Valparaiso
Rita Connolly
TARA3033
- Ocean Floor
- Valparaiso
- Lizzie Finn
- Ripples In The Rockpools
- Piccadilly
- His Name Is Elvis
- Two White Horses
- Shakin' The Blues Away
- Sun Song
- Rio
- The Great Guns Roar
- The Quiet Land of Erin
1. Ocean Floor (words and
music Sonny Condell)
Too late for a telegram
And it's too late for remorse
Too late like Lots wife looking
Over her salt shoulder
Like the Corrib river running out
Thirsting for the sea
One instant she's a baby
Next thing she's a woman with her own child
There's never any stepping stones
Slipping there's no gripping on these river walls
Like the Corrib river running out
Thirsting for the sea
We're all building up the ocean
We're all building up the ocean
We're all building up the ocean floor
Here's another Rose of Tralee
Here's another queen of the sea
It's a one-way train that's coming around
It's a station that will never let me down
Like a western rain clouds rolling in
Thirsting for the clay
We're all building up the ocean
We're all building up the ocean
We're all building up the ocean floor
Rita Connolly - Vocal , harmony vocals.
Shaun Davey - Harmony vocals.
Robbie Brennan - Kit.
Noel Eccles - Percussion.
Eoghan O'Neill - Bass guitar.
Des Moore - Acoustic & electric guitar.
Anthony Drennan - Lead electric guitar.
Paul Drennan - Keyboards.
Michael Buckley - Soprano sax.
2. VALPARAISO (words &
music: Rita Connolly)
He was singing about Valparaiso
Singing as though in a dream
White sandy beaches
And warm gentle breeze
Palm trees that reach to
The blue southern seas
And he sang, Valparaiso, Valparaiso
When will the wind blow me down there again
Valparaiso, Valparaiso
Softened the heart of a hard-hearted man
He was singing of the days on the ocean
Of trade winds and rounding the Horn
Fair winds and foul winds
Of hard work and ease
Friends found and lost
On the great southern seas
And he sang Valparaiso, Valparaiso
When will the wind blow me down there again
Valparaiso, Valparaiso
Softened the heart of the hardhearted man
We all sat in that hushed smokey tavern
As winter winds raged 'round the door
Ears keen and listening and eyes far away
Wishing that we could all go there someday
And we sang Valparaiso, Valparaiso
When will the wind blow me down there again
Valparaiso, Valparaiso
Softened the heart of a hardhearted man
Rita Connolly - vocal
Robbie Brennan - Kit
Noel Eccles - Percussion
Eoghan O'Neill - 6-string bass
Des Moore - Acoustic Guitar
Anthony Drennan - Dobro
Paul Drennan - Keyboards
Michael Buckley - Flute
Chorus - Sean Connolly, Patricia Connolly, Enda Connolly, Inez
Connolly, Ursula Connolly, Rita Connolly, Clare Kenny, Carla Gallagher,
Shaun Davey
3. LIZZIE FINN (words: Sebastian
Barry, music: Shaun Davey)
Form cheering burghers of Brighton
Wintry theatres in
Brown seaside streets
Robert Gibson took me through
The lamp-adoring Welsh farms
The inky sea was under us
And on his back lay my long white arms
This is the only true history of Lizzie Finn by herself
To a world of tobacco and billiard tables
Marriage in Christchurch
The lonely vicar,
Lost sparrows in the blueness
Robert heaving
Forever like a sailor
On the rope of my drifting
We had a daughter
And that tang of cut grass
Got into my dreams
At night I went up to the old house tower
Full of the true histories of spiders
There in the best light
With my candle shadows
I hitched my linens
And danced
This is the only true history of Lizzie Finn by herself
The only true history of Lizzie Finn
The only true history of Lizzie Finn
Of Lizzie Finn by herself
Rita Connolly - vocal
Robbie Brennan - Kit
Noel Eccles - Percussion
Eoghan O'Neill - 6-string bass
Des Moore - Acoustic guitar, mandolin
Anthony Drennan - Electric guitar
Paul Drennan - Keyboards
Michael Buckley - Soprano sax, flute
Matthew Manning - Oboe
4. RIPPLES IN THE ROCKPOOLS (words
& music: Shaun Davey)
Ripples in the water of the rockpool sun
Ripples in the water of the rockpool sun
Ripples in the water of the rockpool sun
And the boats are in for winter
Donal an Chogaidh will you marry me
Donal an Chogaidh will you marry me
Donal an Chogaidh will you marry me
Will I carry your three children
Chorus:
Ripples in the rockpools, ripples in the sea
Ripples in the sand dunes rolling into Connemara
Ripples in the rockpools, ripples in the sea
Ripples in the sand dunes rolling into Connemara
Donal an Chogaidh will you sail with me
Donal an Chogaidh will you sail with me
Donal an Chogaidh will you sail with me
