The Mountains of Mourne

The lyrics to the song "The Mountains of Mourne" were written by Irish musician Percy French. It is normally sung to the traditional Irish folk tune Carrigdonn or Carrigdhoun as it is sometimes spelt. This was the same tune used by Thomas Moore (1779–1852) for his song "Bendemeer's Stream".

The song is representative of French's many works concerning the Irish diaspora. The Mourne Mountains of the title are located in County Down in Northern Ireland.

The song is a whimsical look at the styles, attitudes and fashions of late nineteenth-century London as seen from the point of view of an Irish labourer from a village near the Mountains of Mourne. It is written as if the singer is sending a message to his true love back home. The "sweep down to the sea" refrain was inspired by the view of the mountains from Skerries in north County Dublin.

It contrasts the artificial attractions of the city with the more natural beauty of his homeland.

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