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Bonny Portmore

by TRÚ

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about

Bonny Portmore is one of the oldest songs in our repertoire, dating from the 1600s. I (Zach) grew up just 10 miles from the source of the song, but only came across it a few years ago through Bert Jansch's 'Ornament Tree' album. Its simple beauty caught my ear.

We recorded the accompanying video before the current situation, on a beautiful summer's evening outside the studio where we recorded our album. The birdsong as perfect accompaniment

lyrics

O bonny Portmore, I am sorry to see
the destruction of your ornament tree
For it stood on your shore for many's the long day
Till the long boats from Antrim came to float it away.

O bonny Portmore, you shine where you stand
And the more I think on you the more I think long
If I had you now as I had once before
All the lords in Old England would not purchase Portmore.

All the birds in the forest they bitterly weep
Saying, "Where will we shelter or where will we sleep?"
For the Oak and the Ash, they are all cutten down
And the walls of bonny Portmore are all down to the ground.

O bonny Portmore, I am sorry to see
Such a woeful destruction of your ornament tree

credits

released January 29, 2021
Traditional, arr. TRÚ

Dónal Kearney - vox, flute
Michael Mormecha - vox, drums
Zach Trouton - vox, guitar

Produced by Michael Mormecha

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all rights reserved

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TRÚ

The trú was a mythological trio of poet-musicians in ancient Ulster. They were revered throughout Ireland, some believing their songs and stories came to them from the future. Others maintained that the trú were possessed by spirits during performance. As such, they were considered gatekeepers to the Otherworld.

New album 'Eternity Near' out September 8th.
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