1. |
||||
|
A place I know called Shady Grove
Is where this song comes from
Where fields are filled with fine fruit trees
And the river is wide and long
Please listen carefully
And follow on this trail
Of a summer love in Shady Grove
This is my fairytale o
I met him on midsummer’s eve
Beside the old stone wall
He smiled and asked me for my name
We walked towards the hall
And there he asked me for a dance
When the band were playing a reel
I danced the night away ‘till dawn
Now this is how I feel o
Peaches in the summertime and apples in the fall
If I can’t have the one I love won’t have none at all
Peaches in the summertime and those apples in the fall
If I can’t have the one I love I won’t have none at all
After the dance I bid farewell and there we did part
One day I will ride home with him for he has caught my heart
And I hope to be within his arms warm in our wedding bed
Our friends will smile and they will say
That’s where the trail has lead o
Are you of the opinion that true love is hard to find
Perhaps we both went separate ways leaving Shady Grove behind
You are no fool and you should know that my true love did beguile
For in the month of May we did
Walk happily down the isle o
|
||||
2. |
The Girl He Left Behind
02:56
|
|||
|
There was a wealthy farmer lived in a country nearby
He had a lovely daughter on whom one cast an eye
She was so handsome pretty and indeed so very fair
There was no other girl with whom this young man could compare
He asked if she was willing for him to cross o’er the glen
She said no difference it would make if he returned again
To him she said she would stay true ‘till death should prove unkind
They kissed shook hands and parted then he left his girl behind
The girl he left behind
The girl he left behind
The girl he left behind
The girl he left behind
He travelled to the city through the rainy weather sleet and snow
Everyone so friendly picked him up when he was low
Work and money proved plentiful and girls they proved so kind
But the only object of his mind was the girl he left behind
As he was hanging round one day down at the public square
The mail coach had arrived and so he met the mail boy there
A letter clear addressed to him that helped him understand
That the girl he left in Morayshire had married another man
Come all you rambling gambling boys and listen to this yarn
For no good comes of gambling gold it may well bring ye harm
If ere you court a young fair maid just marry her while ye can
For if ere you cross o’er the glen she’ll marry another man!
|
||||
3. |
Let Erin Remember
04:29
|
|||
|
Let Erin remember the days of old
Ere her faithless sons betray’d her
When Malachi wore the collar of gold
Which he won from her proud invader
When the kings with standards of green unfurl’d
Led the Red-Branch Knights to danger
Ere the emerald gem of the western world
Was set in the crown of a stranger
O let Erin remember the days of old
Ere her faithless betray’d her
Wearing the collar of gold
O let Erin remember the days of old
Ere her faithless sons betray’d her
Wearing the collar of gold
On Lough Neagh’s bank where the fisherman strays
Where the clear cold eve’s declining
He sees the round towers of the other days
In the wave beneath him shining
Thus shall memory often in dreams sublime
Catch a glimpse of the days that are over
Thus sighing look through the waves of time
For the long-faded glories they cover
|
||||
4. |
Must I Be Bound
04:14
|
|||
|
The water is wide and I cannot float
And neither have I wings to fly
O go and get me some little boat
To join my true love and I
Must I be bound o and he go free
Must I love the one that don’t love me
Why should I play such a foolish part
And love a man that will go and break my heart
So gently I leant against an oak
Thinking it was a trusty tree
But first he bent and then he broke
So my true love proved false to me
Love is handsome and love is fine
And knows no bounds when its true
But if your love proves false in time
Then it fades away like morning dew
|
||||
5. |
Blackbird
03:34
|
|||
|
I once met a sailor in the mid month of May
I courted him dearly by night and by day
He offered to marry and stay by my side
One morning he’d left me to sail with the tide
So if I were a blackbird I'd whistle and I’d sing
And I'd follow the ship that my true love sails in
And on the top rigging I'd there build my nest
And I'd pillow my head on his lily-white breast
My true love is handsome in every degree
My parents despise him for he does love me
Well let them despise him or say what they will
While there is breath in my body I'll love that lad still
If I were a scholar I'd handle a pen
And one loving letter to him I would send
I'd tell him my sorrow my grief and I'd say
That he'll be my true love till my dying day
|
||||
6. |
White Dove
05:03
|
|||
|
My fair sister Annie did love one man true
He was the tallest with eyes so blue
Please give up your sailing for farming she said
I fear for you when I’m lying in bed
So far do you sail and so much I miss thee
So make your life here on this fine land with me
She opened her window each evening for him
This man she did love and to him she would sing
So come all you sailors and fine fishermen
Haul the sheets down and draw the nets in
When the white horses call to the storm clouds above
Then look to the skies and follow my own white dove
Then one day the sailors set out on the sea
The wind and the waves were as wild as can be
My sisters and I we held hands so tight
Then later the news of that terrible night
For thunder and rain did come down heavily
Those sailors were frightened and ere they’d be
They held on the sides and they prayed it would float
But that was the end of the men and their boat
My Annie did cry for one month and a day
She sent all her visiting friends on their way
Until one fine morning her belly had one
Jack would be the name of her fine sailor’s son
When growing up Annie told Jack every day
She feared for his father when he sailed away
She told him the story of how they first met
And for loving her sailor she’d never regret
Now that was the story of Annie’s true love
She dreams that her sailor is now a white dove
Whenever she sees a white bird by the sea
This song she sings in his fine memory
|
||||
7. |
Forever To Sleep
04:51
|
|||
|
The wind it did whistle and the waters did roar
