FTX-158 - FLY UP, MY COCK

ROBERT CINNAMOND -2-

Robert came from Ballinderry, Co.Antrim, and learnt his songs from his parents, from Lough Neagh, from fishermen, travelling basketmakers and others. This, the second, of 3 albums, for which he contributed 65 songs, contains 23 love songs, laments, lullabies and includes some ballads found in Prof. Child's Collection, all important songs in the Anglo-Irish tradition.

1. THE LIGHT OF THE MOON - 2'08"

2. THE RICH MERCHANT IN GALWAY - 2'20"

3. THE MAID OF SEVENTEEN - 2'46"

4. THE MAID GATHERING MUSHROOMS - 2'07"

5. WILLIE SLAIN AT WATERLOO - 2'29"

6. THE BANKS OF CLAUDY - 7'45"

7. THE WRAGGLE TAGGLE GYPSIES-O (GYPSY LADDIE) - 3'19"

8. ALL YOU YOUNG GIRLS BEWARE - 4'21"

9. AS I WENT TO MASS LAST SUNDAY (2v) - 2'05"

10. THE TRUE-LOVER'S DISCUSSION (first 2v/ talk/ last verse) - 5'28"

11. THE COMELY YOUNG DAME - 3'35"

12. SHE MOVES THROUGH THE FAIR - 3'32"

13. ROCKING THE CRADLE - 3'03"

14. THE OLD OAK TREE (Murder Ballad) - 4'30"

15. I WISH MY LOVE WAS A RED ROSE (IRISH GIRL) - 1'40"

16. WHEN A MAN'S IN LOVE - 5.22

17. THE BEGGARMAN OF COUNTY DOWN - 3'41"

18. DERRY DOWN DALE (NOTHING AT ALL) (part spoken) - 1'52"

19. THE GREENWOOD LADDIE - 5'08"

20. DOWN BY GRUYER'S GROVES - 2'53"

21. THE GHOST OF WILLIE-O - 3'53"

Recorded and interviewed by Sean O Boyle in 1955. Edited by Peter Kennedy and first published on Folktrax Cassettes 1980.

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.