From here to far Coruna
I can feel the tide falling in the rain
I can feel the tide falling in the rain
I can feel the tide falling in the rain
But the wind is surely rising
Chorus:
I can feel the tide falling in the rain
I can feel the tide falling in the rain
I can feel the tide falling in the rain
But the wind is surely rising
Donal an Chogaidh will you come to no good
Donal an Chogaidh will you come to no good
Donal an Chogaidh will you come to no good
I shall leave you and take my dowry
Rita Connolly - Vocal, harmony vocal
Shaun Davey - Harmony vocal
Paul McAteer - Kit
Noel Eccles - Percussion
Eoghan O'Neill - Bass guitar
Des Moore - Acoustic guitar
Anthony Drennan - Lead electric guitar
Paul Drennan - Keyboards
Michael Buckley - Soprano sax, flute
5. PICCADILLY (words &
music : Leo O'Kelly)
I stood in Piccadilly
And I thought I heard the sea
Thought I heard the sea
And a thousand voices laughed at me
I saw an aeroplane up in the sky
I shot it down
Yes I shot it down
And I watched it fall without a sound
Please don't leave me in this lonely, lonely city
Please don't leave me all alone in this town
With every word you say you're breathing sweet air
anew
And I'm bleeding with the scent and with the sound
I saw a boy wave form the bridge
But nobody waved back
Not a soul waved back
But he waved until the day grew black
I know you did oppose it
but you filled my glass again
filled it to the brim
And you're hoping it might ease the pain
Please don't leave me in this lonely city
Please don't leave me all alone in this town
With every word you say you're breathing sweet air anew
And I'm bleeding with the scent and with the sound
Rita Connolly - Vocal, harmony vocal
Iarla O'Lionaird - Harmony vocal
Robbie Brennan - Kit
Noel Eccles - Percussion
Eoghan O'Neill - Fretless bass
Des Moore - Acoustic guitar
Anthony Drennan -Electric Guitar
Paul Drennan - Keyboards
Michael Buckley - Soprano sax
6. HIS NAME IS ELVIS (words:
Sebastain Barry, Music Shaun Davey)
The little boys name
His name is Elvis
We have a little boy so we know
The wonder of that
How he clutches at kisses to blow
How he pulls of his hat
The little boys name is Elvis
And I think one of you is an aunt
There's a baby in the old car
This heat makes our black dog pant
The little boys name
His name is Elvis
No cloud was welcome all day
Everyone came to the beach
Elvis will be President I'd say
He's a winner, he's a peach
Tankers shimmer near Howth Head
Dollymount looks like Spain
You are refugees from a war
Now you are laughing again
The little boys name is Elvis
And I think one of you is an aunt
There's a baby in the old car
This heat makes our black dog pant
The little boys name
His name is Elvis
Rita Connolly - vocal
Paul McAteer - Kit
Noel Eccles - Percussion
Eoghan O'Neill - 6-string bass
Des Moore - Acoustic guitar, electric guitar
Anthony Drennan - Lead electric guitar
Shaun Davey - Keyboards, harmony vocal
Michael Buckley - Flute
7. TWO WHITE HORSES (words
& music: Sonny Condell)
Two white horses draw the plough
From where I stand I hear no sound
The hours of this creeping day
In polished harness led away
Ploughman's feet in furrows
Walking, walking
Years have bent this ploughman's back
As wind deforms the skyline tree
Two white horses never tire
In all the turnings of the day
Turning, always turning
In this never-ending field
Two white horses draw the plough
From where I stand I never hear a sound
Two white horses never tire
In all the turnings of the day
Walking, always walking
In this never-ending field
Rita Connolly - Vocal, harmony vocals
Robbie Brennan - Kit
Noel Eccles - Percussion
Eoghan O'Neill - Fretless bass
Des Moore - Acoustic guitar
Anthony Drennan - Lead electric guitar
Paul Drennan - Keyboards
Michael Buckley - Flute
8. SHAKIN' THE BLUES AWAY
(words & music: Irving Berlin)
There's an old superstition
Way down south
Everybody believes that trouble won't stay
If you shake it away
When they hold a revival
Way down south
Everybody with care and trouble that day
Tries to shake it away
Shakin' the blues away
Unhappy news away
If you are blue it's easy to
Shake off your cares and troubles
Telling the blues to go
They may refuse to go
But as a rule they'll go if you'll
Shake'em away
Do like the voodoos do
Listenin' to a voodoo melody
They shake their body so
To and fro
With every shake
A lucky break
Provin' that there's a way
To chase your cares away
If you would lose you weary blues
Shake'em away, shake 'em away
