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100 Snow White Horses

by John Spillane

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1.
Bishopstown 03:11
Oh life seemed endless, troubles were few That time I was in love with you We walked on Central Avenue Mount Mercy girls all dressed in blue From Wilton Gardens to Halldene And all the parks that lay between When I was king and you were queen Of Bishopstown, of Bishopstown I live in woods without no tree Rows of houses follow me Houses dancing on and on Cherry Grove, Laburnum Lawn The milk of human kindness flows The sweet suburban breezes blow The summer sun shines calmly down On Bishopstown, on Bishopstown I loved a girl from Cedar Park She disappeared into the dark On Cawshay’s Lane I felt the pain At Highfield Park she broke my heart We lit a bonfire in the night Above the quarry blazing bright A shower of stars came raining down On Bishopstown, on Bishopstown Oh life seemed endless, troubles were few That time I was in love with you We walked on Central Avenue Mount Mercy girls all dressed in blue From Wilton Gardens to Halldene And all the parks that lay between When I was king and you were queen Of Bishopstown, of Bishopstown
2.
Only once upon a silver moon we sailed for seven summers Through many dreamlike islands in the dark blue sea The Island of the Promises, the Island of the Women The Island of the Longing, the Island of the Strong Once upon a silver moon we sailed We come in the wind, we leave in the wind We come in the wind, we leave in the wind Go tell my lady, go tell my love We sail with the tide We raised a sail and following the wind of seven winters We went for the west, we went for the Land of Promise For the Land of the Fair, the Island of the Apple Trees The Island of the Pleasures, the laughing and the mocking Where we left one friend behind Then we raised one silver sail and we climbed We come in the wind, we leave in the wind We come in the wind, we leave in the wind Go tell my lady, go tell my love We sail with the tide And found ourselves adrift under a sky of endless velvet Blue and the stars and the stars, a million trillion galaxies Sailing for eternity, and the stars, And endless choirs of angels fill the midnight air With the phosphorescence of their radiant prayer, And a paradise of birds, And the ravens in the dark, and the radiance of the moon, Just once upon a silver moon we sailed We come in the wind, we leave in the wind We come in the wind, we leave in the wind Go tell my lady, go tell my love We sail with the tide Only once upon a silver moon we sailed for seven seasons Through many dreamlike islands in the dark blue sea
3.
Sometimes in dreams I fly with Billy in the sky Sometimes in dreams I fly with Billy in the sky Sometimes in dreams I fly with Billy in the sky I fly away with Billy I fly away with Billy Sometimes in dreams I think I can hear the dark beating of angels wings as I walk the long grey pavements of distant cities in the gathering dusk, The travelling angels that fly from the mountains of the night Sometimes in dreams I fly with Billy in the sky Sometimes in dreams I fly with Billy in the sky Sometimes in dreams I fly with Billy in the sky I fly away with Billy I fly away with Billy The ravens are coming, they’re taking the moon, they’re taking the stars, they’re taking the dark, the ravens are flying, flashing past the shadows of the night, Sometimes in dreams I think I can hear the travelling angels of the darkness, Sometimes in dreams I fly with Billy in the sky Sometimes in dreams I fly with Billy in the sky Sometimes in dreams I fly with Billy in the sky Sometimes in dreams I fly with Billy in the sky I fly away with Billy I fly away with Billy
4.
When I was a singer I had only one song That I wove from the sunlight and I rambling along I tied it with rushes and I freed it with air And it swept me along to the old County Clare It went “Meet me tonight by moonlight Under that old Clare moon” I chanted in Doolin and I sang at Fanore I went rattlin’ and a ‘ clattering’ on the old flaggy shore Where the cliffs at Kilkee they challenge the sea And I sang like a thrush in the town of Kilrush I sang “Meet me tonight by moonlight under that old Clare moon Meet me tonight by moonlight under that old Clare Moon” At Old Spanish Point where the ships they went down, The moon she rose up with her great starry crown, Her necklace of diamonds, her white wedding gown, And she shed salty tears for the sailors who drowned, She sang “Meet me tonight by moonlight, Under that old Clare Moon Meet me tonight by moonlight, Under that old Clare Moon.” A wonderful promise the old County Clare, There are melodies hanging from shelves in the air, There’s the Maid at the Barrells, the Hag at the Churn, There’s a great flock of angels flying over the Burren, Singing “Meet me tonight by moonlight,under that old Clare moon, Meet me tonight by moonlight, under that old Clare moon.”
5.
