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We feature weekly videos on Irish Genealogy; History, Heraldry and Old Style 'sean nos' song, with leading author Michael C. O'Laughlin. Founded in 1978 with headquarters at http://www.irishroots.com/

The Ageless Lyrics:
Where the River Shannon Flows

There's a pretty spot in Ireland
I always claim for my land
Where the fairies and the blarney
will never, never die

It's the land of the shillalah
My heart goes back there daily
To the girl I left behind me
when we kissed and said goodbye

Where dear old Shannon's flowing
Where the three-leaved shamrock's grows
Where my heart is I am going
to my little Irish rose

And the moment that I meet her
With a hug and kiss I'll greet her
For there's not a colleen sweeter
where the River Shannon flows.

Sure no letter I'll be mailing
For soon will I be sailing
And I'll bless the ship that takes me
to my dear old Erin's shore

There I'll settle down forever
I'll leave the old sod never
And I'll whisper to my sweetheart
"Come and take my name Asthore."

Where dear old Shannon's flowing
Where the three-leaved shamrock's grows
Where my heart is I am going
to my little Irish rose

And the moment that I meet her
With a hug and kiss I'll greet her
For there's not a colleen sweeter
where the River Shannon flows.

Released around 1904
This fetching tune has a surprisingly controversial background that took me completely by surprise. It was written and performed by James Russell. James and his brother John appeared on stage in the “Irish Servant Girls” sketch in 1904, and sang this song. Now, you have to realize they were both dressed up as Irish servant girls, and as you look at their picture in full dress on the cover of the sheet music - you know this was a comedy.

The Irish Eventually Take Exception
They had performed this type of Irish maids sketch since the 1870’s. but the show needed some pepping up, so they added their new tune “Where the River Shannon Flows”. The Russell brothers, in 1904 came out with a full length play called “The Female Detectives”. Trouble soon came upon them.

Irish Society for the Prevention of
The Irish servant girls sketch was included in one of their shows, which premiered January 21, 1907, and it was the beginning of the end for the Russell boys on Broadway.
An Irish group had formed called “The Society for the Prevention of Ridiculous and Pervasive Misrepresentation of the Irish Character”. From day one rotten eggs and vegetables were hurled onstage and the audiences stayed away in droves.

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