Brennan On The Moor - A Traditional Irish Folk Song

Greetings Folks

So Spring is in the air once agian , the nights are getting longer ,the air is sweet with the scent of blossoming flowers and live music nights are coming back to my neck of the woods.

A few weeks ago I went for a Sunday pub lunch at a place called th Balgonie Arms which is a short walk from my house

While there I learned they plan to hold open mic Sunday sessions starting today , April 9th. I plan to check out these live sessions soon , this week I am to broke to go along to the pub.I just got back from a week long stay in the city of Ripon in North Yorkshire which has depleted most of my cash. I will likely need a week or 2 to build some money up before I can head along to the Sunday session.

So in the mean time I figured I would dig through my old song book and try playing some songs I havent played in a while in an attempt to find some inspiration to make a couple of new sets to take to one of these sessions.

The song Im playing in this video is my version of "Brennan On The Moor" an old Irish folk song that tells the tale of William "Willy" Brennan who was a real historical figure.Brennan was an infamous outlaw much like Robin Hood in England, he would steal from rich noblemen and give to the poor.

He was caught by the authorities and hung in Cork ,Ireland sometime in the early 19th centuary.

This song which is of unknown authorship is though to date to sometime between 1830 and the late 1850's.

The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem made the song popular while giging in New York City in the late 1950's and early 1960's.A young Bob Dylan used to attend these Clany brothers concerts and ended up writing a version of the song which he titled "Rambling Gambling Willie".
Dylan change the lyrics of the song to be about a gambler known as Will 'O' Connelly but he kept the same melodic structure as the origigal tune.

This is my version of this wonderful old ballad of the life and times of a legendary outlaw.

"Brennan On The Moor"

Oh it's of a brave young highway man this story we will tell
His name was Willie Brennan and in Ireland he did dwell
'Twas on the Kilwood Mountains he commenced his wild career
And many a wealthy noble man before him shook with fear.

And it's Brennan On The Moor, Brennan On The Moor
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan On The Moor.

One day upon the highway as Willie went down
He met the Mayor of Cashel, a mile outside the town
The Mayor, he knew his features, and he said, 'young man', said he
'Your name is Willie Brennan you must come along with me.

And it's Brennan On The Moor, Brennan On The Moor
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan On The Moor.

Now Brennan's wife had gone to town, provisions for to buy
And when she saw young Brennan she commenced to weep and cry
He said, "Hand to me that tenpenny", as soon as Willie spoke
She handed him a blunderbuss from underneath her cloak.

For young Brennan On The Moor, Brennan On The Moor
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan On The Moor.

Then with this loaded Blunderbuss, the truth I will unfold
He made the Mayor to tremble and robbed him of his gold
One hundred pounds was offered for his apprehension there
So he with horse and saddle to the mountains did repair.

Did young Brennan On The Moor, Brennan On The Moor
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan On The Moor.

Now Brennan being an outlaw upon the mountain high
With cavalry and infantry to take him they did try
He Laughed at them with scorn until at last 'twas said
By a falsehearted he was cruelly betrayed.

And it's Brennan On The Moor, Brennan On The Moor
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan On The Moor

They took Brennan to the crossroads and there he hung and died
But its to this day in the moonlight theres folks that see him ride
They see him with his bluderbuss all in the midnight chill
All along the kingshighway rides Willy Brennan still!

And it's Brennan On The Moor, Brennan On The Moor
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan On The Moor

And it's Brennan On The Moor, Brennan On The Moor
Bold, brave and undaunted was young Brennan On The Moor