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Burk Thumoth's Scotch and Irish Airs (1743) [O'Neill]. O'Neill (Waifs and Strays of Gaelic Melody), 1922.
PAST ONE O'CLOCK. AKA and see "I am asleep and don't waken me [2]." Irish, Air (3/4 time). A Major. Standard. AABBCCDD. O'Farrell marks the tune "slow" and says the tune is Irish. The air first appears in Burk Thumoth's 1785 collection (pg. 30-31). As "Past one o'clock, on a cold and frosty morning" it appears in several English ballad operas, sometimes with a burden in Irish, finds Bruce Olson. O'Farrell (Pocket Companion, vol. 1), c. 1805; pgs. 68-69.
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A story is told by O'Neill regarding this tune, quoted in O'Sullivan (1983):
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When at Mr. Macdonnell's of Knochranty in the county of
Roscommon, he met a young nobleman from Germany who
had come to Ireland to look after some property to which
he had a claim through his mother. "He was one of the most
finished and accomplished young gentlemen," says O'Neill,
"that I ever met. When on one occasion Hugh O'Neill and I
played our last tunes for him, he wished to call for 'Past one
o'clock,' or 'Tha me mo chodladh, naar dhoesk a me,' which
he had heard played somewhere before, but for the name he
was at a loss. Perceiving me going towards the door, he followed
me, and said that the name of his bootmaker was Tommy
McCullagh, and that the tune he wanted was like saying
'Tommy McCullagh made boots for me;' and in the broad
way he pronounced it, it was not unlike the Irish name. I
went in with him and played it, on which he seemed
uncommonly happy.
***
Blind harper Arthur O'Neill (1734-1818), originally from County Tyrone, mentioned the tune (as "Past One O'Clock") in his memoirs. As a young man he stayed seven years with a Colonel White of Red Hill, County Cavan, and visited his neighbor, a Mr. Norris Thompson, every Saturday night:
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I spent my time very pleasantly between Colonel White and Mr. Thompson.
I spent one Saturday night with Mr. Thompson particularly and he was so
uncommon fond of the tune 'Past one o'clock' that we both tête-à-tête
finished four bottles of good old port wine, I playing the tune all the time
except when lifting my hand to my head.
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A translation by Dr. Eoin O'Neill of the Irish lyric, goes:
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As I was abroad late one evening
-I am asleep and don't waken me-
It happened that I noticed by my side a beautiful apparition
-I am asleep and don't waken me-
Her curly, ringleted, cascading surplus of tresses fell over her trembling limbs,
As she launched the arrows that pierced me in the side.
-I am sleep and don't waken me-
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Arise my loyal family and take up your weapons
-I am asleep and don't waken me-
And level to the ground every English clown.
-I am asleep and don't waken me-
If only three survive, let there be shouts of triumph in all your towns;
From Carrick-on-Suir west to the banks of Dingle
Raise your blades and give the English their own treachery;
-I am asleep and don't waken me-
***
Source for notated version: Bunting noted the melody from Hempson the harper at Magilligan in 1792. Holden (Collection of Old-Established Irish slow and quick tunes), volume II, Nos. 15 & 35. Mulholland (Ancient Irish Airs), No. 32. Neal (Collection of most Celebrated Irish Tunes), 1726; pg. 12. O'Farrell (Pocket Companion for the Irish or Union Pipes), No. 168. O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Selections), 1903/1979; No. 599. O'Sullivan/Bunting, 1983; No. 100, pgs. 144-146. Stanford/Petrie (Complete Collection), 1905; No. 488, pg. 123. Burke Thumoth (Twelve Scotch and Twelve Irish Airs), pg. 15. Walker (Historical Memoirs of the Irish Bards), No. 32. RCA 09026-61490-2, The Chieftains - "The Celtic Harp" (1993). Topic 12T184, Willie Clancy - "The Breeze From Erin" (1969).
Midi file pdf file
Midi file pdf file
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