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Spancill Hill          (Trad.)

         Am                G                               D          Am    

Last night as I lay dreaming, of pleasant days gone by

      Am                           C                 G               D     

My mind being bent on rambling, to Ireland I did fly

   Am                         C               G                      D   

I stepped on board a vision, and I followed with a will,

            Am                    G                            D         Am    

And I shortly came to anchor at, the cross of Spancill Hill.

Delighted by the novelty, enchanted by the scene

Where in my early boyhood, so often I had been

I thought I heard a murmur and, I think I hear it still

It’s the little stream of water, that flows down Spacill Hill

To amuse a passing fancy, I lay down on the ground

Where all my school companions, they shortly gathered round

When we were reacquainted then, we danced with right good will

To Martin Moylen’s music at the Cross of Spancill Hill

’Twas on the 23rd of June, the day before the fair,

When Ireland ’s sons and daughters, in crowds assembled there,

The young and the old, the brave and the bold, their duties to fulfil

At the Parish Church in Clooney, a mile from Spancill Hill.

I went to see some neighbours, to hear what they might say,

The old ones were all dead and gone, the young ones turning grey.

I met with tailor Quigley, he’s as bold as ever still,

Sure he used to make my britches when, I lived in Spancill Hill.

I paid a flying visit, to my first and only love,

She’s as white as any lily, and as gentle as a dove.

She threw her arms around me, saying Johnny I love you still,

Sure she’s Ned the farmer’s daughter, and the pride of Spancill Hill.

I dreamt I held and kissed her, as in the days of yore,

Johnny you’re only joking, like many’s the time before.

When the cock he crew in the morning, he crew both loud and shrill,

I awoke in California , many miles from Spancill Hill.

(played capo fret 2)

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   On the road from Ennis to Tulla, one can find the cross of Spancill Hill. A horse fair was held here every year at the end of July, one of the oldest of such fairs in the province of Munster.