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    THE  ROADS  OF  KILDARE

Time signature:  3/4      Typical tempo: ~ 170 bpm.                                                      
Traditional Irish?
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)

|  ;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.



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



Key:  D

Tempo:  ~ 175 bpm

Singer:  Bernie Sheaves

Posted by:  NL Treasure



Key:  D

Tempo: ~ 180 bpm

Played by:  Not sure who

Posted by: labradornl







Key:  C

Tempo:   ~ 175 bpm

Singer: Richard Woodrow

 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



Key: B

Tempo:  ~ 170 bpm

Singers: Brian Coll

Key:   Bb

Tempo: ~ 175 bpm

Singers:   Mary G & Shamrock

Posted on the Mary G & Shamrock youTube channel.


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

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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