Annotation:Cruiskeen Lawn (1)
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CRUISKEEN LAWN (Cruiscin Lan). AKA and see "O'Sullivan's Return," "Men of '82 Z(The)," "Wife Who Was Dumb (The)," "Dumb Dumb Dumb." Irish, Air (4/4 time). G Minor (O'Neill): A Minor (O'Farrell). Standard tuning (fiddle). AB (O'Neill): AABB (O'Farrell). "Cruiskeen Lawn" is the Englished form of the Gaelic title Cruiscin Lan, which means 'The Full Little Jug'. Flood (1905) mentions a rather bold assertion that Dr. Sigerson, in " 'The Bards of the Gael and Gall', believes this tune evidences strong Scandinavian musical influences from the period of the Norse invasions of Ireland c. 800-1050. He is in error," states Flood, who doubts the tune dates from the Norse period or even mediaeval days. Cazden (et al, 1982) finds the earliest publication of the song to be a sheet-music copy printed in New York by Edward Riley, dated between 1823 and 1831, and notes that the song became a favorite on both sides of the Atlantic during the mid-19th century. As a popular tune it was used for several other ballads and hymns, including the American shape-note piece "Consolation" (Sacred Harp, 1848). See also note to "Cruisgin Beag (An)" and "We'll take again a cruiskeen a cruiskeen laun."
Source for notated version: Chicago Police Sergeant James O'Neill, a fiddler originally from County Down and Francis O'Neill's collaborator [O'Neill].
Printed sources: Clinton (Gems of Ireland: 200 Airs), 1841; No. 13, p. 7. P.H. Hughes (Gems of the Emerald Isle), c. 1860's; No. 72, p. 17. O'Farrell (Pocket Companion, vol. III), c. 1808; p. 41 (appears as "Cruskeen Lawn"). O'Neill (Music of Ireland: 1850 Melodies), 1903; No. 254, p. 44.
Recorded sources: