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Blow The Candle Out​/​The Kerfunten

from Sweet Anne's Road by Jim Sharkey

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about

This is an old English ballad. I found the lyrics on this website - www.contemplator.com. The following information comes from that site - "The earliest printed copy of this tune is found in Thomas Durfey's Wit and Mirth: or, Pills to Purge Melancholy (Volume in 1720) as The London Prentice. It was popular in England, Ireland and Scotland". I put new music to it and Burt Mitchell who plays tin whistle thought The Kerfunten sounded good to end it with. Although he slowed the tune down quite a bit. The Kerfunten was written by Hammy Hamilton.

lyrics

BLOW THE CANDLE OUT
(Traditional, music by Jim Sharkey)

It's of a young apprentice
Who went to court his dear
The moon was shining bright-e-ly,
And the stars were twinkling clear
There he went to his love's window
To ease her of her pain
She quickly rose to let him in
And went to bed again.

My father and my mother
In yonder room do lay
They're embracing one another
And so may you and I
They're embracing one another
Without a fear or doubt
Saying: Take me in your arms, my love,
And blow the candle out

My mother she'd be angry
If she should come to know
My father he'd be angry too,
To prove my overthrow
I would not forfeit five guineas now
That they should find me out
So take me in your arms, my love,
And blow the candle out.

O when your baby it is born
You may bounce it on your knee
And if it be a baby boy
Then name it after me
For when nine months are over
My apprenticeship is out
I'll return and do my duty
And blow the candle out.

Now six months they were over,
Six months and a day
He wrote his love a letter,
Sayin' he was going away
He wrote his love a letter,
Without a fear or doubt
That he would not return again
To blow the candle out.

Come all you pretty young girls
A warning take by me
And don't be quick to fall in love
With everyone you see
For when they're in their prenticeship
They'll swear their time is out
Then they'll leave you, as mine left me,
To blow the candle out.

At the end of this song Burt Mitchell played a variation of a beautiful tune called The Kerfunten, written by Hammy Hamilton. In addition to writing music Hammy makes flutes out of his shop in Macroom, County Cork. You can find out more info here at his website www.hamiltonflutes.com

credits

from Sweet Anne's Road, released October 11, 2016

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Jim Sharkey Portland, Maine

Songwriter Jim Sharkey is an Irish and Americana folk musician. Jim grew up in County Roscommon, Ireland. He plays around the northeastern US. Jim's original songs blend Irish traditional ballad influences with contemporary issues.

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