Where the River Shannon flows

AKA Where the Shannon River flows
First Published 1904
Writer/composer James I. Russell Roud RN9579

Music Hall Performers Dave Carter
Folk performances Collected from the singing of:
unknown, USA : Indiana; 1938
Fultz, Helen / Allen, Alma; USA : Arkansas; 1960
Moore, George; Canada : Ontario; 1963
Graham, Mrs. N.; Ireland : Co. Antrim; 1969
Taylor, Mary Grace; Canada : Newfoundland; 1976
Clifford, Michael; Ireland : Co. Kerry; 1980
McGonigle, Kathleen; Ireland : Co. Donegal; 1988
Smith, Wiggy; England : Gloucestershire; 1994
Hancy, Charlie; England : Suffolk; no date		 

There's a pretty spot in Ireland
I always claim my my land
Where the fairies and the blarney
Will never, never, die
It's the land of the shillalah.
My heart goes back there daily
To the girl I left behind me
When we kissed and said good-bye

Where dear old Shannon's flowing
Where the three-leaved shamrock grows
Where my heart is I am going to my little Irish rose
And the moment that I meet her
With a hug and kiss I'll greet her
For there's not a colleen sweeter,
Where the river Shannon flows.

Sure no letter I'll be mailing,
For soon will I be sailing
And I'll bless the ship that takes me
To my dear old Erin's shore
There I'll settle down for ever,
I'll leave the old sod never
And I'll whisper to my sweetheart,
'Come and take my name Asthore.'

A song from the early 20th century when many of the songs sung in the British Halls were starting to be imported from America. This one was written by Irish American vaudeville comedian James Russell. In America it was sung both by the cross dressing comedians The Famous Russell Brothers and by blackface performers The Honey Boy Minstrels.

Dave Carter seems to have popularised the song in British Music Halls – there are reports of him singing it with “great success” in 1908. However, like other songs imported from America in the early 20th century it doesn’t seem to have been associated with one particular performer, and it featured in the repertoire of a number of British and Irish artists in the 1900s including blackface minstrel performer Will Oakland of the Moore and Burgess Minstrels.

A wonderful jazz version by Bunk Johnson:

A near contemporary recording by John McCormack:

Sources: