Checking my harddisk I found an old tab I made years ago but never posted here. It's the bouzouki accompaniment to the song Pota Mor Fatai, sung by Roisin Elsafty.
Today I listend once again to the Black Album by Planxty and I just had to try to play Donal's backing to Junior Crehan's Favourite. Here's the tab I made. You can download the full pdf here. But please comment, if you download it, and maybe think of buying me a pint?
Is there a bouzouki player in the world who hasn’t been influenced by Donal Lunny and his style of playing the bouzouki? When I heard the news of his death yesterday, I was deeply saddened. Unfortunately, I never had the chance to meet him in person; I only saw him perform live once with Planxty (Bremen, 1980). The internet is now full of tributes to him and his life’s work, so there’s nothing more I can add. What remains is the memory of a wonderful person with a deep love for traditional Irish music and a curiosity to constantly discover and nurture new, up-and-coming talent.
There aren't many tabs on my blog that try to explain Donal's playing style. I find it difficult to analyze and write down his playing style. If any of you have tabs or lessons that explain his bouzouki playing, I'd really appreciate it if you'd be willing to share them here.
Here's at least a link to the tabs I've posted here on the blog.
Here's an interview with Donal from 2004
Next lesson by Johannes Broborn. He seems to be a big Fan of Ye Vagabonds. So this is his take on the song I'm a Rover.
First the recorded version by Johannes:
{title: I'm A Rover}
Capo on 3rd fret
{soc}
[D]I'm a rover and[G] seldom so[D]ber
I'm a rover, o' high de[A]gree;
And when I'm[D] drinking, I'm [A]always [D]thinking
How to [G]gain my love's[A] compa[D]ny.
{eoc}
Though the [D]night be [G]dark as [D]dungeon,
not a star to be seen a[A]bove
I will be [D]guided with[A]out a [D]stumble,
into the [G]arms of me [A]only [D]love
I went up [D]to her [G]bedroom [D]window,
kneeling gently upon a [A]stone
Oh, I [D]rapped on her [A]bedroom [D]window
My darling [G]dear, do you [A]lie a[G]lone?
{soc}
[D]I'm a a rover and[G] seldom so[D]ber
I'm a rover, o' high de[A]gree;
And when I'm[D] drinking, I'm [A]always [D]thinking
How to [G]gain my love's[A] compa[D]ny.
{eoc}
She raised her [D]head up from her [G]feather[D]pillow
Raised her arms up around her [A]breast
Saying [D] at me [A]bedroom [D]window,
disturbing [G]me at me [A]long night's [D]rest?
It's only [D], your [G]own true [D]lover,
open the [Bm]door and please [G]let me [A]in
For I have [D]come on a [A]long night's [D]journey
I am near [G]drench - ed [A]to the [D]skin
{soc}
[D]I'm a a rover and[G] seldom so[D]ber
I'm a rover, o' high de[A]gree;
And when I'm[D] drinking, I'm [A]always [D]thinking
How to gain my love's[A] compa[D]ny.
{eoc}
She opened the [D]door with the [G]greatest [D]pleasure
Opened the [D]door and she let me [A]in
We both shook [D]hands and em[G]braced each [D]other
'Til the [Bm]morning we [A]lay as [G]one
Well now me [Bm]love, I must go and [D]leave you
Though the [F#m]mountains be [Em]high a[A]bove
Well, I will [D]climb them with [G]greater [D]pleasure
That I have [G]been with me [A]only [G]love
{soc}
[D]I'm a a rover and[G] seldom so[D]ber
I'm a rover, o' high de[A]gree;
And when I'm[D] drinking, I'm [A]always [D]thinking
How to [G]gain my love's[A] compa[D]ny.
{eoc}
Here's a new lesson by Johannes Broborn. Another song recorded by Ye Vagabonds. This is not the famous rebel song!
There's another lesson to this song by Jasper Kaye, which I posted here. You can also find the lyrics and chords to the song there.
So you can compare these videos and decide which one suits you best.
