The Well Below the Valley- Christy Moore 1973
Christy Moore adapted John Reilly's 1967 version and recorded it first in 1973. See Reilly's lyrics below. There are several versions of Moore's adaptation on YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z89ybnWKSjI&feature=related
WELL BELOW THE VALLEY- Christy Moore; 1973; adapted from John Reilly's 1967 version
Green grows the lily-o
Right among the bushes-o.
A gentleman was passing by
And he asked for a drink as he was dry
At the well below the valley-o
Green grows the lily-o
Right among the bushes-o.
My cup is full up to the brim
And if I were to stoop I might fall in
At the well below the valley-o
Green grows etc.
If your true love was passing by
You'd fill him a drink if he was dry
At the well below the valley-o
Green grows etc.
She swore by grass, she swore by corn
Her true love had never been born
At the well below the valley-o
Green grows etc.
He said to her you're swearing wrong
Six fine children you've been born
At the well below the valley-o
Green grows, etc.
If you be a man of noble fame
You'll tell to me the father of them
At the well below the valley-o
Green grows etc.
There's one of them by your brother John
At the well below the valley-o
One of them by your Uncle Don
At the well below the valley-o
Two of them by your father dear
At the well below the valley-o
Green grows, etc.
If you be a man of noble fame
You'll tell to me what did happen to them
At the well below the valley-o
Green grows, etc.
There's one of them buried beneath the tree
At the well below the valley-o
Another two buried beneath the stone
At the well below the valley-o
Two of them outside the graveyard wall
At the well below the valley-o
Green grows, etc.
If you be a man of noble fame
You'll tell to me what will happen myself
At the well below the valley-o
Green grows, etc.
You'll be seven years a-ringing a bell
At the well below the valley-o
And seven years burning in hell
At the well below the valley-o
I'll be seven years a-ringing a bell
But the Lord above may save my soul
From burning in hell at the well below the valley-o
Green grows the lily-o
Right among the bushes-o
Green grows the lily-o
Right among the bushes-o.
_______________
THE WELL BELOW THE VALLEY- Sung by John Reilly, 1967
1. A gentleman he was passing by.
He axed a drink as he got dry
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows the lily O
Right among the bushes O.
2. My cup it is in overflow
And if I do stoop I may fall in
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows the lily O
Right among the bushes O.
3. Well if your true love was passing by
You'd fill him a drink if he got dry
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows, etc.
4. She swore by grass and swore by corn
That her true love was never born.
I say, fair maiden, you've swore in wrong
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows, etc.
5. Well if you're a man of that noble fame
You'll tell to me the father o' them
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows, etc.
6. Two o' them by your father dear
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows, etc.
7. Two more o' them came by your uncle Dan
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows, etc.
8. Another one by your brother John
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows, etc.
9. Well if you're a man of the noble fame
You'll tell to me what happened then
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows, etc.
10. There was two o' them buried by the kitchen fire
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows, etc."
11. Two more o' them buried by the stable door
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows, etc.
12. The other was buried by the well
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows, etc.
13. Well if you're a man of the noble fame
You'll tell to me what will happen mysel'
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows, etc.
14. You'll be seven long years a-ringin' a bell
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows, etc.
15. You'll be seven more a-portin' in Hell
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows, etc.
16. I'll be seven long years a-ringin' the bell
But the Lord above might save my soul
From portin' in Hell
At the well below the valley O.
Green grows the lily O
Right among the bushes O.