Oh father dear tell me if you can Who are these men who have haunted my childhood All round this neighbourhood Around the streets of Ballyphehane Around the streets of Ballyphehane O son o son on Connolly Road We remember James Connolly He was a brave man, he tried to set his people free He fought a hard war against great poverty and inequality He was shot down in a cold prison yard Son they were brave men and we remember them Around the streets of Ballyphehane Around the streets of Ballyphehane Oh son oh son on Plunkett Road We remember Joseph Mary Plunkett He was a brave man, he tried to set his people free I see his blood upon the rose and in the stars The glory of his eyes He was shot down in a cold prison yard Son they were brave men and we remember them Around the streets of Ballyphehane Around the streets of Ballyphehane Oh father dear tell me if you can Who are these men who have haunted my childhood All round this neighbourhood Around the streets of Ballyphehane Around the streets of Ballyphehane Oh son oh son on Pearse Road we remember Padraig Pearse He was a brave man, he tried to set his people free He understood that the blossom will fade But in the springtime it will be re-made And rise again and rise again and rise again He was shot down in a cold prison yard Son they were brave men and we remember them Around the streets of Ballyphehane Around the streets of Ballyphehane
6.
When the morning breaks and the light comes flooding Down on all our lives and the air is singing Who sings the stars down from the darkness Who cracks open the dawn? Us! Us! cry the blackbird and the thrush Us! Us! cry the redbreast robins Us! Us! cry a band of wrens Singing in the fresh green branches All join in the dawn chorus No words can describe the music of the tribes of the air Who sings away the hag of winter Who sings the sun up into the morning Who cracks open the dawn? Us! Us! cry the blackbird and the thrush Us! Us! cry the redbreast robins Us! Us! cry a band of wrens Singing in the fresh green branches All join in the dawn chorus All the best musicians were singers Who sings the sun up into the morning Sings away the hag of winter Hearts held high who cracks open the dawn? Us! Us! cry the blackbird and the thrush Us! Us! cry the redbreast robins Us! Us! cry a band of wrens Singing in the fresh green branches All join in the dawn chorus Bathed in glory, the linnet sings with all it’s heart and holds nothing back, The turtle dove sings for free, The blackbird sings best from her nest in the blackthorn tree, Without them there is no music, The skylark and the meadowlark, the chaffinch, the chiffchaff, The greenfinch and the goldfinch, they sing for all they are worth, Song thrush and mistle thrush and the wren, the king of all birds! Enchanted cascades of brilliant liquid melody pour from The bullfinch, crossbill, goldcrest and firecrest, Hawfinch, linnet and the rose finch, Wood warbler and willow warbler, Blackcap, dunnock, garden warbler, redstart, redwing, bluethroat, fieldfare! And a nightingale pouring her liquid notes out over the river in the morning, Stonechat whin-chat, house sparrow, tree sparrow, hedge sparrow, Woodlark, skylark, meadowlark, the mountain lark that sings away the dark, For sheer joy they sing the dawn. Without them there is no music!
7.
On the road west out of the enchanted city at the gates of the college Stands an ancient weeping willow tree, weeping, weeping silently, Willow, willow, willow, no need to cry for me! A little white throated swallow flew five thousand miles Sleeping on the wing, returning from the burning Arabian sands, lands On the ancient weeping willow, tree weeping, weeping constantly, “Fly into my arms little bird, how I’ve missed your company What have you seen, what have you heard, Where have you been from me?” Sang the ancient weeping willow tree Her long green skirts trailing down, down into the dark waters of the river Lee “I’ve seen a great crowd of people drowning in a sea of troubles, I’ve seen a vast army gathered on the plain, Willow, willow willow no need to cry for me O ancient weeping willow tree, how I’ve missed your company What have you seen, what have you heard?” sang the little sacred bird. “Well I’ve spoken to the owls, I’ve spoken to the professors, To the old men growing pale in their ivory towers, I’d give all their great powers for just one word of kindness, one kind word Fly into my arms little bird” sang the ancient weeping willow tree “I’ve seen an army of poets storming a golden tower in a dream Returning at dawn through the gates of the college, Their faces all pale and drawn, I’d give all their great knowledge For just one word of kindness, one kind word Fly into my arms little bird” sang the ancient weeping willow tree Weeping weeping silently On the road west out of the enchanted city at the gates of the college Stands an ancient weeping willow tree, weeping, weeping, constantly.
8.
Molly Bawn 03:39
Tell my friends that I am well and playing music in Clonmel Tell my friends that I am well and playing music in Clonmel I am in the honey meadow all among the honey grass In the shadow of the mountain with my dark eyed lass In the shadow of the mountain with my dark eyed lass We are drinking apple cider from a golden glass Tell my friends that I am well and playing music in Clonmel Well the first time that I saw her she came shining like the dawn Like a meadow in the morning and her name was Molly Bawn Molly Ban, Molly Bawn, Molly Bawn O’ Leary from the County Tipperary You mischievous dark fairy you have me surely robbed Playing on the footpath with your lipstick on your gob Molly Bawn Molly Bawn We were roaming in the gloaming we were busking in the dusk She played the Stack of Barley I played the Moneymusk There was music in the mountain there was music on the