The Banks Of The Bann

Singer: Gemma Hasson ~~~

When first to this country as a stranger I came
I placed my affection on a comely young dame
She being warm and tender, her waist small and slender
Kind Nature had formed her for my overthrow

On the banks of Bann water, where I first beheld her
She appeared like fair Juno or a Grecian queen
Her eyes shone like diamonds, her hair softly twining
Her cheeks were like roses, or like blood drops in snow

It was her cruel parents that first caused our variance
All because I was poor and of a low degree
But I'll do my endeavour to earn my love's favour
Although she is come of a rich family

My name is Delaney, its a name that wont shame me
And if I had saved money I'd have plenty in store
But drinking and courting, night rambling and sporting
Were the cause of my ruin and absence from home

Had I all the money that's in the West Indies
Or had I the gold of the African shore
I would spend it on pearls, and on you my brown girl
For there's no other love in this world I adore

And now that I've found her I'm contented forever
I'll put rings on her fingers and gold in her hair
And we'll live on the banks of the lovely Bann river
And in all sorts of splendour I will style her my dear.

Category:

Music

Tags:

• Ballad
• Traditional
• Irish
• Bann River
• Love
• Song
• Hasson

[machree01]

do you know what year this is. That was lovely, she mustn't of done many recordings, i only ever seen one album of Gemma, and you can't get any cds of her.

[clarebannerman]

Clip from around 1990.

[TheeElusivePimpernel]

Very nice singing by Gemma. My favourite version of this song is by the the band "Óige" from Dungiven, County Derry, on their "Bang On" album. It has nice vocals and lovely instrumentals and arrangement by the rest of the band.

[MARISHAMACRAE]

Beautiful voice and beautiful song. Where is this pub that has such wonderful music and musicians? I want to be there.

[latenightpilgrim]

Judy Collins sings this best, sorry!

[TheSCOTCHSOLACE]

Gemma is a treasure - I have been listening to her for many a year.

[lledew]

Yes, rarely sung gem. I love the way she sing it and that cool guitar line behind.

Thank for posting.

[TRADTOONS]

@MARISHAMACRAE This is from the Gaslight Pub in Cookstown-a lovely place but I think it has closed down in the recent past-unfortunately like a lot of others north and south as a result of over regulation and allowing supermarkets to sell alcohol.Stephen Hayden's pub in Rock and McCann's in Omagh still have great sessions on a regular basis.

[LindsayCurran]

I agree MARISHAMACRAE! It would indeed be grand to be in that pub listening to Gemma Hasson! Thank you for posting, Michael!

[pastore0506]

A lovely song sung well Mike.

George

[lorgain2]

A beautiful song very rarely sung, well done, thanks for posting.

[fiddle4u]

Mike, --GREAT STUFF--

I know a Geordie Hanna Version of this,

song title - '' On The Banks Of The Bann ''

Some times called '' Willie Angler ''

More a traditional air , than this Folk

song to = Be thou my Vision { Hymm}, Tune. Must send it to you ,, Fiddle ,and lyric's, But this is still a GREAT VID- jim,,,