Bonny Cuckoo (The)

 BONNY CUCKOO, THE (An chuaichin mhaiseach). AKA and see "Sheebeg Sheemore," "Sí Bheag Sí Mohr," "Hills of Habersham." Irish, Air (3/4 or 6/8 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part. The renowned Irish harper Turlough O'Carolan was supposed to have taken his song "Sí Bheag, Sí Mohr" from this air. Donal O'Sullivan (1983) notes that Edward Bunting's title ("The Bonny Cuckoo") is a mis-translation. My bonny cuckoo, I tell you true, That through the groves I'll rove with you; I'll rove with you until the spring, And then my cuckoo shall sweetly sing. Cuckoo, sing girls, let no one tell, Until I settle my seasons well. Source for notated version: according to the index of his 1840 collection, Irish collector Edward Bunting noted the tune from "Ballinascreen (Co. Derry) and from the late H(enry) Joy (one of the founders of the United Irishmen) Esq. Belfast, 1793." Printed sources: Mulholland (Ancient Irish Airs), 1810; p. 59. Neale (Celebrated Irish Tunes), c. 1726; p. 14. O'Sullivan/Bunting, 1983; No. 125, p. 181.

X:1 T:Bonny Cuckoo, The M:6/8 L:1/8 B:Bunting (1840) K:D A|d>ef fed|B2A F2A|A>Bd e2d|f2e d2f| B2e A2B|F2 E/D/ E2A|ABd e>de f2e d2||

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