street There was music in the money in the money tumbling round our feet Molly Bawn, Molly Bawn, Molly Bawn O’ Leary from the County Tipperary You mischievous dark fairy you have me surely robbed Playing on the footpath with your lipstick on your gob Molly Bawn Molly Bawn We went traipsing down an avenue of overhanging ash She said she’d mind the money, she told me mind the hash The judge he said “What time have you?” I said “It’s five to ten” He said “That’s just the time you’ll do” and he put me in the pen. Molly Bawn, Molly Bawn, Molly Bawn O’ Leary from the County Tipperary You mischievous dark fairy you have me surely robbed Playing on the footpath with your lipstick on your gob Molly Bawn Molly Bawn Tell my friends that I am well and playing music in Clonmel Do not say I’ve gone to hell or languish in this prison cell
9.
One hundred stars are burning bright above the old Slieve Bloom tonight One hundred snow white horses in the March of the Kings of Laois One hundred years have come and gone, one hundred journeys round the sun One hundred blazing torches in the March of the Kings of Laois In the march of the kings of Laois One hundred snow white horses, one hundred golden bridles The silver reins a jingling in the March of the Kings of Laois Seven royal banners, three times seven pipers One hundred golden harpers in the March of the Kings of Laois When Rory Mac Rory Og O’ Moore fell with sword in hand A hungry pack of Saxon wolves came howling through the land The seven tribes of Laoise were scattered to the wind But these settlers they would have no peace While one O’ Moore remained in Laois A shot rang out on an Easter night A whipcrack volley split the light Arise arise cried Pearse, cried Pearse Hear Ireland’s lonely cry One hundred stars are burning bright above the old Slieve Bloom tonight One hundred snow white horses in the March of the Kings of Laois One hundred golden bridles, the silver reins a jingling The scent of gorse and juniper round the march of the kings of Laois One thousand blue cloaked warriors like a wave on the wild blue sea One thousand loyal heroes in the March of the Kings of Laois Five hundred men with purpled spears, their shields of red and golden, Spears and helmets glistening by the light of the distant sun Five hundred purpled spearsmen, champion every one. What warrior now comes flashing oer the plain In his chariot of white bronze Only Masc the mighty down from his tower of stone, be afraid His weapons trembling in his hands Hear the shriek of the Morrigan down from Wolfhill, an Bhadhbh, an Bhadhbh Hear the black howl of the banshee over the plain The Nore and the Barrow run red with blood, ochon is ochon ó One hundred stars are burning bright above the old Slieve Bloom tonight One hundred snow white horses in the march of the kings of Laois Three druids from the mountain, their grey cloaks gathered round them No-one saw it like I saw it, it’s the march of the kings of Laois Three times fifty young men in the march of the kings of Laois There is not one among them but is the son of a king and a queen But is the son of a king and a queen A maiden in her chariot proud and wise and beautiful Drawn by two back horses in the march of the kings of Laois In the march of the kings of Laois
10.
Slieve Gullion, Slieve Gullion she wears a green crown The moon on the mountain and the sun going down Her ash and her alder her green mossy bowers And all round the mountain the white thorn in flower All round the mountain and all the way home Slieve Gullion, Slieve Gullion she wears a gold crown The sun going westward and the summer gone down Her willow and her hazel, her birch and her broom And all round the mountain the heather in bloom All round the mountain and all the way home Slieve Gullion, Slieve Gullion she wears a white crown The snow on her bosom of white eiderdown Her holly and her ivy, her brakes and her bowers Here and there round the mountain the gorse in in flower All round the mountain, all round the mountain, all round the mountain And all the way home
11.
Carolan 04:06
Two horsemen riding through the glen One rides ahead one rides behind The man who rides ahead can see The man who rides behind is blind And on his back a leather sack And in that sack a willow harp, a willow harp Carolan, Carolan God cried tears of sorrow God cried tears of joy And the gift of melody was given To a young blind boy Two horsemen riding through a Leitrim glen And the greenwood ringing And they laughing and singing For it was here in Mohill town Carolan you settled down And raised your little family And many a golden melody That will live forever in the hearts of men Carolan, Carolan God cried tears of sorrow His angels cried tears of joy And the gift of melody was given To a young blind boy The birds are singing round Lough Rynne Longaire cuach agus scol an loin sa ghleann The birds are singing round Lough Lynne How do they sing in heaven Carolan? Many the pretty tune you wrote upon the buttons of your coat Carolan Carolan, Carolan God cried tears of sorrow His mother cried tears of joy And the gift of melody was given To a young blind boy Many the pretty tune you wrote Upon the buttons of your coat We still remember you here No-one came near you Carolan Two horsemen riding through the glen One rides ahead one rides behind The man who rides ahead can see The man who rides behind is blind

