Monday 16th July, 2018
This was one of the first tunes that I learned, Down by the Sally Gardens, someone told me it was a nice easy tune to learn as the 1st, 2nd and 4th lines are the same.
It’s also known as “Down by the Salley Gardens” (or in Irish: Gort na Saileán) and is a poem by William Butler Yeats, it was first published in 1889.
Believed to be “his attempt” to reconstruct a tune he had heard from an old peasant woman, in the village of Ballisodare, Sligo. Who used to sing songs to herself. He wrote his version from three imperfectly remembered lines, the “original song” may have been the ballad ‘The Rambling Boys of Pleasure’
Lyrics
It was down by the Salley Gardens, my love and I did meet.
She crossed the Salley Gardens with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree,
But I was young and foolish, and with her did not agree.
In a field down by the river, my love and I did stand
And on my leaning shoulder, she laid her snow-white hand.
She bid me take life easy , as the grass grows on the weirs
But I was young and foolish, and now am full of tears.
Down by the Salley Gardens, my love and I did meet.
She crossed the Salley Gardens with little snow-white feet.
She bid me take love easy, as the leaves grow on the tree,
But I was young and foolish, and with her did not agree.
I am playing the tune on my Killarney Whistle, a nickel, in the key of D. But as it’s an easy tune, and played mainly in the 1st Octive, it could be played very nicely on almost any whistle, by anyone.
and I personally find that it is easier to learn tunes, the ‘Karaoke’ way. Either having an indicator move to the next note. Or more like the ever popular ‘Guitar Hero’ game, with the notes moving across the screen so that you are ready for them. There is a huge benefit to having them in rhythm so you play each note at the right time. I did start making these videos just for myself. but I decided that as I was putting so much effort in to them it seemed a shame not to share.
So I set up my YouTube Channel and this Blog/Vlog site to keep everyone up to date with my progress, Also for that people could comment and help me, and help others to get better. My aim is to share my mistakes, as much as my ‘lucky’ moments.
I like all sorts of music, from them good Classical tunes, through the oldie Folk tunes and the more modern Folk tunes. And of course the best tunes of now, Rock, Pop, Blues, R&B, the list goes on. If it’s good, and lasted the test of time, hopefully I will get to it.
Have fun….
Fiddling with my Whistle
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