“Where the Moorcocks Grow (The Mountain Stream; With My Dog and Gun)”

Description

The singer sets out "with my dog and gun o'er the blooming heather." He meets a girl, and begs her to marry him, offering to give up roving if she does. She decides to wait "another season," both to test his love and to gain her parent's consent

Notes

Kennedy, based mostly on the affinity of this piece with "The Corncrake," argues that the song comes from Ayreshire in Scotland; Henry claimed that "the song was composed about 70 years ago [i.e. c. 1855] by a roving sportsman in honour of a young lady of Letterloan." I know of no solid evidence for either claim. - RBW

Recordings

• Eddie Butcher, "The Mountain Streams Where the Moorcock Crows" (on IREButcher01)
• Sheila Stewart, "Mountain Streams Where the Moorcocks Crow" (on Voice17); "MyDog and Gun" (on SCStewartsBlair01)
• Brigid Tunney, "The Mountain Streams" (on IRTunneyFamily01)
• Paddy Tunney, "The Mountain Streams" (on FSB1; as "The Mountain Streams Where the Moorcocks Crow" on Voice06); "The Mountain Streams Where the Moorcocks Crow" (on IRPTunney02)

References

1. Kennedy 136, "The Mountain Stream" (1 text, 1 tune)
2. SHenry H32, pp. 269-270, "Where the Moorcocks Grow" (1 text, 1 tune)
3. Tunney-StoneFiddle, pp. 20-21, "The Mountain Streams Where the Moorcocks Crow" (1 text, 1 tune)
4. Tunney-SongsThunder, p. 181, "The Mountain Streams" (1 text)
5. OBoyle 18, "The Mountain Streams" (1 text, 1 tune)
6. DT, DOGNGUN
7. Roud #2124
8. BI, K136