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The Life & Times of James "The Rooster" Corcoran

by Vincent Cross

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    During the 19th Century, James “The Rooster” Corcoran emigrated from Ireland to New York City, married, became a champion of the Irish-American immigrant working class, and led an infamous gang. Now his descendent, New York City folk musician Vincent Cross, has created a new album around his life. Through narratives partly researched and partially imagined a soundscape of English concertina, bouzouki, minstrel banjo, bodhrán weave together musical elements drawn from the Irish & American folk traditions. Most of the song stories consist of newly-written original songs with nods to several public domain songs adapted for the cause. Cross took on the task of learning several new instruments (concertina, bouzouki) specifically for this project, even utilizing the talents of Irish based luthier, Brian Lofthouse to design a bouzouki used specifically for the recording.

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    Ten songs (ballads) that paint a picture that is influenced by traditional Irish and American folks song motifs and melodies. You’ll hear fragments of traditional songs throughout from both sides of the pond. The narrative is not completely linear but it does begin in Corcoran’s place of birth , Balbriggan with ‘A Man After My Own Heart’ (adapted from a New York Times article of the same title), and then briefly moves to New Orleans (‘Creole Girl’), and then on to the Five Points in New York City. Corcoran soon moves up to 40th street, and is the first to settle a shanty town on a high ridge of ground known as Goat's Hill (‘King Corcoran’). This soon becomes a home for over 100 Irish families newly immigrated. It’s where the Tudor City is today, and there’s even a Gothic inscription to Corcoran that says, “Here was Corcoran’s Roost till the year 1877.”

    Instrumentation: Mandolin, bodhran, bouzouki, chromatic concertina, and dulcimer.

    Includes unlimited streaming of The Life & Times of James "The Rooster" Corcoran via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
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    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Home Away From Home, The Life & Times of James "The Rooster" Corcoran, Old Songs For Modern Folk, and A Town Called Normal. , and , .

