> Folk Music > Songs > Lough Erne / The Rambling Irishman

Lough Erne / The Rambling Irishman

[ Roud 3572 ; Ballad Index GrHo063 ; trad.]

The Boys of the Lough sang the emigration song Lough Erne in 1973 on their Trailer album Second Album They noted:

Most songs of emigration tend to have a more melancholy feel than this one, nevertheless there is an underlying element of sadness here.

Cathal [McConnell] has the song from Joe Holmes, a traditional singer from near Ballymoney in Co. Antrim. He was introduced to Joe by Len Graham, a mutual friend, and himself a fine singer. Apart from the fact that the song is a good one, Cathal was obviously attracted to it by the mention of Lough Erne, in the first verse. Cathal’s home is close to the shores of the Great Lough, in Co. Fermanagh.

Dick Gaughan sang Lough Erne, followed by the tune First Kiss at Parting, in 1981 on his Topic album Handful of Earth. He noted on the album:

I learned this from Robin Morton and Cathal McConnell who used to sing it as a duet in the days we were together in Boys of the Lough.

and on his now defunct website:

I learned Lough Erne, also known as The Rambling Irishman, from Cathal McConnell. More typical of the Irish emigrant songs than Craigie Hill in its gentle, almost cheerful, expectation of a better life in the new land. The guitar was in DADGAD and the wee tune which follows it takes its title from a poem by Burns.

Arcady (with Niamh Parsons in lead) sang The Rambling Irishman on their 1995 album Many Happy Returns.

Andy M. Stewart sang Ramblin’ Irishman in 1997 on his Green Linnet album Donegal Rain. He noted:

The first time I heard this song was back in the Seventies, when the great Dolores Keane sang it with De Dannan. I’ve loved it (and Dolores’ singing) ever since. It has a great “go” to it and is unusual amongst many emigration ballads for its emphasis on looking forward with hope to a new life in ‘Amerikay’, rather than just looking back with sadness to what was left behind.

Niamh Parsons and chums sang Rambling Irihsman in 2001 live at the Arsenaal Theatre in Vlissingen. She go it from Dick Gaughan’s album and added an extra verse which she learned in the Goilin from Luke Cheevers. The concert recording was released in 2021 as their download album So Here’s to You.

Tommy O’Sullivan sang The Rambling Irishman at the 2009 Irish Folk Festival: Between Now and Then tour in Germany:

The Voice Squad sang The Rambling Irihsman on their 2014 CD Concerning of Three Young Men. They noted:

From the singing of Len Graham and Joe Holmes. Also sung and recorded by the great Galway singer Dolores Keane.

Niall Hanna sang The Rambling Irihsman on his 2017 album Autumn Winds.

Allister Thompson sang The Rambling Irihsman on his 2017 album Larkrise Revisited.

Lyrics

Dick Gaughan sings Lough Erne

I am a rambling Irishman, in Ulster I was born in,
And many’s the happy hour I spent by the banks of sweet Lough Erne.
For to live poor I could not endure like others of my station,
To America I sailed away and left this Irish nation.

Chorus (twice after each verse):
Rite tan tan nana, tan tan nana
Rite tan tan nan ooran nan nandy

The night before we went on board I spent it with my darling,
From four o’clock in the afternoon till the break of day next morning.
But when that we were going to part we fell in each others’ arms,
You may be sure and very sure it wounded both our charms.

The first night that we spent on board I dreamed about my Nancy,
I dreamed I held her in my arms and well she pleased my fancy.
But when I woke out of my dream and found my bosom empty,
You may be sure and very sure that I lay discontented.

When we arrived on the other side we were both stout and healthy,
We dropped our anchor in the bay going down to Philadelphia.
Let every lad link with his lass, blue jacket and white trousers,
Let every lass link with her lad, blue petticoat and white flounces.

Andy M. Stewart sings Ramblin’ Irishman

I am a ramblin’ Irishman, it’s Ulster I was born in,
And many’s the happy hour I spent on the banks of sweet Lough Erne.
Ah, but to live poor I could not endure like others of my station,
To Amerikay I sailed away and left this Irish nation.

Chorus (after each verse):
Right tan ta na na, tan ta na na
Right tan ta na nour an nandy
Tan ta na na, tan ta na na
Right tan ta na nour an nandy

The night before I went away, I spent it with my darlin’.
From two o’clock in the afternoon till the break of day next mornin’.
And when that we were goin’ for to part, well, we linked in each other’s arms,
And you may be sure, aye, and very, very sure, it’s wounded both our charms.

The very first night I spent on board I dreamt about my Nancy,
I dreamt I held her in my arms and it’s well she pleased my fancy.
Ah, but in the morning when I awoke I found my bosom empty,
And you may be sure, aye, and very, very sure, that I lay discontented.

Ah, but when we reached the other side we were both stout and healthy,
We dropped our anchor in the bay goin’ down to Philadelphy.
Let every lass link with her lad, blue jacket and white trousers,
Let every lad link with his lass, blue petticoats and white flouncers.

(repeat first verse)

Niamh Parsons sing Rambling Irihsman

I am a rambling Irishman, in Ulster I was born in,
And many’s the happy hour I spent by the shores of sweet Lough Erne.
For to live poor I could not endure like others of my station,
To Amerikay I sailed away and left this Irish nation.

Chorus (twice after each verse):
Rye tan te na na, tan te na na,
Rye tan te na noora nandy

The night before I sailed away I spent it with my Nancy,
From three o’clock in the afternoon till the break of day next morning.
But when that we were going to part we linked each others’ arms,
And you may be sure and very sure it wounded both our charms.

For we are the boys who fear no noise, nor dangers abroad appearing.
On the day we were to sail away amidst a great crowd cheering.
We gave three cheers for old Ireland and we were all light-hearted.
Like sheep, were herded on our way, and shook hands and soon departed.

The very first night I spent on board I dreamed about my Nancy,
I dreamed I held her in my arms and well she pleased my fancy.
But when I woke out found my dream and I found my bosom empty,
Well, you may be sure and very sure that I lay discontented.

When we arrived at the other side we were both stout and healthy,
We cast our anchor in the bay going down to Philadelphia.
So let every lad link with his lass, blue jacket and white trousers,
And let every lass link with her lad, blue petticoat and white flounces.

The Voice Squad sing The Rambling Irihsman

I am a rambling Irishman, in Ulster I was born in
And many’s the happy hours I spent, on the banks of sweet Lough Erne
But to live poor I could not endure, like others of my station
To Amerikay I sailed away, and left this Irish nation.

Chorus (after each verse):
Ry tan tin-a-na, tan tin-a-na,
Ry tan tin-a-noora-nandy.

The night before I sailed away, I spent it with my darling
From three o clock in the afternoon, ’till the break of day next morning
But when that we were going to part, we linked each other’s arms
Saying you may be sure and very sure, it wounded both our charms.

The very first night I slept on board, I dreamt about my Nancy
I dreamt I held her in my arms, and well she pleased fancy
But when I awoke from my sleep, and I found my bosom empty
Well you may be sure and very sure, that I lay discontented.

When we arrived at the other side, we were both stout and healthy
We cast our anchor in the bay, going down to Philadelphia
So let every lad link with his lass, blue jacket and white trousers
And let every lass link with her lad, blue petticoats and white flounces.