FTX-159 - THE RAMBLING BOY

ROBERT CINNAMOND -3-

Robert came from Ballinderry, Co.Antrim, and learnt his songs from his parents, from Lough Neagh, from fishermen, travelling basket-makers and others. From the 65 songs he recorded we have selected 22 Sailor Songs, as well as those from the girls that the sailors left behind. There are many songs here of great interest such as his JOHN BARBER from the Isle of Man (the ballad of "Willie O Winesbury") with some interesting background talk from Robert.

1. THE RAMBLING YOUTH - 3'19"

2. THE APPRENTICE SAILOR BOY (talk before) - 3'36"

3. ONCE I LOVED A BONNY BOY - 2'44"

4. THE COUNTY TYRONE - 3'47"

5. THE WILD PRIVATEER - 2'58"

6. EARLY, EARLY, ALL IN THE SPRING - 4'48"

7. TEN THOUSAND MILES AWAY (talk after about fisherman from whom he learnt song) - 4'23"

8. 'TIS PRETTY TO BE IN BALLINDERRY - 3'39"

9. THE AMERICAN (or IRISH) PRIVATEER - 5'27"

10. AT TWENTY ONE - 2'51"

11. YOUGHAL HARBOUR - 2'42"

12. THE MAIDS OF MOURNE SHORE - 2'54"

13. REILLY THE FISHERMAN - 3'26"

14. EARLY, EARLY, BY THE BREAK OF DAY (SWEET WILLIAM) - 4'22"

15. LOVELY MOLLY - 1'41"

16. SWEET OMAGH TOWN - 4'01"

17. SHULE AGRA (Choruses omitted except last) - 3'48"

18. CANADIE-I-O - 4'32"

19. OUR SHIP IS READY TO BEAR AWAY - 4'24"

20. JOHN BARLOW (TOM BARBER/ WILLIE O WINESBERRY) (talk aft) - 5'19"

Recorded and interviewed by Sean O Boyle in 1955. Edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktrax Cassettes 1975.

When he was assigning these songs to Folktrax in 1968, Robert Cinnamond wrote: "My mother was a sweet singer and taught me many of my songs. Her father was a huntsman, and had charge of two packs for the Big House. She was born Sally Branagh, also from Ballinderry, on the hill of the fairies, and told me many tales from the glen. God bless her, she would take me on her knee, and croon me to sleep every night. My sister was a linen weaver and sang all day long at the loom. My father sang in the pub and at all the local dances held in barns and kitchens, and was very popular. My father, when he'd a glass or two, sang himself and me to sleep at night. These songs are "traditional", that is from the people. There were no "pop" songs to distract. In olden times the singers sang for the love of singing. One boy sang all day long as he ploughed up the ground on the farm".

Robert Cinnamond (1884-1968) was born at Ballinderry, Co Antrim situated on the shore of Lough Neagh. His father was a linen weaver, but after a short time working on his father's loom, he took up farm labouring and then making willow baskets. These were used as containers for export by the whisky distillers, but when war came it meant an end to this local occupation. He learned most of his songs from his father and from the local Lough Neagh fishermen.