Catalpa

Catalpa was commissioned by the Western Australia Massed Choir Festival in 2015 under the direction of Mary-Anne Goyder.

The Catalpa Rescue is an epic tale of truly international proportions, linking Ireland, Australia and the United States of America.  The daring rescue of six Irish Fenian Prisoners from Fremantle Gaol to Massachusetts ranks amongst the great escapes of the world and is a “David and Goliath” story, recounting the ultimate triumph of the small and helpless, over almost insurmountable odds.  It is an essential part of Western Australia’s history.

The Irish Republican Brotherhood was founded in 1858.  Its American counterpart, the Fenian Movement, was named after a legendary band of warriors.  The Fenians had one objective – the establishment of a Free and Independent Irish Republic. It was the convict transport Hougoumont that transported 62 of these men to Fremantle in 1867, one of them being young activist John Boyle O’Reilly.  In 1869 with the help of an Irish priest, O’Reilly escaped from a Vasse road party, which was working near Bunbury. After spending some days hiding in the coastal dunes, O’Reilly was rescued by the American Whaler, the Gazell.  He settled in the United States of America where he became a reporter for the Boston Pilot.

By 1871 all convicted Fenians had been pardoned except those who had served the British Military.Of these, ten were in Fremantle Prison.  One wrote a letter, which was smuggled out of Fremantle Prison and posted to America, where it came into the hands of John Devoy and John Boyle O’Reilly. The letter sowed the seed for a rescue mission, which took four years to plan and was funded by Irish families all over the world. The Whaler Catalpa was purchased for the mission and this sailed from New Bedford in 1875 under Captain George Anthony. This man risked it all for this daring mission. A Quaker, he didn’t do it for money, he wasn’t a patriot, and he wasn’t Irish. When asked then “Why are you doing this”, he simply replied, “Because it is the right thing to do”.

After an incredible rescue that involved a potential international incident, all Fenian’s managed to escape and it took four months for the Catalpa to reach the destination of New York where she arrived to a Hero’s Welcome on the 19th August 1876.

This rousing piece will inspire your choir to learn more about this incredible event.

A digital audio sample below can assist you.

Themes

Sing a global story Sing a history Sing an Australian story Sing the adventure
Duration 3:50
Key G Major with many modulations
Range Altos from low A to D and SOPS from Middle C to high E
More info Features are or tenor drum, cajun or any frame drum and some actions
Price AU$3.00 per copy

Lyrics

C A T A L P A                       
By Paul Jarman & Bonnie Nilsson

I hear a voice from deep inside
It calls me to answer
But who am I? What can I do?
Your words bestow courage in this common man
It’s just the right thing to do, it pulls me away
I hear the distant cries from a desperate man calling my name

Across the seas towards red earth that bleeds
We’ve heard the tales from O’Rielly’s mouth
He speaks of hell on earth in ‘Freo’ Gaol
Three long months we sailed and left behind our families
For freedom and our right to liberty
Sail on, sail on for freedom

To a living tomb, twelve foot walls of souls and lonely nights
A hundred years, and a billion tears, memories have all but disappeared 
Into blood curdling screams from the noose, whip and chains
And yet for the Fenian freedom fighters hope is on the way

On the wind, through the storm of storms
Catalpa to freedom we sail
Through the night, until break of day
Catalpa to freedom we sail

If you fire on this ship, you’ve made a declaration of war
You’ll be firing on America under international law
Fleeing from Australian shores the wind is on the side
Of freedom and our right to liberty
Sail on, sail on for freedom

So now I know from one man’s plea this story and its legacy
And if we open our hearts we can be the change we wish to see

So sail on, sail on for freedom
Sail on, sail on for freedom

© Paul Jarman & Bonnie Nilsson 2015