Henry's Songbook

The first of my journeys it is very well known
I first made my way to the County Tyrone
All the young men and maidens they used me well there
And they called me the stranger and the rambler from Clare

It was there I enlisted in the town called Fermoy
But with too many masters I could not comply
I deserted one morning, the truth to declare
And for Limerick city steps the rambler from Clare

But while a deserter myself lay concealed
I was taken and brought to the town of Rathkeale
And from there to headquarters I soon did repair
And now the jail is the lodgings of the rambler from Clare

I took off my cap and I made a low bow
In the hopes that the sergeant might pardon me now
But the pardon he gave me 'twas hard and severe
It was, Bind him, confine him, he's the rambler from Clare

It was then the United men they came on the town
They attacked and they conquered with fame and renown
The jail they broke open and they rescued me there
And they made full commander of the rambler from Clare

But now that I'm titled a United man
No more can I stay in my own native land
But away to Americay I must repair
And must leave all the friends of the rambler from Clare

So farewell to my comrades where'er you may be
Likewise to my sweetheart sweet Sally Magee
For the sails they're all set and the wind it blows fair
He's gone, God be with him, he's the rambler from Clare

(as sung by The Johnstons)

[1965:] One of the songs in Joyce's pamphlet 'Irish Peasant Songs', 1912. [...] It seems to be a genuine United Irishman ballad dating from 1798. (O Lochlainn II, 216)

[1968:] Collected by Christy Moore. It is not clear who the rambler from Clare was in fact. It could have been any one of half a dozen legendary revolutionary figures. The song is dated to the 18th century by the reference to the 'united men'. (Notes 'The Johnstons')

[1974:] 1791 wurde - unter dem Einfluß der Französischen Revolution - die 'Society of United Irishmen' von Theobald Wolfe Tone in Irland gegründet. Die United Irishmen befreien in diesem Lied den "Rambler from Clare", einen Iren, der in der britischen Armee dienen mußte, desertierte - und von den Engländern geschnappt und eingesperrt worden war. Die United Irishmen erhoben sich gegen die Engländer - und wurden besiegt. Von den Freiheitskämpfern wurden Hunderte öffentlich gehängt - und viele andere flohen aus Irland, auch unser "Rambler from Clare". (Manfred Bonson, notes 'Irish Folk Scene')