One Morning in May

Yet another song that takes place “one morning in May.” In this case smooth-talking young man takes advantages of a young woman out in the countryside. Great singing, as always, from Christa Burch.

One Morning in May

One morning in May, as I carelessly did stray
to view the green meadows, and the lambs sport and play,
in the clear morning dew, as I lay down to muse,
a fair maiden of honour appeared in my view.

Says I, “Pretty maid, how happy we could be
for it is so ordained, love, that married we should be.
Let me not see you frown, for this heart is your own.”
But as these words were spoken, sure the tears trickled down.

“Come dry up your tears. You have nothing to fear.
I have roamed through the green fields for many’s the long year.”
But as the birds sang so sweet, this young man proved his deceit,
saying, “Adieu, pretty fair maid. We shall never more meet.”

“With my snuffbox and cane, the whole world I would range,
like Venus or Diana in search of her swain.
While the moon does shine clear, I will mourn my dear
over mountains, clear fountains, where no-one would hear.”

“And there’s one thing I know; and that before I go.
I shall never return, love, to hear your sad woe.
And there’s another thing I know; and that before I go.
That the ranger and the stranger have many’s the foe.”

Back Home With Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh

Following the release of Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh‘s second commercial solo recording, Ar Uair Bhig an Lae: Small Hours, SOTI caught up with Muireann via Skype at her home in West Kerry.

What is the first song you learned?

I’ve been singing since I was a child. I suppose one of the first songs I probably learned is the same song that my little girl has now learned this year. She’s only 1 1/2 [years old]. It’s Éiníní, which is a lullaby. My mom used to sing it for me, and now I sing it for Sadhbh, and she started singing along. I was just thinking the other day that probably that was my first song, too, as it was probably the first song I heard.  It’s just a song about little birds going to sleep.

What’s the most recent song that you have learned?

Probably one of the songs off my new album, in the sense that I would have been very familiar with them all, bar one or two, but that there were quite a few that I didn’t perform regularly, so I needed to sit down and really learn them for the album and for my concerts since I released it.

What’s your method for learning new songs?

Oh, very old fashioned, just repeat, repeat, repeat. Just rote learning. I like to read the words and see them, and I can kind of later on see them in my head. What is really important is just to try and remember the story. I think that really, really helps with the lyrics. If you can keep focused on the story and what’s happening as well, you can generally get by okay, too, because you’ll be concentrating on it in a different way, rather than as a performance.

Continue reading