Banks of the Lee

An Irish folk song of unknown age. The oldest known recording only dates to 1952, performed by Mary Connors for a BBC recording, though it may be older. (The Roud Index does list one example from 1935, but this seems to be a different song included in error.)

The song is sung from the perspective of someone separated from their love by travel across the ocean, and then by her death. Its tune is similar to another folk song of the British isles called "Gathering Rushes in the Month of May" (also known as "Underneath Your Apron").

Of note is the fact that the song shares a title - though not a theme - with another song, "The Banks of the Lea," tells a story of a Irish man who travels to England, finds love, and wishes to take her home.

The lyrics sung by the Longest Johns on their live streams appear to be assembled from an assortment of traditional versions, mixed, matched, and edited; the arrangement appears to be original. It was released as track 9 on Cures What Ails Ya.

## Lyrics

These lyrics are based on the *Cures What Ails Ya* version.

>
> When two lovers meet down beside the green bower
>
> When two lovers meet down beneath the green tree
>
> When Mary, fond Mary, declared unto her lover
>
> "You have stolen my poor heart from the banks of the Lee"
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
> I loved her very dearly, so truly and sincerely
>
> There was no one in this wide world I loved better than she
>
> Every bush and every bower, every wild Irish flower
>
> Reminds me of my Mary, on the banks of the Lee
>
>
>
> "Well don't stay out late, love, on the moorlands, my Mary
>
> Well don't stay out late, love, on the moorlands from me"
>
> How little was our notion when we parted on the ocean
>
> That we were forever parted from the banks of the Lee
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
> I will pluck my love some roses, some blooming Irish roses
>
> I will pluck my love some roses, the fairest that ever grew
>
> And I'll lay them on the grave of my own true lovely Mary
>
> In that cold and silent church yard where she sleeps 'neath the dew
>
>
>
> {Chorus}
>
>
>
>
>

## Recordings

#### Streaming/Purchase

* Amazon Music
* Apple Music/iTunes
* Bandcamp
* Deezer
* Pandora
* Spotify

#### Youtube Videos

* Music Video
* Album version

#### Full Band Streams

* Singing Live Stream and Special Announcement... (7 Aug 2019)
* The Longest Johns Streamtember (4 Sep 2019)
* Spooktober Spectacular and Farewell to Anna Livestream (30 Oct 2019)
* TLJ & Friends! | Natalie Holmes (27 Nov 2019)
* Last Stream Before Album Launch! (27 May 2020)
* (New Merch) I'm Goin' Off the Rails on a Crazy Stream (14 Oct 2020)
* Stream If You Wanna Go Faster (12 May 2021)
* Hark the Herald Angels Stream (21 Dec 2022)

#### Gaming Streams

* Anyone for a Shanty? | Sea of Thieves Singing Live Stream!! (Part 1) (23 Sep 2020)
* Sea of Thieves Tall Tales Marathon for Charity Part 2 (29 June 2020)
* Sea of Sings (and probably thieves) - 26/06/2020
* Sailing, Wailing and Failing with Captain Falcore! - 19/10/2020
* Sea of Sings! 3 2 1 SHANT! - 26/10/2020
* DROPS! Sea of Sings! with BehavingBeardly! SHANT! - 30/10/2020
* Sea of Joviality with KroTukk and KHARITES\_ - 28/11/2020
* Let's do pirate stuff - 12/12/2020

1. ↑ https://www.fresnostate.edu/folklore/ballads/DTbnksle.html
2. ↑ https://www.vwml.org/record/RoudFS/S254726
3. ↑ https://mainlynorfolk.info/folk/songs/thelovelybanksoflea.html