Get all 4 Vincent Cross releases available on Bandcamp and save 35%.
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.
1. |
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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
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2. |
Creole Girl (Trad. Arr)
03:16
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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.
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3. |
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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.
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4. |
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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.
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5. |
King Corcoran (Cross)
02:51
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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
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6. |
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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
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7. |
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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
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8. |
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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
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9. |
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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!
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10. |
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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
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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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