Bannow's Lonely Shore

DESCRIPTION: "As on my pillow I recline in a foreign land to rest, The love of Bannow's flowery banks still throbs within my breast." The singer remembers his youth, plus ships, birds, and "youthful joys."
AUTHOR: unknown
EARLIEST DATE: 1948 (Ranson-SongsOfTheWexfordCoast)
KEYWORDS: homesickness emigration lyric nonballad
FOUND IN: Ireland
REFERENCES (1 citation):
Ranson-SongsOfTheWexfordCoast, pp. 26-27, "Bannow's Lonely Shore" (1 text, 1 tune)
ST Ran026 (Full)
Roud #20526
NOTES [124 words]: Ranson-SongsOfTheWexfordCoast: "It is believed that the song was composed by John Kane, a native of Grange, Bannow, when in exile in America." - BS
Kay Reville sends me this information about the song:
John Keane, Grange, Bannow, wrote this fine song in Philadelphia, U.S.A., about the year 1847 to where he had emigrated some years earlier. He sent this song to his aunt in Bannow and when he returned home for a holiday he heard it sung many times such was its popularity. Fr. Ranson in his Songs of Wexford Coast, 1948, claimed it was one of the most popular songs of the county. It is still sung to-day. John Keane died in Phildelphia around 1897. A biographical sketch of Johne Keane and words of song appeared in "The People" 1909. - (RBW)
Last updated in version 5.0
File: Ran026

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