Songbook/Spancil Hill

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Spancil Hill

Irish Folk – Text and melody: Michael Considine (ca. *1850 - †1873), Key: hexatonic (natural minor and/or dorian), arranged by Mjchael  

The song describes the homesickness of an Irish emigrant in America. The poet Michal Considine was born in the mid-19th century near Spancil Hill, which lies between Ennis and Tulla in the Clare countryside in Ireland. Although the story may be largely fictional, the places and people mentioned in the dongare real.

With tabs

Spancil Hill

Last[Am]night as I lay[G]dreaming, of pleasant days gone[Am]by,
Me mind being bent on rambling, to[C]Ireland I did[G]fly,
I[Am]stepped on board a vision, and[C]followed with a[G]will,
Till the[Am]first I came to[G]anchor at the cross at Spancil[Am]Hill,

2

T'was on[Am]the twenty[G]third of June, the day before the[Am]fair,
When Ireland's sons and daughters, and[C]friends assembled[G]there,
The[Am]young the old the brave the bold, their[C]duty to full[G]fill,
At the[Am]parish Church near[G]Clooney, a mile from Spancil[Am]Hill.

3

De-[Am]lighted by the[G]novelty, enchanted by the[Am]scene.
Where in me early boyhood where[C]often I had[G]been.
I[Am]thought I heard a murmur. I[C]think I hear it[G]still.
It's the[Am]little stream of[G]water that flows down Spancil[Am]Hill.

4

To a-[Am]muse a passing[G]fancy, I laid down on the[Am]ground.
And all my school companions, they[C]shortly gathered[G]round.
When[Am]we were home returning, we[C]danced with bright good[G]will
To[Am]Martin Monahan's[G]music, at the cross at Spancil[Am]Hill.

5

I[Am]went to see me[G]neighbours to see what they might[Am]say,
The old one's were all dead and gone, the[C]young one's turning[G]grey,
I[Am]met with tailor Quigley, he's as[C]bold as ever[G]still,
Sure he[Am]used to make me[G]britches when I lived in Spancil[Am]Hill.

6

I[Am]paid a flying[G]visit to my first and only[Am]love,
She's as fair as any lilly as[C]gently as a[G]dove,
She[Am]threw her arms around me saying[C]Johnny I love ye[G]still,
She was[Am]Meg the farmer's[G]daughter, the pride of Spaincil[Am]Hill.

7

I[Am]dreamt I knelt and[G]kissed her as in the days of[Am]yore
Ah, Johnny you're only joking as[C]many the time be-[G]fore
Then the[Am]cock he crew in the morning, he[C]crew both loud and[G]shrill
I a-[Am]woke in Cali-[G]fornia, many miles from Spancil[Am]Hill

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