Paddy Reilly - Flower of Sweet Strabane

[@davidhincks39]

A great Paddy Reilly song from the 70s like all the others he made in that time

[@simonelicursi5307]

If I were King of Ireland
And all things at my will
I’d roam through all creations
New comforts to find still
And the comfort I would seek the most
As you might understand
Is to win the heart of Martha
The flower of sweet Strabane
Her cheeks they are a rosy red
Her hair a lovely brown
And o’er her milk white shoulders
It carelessly hangs down
She’s one of the fairest creatures
In the whole of Ireland
And my heart is captivated by
The flower of sweet Strabane
If I had you lovely Martha
Away in Innisowen
Or in some lonesome valley
In the wild woods of Tyrone
I would use my whole endeavour
To try to work my plan
For to gain the prize and feast my eyes
On the flower of sweet Strabane
But I’ll go o’er the Lagan
Down by the steam ships tall
I’m sailing for Amerikay
Whatever may be fall
My boat is bound for Liverpool
Right by the Isle of Man
So I’ll say farewell, God bless you
My flower of sweet Strabane

[@tommespommes5647]

Thank you, Paddie, for all these heartful songs, says Tommy from Germany

[@seanthornton7367]

My late father came from Strabane, stayed most of his life in Scotland, sang this song often..this is a really good version, must buy it.
Sean

[@Loveandbullets1]

this song has always been one of my all-time favs and still is. So amazing

[@goorockgirl]

Paddy is amazing!

[@brianconnolly6551]

The song that inspired Ron Howard to hire the chieftains for Far and Away. They worked alongside the great John Williams on the score.

[@ormerrod]

Thanx Gerry,a good recording.

[@Horsemarine100]

Great! Did you hear that, Martha?

[@chrisgillespie2502]

Great tune

[@louisereilly463]

My second name is Martha

[@dearbhladd]

If I was called Martha this is me lol

[@seamusjames458]

Don't try to play it back to back with 'Spancil Hill!' The tune is 75% similar.

[@seanhartnett79]

A lot of Irish songs reuse the same tune:

[@priscillajadeconnors6921]

👍👌

[@louisereilly463]

My second name is martha

[@davidhincks39]

My old boss is married to a lovely lady called Martha

[@eye_man_danda_best_man4311]

Taitnionn se

[@angelocastello6909]

If I were king of Ireland and all things at my will
I'd roam through all Creation my comfort to find still;
The comfort I would ask for, as you may understand
Is to win the heart of Martha, the flower of sweet Strabane.
Her cheeks they are a rosy red and her hair a lovely brown
O’er her lily-white shoulders it carelessly hangs down
She is one of the finest creatures of the whole Milesian clan
And my heart is captivated by the flower of sweet Strabane.
I wish I had my darling girl way down in Inishowen
Or in some lonely valley in the wild woods of Tyrone;
I would do my whole endeavour and work my newest plan
To have beside my own turf-fire the flower of sweet Strabane.
But since she will not marry me, no joy is here for me
I will seek forgetfulness in the land across the sea
But if ever I return again, I swear by my right hand
That by my own fireside I’ll have my bride - the flower of sweet Strabane.

[@charlotted.9287]

Thanks for the lyrics, but they don't belong to this rendition of the song (maybe another one?), for example it's "I'd roam through all Creation", not "for recreation"!!

[@angelocastello6909]

Charlotte D. thanks; if you see others errors can you tell me where they are?-->sorry but english is not my first language

[@diosantana2659]

knock off spancil hill