THE ROADS OF KILDARE
Time signature: 3/4 Typical tempo: ~ 170 bpm.
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Traditional Irish?
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This tune can be played as a waltz (in 3/4 time, with three beats per waltz bar) or (perhaps) as a jig (in 6/8 time, with two beats per jig bar). I prefer it in waltz time, and have so arranged it here:
Verse 1 (of 3)
Verse 1 (of 3)
| ;3 "3* .3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | .:5 |
John - ny was born in the man - sion
.4 .5 .4 | .3* .3 .3* | .:3~ | ~.: |
Down in the count - y of Clare.
;3 "3* .3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | .:6 |
Ro - sie was born by the road - side
.6 .6* .5* | .5 .4 .3 | .:3*~ | ~.: |
Some-where in Count - y Kil - dare.
;3 "3* .3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | :5 |
Des - ti - ny brought them to - geth - er
"6 "6 | .6 .6* .5* | .5 .4 .3 | .:3*~ | ~:
On the road to Kil - lorg - lan one day.
"4 "3* | :3 "3* "3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | :5
In her bright tas - ty shawl she was sing - ing,
"4 "4 | :5 .4 | .3* .3 .3* | .:3 |
And she stole his young heart a - way.
Chorus: | .2 .3* .2* |
(For she said:)
| ;3 "3* .3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | .:5 |
Meet me to - night by the camp - fire,
.4 .5 .4 | .3* .3 .3* | .:3~ | ~.: |
Come with me o - ver the hill.
;3 "3* .3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | .:6 |
Let us be mar - ried to - mor - row;
.6 .6* .5* | .5 .4 .3 | .:3*~ | ~.: |
Please let me whis - per 'I will'.
:3 "3* "3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | :5
What if the neigh - bours are talk - ing?
.6 | .6 .6* .5* | .5 .4 .3 | .:3*~ | ~:
Who cares if your friends stop and stare?
"4 "3* | ;3 "3* .3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | :5
You'll be proud to be mar - ried to Ros - ie,
"4 "4 | :5 "4 "4 | .3* .3 .3* | .:3~ | ~.: |
Who was reared on the roads of Kil - dare.
John - ny was born in the man - sion
.4 .5 .4 | .3* .3 .3* | .:3~ | ~.: |
Down in the count - y of Clare.
;3 "3* .3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | .:6 |
Ro - sie was born by the road - side
.6 .6* .5* | .5 .4 .3 | .:3*~ | ~.: |
Some-where in Count - y Kil - dare.
;3 "3* .3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | :5 |
Des - ti - ny brought them to - geth - er
"6 "6 | .6 .6* .5* | .5 .4 .3 | .:3*~ | ~:
On the road to Kil - lorg - lan one day.
"4 "3* | :3 "3* "3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | :5
In her bright tas - ty shawl she was sing - ing,
"4 "4 | :5 .4 | .3* .3 .3* | .:3 |
And she stole his young heart a - way.
Chorus: | .2 .3* .2* |
(For she said:)
| ;3 "3* .3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | .:5 |
Meet me to - night by the camp - fire,
.4 .5 .4 | .3* .3 .3* | .:3~ | ~.: |
Come with me o - ver the hill.
;3 "3* .3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | .:6 |
Let us be mar - ried to - mor - row;
.6 .6* .5* | .5 .4 .3 | .:3*~ | ~.: |
Please let me whis - per 'I will'.
:3 "3* "3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | :5
What if the neigh - bours are talk - ing?
.6 | .6 .6* .5* | .5 .4 .3 | .:3*~ | ~:
Who cares if your friends stop and stare?
"4 "3* | ;3 "3* .3 | .3 .4 .5 | .:5* | :5
You'll be proud to be mar - ried to Ros - ie,
"4 "4 | :5 "4 "4 | .3* .3 .3* | .:3~ | ~.: |
Who was reared on the roads of Kil - dare.
EMBEDDED youTube VIDEOS
Key: D (for first two verses &
choruses; then he ramps it up to Eb for the final verse.) Tempo ~ 150 bpm. Singer: Daniel O'Donnell |
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Key: D
Tempo: ~ 175 bpm Singer: Bernie Sheaves Posted by: NL Treasure |
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Key: D
Tempo: ~ 180 bpm Played by: Not sure who Posted by: labradornl |
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Key: C
Tempo: ~ 175 bpm Singer: Richard Woodrow |
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Key: C (for first two verses &
choruses; then he appears to ramp it up for the final verse.) Tempo: ~ 170 bpm Singer: Jim Finnegan Posted by: mihaireal |
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Key: B
Tempo: ~ 170 bpm Singers: Brian Coll |
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Key: Bb
Tempo: ~ 175 bpm Singers: Mary G & Shamrock Posted on the Mary G & Shamrock youTube channel. |
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Remaining Lyrics:
Verse 2
Verse 3 |
Think of the parents who reared you, Think of the family name.
How can you marry a gypsy? Oh what a terrible shame! Parents and friends stop your pleading, Don't worry about my affair, For I've fallen in love with a gypsy, Who was reared on the roads of Kildare. Johnny went down from his mansion, Just as the sun had gone down, Turning his back on his kinfolk, Likewise his dear native town. Facing the roads of old Ireland, With a gypsy he loved so sincere, When he came to the light of the campfire, These are the words he did hear: |
Composer
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I'm not sure who the composer is. Some sources attribute it to a John Duggan, while others merely call it "Traditional Irish".
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