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1.
A Man after My Heart ‐ (Cross) Verse One Oh my name is Jimmy Corcoran, And the same I'll ne'r disown I used to be live in happiness Just north of Dublin By trade I was a fisherman And full the nets came in We hauled them up by hand In the town of Balbriggan. Verse Two We'd cast out the line And let the small ones go That's what my daddy taught me It's all I really know You can't fight the crown So don't take the bait Where you know you cannot live it's better to escape. Verse Three It's well that I remember The year of 44 I eloped on board the Charlotte Out of Liverpool As Irish you could travel free If willing to stay below Six weeks of darkness on route To America- heave ho! Verse Four They call me a Paddy, But I'm an Irish gentleman A little bit of fighting Never did no harm My father he was hunted Through the mountains and boreen A rebel he was persecuted Under the monarchy. Verse Five So come all you gallant Irishmen Wherever you may be And I hope you paid attention And listened unto me It's not where I'm from But it's where I got my start And I'll lend a hand you'll understand To a man after my heart. x2
2.
2. Creole Girl - (Trad. Arr.) Verse One Over swamps of alligators I made my weary way Over ties on railroad crossings My weary feet did play Till at length toward shades of evening That higher ground I'd gain It was there that I met with the Creole girl On the lakes of Pontchatrain. Verse Two I said, “My pretty fair maiden, My money here's no good. If it weren't for the alligators I'd sleep out in the wood.” “you're welcome here, kind stranger, Our house is very plain But we never turn a stranger out On the Lakes of Pontchatrain. Verse Three She took me into her father's house And she treated me quite well, The hair upon her shoulders In jet black ringlets fell. To try and paint her beauty I'm sure 'twould be in vain, So handsome was my Creole girl On the Lakes of Pontchatrain. Verse Four I asked her if she'd marry me, She'd said it could never be. For she had got another, And he was far at sea. She said that she would wait for him, And true she would remain. 'Til he returned for his Creole girl On the Lakes of Pontchartrain Verse Five So it's fare thee well, my Creole girl, I never shall see you more, I'll ne'er forget your kindness In the cottage by the shore. And at each social gathering A flowing glass I'll drain I'll drink a health to the Creole girl On the Lakes of Pontchatrain.
3.
Verse One Come ye ladies & ye gentlemen Let me tell you a tale That I happened to see And I'll tell it to you if you please. Verse Two She's the mother of the clan, The whole Rooster gang And papers she's selling, Her tongue worn out yelling Chorus Up comes a cop and tells her to stop A crowd begun a gathering, gathering round "Don't lay a hand on me" says she, The women started laughing at her quick tongue. Verse Three She said, "I'll count you the years, Sure there arn't enough fingers, Since I've stood right here, Sure nobody else would even dare." Chorus He sensing the scene stepped back a yard Says said "I'd be happy to be Christian martyred" He called for the officers and have her brought in." She told him that she'd see him wearing a different stripe. Verse Four She said "All you women, Can you hear what he’s saying? "And I an old lady," She said, "I think we'll have to teach him manners." Chorus She told him to move while his feet were in his shoes That she was on the sidewalk paying her dues And only an inch would she move For the sake of peace quite after such abuse So I told you the tale, That I happened to see, And it ended there If you, if ye please.
4.
Verse One A mournful tale, heartrending To you, kind friends, I will relate. The Solemn truth intending Of three that met a tragic fate An oyster sloop was sailing Upon the ocean's sparkling tide. In the healthful breeze regaling She moved upon the waters wide. Verse Two But upon this oyster vessel, A pirate bold had found his way. With wicked heart, this vassal The captain and two boys did slay. He seized the gold and silver Which this poor captain had in store; His watch and clothes did pilfer, While he lay struggling in his gore. Verse Three He overboard soon threw them, The murdered boys and captain, too. The briny deep enclosed them, And they were quickly gone from view. But the eye that never slumbers Did follow on the murderer's track, And the vigilance of numbers, To justice brought the monster back. Verse Four By a true and faithful jury He was found guilty of the crime. Some raved and cursed like fury, But he had met his fate in time. 'Twixt heaven and earth suspended, On Bedloe's Island Hicks was hung. Some thousand there attended To see the horrid murderer swung.
5.
5. King Corcoran - (Cross) Verse One: King Corcoran was a gentleman He came from decent folk He found a spot on the crack of a rock And it's there he made his stand x2 Verse Two He built a shack upon that crack From the wood from the east riverbed And for sport and recreation Dropped rocks on policemen's heads Chorus One He'd bludgeon you with an old cart rung The leader of the colony With goats, and pigs, and hens and dogs All a roaming free x2 Verse Three Then one day a police captain came To eject him from his roost Instead his wife stripped the buttons From the Captain's suit Chorus Two They hang like decorations On the shanty wall The police can have them when they come And to hell with them all x2 Verse Four King Corcoran's home was a castle A phrase both bold and true And whoever invaded Did so at his peril Chorus Three With caustic tongue and ready wit His word it was his bond He'd help you out if he could But he'd never spare the rod x 2
6.
6. Red Haired Mary Corcoran - (Cross) Chorus Poor old Mary Corcoran She has taken to the sup She hangs around McKinny's door And will never give it up x 2 Verse One She walks along 1st avenue With an independent air And offers up abuse To anyone that stares x2 Verse Two Her smile was known to conquer hearts She was the life and soul Her arm a legend to upstarts Her bare feet graced across the floor x2 Chorus Verse three Now time has passed and left no page Not a even a single scrap And if the paving stones they could speak Then old Mary would be back x2 Chorus
7.
A Stranger I Came – (Cross) Verse One When first unto this country A stranger I came Through this world I ramble My companion was pain Verse Two Many years have passed Since I bid farewell These lonesome feelings Aint no tongue can tell Chorus One What I'd give for no memory So I wouldn't grow old With my hands in my pockets And my cap on bold, Verse Three This world is wide But it ends at the shore Time is an ocean We rise and we fall Chorus Two Would I were a sparrow, Let life pass me by. Lay down in sorrow, If I could not fly Verse Four When first unto this country A stranger I came Through this world I ramble A stranger I remain
8.
Handsome Henry Carlton ‐ (Cross) Verse One It was a long hot summers night And I'll tell it unto thee They were playing cards in Youngers' saloon To keep good company x 2 Verse Two Bill Smith of Baltimore was a bricklayer by trade. And I'll tell it unto thee. They took him to some open ground. And all is treachery x 2 Verse Three They knocked him down, but he tried to rise. And I'll tell it unto thee. He grabbed a rock and heavy it came down. They Showed no mercy x 2 Verse Four The two men did run, but soon they were found. And I'll tell it unto thee. Like a sally in the dock, they were swinging in the breeze. And I was close enough to see x 2 Verse Five There's a place in hell or so they say. And I'll tell it unto thee. A dismal place prepared there. To sit upon a serpent's knee x 2
9.
LCaoineadh na dTrí Muire - (Trad. Arr.) Verse One A Pheadair, a Aspail, An bhfaca tú mo ghrá geal? Óch óchón agus óchón-ó! Chonaic mé ar ball é, Gá chéasadh ag an ngarda. Óch óchón agus óchón-ó! Verse Two Cé hé an fear breá sin Ar Chrann na mPáise? Óch óchón agus óchón-ó! An é n-aithníonn tú Do Mhac, a Mháthrín? Óch óchón agus óchón-ó! Translation Verse One Peter, Apostle Did you see my fair love? Alas alack and woe is me! I saw him just now, being crucified by the guard. Alas alack and woe is me! Verse Two Who is he, that fine man on the cross of the Passion? Alas alack and woe is me! Don't you know your son, Mother? Alas alack and woe is me!
10.
Verse One Farwell sweet lovely Katherine Ten thousand times adieu The secrets of my hearts delight I’ve shared them all with you Your body rests where it might be My heart is with you still. This life is but a token dear If true love be thy will Verse Two Soon will this life be over dear And peace for ever more And I’ll return to you my love The one that I adore. We’ll call and sing so merrily And spend our time freely It is a joy I’ll boldly go And soon I’ll be with thee. Verse Three So shrived my soul I’ve no regrets As I lay low here There’s nothing to protect me Only knowing that you’re near I hear your voice ring close my dear and I so I answer you For I will soon depart this world For a love I know is true. Refrain: Soon will this life be over And peace for ever more And I’ll return to you my love The one that I adore

