“Siúil a Rúin” is a traditional Irish song, sung from the point of view of a woman lamenting a lover who has embarked on a military career. The song has English language verses and an Irish language chorus, a style known as macaronic. Live performance: • Clannad – Siúil A Rún 1978 Performed by Clannad Album: Dúlamán (1978)
By a lonely prison wall I heard a young girl calling “Michael, they have taken you away For you stole Trevelyan’s corn So the young might see the morn Now a prison ship lies waiting in the bay”
Low lie the fields of Athenry Where once we watched the small free birds fly Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing It’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry
By a lonely prison wall I heard a young man calling “Nothing matters, Mary, when you’re free Against the famine and the crown I rebelled, they cut me down Now you must raise our child with dignity”
Low lie the fields of Athenry Where once we watched the small free birds fly Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing It’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry
By a lonely harbour wall She watched the last star falling As that prison ship sailed out against the sky For she lived in hope and pray For her love in Botany Bay It’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry
Low lie the fields of Athenry Where once we watched the small free birds fly Our love was on the wing we had dreams and songs to sing It’s so lonely ’round the fields of Athenry
65,990 views May 6, 2012Daniel performs the popular Irish ballad by Percy French at the Green Glens Arena in Millstreet, County Cork on New Year’s Eve 1994.
The banks of my own lovely Lee How oft do my thoughts in their fancy take flight To the home of my childhood away, To the days when each patriot’s vision seem’d bright Ere I dreamed that those joys should decay. When my heart was as light as the wild winds that blow Down the Mardyke through each elm tree, Where I sported and play’d ‘neath each green leafy shade On the banks of my own lovely Lee. And then in the springtime oflaughterr and song Can I ever forget the sweet hours? With the friends of my youth as we rambled along ‘Mongst the green mossy banks and wild flowers. Then too, when the evening sun’s sinking to rest Sheds its golden light over the sea The maid with her lover the wild daisies pressed On the banks of my own lovely Lee The maid with her lover the wild daisies pressed On the banks of my own lovely Lee ‘Tis a beautiful land this dear isle of song Its gems shed their light to the world And her faithful sons bore thro’ ages of wrong, The standard St. Patrick unfurled. Oh! would I were there with the friends I love best And my fond bosom’s partner with me We’d roam thy banks over, and when weary we’d rest By thy waters, my own lovely Lee, We’d roam thy banks over, and when weary we’d rest By thy waters, my own lovely Lee, Oh what joys should be mine ere this life should decline To seek shells on thy sea- girdled shore. While the steel-feathered eagle, oft splashing the brine Brings longing for freedom once more. Oh all that on earth I wish for or crave Is that my last crimson drop be for thee, To moisten the grass of my forefathers’ grave On the banks of my own lovely Lee To moisten the grass of my forefathers’ grave On the banks of my own lovely Lee
Katie’s sittin’ on her old front porch Watchin’ the chickens peck the ground There ain’t a whole lot goin’ on tonight In this one horse town Over yonder comin’ up the road In a beat up Chevy truck Her boyfriend Tommy is laying on the horn Splashing through the mud and the muck
Her daddy say’s, “he ain’t worth a lick” When it comes to brains he got the short end of the stick” But Katie’s young and man she just don’t care She’d follow Tommy anywhere She’s in love with the boy She’s in love with the boy She’s in love with the boy And even if they have to run away She’s gonna marry that boy someday
Katie and Tommy at the drive-in movie Parked in the very last row They’re to busy holding on to one another To even care about the show Later on outside the Tasty Freeze Tommy slips something on her hand He says, “my high school ring will have to do ‘Til I can buy a wedding band”
Her daddy say’s, “he ain’t worth a lick When it comes to brains He got the short end of the stick” But Katie’s young and man she just don’t care She’d follow Tommy anywhere She’s in love with the boy She’s in love with the boy She’s in love with the boy And even if they have to run away She’s gonna marry that boy someday
Her Daddy’s waitin’ up ’til half past twelve When they come sneakin’ up the walk He says, “young lady get on up to your room While me and junior have a talk” Momma breaks in says, “don’t lose your temper It wasn’t very long ago When you yourself was just a hay seed plow boy Who didn’t have a row to hoe”
“My daddy said, ‘you wasn’t worth a lick When it came to brains you got the short end of the stick’ But he was wrong and honey, you are too Katie looks at Tommy like I still look at you” She’s in love with the boy She’s in love with the boy She’s in love with the boy What’s meant to be will always find a way She’s in love with the boy She’s in love with the boy She’s in love with the boy What’s meant to be will always find a way She’s gonna marry that boy someday
65,990 views May 6, 2012Daniel performs the popular Irish ballad by Percy French at the Green Glens Arena in Millstreet, County Cork on New Year’s Eve 1994.