Here's Johannes' recorded version of the song
Just found these 2 beautiful versions of Folk Songs. I love the singing and playing of Wyn. Have a listen and get inspired.
Yesterday I posted the cover version Johannes posted on youtube, today he is offering the lesson on how to play it. So take your chance to learn a beautiful little song. Lyrics and chords you can find in my other post here.
This is a lovely cover by Johannes Broborn played on bouzouki and mandolin.
{t:Blue Is The Eye}
{st:Ye Vagabonds}
Capo 1
A [D]crack in the [G]sky lends a [D]light to the [A]dark
The [D]wind blows the [G]ember of [A]coal from the [D]hearth
You [D]carry it [G]proudly through [D]ditches and [A]trees
And [Bm]cross the hor[G]izon to [A]lie down and [D]sleep
{soc}
[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling
[Bm]Blue is the [Bm]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea
[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling
[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye that [A]looks after [D]thee
{eoc}
[D]Over the [G]ocean tow[D]ard a new [A]world
The [Bm]city, the [G]island, the [A]tear and the [D]pearl
A [D]boat on the [G]water casts [D]out a clear [A]еye
The [Bm]darkness bе[G]neath us is [A]teeming with [D]life
{soc}
[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling
[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea
[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling
[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye that [A]looks after [D]thee
{eoc}
[D]Under the [G]fire from the [D]hearth on the [A]hill
The [D]coal and the [G]ember, they [A]glow away [D]still
[D]Songs to the [G]stranger, fa[D]miliar and [A]clear
[Bm]Ring out in [G]chorus for [A]all you hold [D]dear
{soc}
[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling
[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea
[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling
[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye that [A]looks after [D]thee
{eoc}
A [D]flash in the [G]dark glimmers [D]silver and [A]blue
[Bm]Breaches the [G]waves for a [A]moment or [D]two
[D]Moves away [G]slowly back [D]into the [A]deep
[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea
{soc}
[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling
[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye watches [A]over the [D]sea
[Bm]Lie down and [G]sleep, [A]sleep well my [D]darling
[Bm]Blue is the [G]eye that [A]looks after [D]thee
{eoc}
Johannes uses following chords:
D: 7,0,0,0
G: 12,9,0,0
D: 11,12,0,0
A: 9,11,0,0
D:7,7,0,0
G: 4,5,0,0
A: 6,7,0,0
D: 7,0,0,0
D: 7,0,0,0
G: 12,9,0,0
D: 11,12,0,0
A: 9,7,0,0
In the refrain he plays Bm instead of G in the first line, but I prefer the G there.
Bm: 4,4,0,0
G: 4,5,0,0
A: 2,2,0,0
D: 2,0,0,0
{title:Kitty Bawn O'Brien}
{subtitle:Allister MacGillivary}
[D]Soft blows the [G]wind both [D] sweet and warm
From the [G] peaks called [A7] Knockmeal [D]down,
The [D]songbird [G] sings his [D] weary [Bm]notes a[Em]bove Blackwater [A7]Sound;
From [A7]my heart no [D]joys de[A7]part‘s, no beauty can en[Bm]thral.
My[D]Kitty Bawn O'[G]Brien's [Em]gone to [A]far off Montre[D]al.
I met her at the Mallow Fair where lovers sport and play.
I watched her feet move lightly while the piper droned away.
She sang a song so lilting there, her hands beneath her shawl.
Now Kitty Bawn O'Brien's gone to far off Montreal.
I followed her to Waterford the day the ship set sail.
Her mother let the teardrops fall. Her father's face was pale.
I kissed her ere I lost her there, and sorely I recall,
My Kitty Bawn O'Brien's gone to far off Montreal.
And far across the ocean wide, a world from Knockmealdown,
My Kitty shines like silver in some gold Canadian town.
She'll charm some young French soldier there; to blame him I've no call.
My Kitty Bawn O'Brien's gone to far off Montreal.