about

These are love songs for Ireland. I sing of her hidden dignity, her enchanted mountains and towns, her melody and mythology, her poetry and her people. I bring her 100 snow white horses in a song in a dream and she smiles back at me and gives me these melodies. This album was recorded in London with my old friends Pauline Scanlon and John Reynolds, my Lapwing Nation. We have come back together to paint this, our masterpiece.

credits

released April 2, 2021

All songs written and composed by John Spillane IMRO MCPS except Billy In The Sky written by John Spillane and John Reynolds PRS.
Produced by John Reynolds, Mixed by John Reynolds & Tim Oliver at New Aer Studios, London.
℗ and ⓒ John Spillane 2020. All Rights Reserved. Any unauthorised copying, hiring, lending, public performance and broadcasting is prohibited.

Inspired Records 003.

John Spillane’s Lapwing Nation are John Spillane, Pauline Scanlon and John Reynolds.

Musicians
John Spillane - Vocals, Spanish Guitar (Rodriguez) Electric Guitar, Keyboards, Ebow.
Pauline Scanlon - Voice.
John Reynolds - Drums, Programming.
Clare Kenny - Fender Jazz Bass Guitar.
Graham Kearns - Electric Guitar.
Julian Wilson - Hammond Organ.
Caroline Dale - Cellos (Track 4)
Justin Adams - Electric Guitar (Track 3)
Natasha Atlas - Vocals (Track 3)
Brian Morrissey - Banjo (Track 8)
Alan Doherty - Flute (Track 5)
Sean Deary - Flugel Horn (Track 11)
Siobhan Buckley and the Harpers of Music Generation Laois (Track 9)

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about

John Spillane

John Spillane is a musician, songwriter, performer, storyteller, poet and dreamer. Rooted in people, place and story, his music transports the listener and his live performances captivate audiences around the world. After 20 years, John is set to release his first independent release; 100 Snow White Horses.

Recorded in London with producer John Reynolds and singer Pauline Scanlon.
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