Rita Connolly - vocal
Robbie Brennan - Kit
Noel Eccles - Percussion
Eoghan O'Neill - Bass guitar
Des Moore - Acoustic guitar
Anthony Drennan - Dobro
Jimmy Smith - Lead electric guitar
Paul Drennan - Keyboards, piano
Michael Buckley - Tenor sax
9. SUN SONG (words : Rita
Connolly, Music: Shaun Davey)
Blue skies, blue skies
Nothing but blue skies
The sun is here again
Your eyes, your eyes
Looking into your eyes
The sun is here again
Let's go to the seaside
Let's go to the seaside
And lie on golden sand
Let's go to the seaside
Let's go to the seaside
Holding lovers hand
Chorus:
My sun song
This is my sun song
My sun song sing song
Just for you
You go in the water
You go in the water
I'll be watching from the shore
you go in the water
you go in the water
No clouds today for sure
Stretching out on sandy bed
Stretching out on sandy bed
Soaking up the sun
Feeling such a sleepy head
Feeling such a sleepy head
And Summer's just begun
Chorus :
Homeward bound in evening sun
Happy, weary, warm
Homeward bound in evening sun
Homeward bound and joyful
Joyful sunny day
Blueskies for everyone
Open hearts, open eyes
Blue skies, blue blue skies
Rita Connolly - Vocal, harmony vocals
Paul McAteer - Kit
Noel Eccles - Percussion
Eoghan O'Neill - Bass guitar
Des Moore - Electric guitar
Shaun Davey - Keyboards, harmony vocals
Michael Buckley - Tenor sax, flute
10. RIO (words & music:
Mike Nesmith)
I'm hearing the light from the window
I'm seeing the sound of sea
My feet have come loose form their moorings
And I'm feeling quiet wonderfully free
And I think I will travel to Rio
Using the music for flight
There's nothing I know of in Rio
But it's something to do with the night
And it's only a whimsical notion
To fly down to Rio tonight
I probably won't fly down to Rio
But then again I just might
There's wings to the thought behind fancy
There's wings to the thought behind play
And dancing to rhythm of laughter
Makes laughter the rhythm of rain
And I think I will travel to Rio etc.,
I feel such a sense of well-being
The problems have come to be solved
And what I thought was proper in battle
I see now was proper for love
And I think I will travel to Rio etc.,
Rita Connolly - Vocal
Paul McAteer - Kit
Noel Eccles - Percussion
Eoghan O'Neill - Bass guitar
Des Moore - Acoustic guitar
Anthony Drennan - Acoustic Guitar
Gerry O'Beirne - Acoustic guitar
Paul Drennan - Synthesizer
Michael Buckley - Tenor sax
Valerie Armstrong, Steve Cooney, Shaun Davey,
Rita Connolly - backing vocals
11. THE GREAT GUNS ROAR (words
& music: Shaun Davey)
I heard the great guns roar
Though I was upon dry land
They will echo all-my-life
Oh the great guns roar
Murder in the sky
Deep towers of water rise
Oh the great guns roar
Malta, Gibraltar
Alexandria
Kaso, Sirte
Kithira
A bedside game of drafts
Decorations spread like toys
Thunder overhead
A small frightened boy
Oh the great guns roar
Oh the great guns roar
Oh the great guns roar
.
Rita Connolly - Vocal
Paul Mc Ateer - Kit
Noel Eccles - Percussion
Eoghan O'Neill - Electric bass
Des Moore - Electric guitar, high string guitar
Anthony Drennan - Lead electric guitar
Shaun Davey - Keyboards
Matthew Manning - Oboe, cor anglais
12. THE QUIET LAND OF ERIN
(words : Joan O'Hara, music: trad. arr. Davey/Connolly)
By myself I'd be in Ard Ti Cuan
Where the mountain stands away
And it's I would let the Sundays go
In the cuckoo's glen above the bay
Chorus:
Agus ach, ach Eireann 'lig is oh
Eire lonn dubh is oh
Ah the quiet land of Eireann
Ah my heart is weary all alone
And it sends a lonely cry
To the land that sings beyond my dreams
And the lonely Sundays pass my by
Chorus:
I would ravel back the twisted years
In the bitter wasted winds
If the God above would let me lie
In a quiet place above the whins
Chorus:
Rita Connolly - Vocal
Iarla O'Lionaird - Vocal
Paul McAteer - Kit
Eoghan O'Neill - Fretless bass
Des Moore - Acoustic guitar
Anthony Drennan - E-bow electric, electric guitar
Paul Drennan- Keyboards
Eddie Lynch - Keyboards
Michael Buckley - Flute
Special Thanks:
Shaun Davey, Bill Somerville -Large, Conan Doyle and to all
the musicians who worked on this album for their generous and
inspired contributions to the songs, and also to John Cook, Deirdre
Costello, Helen Connaughton, Karen Connolly, Dennis Suttil, Sebastian
Barry, Philip Melly, Carla Gallagher, Sadhbh at the Traditional
Music Archive, Dublin, Michael O'Gorman, Joyce Roe, John Mc Donagh,
Orla Cronin, Gerry Savage, Patricia Connolly and Judy Quaintance.