It was later that morning Willie's sister arose
And straight to her mother's bedchamber she goes
Saying mother, dearest mother, I have had a strange dream
Young Willie lies floating in a watery stream
it was later that morning Willies mother got there
Wringing her hands and tearing her hair
Saying where was he drowned, where did he fall in?
There's death in false waters in the lakes of Cool Flynn
O the day of his funeral it was such a fine sight
With four and twenty young men and they're all dressed in white
Four and twenty young men to lay him in cold clay
Said adieu to young Willie and they all marched away
Into his comrades bedchamber he goes
Saying arise my loyal comrades, let nobody know
It's a fine summer's morning and bathing we'll go
But as they were walking all down a long lane
Who should they meet with but a keeper of game
Go back, Willie Leonard, do not venture in
There's deep and false waters in the lakes of Cool Flynn
Young Willie lumped in and he swam the lake round
Till he came to an island but not the right ground
Go back my loyal comrades, do not follow me in
There's deep and false waters in the lakes of Cool Flynn
It was later that morning Willie's sister arose
And straight to her mother's bedchamber she goes
Saying mother, dearest mother, I have had a strange dream
Young Willie lies floating in a watery stream
it was later that morning Willies mother got there
Wringing her hands and tearing her hair
Saying where was he drowned, where did he fall in?
There's death in false waters in the lakes of Cool Flynn
O the day of his funeral it was such a fine sight
With four and twenty young men and they're all dressed in white
Four and twenty young men to lay him in cold clay
Said adieu to young Willie and they all marched away
lengold
playing and great vocals. The outro is also very beautiful.
Cheers
Len