Hi Open Mic Family
This is my song for week 96.
This week I am playing one of my favorite folk tunes "The Rambles of Spring" by the
Irish folk musician Tommy Makem.
This time of year is perfect for signing this tune, it tells of winter ending and spring begin and "heading down the road to see old friends"
I first heard this tune a couple of years ago around St Patricks day .I stumbled across a short film from the 1970s where Tommy Makem and Liam Clancy play a couple of Irish conmen.
In the film Makem and Clancy wander into the first frame signing this tune which has been stuck in my head every since.
The name of this short film is The Magic Sovereign.Makem and Clancy try to sell an elderly rural Irish couple a magic coin that will always come back to them no matter how many times they spend it.
I will link the film below for those who are interested.
Here are the lyrics to the song.
"The Rambles Of Spring"
Tommy Makem
There's a piercing wintry breeze
Blowing through the budding trees
And I button up my coat to keep me warm
But the days are on the mend
And I'm on the road again
With my fiddle snuggled close beneath my arm
In my fine, felt hat
And a strong pair of brogues
I have rosin in my pocket for my bow
O my fiddle strings are new
And I've learned a tune or two
So, I'm well prepared to ramble and must go
I'm as happy as a king
When I catch a breath of spring
And the grass is turning green as winter ends
And the geese are on the wing
And the thrushes start to sing
And I'm headed down the road to see old friends
In my fine, felt hat
And a strong pair of brogues
I have rosin in my pocket for my bow
O my fiddle strings are new
And I've learned a tune or two
So, I'm well prepared to ramble and must go
I have friends in every town
As I wander up and down
Making music at the markets and the fairs
Through the donkeys and the creels
And the farmers making deals
And the yellow headed tinkers selling wares
In my fine, felt hat
And a strong pair of brogues
I have rosin in my pocket for my bow
O my fiddle strings are new
And I've learned a tune or two
So, I'm well prepared to ramble and must go
Here's a health to one and all
To the big and to the small
To the rich and poor alike and foe and friends
And when I return again
May our foes have turned to friends
And may peace and joy be with you until then
In my fine, felt hat
And a strong pair of brogues
I have rosin in my pocket for my bow
O my fiddle strings are new
And I've learned a tune or two
So, I'm well prepared to ramble and must go
I'm as happy as a king
When I catch a breath of spring
And the grass is turning green as winter ends
And the geese are on the wing
And the thrushes start to sing
And I'm headed down the road to see old friends
In my fine, felt hat
And a strong pair of brogues
I have rosin in my pocket for my bow
O my fiddle strings are new
And I've learned a tune or two
So, I'm well prepared to ramble and must go
"The Magic Sovereign"
A short Irish film by Brian Friel
▶️ 3Speak
