41. Pretty Saro

Traditional, arranged and adapted with new words and music ©Robbie O’Connell 2014 Slievenamon Music (BMI)

The Appalachian song, “Pretty Saro,” appears to be related to the Irish song, “The Streams of Bunclody.” It was first popularized by the Kentucky singer and dulcimer player, Jean Ritchie. I recorded this adaptation for my contribution to Dear Jean, the tribute album to Ritchie, released on Compass Records in 2014.

Bunclody was one of mother’s party pieces and is also one of my wife Roxanne’s favourites to sing.¹ The cuckoo verse is one of those floating verses that show up in many other folk songs. Jean’s recorded version had only three verses so I added a couple from Bunclody to expand it.

I remember the excitement when Jean visited our house in Carrick-on-Suir, County Tipperary in the early 1960s. She was probably with Diane Hamilton who was a regular visitor and had even bought a small cottage just outside the town. Jean stayed with my aunt Peg who is a wonderful singer herself. I’m sure they had some great song swapping sessions at that time. Peg made a couple of albums on the Folk Legacy label that are treasures, if you can find them.

I was fortunate to be able to get some of my favorite musicians to join me on this. Aubrey Atwater plays mountain dulcimer, Hanneke Block plays fiddle, Eric Wendelken on double bass and mandolin, and Roxanne O’Connell, singing harmony. My guitar is in Open D tuning to emulate the drone of the dulcimer.

Lyrics:

PRETTY SARO

Traditional, arranged and adapted with new words and music ©Robbie O’Connell 2014 Slievenamon Music (BMI)²

Down in some lone valley, in a lonesome place,
Where the wild birds do whistle and their notes do increase,
Farewell Pretty Saro, I must bid you adieu,
But I’ll dream of Pretty Saro wherever I go.

My love she won't have me, so I understand.
She wants a freeholder and I've got no land.
I cannot maintain her in silver and gold,
Nor buy all the fine things  that a big house can hold

Oh if I were a merchant and could write a fine hand,
I’d write my love a letter that she might understand.
I’d write it by the river, where the waters o’erflow
And I’ll dream of Pretty Saro wherever I go.

Oh the cuckoo is a fine bird and she sings as she flies
She brings us good tidings and she tells us no lies
She sucks the young birds’ eggs to make her voice clear
And the more she cries “Cuckoo”, lovely summer draws near.

So it’s fare thee well father and my mother adieu.
My sisters and brothers, farewell unto you
I’ll find some new country, my fortune to try.
When I think on Pretty Saro, I am ready to die.

1. Folklore.ie recording with the following traditional singers: Niall Wall, Aileen Lambert, Phil Berry, Marie Dunne, Ronan Berry, John Ennis, Deirdre Tobin, Paul Tobin, Paddy Berry, Letitia Behan, Anna Mai White, Matt Murphy, Maeve Townsend and John Furlong.

2. PRODUCTION INFORMATION:
Robbie O’Connell: Vocal and guitar
Roxanne O’Connell: Harmony vocal
Aubrey Atwater: Mountain dulcimer
Hanneke Block: Fiddle
Eric Wendelkin: Double bass and mandolin.
Recorded at Mockingbird Studio Easton, MA. Engineered by Derek Pisano.