I read somewhere Michéal O'Domhnaill's voice showed the strength of fragility. I would twist it into "the beauty of the sensitive strength embedded in touching fragility". Michéal, you're sorely missed!
I had the pleasure and honor to spend an evening playing tunes with Micheal and my good friend David on the Oregon coast in the 70's. He was Davids friend and we played tunes until about 3am. What a great night.RIP Micheal.
Go h-íontach: tig deora liom ag éisteacht leis…Suaimhneas Dé leis. I knew Mícheál very well: such an amazing artist and above all haunting singer: we sang together in our 20 ties as students at UCD: met him here in Germany in the early 80 ies: God rest his dear soul: I repeatedly listen especially to this Lord Franklin but also many many more! One of the very best!
I'd have to agree that nobody comes close to Michael's definitive version. He has an old soul and his singing deeply moving. Just perfection. Thank you for sharing, and Michael's spirit and his love of music live on. Like Donel Lunny says, he shouldn't have died.
I've seen Micheál and Kevin Burke on many occasions and loved the Bothy Band gigs for the short but impressive life of this seminal band. This version will always be the one that never quite leaves your head. It is truly timeless! Micheál will always live through this haunting rendition wherever it is played. Thanks for keeping it alive and sharing with the many new fans he will get long after his untimely death. Ar dheis Dé go raibh a hanam.
frankmck45 Yes indeed, Sold bread rolls and salads at both festivals and a few others (Macroom, Carnsore point...). Check out Sean Tyrrell's version of the 'Coast of Malabar' from his 1995 album 'Cry of a Dreamer'. That's another definitive version of a similar classic trad song.
Thank you for posting this. I was lucky enough to see Micheal & Kevin perform Lord Franklin live at the East Ave Tavern in Portland many years ago. A beautiful song, sung by a pure and lovely spirit, Micheal. He is missed.
Well, this is a version for the ages, regardless of how well you think of other versions. The soulfulness of the singing and the subtle harmonies and instrumental work are inspiring. May the youth of today learn the living, breathing reality of history from such songs as these! THANKS!
Ah, I envy you! I was a teenager growing up in Iowa, listening to this stuff on records and wishing I could actually experience a live performance. It was recently that I came into contact with Irish music again, and was so saddened to hear that Michéal O'Domhnaill had died. I hate it when we lose a brilliant artist anyway, but so untimely.
An unbelievable talent. Hugely important in the development of Irish folk music and sadly died far too young. Surely this is the classic version of this song.
I obviously agree Dermot. Have a look at Mick Hanly's new interpretation on You Tube. Mick is accompanied by Micheal's sister Triona. All the more relevant since they recently found one of the missing ships.
I have loved this beautiful rendition by the great and wonderful, gentle Michael for many years and never tire of listening to it, it is as evocative now as it was when I first heard it when it was first recorded, it brings a tear to my eye every time. God bless you Michael, RIP
Ó, is maith seo. Quite apart from the playing, it’s the harmonies and the phrasing that ‘make’ this version for me - just exquisite. I love how Tríona’s harmonies - very sensitively done - come below Mícheál’s voice, which is quite unusual (for a female voice to ‘underpin’ a male voice, but it works beautifully here). I also love how Mícheál’s voice at the start of the final verse comes in with the instruments in mid-flight, it adds a ‘rawness’ to the pain of the final verse. RIP, a Mhíchil, a chara: is maith a rinne tú.
180indian indeed, the HMS Terror being the first discovered. Such a beautiful rendition, tear producing, heart moving. Im often at the will of my emotions when listening to this version. It captures Lady Franklins heartache & grace amid such hopeless odds. Beautiful song. The divine lives inside us all, when we’re in tune with it we can feel the joys & sorrows of others just as deeply as if they were our own..
How sad that Michael never got to know of the discovery of that ship, he was so interested in Franklin and other explorers of that period. He was a fine man with a beautiful gentle personality, such a terrible loss.
A Mhíchil dhílis, níl aon ghuth níos truacanta ná do ghlór binn agus éistim go minic leis an leagán seo go h-áirithe: no more poignant voice than this evocative reciting of your Lord Franklin s tragic voyage: with a similar poignancy with which I heard of his dad passing all those years ago: I got to know this most gentle of men as were both students at UCD where we were among the first to set up a branch of Comhaltas in Earlfort Tce: both in our 20 ies. Met him later in Bielefeld Germany near where I’m still living nearly 45 yrs: but I’ll never hear as poignant and gentle a voice again. Codhladh sámh a Mhíchil dhíl. Máire Nic a Bháird-Morris
I've heard several different performers tackle Lord Franklin. O'Domnhaill's rendition hits the closest to home for me. The blending of the voices is supurb and Donal Lunny's bouzouki adds a haunting dimension.
I AGREE THIS IS THE DEFINITIVE VERSION OF THIS SONG , Had the great pleasure of having Kevin & Michea'L perform at my place twice and also be houseguests
Thank you SO much for this recording. My family used to listen to a radio program, "Thistle and Shamrock" on Saturday nights, and my father would record songs on cassette tapes! I don't think I've heard it for a couple decades or so!