In the cold light of morning down by the seashore
Falling down to my knees I gave a pitiful cry
It sounded so lonesome as it swept up on high
No I never will find for the rest of my life
No I never will find one as lovely as you
No I never will find for the rest of my life
No I never will find one as lovely as you
My love has gone and left me he’s the one I adore
No I never will see him no never no more
Now my heart it is broken and it never shall seal
For this pain I am feeling is a deep wound to heal
I will cast my fair body in the waters so deep
Gently closing my blue eyes forever to sleep
The shells in the ocean shall be my deathbed
While the fish in the water swim over my head
When I go to the next life he’ll be waiting for me
And no tears will be needed for in his arms I’ll be
No more will I wander down by the seashore
But the wind it will whistle and the waters will roar
|
||||
8. |
I Let You Go
04:14
|
|||
|
Sky-scapes on hill-scapes
Mountains set the land
And I walked with you as once we were
Hand in hand
The sky lines the hillside
The grass against the sand
And I sang to you as once we were
Hand in hand
I let you go where have you gone
I let you go and its one year on
I let you go and it’s been so long
Where where have you gone
You told me then that
You loved me so
But I feared if your love I returned
I could never let you go
You looked upon me gently
Underneath starlight
But I told you my heart I could not give
Not this or any night
Time runs slow and all is lost
Summer days turn to frost
Springtime melts a frozen heart
Nothing worse than a year apart
When you return to me
I’ll tell you of my love
And I’ll never let you feel alone
I wish on stars above
Let my love return to me
To him my heart belongs
And I will not let my fear return
Of love I’ll write my wrongs
|
||||
9. |
The Selkie
04:30
|
|||
|
The fisherman each day would go
Out in his boat through the ocean flow
Beneath the waters blue and green
He saw a silver shadow gleam
One night the Selkie was entrancing
Upon the sand in bare flesh dancing
Come with me said the fisherman
And I will give you house and dry land
Silver skin fair maid ashore
Bound to the sea by ancient law
Each day together their love did grow
One heart above and one heart below
She said I’d like to see the land
My feet have only felt wet sand
But when seven years and one day is done
Back to the ocean I’ll return
His honour and word he gave her true
As clear as waters crystal blue
Back to the sea I’ll let you go
For my heart it does love you so
The Selkie lived her days quite free
But each night she dreamt of the sea
Her skin and hair no longer shone bright
When the time it came she left at midnight
The fisherman found a note
Such loving words his Selkie wrote
Each day in your boat visit me
For I’ll be waiting in the sea
|
||||
10. |
Trees
03:07
|
|||
|
You are
You are
You are so needed
You give us life to breathe
You are so healing
You help us when we grieve
You share with us your beauty
You keep us safe from harm
We shelter from the wind and rain
We bathe beneath your arms
Thank you for your green
Thank you for your leaves
Thank you for your breeze
Thank you for your peace
You are so needed
You give us life to breathe
You are so healing
You help us when we grieve
You share with us your beauty
You keep us safe from harm
We shelter from the wind and rain
We bathe beneath your arms
|
||||
11. |
Blow The Candle Out
04:25
|
|||
|
It was late a Sunday evening when he went to see his dear
The candles were all burning and the moon shone bright and clear
He tapped upon her window to declare his love in plain
She rose to let him in then barred the door again
Without your love I’m lost dear
And this I often say
O I cannot rest contented
While you are far away
But the soldiers guard the gates here
And I cannot roam about
So roll me in your arms love
And blow the candle out
So roll me in your arms love
And blow the candle out
He said your mother and your father in yonder room do lie
A hugging one another so why not you and I
A hugging one another without no fear or doubt
O won’t you let me in for I cannot live without
And if a child you give me I’ll name it after thee
I’ll hug it near and kiss it sweet and dap it on my knee
A father I hope you will be and a husband to adore
So here I will be waiting when you return from war
It was late a Sunday evening when she waited for her dear
The candles were all burning and the moon shone bright and clear
No tap upon her window to ease her of her pain
No letter came explaining if she’d see her love again
No letter came explaining
|
||||
12. |
Brown Haired Maiden
04:01
|
|||
|
Brown-Haired Maiden fresh and fair
Light and blithe with lightsome air
Tuesday when I trusted thee
All the week was worth to me
Young were we when first fond love
Found us in the hazel grove
Sweet thy kisses were to me
And thy voice sweet melody
Brown-Haired Maid with a witching smile
Full of love and free from guile
Softly ‘neath the Hawthorn tree
Came thy whispered truth to me
God be with the Brown-Haired Maid
In the sunshine and in the shade
Every Tuesday saved for thee
Brings a year of bliss to me
|
||||
If you like Iona Leigh, you may also like:
Scottish harpist and singer Rachel Newton brings an innovative, intensely emotional touch to traditional music on this dreamy LP.
go to album
Would the Light Hold Me
by Oceanique
Celtic-inspired instrumentation, delicate harmonies, and reflective lyrics abound on the sisterly indie-folk duo's debut album.
go to album
Wealth of Sorrow
by Cahalen Morrison
Bright and skipping songs that foreground the sound of the banjo and fingerstyle guitar in music that feels timeless.
go to album
Epic, immersive songs that you disappear into, with rich layers of keys and ghostly vocal melodies conjuring a misty dreamworld.
go to album
A vibrant vision of "Central Americana" from the Costa Rica-based artist, blending heartland devotionals with playful Tropicália grooves.
go to album
Following a stressful political adventure, the Texas musician returns with an impressive showcase of his American primitive finger-picked guitar style.
go to album
THEY'VEBEENCALLED
by Jep and Dep
Sydney's folk noir duo expand their sound into haunting compositions that are somewhere between beautiful and melancholy.
go to album
