Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 days ago
The Banks of the Bann / The Greenwood Laddie (Roud No. 2123) - Sung by Charles O'Boyle (father of folk song collector Sean O'Boyle) of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Learned from his mother who heard it sung in the mills and factories of Belfast. Recorded by Sean O'Boyle and Peter Kennedy for the BBC on July 7, 1952.
Note by Kevin W.
This beautiful song was recorded only a few weeks before Charles O'Boyle passed away. Don't judge his voice too harshly, the words and tune are still sparkling with beauty.
Robert Cinnamond of Ballinderry, County Antrim sang a longer text for Sean O'Boyle in 1955, but the recording of it remains unavailable.
Notes by Peter Kennedy:
Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, vol.VIII no.1, 1956.
"Charles O'Boyle: Age 74 at the time of recording; died shortly afterwards. Father of Sean O'Boyle who worked as a collector for the BBC in Northern Ireland. Charles inherited much of his own singing tradition from his mother, who was born in Donaghadee, Co. Down, where there is a strong Scots tradition, but she lived most of her life in Belfast. He was a teacher, but from 1914-20 (interrupted by the war) studied and worked in Cork with Hardebeck. He became secretary to Hardebeck, who was blind, and made musical and Gaelic transcriptions and translations for him. His work is acknowledged by Hardebeck in the preface to Pt. III of Gems of Melody. (Pigott)." - Peter Kennedy.
Song transcription:
If you have seen my dearest, and his eyes of the clearest,
His cheeks like the red blood that's new dropped in snow?
He was neat, tall and slender, and his hands soft and tender,
He'll be my greenwood laddie till time is no more.
Down in yonder bowers I spent many the long hour,
Pulling the flowers in his company.
'Twas his stolen kisses caused my fondest wishes,
He'll be my greenwood laddie, and the boy I adore.
The Banks of the Bann / The Greenwood Laddie (Roud No. 2123) - Sung by Charles O'Boyle (father of folk song collector Sean O'Boyle) of Belfast, Northern Ireland. Learned from his mother who heard it sung in the mills and factories of Belfast. Recorded by Sean O'Boyle and Peter Kennedy for the BBC on July 7, 1952.
Note by Kevin W.
This beautiful song was recorded only a few weeks before Charles O'Boyle passed away. Don't judge his voice too harshly, the words and tune are still sparkling with beauty.
Robert Cinnamond of Ballinderry, County Antrim sang a longer text for Sean O'Boyle in 1955, but the recording of it remains unavailable.
Notes by Peter Kennedy:
Journal of the English Folk Dance and Song Society, vol.VIII no.1, 1956.
"Charles O'Boyle: Age 74 at the time of recording; died shortly afterwards. Father of Sean O'Boyle who worked as a collector for the BBC in Northern Ireland. Charles inherited much of his own singing tradition from his mother, who was born in Donaghadee, Co. Down, where there is a strong Scots tradition, but she lived most of her life in Belfast. He was a teacher, but from 1914-20 (interrupted by the war) studied and worked in Cork with Hardebeck. He became secretary to Hardebeck, who was blind, and made musical and Gaelic transcriptions and translations for him. His work is acknowledged by Hardebeck in the preface to Pt. III of Gems of Melody. (Pigott)." - Peter Kennedy.
Song transcription:
If you have seen my dearest, and his eyes of the clearest,
His cheeks like the red blood that's new dropped in snow?
He was neat, tall and slender, and his hands soft and tender,
He'll be my greenwood laddie till time is no more.
Down in yonder bowers I spent many the long hour,
Pulling the flowers in his company.
'Twas his stolen kisses caused my fondest wishes,
He'll be my greenwood laddie, and the boy I adore.
