The Glen

from The Road Across the Hills by Gráinne Brady

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about

Glenmornan/The Gombeen Man

The first track sets the scene in the heart of Donegal in all its glory. MacGill was born in Glenties but in his books, his home town is referred to as 'Glenmornan'.
It was common place at the time for people to be held in debt slavery to the 'gombeen man ', or local moneylender, while simultaneously being bullied from the pulpit by a local priest who ruled the parish with a fist of steel.

lyrics

Across life's varied ways we drift
Unto the tomb that lies in wait,
One ruling o'er the mighty state,
One sweating on the double shift.

I’ve whirled adown the sinful slope
That leads to chasms of despair,
And dwelt in haunts of hunger where
The spectre sorrow jeers at hope.

My ways are cast with many men
Who fight with destiny and fail,
The down and outers of the jail,
The tavern and the gambling den –

The men who bet and drink and curse,
Who tread the labyrinthine maze
Of sin, who move on rugged ways,
Who might be better – ay, and worse!

My dead-end comrades true as steel,
The men who bravely bear the goad,
The wild uncultured of the road –
Like them I speak just as I feel.

credits

from The Road Across the Hills, released February 22, 2019
Music composed by Gráinne Brady with 'A Navvy's Philosophy' by Patrick MacGill

Gráinne Brady – fiddle
Andrew Waite – piano accordion
Innes White – guitar

Megan Henderson – violin
Feargus Hetherington – viola
Su-a Lee – cello

Jack Houston – spoken word

license

about

Gráinne Brady Glasgow, UK

Irish musician and composer based in Glasgow.

www.patreon.com/GrainneBrady

"...engaging from the outset" - Folk Radio UK

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