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Star of the County Down/Blackest Crow
Old-Time and Bluegrass Breakdown; Southeast US.
ARTIST: The Carter Brothers and Son via the New Lost City Ramblers. Carter Brothers and Son (not to be confused with the Carter Brothers AKA Mississippi Sheiks) were George Carter, f/v; Andrew Carter, f; Jimmie Carter, g from near Harley, northeast Mississippi.
CATEGORY: Fiddle and Instrumental Tunes
DATE: Carter Brothers and Son 1928 recording for Okeh.
RECORDING INFO: Star of the County Down
Rt - Star of the County Down (Song)
Visconti, Carl (ed.) / Paint Creek Folklore Society Song Tune Book, Paint Creek, Sof (1986), p60 (Star of County Down)
Barnes, Peter (ed.) / English Country Dance Tunes, Barnes, Fol (1986), --
Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-), 1977/12,p23
Ball, Patrick. Celtic Harp, Vol II. From a Distant Time., Fortuna For 011, Cas (1983), trk# B.04
Bartlett, Sam; and Jamie Gans. Blue Earth, Yodel-Ay-Hee 013, Cas (1994), trk# 12
Bellamy, Bob. American Architecture, Windridge WRCD 102, CD (1992), trk# 1
Black, Bob. Ladies on the Steamboat, Ridge Runner RRR 0018, LP (1979), trk# A.04
Boundary Water Boys. Acoustic Crossroads, Spiritwood SM 07, CD (2005), trk# 14
Carlin, Richard. In Come a Bumblebee, Folkways FW 8846, CD (1977), trk# A.06
Carpenter, Sue. Dulcimer Players News, DPN, Ser, 34/1, p52(2008)
Doherty, Mick;, Steve Einhorn and Dan Compton. Simple Gifts, Doherty, Compton, Einh.., Cas (198?), trk# 3
Fennigs All-Star String Band. Saturday Night in the Provinces, Front Hall FHR-005, LP (1975), trk# 12c
Fennigs All-Star String Band. Brody, David (ed.) / Fiddler's Fakebook, Oak, Sof (1983), p265
Kreek, Esther. Dulcimer Memories, Sampler 8912, Cas (1989), trk# B.06a
Kretzner, Leo; and Jay Leibovitz. Dulcimer Fair, Traditional TR 018, LP (1981), trk# A.05
Lee, Rick and Lorraine. Contrasts, Front Hall FHR-014, LP (1978), trk# A.05c
Misty River. Stories, Misty River MRCD 005, CD (2007), trk# 9a
Modesty Forbids. Calliope House, MDFB --, CD (1994), 2
Nicholson, Roger; and Lorraine Lee. Exultation of Dulcimers, Greenhays GR 707, LP (1980), trk# 5a
Silberberg, Gene. Silberberg, Gene (ed.) / Complete Fiddle Tunes I Either Did or Did Not., Silberberg, Fol (2005), p185
Slater, Alec. Slater, Alec / Clawhammer Banjo Solos, Mel Bay, Sof (1979), p47 (County Down Waltz)
Smith, Jerry Read; and Tom Fe. Strayaway Child, Song of the Wood 7811, LP (1981), trk# A.04b
Sweeney, Ed. Banjo Newsletter, BNL, Ser (1973-), 1984/07,p26b
Turner, John. John Turner's Fiddling Leprechaun, Fiddletree F9125, LP (1983), trk# 2
Wild Rose String Band. Wild Rose String Band, Wild Rose --, Cas (1981), trk# 14
Yankee Ingenuity. Kitchen Junket, Fretless 200A, LP (1977), trk# 12
The Star of the County Down (Song)
Lomax, Alan / Folksongs of North America, Doubleday Dolphin, Sof (1975/1960), p146/# 76 (When a Man's in Love (He Feels No Cold))
Blood, Peter; and Annie Patterson (eds.) / Rise Up Singing, Sing Out, Sof (1992/1989), p 14
Deseret String Band. Land of Milk and Honey, Okehdokee 74002, LP (1974), trk# 11b (Two Mornings In July)
Doyle, Sean. Light and the Half-Light, Compass 7 4387 2, CD (2004), trk# 8 (Flower of County Down)
Kines, Tom. Of Maids and Mistresses, Elektra EKL 137, LP (1957), trk# B.03
Kingdom Folk Band. Restless, REL RECD 518, CD (1997), trk# 3
McCormack, John. Treasury of Irish Melodies, Arabesque 8124, LP (1981), trk# 8 [1939/11/30]
Michael, Walt; & McCreesh, Tom. Dance Like a Wave on the Sea, Front Hall FHR-017, LP (1978), trk# B.08a
Post, Jim. Jim Post & Friends, Flying Fish FF70 409, CD (1993/1983), trk# 7
Rosheen. Rosheen / Musique Celtique, Compass 7 4401 2, CD (2005), trk# 2
Sands Family. You'll Be Well Looked After, EMI Green Label LEAF 7005, LP (197?), trk# 10
Slater, Alec. Slater, Alec / Clawhammer Banjo Solos, Mel Bay, Sof (1979), p34
Whittaker, Roger. Folk Songs of Our Times, RCA (Victor) AFL1-252, LP (1978), trk# B.03
Williamson, Robin. Williamson, Robin / Penny Whistle Book, Oak, Sof (1977), p24
Star of the County Down (Song #2) - Craven, Tim/Traditional
Rustical Quality String Band. Rustical Quality String Band, Red Dog RD 8312, LP (1983), trk# B.03
RELATED TO: Dives and Lazarus; Gilderoy
