The traditional tune (The) “Boyne Water” was suggested by Jeff and Julie from South Carolina as a good minor sounding tune with some interesting history to add to our Tune History collection. This tune is usually found in the key of G in written notation. It does, however, start and end with an A minor chord. Banjo players (and some fiddlers) may find their modal tunings fit this tune nicely.

The song is very old, likely passed down originally through oral tradition as a ballad without instrumentation. The lyrics of the song reflect an account of the Battle of the Boyne (named for the Boyne River in County Meath, eastern Ireland), fought July 1st, 1690, in which the English monarch King William III of Orange (pictured on horseback) defeated the Irish forces under King James II. It was seen as a politically and culturally divisive song, as the lyrics celebrated the defeat of the Irish Catholics by the Protestant English. Side note: King William III is also the “Billy” of “Billy In The Low Ground” fame.

In the late 1600’s, written notation of the song was starting to appear, and it became very popular in the British Isles. Where the melody came from has many theories, and the same melody was adapted to dozens of other tunes over the years. Like many other popular ballads, “Boyne Water" made its way to America where the melody was again adapted to other tunes. These include the very well known ballad “Barbara Allen” as well as an 1815 hit minstrel song called "Back Side of Albany." The anti-Irish Catholic origins of the song also followed it to America. Musicologist Samuel Bayard wrote that Pennsylvania fifers declined to play the tune for him at gatherings, fearing to destroy the harmony of the group with "political pieces."

This is just a brief introductory history of “Boyne Water.” There is a great deal of information regarding the lyrics, the melody, and other tunes that use the same melody. Start your exploration with the Traditional Tune Archive page - then go from there. For more perspective on the battle and politics of the Battle of the Boyne, start with the Britannica website, then check out the National Army Museum in London’s page. For some excellent photos of the battle setting, visit Heritage Ireland. 

Below is a video from Tatiana Hargreaves and Allison DeGroot performing “Boyne Water” from a 2019 show. Their version is likely to be very close to what would be heard at a Festival or jam. The other video is a more traditional take from Open The Door for Three from their 2017 “The Joyful Hour” album. The mp3 player features a very nice clawhammer rendition of Boyne Water by Jack Bunch from his 2019 release "Not A Flower On Dogwood Flats: The Music Of Jack Bunch & Laurel County" (Kentucky).

Boyne Water

Open The Door For Three

The Joyful Hour (2017)