John A. Gilks - Irish Rebel Spy

This song is about a Fenian woman whose brother and lover die as Fenians and she outwits detectives and steals a horse in order to warn other Fenians.

The Fenians were a group of Irish radicals who sought to establish an independent Irish republic in the 19th and early 20th centuries. As wikipedia explains about their relevance to Canada: "In Canada, Fenian is used to designate a group of Irish radicals, a.k.a. the American branch of the Fenian Brotherhood in the 1860s. They made several attempts (1866, 1870, etc.) to invade some parts of Province of Canada (Southern Ontario andMissisquoi County[10]) which were a British dominion at the time. The ultimate goal of the Fenian raids was to hold Canada hostage and therefore be in a position to blackmail the United Kingdom to give Ireland its independence. Because of the invasion attempts, support and/or collaboration for the Fenians in Canada became very rare even among the Irish".

The last word of the song, spy , is spoken, not sung.

In Manny s published version of the song (which was transcribed from this recording) there are several variations from the above transcription. Notably, Manny writes (stanza 1) In the city of Mialco, near the county of Leone though it sounds like Gilks is singing "Lialco" and "Gleno" in their stead. Also, every instance in which Gilks sings and the sober name she goes by is the Irish rebel spy Manny has exchanged sober for proper.

In stanza 4 Manny writes those spies a-hunting came, but Gilks clearly sings skies. In stanza 5 Manny writes O good morning, o good morning, o good morning, sir whereas Gilks sings Oh good morning said the spokesman Oh good morning, sir said she indicating two speakers. Manny writes in stanza 7 Like old Nimrod in his farmer days whereas Gilks clearly says old marmer in his farmer days.