5134. Brennan on the Moor (Traditional Irish) with Bob at Fawkner Park

A song from our concert of Irish Songs at South Yarra Senior Centre in Fawkner Park.

Willie Brennan apparently came from a family of highwaymen operating in southern Tipperary and northern Cork during the second half of the eighteenth century. Willie's exploits took place mainly in the hills around Kilworth in County Cork. Although he had a "Robin Hood"-like reputation for robbing from the rich and giving to the poor, it is more likely that he was just robbing to fill his own pockets. It is said that the great Daniel O'Connell, while becoming famous as a barrister on the Munster circuit, always carried loaded pistols as protection from highwaymen such as Willie Brennan. Brennan was captured in 1804 at Clonmore in northern Tipperary and hanged at Clonmel in the same county. His fame survives through this popular ballad, broadside versions of which were written soon after his execution.

The best known recording of this song is by The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem, but it has been recorded by many other artists, including Burl Ives, Tom Glazer and Ed McCurdy.

Bob Dylan, as a young man, wrote a modern variation called "Ramblin' Gamblin' Willie". Apparently the day after he wrote it he stopped Liam Clancy on the street to sing it to him. It was not officially released until much later on the Bootleg set.

Lyrics and chords:
...... C ..................................................... F ........... C
'Tis of a brave young highwayman a story I will tell
............................................................ F ........................ C
His name was Willie Brennan and in Ireland he did dwell
.................................................................... F ......................... C
Twas up on Killworth mountain he commenced his wild career
.......... F ............................................ C
And many a wealthy nobleman before him shook with fear.

And it's Brennan on the moor; Brennan on the moor,
....................................................................... F ...................... C
Bold, brave and undaunted stood young Brennan on the moor!

One day upon the highway, as Willie he went down,
He spied the Mayor of Cashell, a mile outside the town
The Mayor he knew his features, and he said, "Young man!" said he
Your name is Willie Brennan, you must come along with me!

Now Brennan's wife had gone to town, provisions for to buy
When she saw her Willie taken, she began to weep and cry
Said: "Hand to me that ten-penny!" As soon as Willie spoke
She handed him a blunderbuss from underneath her cloak!

Now Brennan got his blunderbuss, the truth I will unfold
He made the Mayor to tremble, and he robbed him of his gold!
100 pounds were offered for his apprehension there,
But he, with horse and saddle to the mountains did repair

Now Brennan is an outlaw upon the mountain high
With cavalry and infantry to take him they did try
But he laughed at them and scorned at them, until it was said
By a false-hearted woman he was cruelly betrayed

They hanged Brennan at the crossroads, in chains he swung and dried
But still they say that in the night, some do see him ride
They see him with his blunderbuss, all in the midnite chill
Along, along the King's Highway rides Willie Brennan still!

You can see a playlist of my Irish songs here:
http://www.youtube.com/view_play_list?p=PL373C27204B0BB31F

I am now posting lyrics to the information panels on all my videos. Any that are too long to post in full will be found on my website: https://raymondsfolkpage.wordpress.com