The Mountains of Mourne
The lyrics to the song The Mountains of Mourne were written by Irish musician Percy French. The music was adapted by Houston Collisson from the traditional Irish folk tune "Carrigdonn" or "Carrigdhoun". The latter had been similarly used by Thomas Moore for his song Bendemeer's Stream.
The song is representative of French's many works concerning the Irish diaspora. The Mourne Mountains of the title are located in County Down in Northern Ireland.
The song is a whimsical look at the styles, attitudes and fashions of late nineteenth-century London as seen from the point of view of an emigrant labourer from a village near the Mourne Mountains. It is written as a message to the narrator's true love at home. The "sweep down to the sea" refrain was inspired by the view of the mountains from Skerries in north County Dublin. It contrasts the artificial attractions of the city with the more natural beauty of his homeland.
Notable versions
- During World War I, the song Old Gallipoli's A Wonderful Place used phrases from this song as a basis for some of its verses. Verses in the Gallipoli song include: "At least when I asked them, that's what they told me" and "Where the old Gallipoli sweeps down to the sea".
- Australian baritone Peter Dawson popularised the song in the 1920s.
- Irish Singer Ruby Murray with Ray Martin and his orchestra recorded a two verse version of this song on her 1955 10 inch RPM LP "When Irish Eyes Are Smiling".
- The song featured on the 1958 album, The Immortal Percy French, featuring the voice of Irish tenor Brendan O'Dowda.
- It was used in the jingle of Ulster Television's first logo in 1959.
- The Kingston Trio recorded the song in their 1960 album Sold Out. Nick Reynolds sang the lead.
- Singer Ottilie Patterson recorded it in December 1959 with Chris Barber's Jazz Band on the EP "Ottilie Swings the Irish"
- Singer-songwriter Don McLean recorded a version titled Mountains o' Mourne on Playin' Favorites in 1973, which reached number two on the Irish Singles Chart, and appears on several of his "Greatest Hits" collections.
- In 1973, Frank Hyde covered the song on his first album, Frank Hyde Sings.
- Folk singer Charlie King recorded the song on his album Somebody's Story in 1979.
- The song was referenced in 1979 on the title track of Black Rose: A Rock Legend, the ninth studio album by Irish rock band Thin Lizzy
- The song was recorded by Tarkio, an alt-country band led by Colin Meloy, later of The Decemberists for their EP Sea Songs for Landlocked Sailors in 1998, and included on Omnibus, a collection of Tarkio's recordings released by Kill Rock Stars in 2006.
- Finbar Furey covered the song on the album Chasing Moonlight: Love Songs of Ireland in 2003.
- In 2008, Celtic Thunder released the song on their eponymous debut album. Their recording is adapted from Don McLean's version of the song and performed by Keith Harkin.