Thurles Information

Nancy Spain.

Lyrics: Irish poet, singer and Dublin native, the late Barney Rush.
Vocals: Co. Offaly born country and Irish genre singer and entertainer Johnny McEvoy.

In reality Nancy Spain [Nancy Brooker Spain (1917-1964)] was a colourful and extremly talented English broadcaster and journalist, a columnist for the Daily Express; for ‘She’ magazine and for the News of the World.
Nancy lived openly from the 1940’s to the 1960’s with her female lover, the editor of ‘She’, Joan Laurie (“Jonnie”).

In 1964, Nancy and her partner were both sadly killed with three others, in a light aircraft accident, near Aintree racecourse, while on their way to the English Grand National.
Ms Spain was travelling there to cover the 1964 Grand National, which was taking place on that same day.

When author Barney Rush was writing this love song, featured below, he just needed a name to tie it all together and Nancy Spain was simply the name that he chose, as most fitting for his lyrics.

Nancy Spain.

Of all the stars that ever shone,
Not one twinkles like your pale blue eyes,
Like golden corn at harvest, is your hair.
Sailing in my boat, the wind,
Gently blows and fills my sails,
Your sweet-scented breath is everywhere.
Daylight peeping through the curtains,
Of the passing night time, is your smile,
The sun in the sky is like your laugh,
Come back to me, my Nancy,
Linger for just a little while.
Since you left these shores, I’ve known no peace nor joy.
No matter where I wander I’m still haunted by your name,
The portrait of your beauty stays the same.
Standing by the ocean wondering where you’ve gone,
If you’ll return again.
Where is the ring I gave to Nancy Spain?
On that day in Spring, when snow starts to melt,
And streams to flow,
With the birds, I’ll sing a song.
In the while I’ll wander.
Down by bluebell grove, where wild flowers grow,
And I’ll hope that lovely Nancy will be there.
No matter where I wander I’m still haunted by your name,
The portrait of your beauty stays the same.
Standing by the ocean wondering where you’ve gone,
If you’ll return again,
Where is the ring I gave to Nancy Spain?
No matter where I wander I’m still haunted by your name,
The portrait of your beauty stays the same.
Standing by the ocean wondering where you’ve gone,
If you’ll return again,
Where is the ring I gave to Nancy Spain?
Where is the ring I gave to Nancy Spain?
Where is the ring I gave to Nancy Spain?

END.

Matthew.

“Dhá fháid é an lá, tiocfaidh an tráthnóna”. “However long the day, evening will come”.

Lyrics and Vocals: Irish ballad singer, entertainer and songwriter Johnny McEvoy.

Matthew.

What are you thinking of Matthew my friend,
As you sit in your room all alone.
You can see the bright lights in the city below,
In the place where you once called your home,
And I’m sure you can still hear the laughter and noise,
Of your kids as they run and they play,
And you thought you were doing the best that you could,
But it just didn’t work out that way.

Chorus.
Just didn’t work out, just didn’t work out,
Just didn’t work out that way.
You thought you were doing the best that you could,
But it just didn’t work out that way.

And your mother’s long gone and your father is too,
And there’s times that you wish you were dead,
And this morning the nurse took your whiskey away,
When she said you’re not right in the head,
And when your wife calls you can’t think of her name,
And her visits get shorter each day,
And you wish in your heart you could walk out that door,
But it just doesn’t work out that way.

Repeat Chorus.

I can see you’ve been thinking again of the past,
And the place where the tall cedar grows.
You remember the evening you planted that tree,
But I’m sure that nobody else does,
And it grew to the sky, as the years drifted by,
And I’m sure it’s still standing today,
But Matthew it’s somebody else’s tree now,
Cause it just didn’t work out that way.

Repeat Chorus.

So close your eyes Matthew, say good night to the world,
There’s a better one waiting for you.
The time here is over, it’s time to move on,
There’s nothing here left you can do,
But you could have moved mountains and danced on the moon,
You could have turned night into day,
And you thought you were doing the best that you could,
But it just didn’t work out that way.

Repeat Chorus Twice.

END.