OTHER NAMES: Blackest Crow; You Are My Dearest Dear; Dives and Lazarus; One Wife Is Enough For Me; Somebody; Unquiet Grave; Murder of Maria Marten; Tailor and the Piper; We Plow and Sow; Chateaugay Thaw
SOURCES: Kuntz; Fennigs All Stars (New York) [Brody]. Barnes (English Country Dance Tunes), 1986. Brody (Fiddler’s Fakebook), 1983; pg. 265. Johnson (The Kitchen Musician's Occasional: Waltz, Air and Misc.), No. 1, 1991; pg. 11. Matthiesen (The Waltz Book), 1992; pg. 47. Phillips (Fiddlecase Tunebook: British Isles), 1989; pg. 46. Silberberg (Tunes I Learned at Tractor Tavern), 2002; pg. 149. Fretless 200A, Yankee Ingenuity‑ "Kitchen Junket" (1977). Front Hall 05, Fennigs All Stars‑ "Saturday Night in the Provinces." Front Hall 017, Michael and McCreesh‑ "Dance, Like a Wave of the Sea" (1978. Learned from English fiddler John Harrison). Hepatica 002, Carrie Crompton ‑ "Angel's Draught." Sampler 8910, Mitzie Collins & Roxanne Ziegler ‑ "St. Patrick's Day in the Morning." Song of the Wood 001, Jerry Read Smith ‑ "The Strayaway Child."
NOTES: STAR OF THE COUNTY DOWN. AKA and see "I Love Nell,” “Mary from Blackwater Side,” "My Love Nell," “Paddy’s Return [2],” "When a Man's in Love," “When first I left old Ireland.” Irish; March (4/4 time), Air or Waltz (3/4 time). A Minor (most versions): E Minor (Silberberg). Standard tuning. AB (Barnes, Matthiesen, Silberberg): AAB (Brody, Johnson, Phillips). A star, in Irish vernacular, is a beautiful woman. John Loesberg (1980) says the air originally was set to the sheet ballad "My Love Nell," but first appears under the "Star of the County Down" title in Hughes' Irish Country Songs, with words written by Cathal Mac Garvey {1866-1927}.
However, this popular air seems to have been attached to numerous songs over the years. For example, P.W. Joyce (1909) prints a version of the air under the title “Mary from Blackwater Side” (No. 187), while George Petrie (Stanford/Petrie, 1905) collected it several times: as an untitled air from favorite source sculptor Patrick MacDowell (No. 196), “When first I left old Ireland” (No. 863), and “Paddy’s Return” (No. 867). This tune is identified by Cazden (et al, 1982) as belonging to the protean and huge 'Lazarus' family of tunes, which includes, among numerous others in the Gaelic/British tradition, the Scottish "Gilderoy," Cazden's own Catskill Mountain collected "Banks of the Sweet Dundee," and Chappell's English "We Be Poor, Frozen Out Gardeners" as well as literally hundreds of other airs.
Jerome Colburn points out that an American shape-note variant of the “Star” family appears in the tenor of the hymn “Help Me to Sing” (attributed to B.F. White) from The Sacred Harp (1859). The tune is also used for two poaching ballads (one from Scotland, one from Ireland, “Van Dieman’s Land”), remembers Sean Laffey, and the forebitter /capstan shanty "Banks of Newfoundland.” Rock singer Van Morrison performed a march-time version of the song with the Chieftains on a 1994 recording. County Down takes its name from Downpatrick, where St. Patrick is said to have been buried (Down is a variation of the Celtic word Dun, meaning a fortified place).
Star of the County Down (Irish Lyrics)
Near Banbridge town, in the County Down
One morning in July
Down a boreen green came a sweet colleen
And she smiled as she passed me by.
She looked so sweet from her two white feet
To the sheen of her nut-brown hair
Such a coaxing elf, I'd to shake myself
To make sure I was standing there.
CHORUS: From Bantry Bay up to Derry Quay
And from Galway to Dublin town
No maid I've seen like the sweet colleen
That I met in the County Down.
As she onward sped I shook my head
And I gazed with a feeling rare
And I said, says I, to a passerby
"Who's the maid with the nut-brown hair?"
He smiled at me, and with pride says he,
"That's the gem of Ireland's crown.
She's young Rosie McCann from the banks of the Bann
She's the star of the County Down."
Chorus
I've travelled a bit, but never was hit
Since my roving career began
But fair and square I surrendered there
To the charms of young Rose McCann.
I'd a heart to let and no tenant yet
Did I meet with in shawl or gown
But in she went and I asked no rent
From the star of the County Down.