+Tracy Glass Funny you should mention that, the first time I heard this was off of a used cassette - taped from a Celtic radio show on WNKU in the '90s.
Wonderful to hear. I was fortunate to work with the Bothy Band and got to hear this very regularly at their concerts. Micheál is sorely missed as an amazing singer and as a friend
jeez thanks for posting this - so beautiful, as a teenager i would go and see all the gigs - kevin and micheal, scullion, clannad, paul brady and all the rest and this song stands out as one of the most beautiful things i've ever heard - thanks again. got scullion "cat she went a hunting"?
My favorite rendition of this great song. Heard Micheál Ó'Domhnaill and Kevin Burke sing it live, at arms reach from me, back in about 1982. Have loved this ever since. Hauntingly beautiful song.
Paul Lavan :) I did feel lucky then and now too. It was just Micheál Ó'Domhnaill and Kevin Burke, no stage (I was about 5 feet from them), I spoke with them both after the performance, bought the album from them directly, and have listened to it about a thousand times since. I always enjoy it.
Steadman Uhlich ahh...what a gift that would have been! Kevin lives in my area, and is no stranger to me (as a fiddler) but I wish I'd had this privilege, then. :)
Pleasure. Will scour collection for Scullion. As a teenager I saw Micheál and Mick Hanley in the Odeon cinema Tuam as a warm up for Planxty I think. They called themselves Monroe. Mick Hanley lives 10 miles from me now as fate would have it. I know where all the other posters are coming from championing other versions of this but the intro on this is so special. My other favourite intro is Randy Edelman's Uptown Uptempo Woman. Some contrast.
That's the beauty of music. In this case beauty is in the ear of the beholder. I think Lady Franklin's devoted search for his body would have made an epic film.If it has been made it has escaped me.
@frankmck45 This recording is by the Bothy Band. Besides Micheál and Kevin, you hear Dónal Lunny on bouzouki and harmony vocals by Triona (Micheál's sister). (Matt Molloy and Paddy Keenan are around somewhere but don't participate in this song).
I find the line "the fate of Franklin no tongue can tell" really poignant especially since someone found the ship and crew a few years back. ...and for people who thinks that posting on youtube takes money from the artist... hearing this inspired me to go on iTunes and buy "Promenade"
@pjotr60dvd I borrowed this version from Celtic Graces:A best of Ireland. In the sleevenote it says "Two former members of the Bothy Band turn in this version of the ballad.... It does indeed credit Donal and Triona but it is from Promenade an album released as a duo by Micheál and Kevin
Semantically you are correct. But I think you know what I mean. I have around 8 versions of this on CD but this one , for me, is the one that plants the pictures in my head and the intro is amazing
I'd heard Pentangle's and John Renbourn's as a solo. This one is the one that comes to mind first when I think of it, especially with the new discovery, followed by Martin Carthy's version. I must have seen the Bothy Band a dozen times or more. A wonderful rendition. Rob Boyter
@chrileboy It's described as a traditional tune, in other words nobody really knows who wrote it. I have heard a story which appeals to me greatly which says Franklin's widow (who spent the remainder of her life agitatinjg for rescue missions) actually wrote it.
I always thought Martin Carthy's version was the one. But I hadn't heard this at that time. RIP Micheál; just like Luke Kelly you were taken from us too soon.
I was lucky enough to see Micheal and Mick Hanley (Monroe) in Tourmakeady Co.Mayo on the 17 May 1974 when they played support to Planxty. It was the first time I had heard anyone playing guitar in open tuning it was magic.
@frankmck45 I don't think one's been made. Had it been, I'd have been first in line for tickets. If there ever is one made though, this is the version that should be on the soundtrack. Just lovely.
Have you heard the related song "NorthWest Passage" by Stan Rogers? Fine in it's own way. I think we have a trio over here who could do a fine job of 'Lord Franklin". I think I'll suggest it to our "The Once" from Newfoundland. I wonder if Bruce Guthro from here in Nova Scotia who is current lead of the scots group "Runrig" could give it a decent go? I bet he could.
I think it is the song itself that is wonderful, I wouldn't say whoever sings it; but whoever sings it well. I've heard Frank Nugent, who is a mountaineer and adventurer himself, sing it very well at the Goilín traditional singers club in Dublin (Google "Goilin" for further info. about the club. I am enjoying Micheál O Domhnaill`s version very much. He is much missed.
The just-released CD covering Micheál's complete vocal contribution carries a version of this played by him on what appears to be electrified guitars and it is not a patch on this.
I agree, I always loved Pentangle's version but you get to such a stratosphere of amazing talent that "definitive" versions are pointless to compare. You are either brilliant and in that exclusive club or you are not, and that is the only comparisons I like to make.
Both this one and Pentangle’s versions are great, because the ballad is a wonderful song, which made Dylan write the closely related and also beautiful Bob Dylan’s Dream (this song is also called The Sailor’s Dream, hence Dylan’s title).
I have yielded on the definitive version to miceal22 above. In my opinion and I have the Carthy version the late Michéal O'Domhnaills version is the best but I respect all other opinions
