Courting is a Pleasure - The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin

Courting is a Pleasure - The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin

Traditional (arr. Desmond Earley)

The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin
Solo: Caitríona Sherlock
Bodhrán: Conor Lyons
Guitar: Kevin Whyms

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To facilitate social distancing, a smaller ensemble was used to produce this music video in October 2020. This video was produced under strict safety protocols from University College Dublin's Safety Office. All those not in front of the camera wore masks at all times, with social distancing and regular temperature checks in operation throughout the production.

About 'Courting is a Pleasure':

Found masquerading under a variety of names throughout the Irish tradition, such as ‘Farewell Ballymoney’, and ‘Going to Mass Last Sunday’, 'Courting is a Pleasure' is a song of false love, betrayal, and emigration. Typically sung from the male perspective about a false young woman named Molly, here we have altered it to a female, singing about her dear love Jonny.

In this traditional Irish song the girl sings a tale of an unhappy courtship after being slighted by her sweetheart Jonny, she warns people to be wary of men with a roving eye. The protagonist of the song curses the man in question and leaves Ireland for America bidding farewell to her sweet Ballymoney and Antrim.

While the author remains unknown, the song itself is well-traveled and can be found amongst broadside ballads in the North of America.

LYRICS :

Courting is a pleasure
Between my love and I
And it's down in yonder valley
I would meet him by and by.
It’s down in yonder valley
he is my heart's delight:
“and it’s with you lovely Jonny 
I would spend till broad daylight."
 
Going to mass last Sunday,
My love, he passed me by.
I knew his mind was altered
By the roving of his eye.
I knew his mind was altered
To a lass of high degree:
“Oh Jonny, lovely Jonny  
Your looks have wounded me."
 
I then took out a bottle
And I held it in my hand.
Saying “Here’s a glass dear Jonny
For our courtship is at an end.
So raise your glass dear Jonny,
Drink the bottle dry for me
For there are 10 guineas wagered
that married we’ll ner be”.
 
Oh never court a wee lad
With a dark and a roving-eye
Just kiss him and embrace him, 
never tell him the reason why
Just kiss him and embrace him
Till you cause his heart to yield
For a faint-hearted soldier never gained a battlefield
 
Oh farewell Ballymoney
And to county Antrim too.
Likewise farewell dear Jonny,
I will bid you a fond adieu.
America lies far away
Across the ocean blue.
And I’m bound for there dear Jonny
And again I’ll ner see you.

So raise your glass dear Jonny
Drink the bottle dry for me
And I’m bound for there dear Jonny
And again I’ll ner see you.

Executive Producer: Desmond Earley
Directed by Matthew Leigh
Director of Photography: Richard Kendrick
Produced by: Nodlag Houlihan
Associate Producer: Gavin Coll
Edited by Emmet Reddy
Makeup Artist: Amanda Conlon
Audio Playback by Kevin Whyms

Ensemble Manager: Aoife Perry
Vocal Coach: Síle McCarthy-Cannon and Glenn Murphy

Recording Engineers: Kevin Whyms and Gavin Coll
Mixed and Mastered by Kevin Whyms

Audio recorded in Memorial Hall, Richview, under strict COVID19 protection measures.

Video recorded in Museum of Literature Ireland, under strict COVID19 protection measures. Our warmest thanks to Simon O'Connor, Director of Museum of Literature Ireland, and all of the welcoming staff that allowed us to shoot in the museum in October 2020. Our particular thanks to Domitille Garmy, Events Coordinator, for facilitating our video shoot.

©℗ The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin, 2021 "