Banks of the Lee

An Irish folk song of unknown age. The oldest known recording only dates to 1952, performed by Mary Connors for a BBC recording, though it may be older.^[1] (The Roud Index does list one example from 1935,^[2] but this seems to be a different song included in error.)

The song is sung from the perspective of someone separated from their love by travel across the ocean, and then by her death. Its tune is similar to another folk song of the British isles called "Gathering Rushes in the Month of May" (also known as "Underneath Your Apron").^[3]

Of note is the fact that the song shares a title - though not a theme - with another song, "The Banks of the Lea," tells a story of a Irish man who travels to England, finds love, and wishes to take her home.

The lyrics sung by the Longest Johns on their live streams appear to be assembled from an assortment of traditional versions, mixed, matched, and edited; the arrangement appears to be original. It was released as track 9 on Cures What Ails Ya.

Lyrics[]

These lyrics are based on the Cures What Ails Ya version.

When two lovers meet down beside the green bower
When two lovers meet down beneath the green tree
When Mary, fond Mary, declared unto her lover
"You have stolen my poor heart from the banks of the Lee"

{Chorus}
I loved her very dearly, so truly and sincerely
There was no one in this wide world I loved better than she
Every bush and every bower, every wild Irish flower
Reminds me of my Mary, on the banks of the Lee

"Well don't stay out late, love, on the moorlands, my Mary
Well don't stay out late, love, on the moorlands from me"
How little was our notion when we parted on the ocean
That we were forever parted from the banks of the Lee

{Chorus}

I will pluck my love some roses, some blooming Irish roses
I will pluck my love some roses, the fairest that ever grew
And I'll lay them on the grave of my own true lovely Mary
In that cold and silent church yard where she sleeps 'neath the dew

{Chorus}

Recordings[]

Streaming/Purchase[]

Youtube Videos[]

Gig Videos[]

Bie Daip - Appingedam (25 Aug 2019)

Full Band Streams[]

Gaming Streams[]

[1] ttps://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/DTbnksle.html

[2] ttps://www.vwml.org/record/RoudFS/S254726

[3] ttps://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/songs/thelovelybanksoflea.html

[1]

[2]

[3]

Banks of the Lee

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