Listen to this song!
Red Is The Rose
On March 12, 1689
James II lands at Kinsale with French troops and munitions. To James, Ireland was the starting point from which he could regain the throne in England.
Home
The Band
» recordings
» photos
» videos
» news
» tour dates
» dún aengus
» past members
» influences
The Ballad Archive
The Forum
Contact Us
Account Login
CD QUIZ:
Answer these questions for a chance to win the King Laoghaire CD Courtin' the Ginger Lady.
1. What popular radio show were presented by Kieran Hanrahan?
Céilí House
An Fear Ceoil
The Late Session
2. What's the name of fiddler Maurice Lennons father?
John Lennon
Charlie Lennon
Ben Lennon
Name:
E-mail:
The Bonnie Ship The Diamond
(Trad)
The Diamond is a ship, my lads
For the Davis Strait we're bound
The quay it is all garnished
With bonnie lasses 'round
Captain Thompson gives the order
To sail the ocean wide
Where the sun it never sets, my lads
Nor darkness dims the sky

For it's cheer up my lads
Let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond
Goes a-hunting for the whale

Along the quay at Peterhead
The lasses stand aroon
Wi' their shawls all pulled around them
And the saut tears runnin' doon
Don't you weep, my bonnie wee lass
Though you be left behind
For the rose will grow on Greenland's ice
Before we change our mind

For it's cheer up my lads
Let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond
Goes a-hunting for the whale

Here's a health to the Resolution
Likewise the Eliza Swan
Three cheers for the Battler of Montrose
And the Diamond, ship of fame
We wear the trousers o' the white
The jackets o' the blue
When we get back to Peterhead
We'll hae sweethearts enou'

For it's cheer up my lads
Let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond
Goes a-hunting for the whale

It will be bright both day and night
When the Greenland lads come hame
Our ship full up with oil, my lads
And money to our name
We'll make the cradles for to rock
And the blankets for to tear
And every lass in Peterhead sing
"Hushabye, my dear"

For it's cheer up my lads
Let your hearts never fail
For the bonnie ship the Diamond
Goes a-hunting for the whale
As sung by The Corries. Over-fishing in the Greenland sea during the early 19th century had a devastating toll on the whale stocks. A new hunting ground, the South-West Fishery, was discovered in the region of the Davis Straits and it was mostly here that The Diamond fished. In 1830 The Diamond, Eliza Swan and The Resolution along with seventeen other whaling ships were caught in the ice of Melville Bay. The ships were lost and many sailors lost their lives.
« Back
NEWEST ADDITIONS
to the Ballad Archive:
1. The Galway Girl
2. Nancy Spain
3. Whiskey In The Jar
4. Lads Among The Heather
5. Mary From Dungloe
MOST POPULAR BALLADS
in March:
1. Ireland's Call
2. The Soldier's Song
3. The Raggle Taggle Gypsy
4. The Black Velvet Band
5. All For Me Grog
MOST POPULAR BALLADS
of all time:
1. Ireland's Call
2. The Soldier's Song
3. The Raggle Taggle Gypsy
4. After The Ball Is Over
5. The Black Velvet Band