To celebrate Irish Heritage Day today, here's one of my most favourite Irish folk songs, Down by the Salley Gardens ("salley" means willow tree). The lyrics come from an 1889 poem by W.B. Yeats, the Irish poet, nationalist, playwright, mystic and 1923 Nobel Laureate for Literature. It's a short, two-verse poem of youthful love, loss and regret:
The poem was later set to a traditional Irish tune and has been recorded by innumerable singers. I particularly love this version by the great Irish singer Maura O'Connell:
I've enjoyed playing this song on my recorder ever since I was a kid. A lot of water has flowed past the salley gardens since then, but it remains a beautiful poem and song.
this sure took me back to the days i lived in ireland!
ReplyDeleteBeautiful. Happy St. Patty's Day, my friend.
ReplyDeleteMary
William Butler Yeats is superb
ReplyDeletenice
ReplyDeleteHappy St. Patrick's Day! Thanks for the musical gift!
ReplyDeleteWonderful post!
ReplyDeleteW.B. Yeats is amazing.
So beautiful. I could listen to Irish music all day! Tom Hiddleson's voice is not hard to listen to either. *sigh*
ReplyDeleteHappy Irish day to you!
Thank you so much, Debra!
ReplyDeleteSlainte!!
Happy St. Paddy's to ya darling girl. As my Irish grandaw used to say....why the hell don't we celebrate this everyday?????? And being Irish.....he did. hahahahaha. Botttoms up on the green beer. Oma Linda
ReplyDeleteGo Green... Happy St Paddy's Day!
ReplyDeleteVery beautiful! Happy St. Patrick's Day ;o)
ReplyDeleteI sure enjoyed this Debra. I love Irish tunes and Yeats poem is lovely put to music.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to share this on FB. Thanks.
ReplyDeleteShe has a beautiful voice. Slainte!
ReplyDeleteHappy St. Paddy's Day, this was lovely!
ReplyDeleteI hope your having a great Saint Patricks Day Debs! I haven't heard that song in years! I should play it for my luncheon.
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Happy Irish Heritage Day my dear.
ReplyDeleteMay the wind at your back
not be the result
of the corned beef and cabbage
you had for lunch.
lovely song, Debs, love me and adore me anything Irish! And I'm proud to have some devoted Irish sisters and brothers!
ReplyDeleteI love Irish music. That was awesome. Happy Irish Heritage Day to ya!
ReplyDeleteCheers! I'm partly Irish, among several other things. People in my family hopped the fence everywhere.
ReplyDeleteLoved the reading! However, I clicked the second video, and it said 'This video is currently unavailable.' What, is Youtube taking a smoke break right now?
ReplyDeleteThis was beautiful. I stopped the reading to listen to the song and I loved it. I hope you enjoyed your St. Patrick's Day yesterday!
ReplyDeleteLovely! Thanks.
ReplyDeleteHave you heard the Rankins do this song? OMG I just love it. Happy belated St. Patrick's day!
ReplyDeleteI hope your Paddy's Day was fantastic!
ReplyDelete:) Hope you had a great one!
ReplyDeleteDeLovely ♥♥♥
ReplyDelete:)
ReplyDeleteYoutube has been acting up! I love me an Irish ditty!
ReplyDeleteLovely. Thanks so much for sharing this Debra.
ReplyDeleteOh Debra, how lovely...
ReplyDeleteBluh, I wish I could have gone drinking on Sunday, but exam studying comes first. :(
ReplyDeleteI love Irish Tenors and every time they have the round up of money on pbs they always have the Irish singers on...bands of them..and Irish dancers..nothing gets people to open up their wallets than the Irish dancers.
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