Chorus
At the crossroads fair I'll be surely there
And I'll dress in my Sunday clothes
And I'll try sheep's eyes, and deludhering lies
On the heart of the nut-brown rose.
No pipe I'll smoke, no horse I'll yoke
Though with rust my plow turns brown
Till a smiling bride by my own fireside
Sits the star of the County Down.
Chorus
Other songs have used the Star of County Down melody; Dives & Lazarus, the Murder of Maria Martin. Claudy Banks is basically a 6/8 version of the Star. Another version is used for Lily of the West.
Here are five verses of the version of Lazarus that was set to Star of County Down in English County Songs by Lucy E. Broadwood and J.A. Fuller-Maitland, London and New York, 1898, page 102.
1. As it fell out upon one day rich Diverus he made a feast;
and he invited all his friends and gentry of the best.
And it fell out upon one day, poor Lazarus he was so poor,
he came and laid him down and down, ev'n down at Diverus' door.
2. So Lazarus laid him down and down, ev'n down at Diverus' door;
"Some meat, some drink, brother Diverus, do bestow upon the poor."
"Thou art none of mine, brother Lazarus, lying begging at my door,
no meat, no drink will I give thee, nor bestow upon the poor."
5. Then Diverus sent his merry men all to whip poor Lazarus away;
they had not power to whip one whip, but threw their whips away.
Then Diverus sent out his hungry dogs, to bite poor Lazarus away;
They had not power to bite one bite, but licked his sores away.
6. And it fell out upon one day, poor Lazarus he sickened and died.
There came two angels out of heaven his soul thereto to guide.
"Rise up, rise up, brother Lazarus, and come along with me,
there is a place prepared in heaven for to sit upon an angel's knee."
7. And it fell out upon one day, rich Diverus sickened and died.
There came two serpents out of hell his soul thereto to guide.
"Rise up, rise up, brother Diverus, and come along with me,
there is a place prepared in hell for to sit upon a serpent's knee."
When a Man's in Love (Star of County Down melody) From Creighton and Senior, collected from Mrs. R.W. Duncan of Dartmouth
When a man's in love sure he fears no cold
Like I not long ago
Like a hero bold for to seek my love
I set out through frost and snow
The moon had gently shown her light
O'er the dark and lonesome way
When I arrived at her sweet cot
Where all my treasures lay
I gently rapped at my. Love's window
"Let me in my love". She arose,
"Let me in my- love, the door unclosed, "
And slowly I drew near.
"Now let me to your chamber love,
O let me to your bed,
Now let me to your chamber love,
I am wet and very- ill.''
"To let you to my chamber love,
My parents thev'd never allow,
Come sit you down by a good fireside .
And I'll sit there with you."
Her hands they were soft and her breath was sweet,
And her tongue it did slowly glide,
I stole a kiss from her ruby lips
And all her colours fade.
"It's many's the night and many's the dav
I came for to visit you,
And tossed about with the cold wind and storms,
And wet with the summer dew.
It's many's the night I have courted you
Against your parents' will.
I never forced you to be my bride,
So now my love sit still,
"For tomorrow I am going away
To old Columbia's shore,
And never more will you behold
Your lover any more:"
"Don't talk of going away my love
For those words do break my heart,
Come let us go and get married
Before you and I do part. "
"Then perhaps your parents they will forget,
And perhaps they will forgive,
For I resolve this very moment
Along with you to live."
And with a kiss the bargain was made,
And the wedding soon went on,
And now they are free from all courting cares
Since they unite in one.
The Blackest Crow / Star of the County Down ~ From The Itinerant Band Tidewater region of southeastern Virginia: The Blackest Crow is a variant of several other variant songs such as The True Lover’s Farewell, My Dearest Dear, The Thousand Miles, etc. It is made up entirely of what are referred to as “floating verses,” lyrics which can be inserted into almost any song, regardless of whatever story is being told.(19) The second verse, referring to the lonesome dove, is what we have dubbed the “universal mourning verse.” These words appear over and over in songs ranging from 18th century English ballads to 20th century Country & Western.
Since the melodies were so similar, we paired the song with Star of the County Down, which is a bit of a floater itself. It belongs to a large family of tunes, which includes, among others, the Scottish Gilderoy. A star, in Irish vernacular, is a beautiful woman, a likely subject for a singer of Blackest Crow. The County Down takes its name from Downpatrick, where St. Patrick is said to have been buried.
The blackest crow that ever flew will surely turn to white,
If ever I prove false to you, bright day will turn to night.
Bright day will turn to night my love, the elements will mourn,
If ever I prove false to you, the seas will rage and burn.
Oh don't you see that lonesome dove, he flies from pine to pine.
He’s mourning for his own true love just like I mourn for mine.
Just like I mourn for mine, my love, believe me when I say,
You are the only one I'll love until my dying day.
I wish my heart were made of glass wherein you might behold,
That there your name is written, dear, in letters made of gold.
In letters made of gold my dear, believe me when I say,
You are the only one for me until my dying day.
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