about

There are ten songs in total and musically this album has been very absorbing, as I’ve spent time learning to play new instruments: bouzouki (made specially for the project), chromatic concertina, and dulcimer.

The songs (ballads) themselves paint a picture that is influenced by traditional Irish and American folks song motifs and melodies. You’ll hear fragments of traditional songs throughout from both sides of the pond. The narrative is not completely linear but it does begin in Corcoran’s place of birth , Balbriggan with ‘A Man After My Own Heart’ (adapted from a New York Times article of the same title), and then briefly moves to New Orleans (‘Creole Girl’), and then on to the Five Points in New York City. Corcoran soon moves up to 40th street, and is the first to settle a shanty town on a high ridge of ground known as Goat's Hill (‘King Corcoran’). This soon becomes a home for over 100 Irish families newly immigrated. It’s where the Tudor City is today, and there’s even a Gothic inscription to Corcoran that says, “Here was Corcoran’s Roost till the year 1877.”

credits

released August 7, 2020

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Vincent Cross New York, New York

Vincent Cross is an Irish song poet whose catalogue of critically-acclaimed albums draw from various traditional folk idioms and ancient myths. Born in Ireland, raised in Australia and now living in New York City, he frequently tours globally at folk clubs and festivals, and is a staple at the Brooklyn Folk Festival, and the renowned Scratcher Sessions in Manhattan. ... more

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