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At the Hibernian Pub located in the front of the historic Hibernian Hotel in the centre of the famous medieval town of Killkenney. Recorded using Filmic Pro on iPhone 15 Plus on September 6, 2024 by John Fraim.

The song they are playing is Spancil Hill (or in original spelling Spancilhill) is a traditional Irish folk ballad composed by Michael Considine (1850–73), who was born in Spancil Hill and migrated to the US. It bemoans the plight of the Irish emigrants who so longed for home from their new lives in America. This song is sung by a man who longs for his home in Spancill Hill, County Clare, his friends and the love he left there. All the characters and places in this song are real.

When I reviewed what I had recorded on my iPhone, the Spancill Hill song stood out as I had played it on my iPhone through the rest of our trip in Ireland. The wedding of my step-daughter Sarah in a castle built in 1180 a few days later. Then, four days south of Dublin in the seaside town of Dalkey. The song stayed with me throughout our trip in Ireland as I played it over and over on the video recorded in Filmic Pro.

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After going over the photos taken, rejecting some, accepting others using HDR photography, looking over the videos taken with the iPhone 15. Rejecting some. The Irish song “Spancill Hill” played through my iPhone a few times a day since I recorded it at the Hibernian pub our the first night in Kilkinney.

In my office after getting home, I realized the significance and power of this piece of music. The longing of an Irish emigrant for his/her home country. Somehow it seemed appropriate that we were all together in the Hibernian that evening in downtown Kilkinney. The bridge Sara, her future husband Casey, my wife Stephanie, Casey’s brother Shaun and their cousin Andrey. Who is from Idaho but now lives in Kilkinney and was instrumental in showing us around! Thanks so much Audrey!

Somehow that night, after dinner across the street at the monster pub called The Left Bank (that looked like a branch of the Federal Reserve) we we able to grab a table right in front of the singers. So, it was the specialness of this night to Sarah and Casey in one since that this gorgeous famous Irish ballad was somehow sung and recorded by me that night. One of the most famous ballads of all of Ireland I later learn from my Irish friend Michael.

Window in Dublin

But this song still has meaning for many Americans today who have Irish blood. Like those surrounding us tonight in the Hibernian Pub: Casey’s Irish mother’s family; his cousin Audrey is with us tonight. I’m glad Casey’s mother has united in Ireland with many of her sisters.

It was incredible being with Audrey and her Irish mother, sister to Casey’s mother, during the wedding. I think the ballad had more meaning for me because of this Irish spirit in the air during the wedding. Again, many millions of Americans are Irish emigrants. And, like the guy singing the ballad below, longs for this lost homeland. Like we all do

One of the more interesting things about this ballad is the drone effect of it throughout. The drone is something I am familiar with as I wrote about it in length in my biography of John Coltrane titled Spirit Catcher. It was a particular sound that he began exploring towards the end of his life. Many in jazz claim it was a sound from the Middle East. But listening to Spancihill there is reason to believe this drone sound of Coltrane also had Irish roots. Few have suggested this but it seems worth exploring.

In my home recording studio – right behind the desk I type this note – I have my Ashun Sound Machines (ASM) Hydrasynth Explorer. In its dilutive size of two feet by about ten inches, it is by far the most advanced synthesizer I have ever had. Pretty much, I’ve gone through most of my adult years chasing the latest keyboards and music technology from KORG.

But the ASM offers a totally new approach to creating music. (So the rest of my digital band can just remain down in the basement). I have the ASM hooked up to a Tascam Digital Portastudio 24sd and two KRK reference speakers. My plan is to lay down tracks on the Portastudio that mirror the drone effects of the song Spancihill. It’s interesting getting back into the ASM. It truly is a revolutionary instrument. It’s interesting to speculate what I how the drone sound might be created on this instrument.

And check out the end two lines of the lyrics below! It applies to me for sure: I “awoke in California” (I was born in LA) “Many miles from Spancil Hill.” (Ireland)

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Spancil Hill Lyrics

“I awoke in California
Many miles from Spancil Hill”

End two lines of the Lyrics

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Last night as I lay dreamin’
Of pleasant days gone by
Me mind bein’ bent on rambling
To Ireland I did fly
I stepped on board a vision and
I followed with the wind
Till first I came to anchor at
The cross at Spancil Hill

It being the 23rd of June
The day before the fair
Where Ireland’s sons and daughters
And friends assembled there
The young, the old
The brave and the bold came
Their duty to fulfill
At the parish church near Clooney
A mile from Spancil Hill

I went to see my neighbours to
See what they might say
The old ones were all dead and gone
The young ones turning grey
I met the tailor Quigley
He’s as bold as ever still
He used to mend my britches when
I lived in Spancil Hill

I took a flying visit to my one and only love
She’s as white as any lily
As gentle as a dove
She threw her arms around
Me, saying “Johnny, i love you still”
She is Nell, the farmer’s daughter
The pride of Spancil Hill

I dreamt I held and kissed her
As in the days of old
Saying, “Johnny, you’re only joking
As many’s the time before”
But the cock, he crew in the morning
He crew both loud and shrill
I awoke in California
Many miles from Spancil Hill

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