Get all 7 John Spillane releases available on Bandcamp and save 25%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of In Another Light, The Dance of the Cherry Trees, 100 Snow White Horses, We Come In The Wind, Acoustic Series Vol.1 All the Ways You Wander, The English Market (Christmas Angel Song), and The Man Who Came In From The Dark.
1. |
Bishopstown
03:11
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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
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2. |
We Come In The Wind
03:16
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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
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3. |
Billy In The Sky
03:35
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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
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4. |
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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.”
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5. |
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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
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6. |
The Dawn Chorus
03:50
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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!
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7. |
The College Gates
04:18
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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.
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8. |
Molly Bawn
03:39
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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
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9. |
100 Snow White Horses
05:15
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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
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10. |
Slieve Gullion
03:14
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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
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11. |
Carolan
04:06
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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
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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.
... more
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