Song about a broken hearted farmer
At a traditional music evening on Inishbofin, a woman from the island sang a song about a Connemara farmer who had lost his land. The lines I recall, maybe not exactly, were "Will ye buy a...(box?) from me.." and "The broken hearted farmer Frank O'Hara" People from other parts of Ireland that I was traveling with seemed to know this song too, but they didn't know all the words. Does anyone know the song and can you send the words?
Here are a few versions of a song called Dan O'Hara. I hope it's what you're looking for.
DAN O'HARA 1
Oh, poor I am today, sure God gives and takes away
He has left without a home poor Dan O'Hara
In the frost and snow I stand with these matches in my hand
To beg the bite that I may want tomorrow
CHORUS:
Then a chushla geal mo chroidhe won't you take a box from me
And you'll have the prayers of Dan from Connemara
I sell them cheap you know, buy a box before you go
From the poor old ruined farmer Dan O'Hara
In the year of '64 we had acres by the score
The finest land you ever ran your plough through
But the landlord came, you know, the old cot he laid low
And left without a home poor Dan O'Hara
In the year of '69 I lost all that was mine
'Twas then that I and my poor wife were parted
My children starved and died, I left them side by side
And it's here I am so poor and broken-hearted
DAN O'HARA 2
Oh it's poor I am today for God gave and took away
And he left without a home for Dan O'Hara
In the frost and snow I stand with my matches in my hand
Poor broken farmer Dan O'Hara
Chorus
A Chusla Geal Mo Chroi
Won't you buy a box from me
And you will have the prayers of Dan from Connemara
I'll sell them cheap and low
Buy a box before you go
From the broken hearted farmer Dan O'Hara
For 40 years or more I had acres by the score
And the grandest land you ever laid a plow to
But the landlord came you know and he laid my home so low
And here I am today brokenhearted
In the year of 54 sure misfortune was at my door
And the poor old wife and I were sadly parted
We were scattered far and wide and the children starved and died
And here I am today broken hearted
In the frost and snow I stand and the shadow of God's hand
Lies heavy on the brow of Dan O'Hara
But with the grace of God above I will find the ones I love
And the joys I left behind in Connemara
DAN O'HARA 3
Sure it's poor I am today for God gave and took away
And he left without a home poor Dan O'Hara
With these matches in my hand in the frost and snow I stand
So it's here I am today your broken hearted
In the year of sixty four I had acres by the score
And the grandest land you ever ran a plough through
But the landlord came you know and he laid our old home low
So it's here I am today your broken-hearted
For twenty years or more did misfortune cross our door
And my poor old wife and I were parted
We were scattered far and wide and our children starved and died
So it's here I am today your broken-hearted
Tho' in frost and snow I stand sure the shadow of God's hand
It lies warm about the brow of Dan O'Hara
And soon with God above I will meet the ones I love
And I'll find the joys I lost in Connemara