Lyrics
The Garden of Eden has vanished, they say But I know the lie of it still; Just turn to the left at the bridge of Finea And stop when halfway to Cootehill. ‘Tis there I will find it, I know sure enough When fortune has come to me call, Oh the grass it is green around Ballyjamesduff And the blue sky is over it all. And tones that are tender and tones that are gruff Are whispering over the sea, Come back, Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me. My mother once told me that when I was born The day that I first saw the light, I looked down the street on that very first morn And gave a great crow of delight. Now most newborn babies appear in a huff, And start with a sorrowful squall, But I knew I was born in Ballyjamesduff And that’s why I smiled on them all. The baby’s a man, now he’s toil-worn and tough Still, whispers come over the sea, Come back, Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me. The night that we danced by the light of the moon, Wid Phil to the fore wid his flute, When Phil threw his lip over Come Again Soon, He’s dance the foot out o’ yer boot! The day that I took long Magee by the scruff For slanderin’ Rosie Kilrain, Then, marchin’ him straight out of Ballyjamesduff, Assisted him into a drain. Oh, sweet are the dreams, as the dudeen I puff, Of whisperings over the sea, Come back, Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me. I’ve loved the young women of every land, That always came easy to me; Just barrin’ the belles of the Black-a-moor brand And the chocolate shapes of Feegee. But that sort of love is a moonshiny stuff, And never will addle me brain, For the bells will be ringin’ in Ballyjamesduff For me and me Rosie Kilrain! And through all their glamour, their gas and their guff A whisper comes over the sea, Come back, Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me. Encore verse I’ve struck oil at last! I’ve struck work, and I vow I’ve struck some remarkable clothes, I’ve struck a policeman for sayin’ that now, I’d go back to my beautiful Rose. The belles they may blarney, the boys they may bluff But this I will always maintain, No place in the world like Ballyjamesduff No guril (sic) like Rosie Kilrain. I’ve paid for my passage, the sea may be rough But borne on each breeze there will be, Come back, Paddy Reilly to Ballyjamesduff Come home, Paddy Reilly, to me.
Galileo fell in love as a Galilean boy And he wondered what in heaven, who invented such a joy But the question got the better of his scientific mind And to his blind and dying gaze He looked up high and often sighed And sometimes cried
Who puts the rainbow in the sky? Who lights the stars at night? Who dreamt up someone so divine? Someone like you and made them mine?Love can make you ask some funny questions now and then But just remember the alternatives for I remember when I was lonely and unhappy And my lips were cold as ice But you kissed me and good heavens Now I’m here in paradise
So if ever I’m not kissing you or looking in your eyes I won’t be blind and I won’t cry I’ll look up high and gladly sigh And thank the guy
Who puts the rainbow in the sky? Who lights the stars at night? Who dreamt up someone so divine? Someone like you and made them mine? Someone like you and made them mine?
Galileo fell in love as a Galilean boy And he wondered what in heaven, who invented such a joy But the question got the better of his scientific mind And to his blind and dying gaze He looked up high and often sighed And sometimes cried
Who puts the rainbow in the sky? Who lights the stars at night? Who dreamt up someone so divine? Someone like you and made them mine?Love can make you ask some funny questions now and then But just remember the alternatives for I remember when I was lonely and unhappy And my lips were cold as ice But you kissed me and good heavens Now I’m here in paradise
So if ever I’m not kissing you or looking in your eyes I won’t be blind and I won’t cry I’ll look up high and gladly sigh And thank the guy
Who puts the rainbow in the sky? Who lights the stars at night? Who dreamt up someone so divine? Someone like you and made them mine? Someone like you and made them mine?