Sophie Janna & Jack Durtnall - Tavern Green

Bonnie Tavern Green is an Irish traditional song that I learned at the Irish session in Mulligans, Amsterdam. It was sung there beautifully by Oisin McLean, who learned it from his grandfather. I recorded a version of Tavern Green on my album Laurels, with London-based singer Jack Durtnall doing harmonies, and a couple years later we decided to record a live version too - hoping to catch the sunrise in the video as we were going. Due to some tech mishaps we were past sunrise when we could finally start singing! Anyway. Hope you at least can enjoy the singing.
I'm putting this up on KZbin now because it's the 10-year-anniversary of the album on which I recorded this track: Laurels, a collection of 11 traditional songs from the Irish, English and Scottish folk traditions. You can find the full album on my Bandcamp: sophiejanna.ba...
You can find more recordings of me singing trad folk songs and my own contemporary folk songs on KZbin: tinyurl.com/so...
This song is part of the Roud collection of traditional folk songs as Roud #3110. The earliest known recording is by Paddy Tunney.
LYRICS
The first time that I met my love
It was in Tavern Green
And I wish, I wish with all my heart
That his face I'd never seen.
It was his smiling glances
That wounded my heart sore
And I being sick and bad with love
Till I could love no more.
O love it is a killing thing
I hear the people say
And for to love and not be loved
It would drive one astray
For to be sick and bad in love
And not to mend again
False heart, false heart must I die of love
Before I can end my pain
I wish my love was a nightingale
Sitting on yon garden wall
And I to be a drop of dew
Upon on his breast I'd fall
Then into my love's arms
All with great sport and play
And we'd roll about a long winter's night
And never think long of day
If I were queen of England
As Queen Anne was long ago
Many precious jewels on my love
I would bestow
He never would want money
While I would reign as queen
For many a pleasant hour I spent
In bonnie Tavern Green
#folk #tradfolk #traditionalirishmusic #irishmusic #harmonies #vocalharmony #folksong

[@MothmanActual]

I will always, always love this song

[@SophieJanna]

I just had to learn it after I first heard it sung at the Mulligans session - and I couldn't find another version back then, so I was left to my own memory! By now I've discovered there's a version by Paddy Tunney online (thanks mudcat) and I think I'm not far off!

[@darkcrow67]

Beautiful Song. Thanks Ms. Sophie

[@SophieJanna]

@@darkcrow67 :):)

[@beauxjardins]

This is so beautiful! And those harmonies …… !!!!

[@SophieJanna]

I love singing with Jack, absolutely great to harmonize with him! :)

[@glitterende-eenhoorn]

Beautiful, makes me wanna move to England 🦄

[@SophieJanna]

especially during sunrise! 🦔

[@roelkolthek1466]

Beautiful... thank you!

[@SophieJanna]

:):):)

[@AstridM]

Amazing duet. Such beautiful voices 🎶

[@SophieJanna]

thank you so much! I wish I could sing with Jack more often - but we live quite far apart. :) Hopefully one day we can record another album together (Jack does the harmonies on all tracks of my album Laurels :))

[@AstridM]

@@SophieJanna I hope you will have more opportunities to work together in the future. Your duet reminds me of the film "Once"

[@TheThirdMan-mz2vz]

This is really lovely. well sung :)

[@SophieJanna]

thank you so much! I learned this at the folk session in Mulligans, Amsterdam :)

[@Rabbydigitalmarketing]

wow really very nice

[@SophieJanna]

thank you so much :)

[@helifromfinland]

I am subscriber number 247!

[@SophieJanna]

woohoo! thanks so much Heli!

[@FransGHupje]

Mooooooi

[@SophieJanna]

dankjewel!! zo blij dat ik ineens dacht "waar is toch die video gebleven!"