My Charming Kate O'Neill

DESCRIPTION: "The first place that I saw my love, 'twas on a summer's day, She was going to her father's as I passed Red Bay." The singer, a young sea captain, praises her beauty but must go away, for "there's another young man, she intends his bride to be."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1938 (Sam Henry collection)
KEYWORDS: love rejection marriage sailor travel
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Henry/Huntingdon/Herrmann-SamHenrysSongsOfThePeople H767, pp. 370-371, "My Charming Kate O'Neill" (1 text, 1 tune)
Roud #6886
NOTES [72 words]: The notes to Henry/Huntington/Herrmann list no other versions of this song, and I can't recall any myself. But there are many lines reminiscent of "The Lowlands of Holland," and the meter is also similar. Sam Henry reports that this is about an actual girl "who captivated the hearts of young Glensmen eighty years ago" (i.e. c. 1855-1860). One wonder if the composer didn't take some inspiration from "The Lowland of Holland." - RBW
File: HHH767

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