Shamus O'Brien

DESCRIPTION: "Oh Shamus O'Brien, I'm loving you yet, And my heart is still trusting and kind... Oh why did I let you get out of my arms Like a bird that was caged and is free." The singer promises extreme devotion and asks Shamus to return to her
AUTHOR: Will S. Hays
EARLIEST DATE: 1867 (sheet music)
KEYWORDS: love separation betrayal request
FOUND IN: US(MW,So) Ireland Canada(Newf)
REFERENCES (5 citations):
Randolph 758, "Shamus O'Brien" (2 texts, 1 tune)
Dean-FlyingCloud, pp. 69-70, "Shamus O'Brien" (1 text)
O'Conor-OldTimeSongsAndBalladOfIreland, p. 160, "Shamus O'Brien" (1 text)
Hylands-Mammoth-Hibernian-Songster, p. 52, "Shamus O'Brien" (1 text)
Dime-Song-Book #24, p. 37, "Shamus O'Brien" (1 text)
Roud #4975
RECORDINGS:
Ray Johnson, "Shamus O'Brien" (on "Ray Johnson at the Newfoundlander," Audat Records 477-9003 LP (1967))
The McNulty Family, "Shamus O'Brien" (Decca 12247, 1940)
Winfred Powers, "Seamus O'Brien" (on MUNFLA/Leach)
CROSS-REFERENCES:
cf. "Nora O'Neal"
NOTES [77 words]: Randolph reports that this is the answer to an earlier Will S. Hays song, "Nora O'Neal." - RBW
There is a Missouri fiddle tune called "Shamus O'Brien's Waltz"; it's somewhat different from the tune to this song, but is perhaps a descendant. - PJS
Grove's Dictionary of Music also reports a "romantic comic opera in two acts" with the title "Shamus O'Brien"; the book is by J. H. Jessop and the music by "Stanford." But it didn't premiere until March 2, 1896. - RBW
Last updated in version 6.7
File: R758

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