Well, Willie be fine and Willie be fair he wants me for to wed
And I would marry Willie, but my father up and said,
“I’m sorry to tell you daughter what your mother never knew
But Willie he’s a son of mine, so he’s kin to you.”

Well, Jimmy be fine and Jimmy be fair he wants me for to wed
And I would marry Jimmy, but my father up and said,
“I’m sorry to tell you daughter what your mother never knew
But Jimmy he’s a son of mine, so he’s kin to you.”

Well, never was there a girl so sad and sorry as I was
The boys in town, they’re all my kin and my father is the cause!
I will not be contented for to die a single miss
I think I’ll go to mother and complain to her of this.

“Well, daughter, haven’t I taught you to forgive and to forget?
So, your father sowed his oats, oh still you should not fret.
Your father may be the cause of all the boys in town, but still…..
He’s not the one who sired you so marry who you will.”

Listen to Sample

About the song

The post Johnny Be Fair appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

May the road rise to meet you
May the wind be at your back
May the sun shine warm upon your land
May the rain fall soft upon your face until we meet again
May God hold you in the palm of his hand

Autumn leaves would change our tree
To colors on the ground
Swirling patterns beautiful to see
I’d lay my head down on your lap
I wouldn’t make a sound
And you would always sing this song to me

Though the winter days our tree would shiver in the wind
Waiting for the warming touch of spring
I’d hold you in the firelight
We’d stare into the flames
And this is what you always used to sing

Listen to Sample

About the song

The post May The Road Rise To Meet You appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

Kiss from my forehead the furrows of care
Smooth the few silver threads out of my hair
Over my slumber your loving watch keep,
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep

Backward, flow backward, tide of the years
I am so weary of toil and of tears
Toil without recompense, tears all in vain,
Take them and give me my childhood again;

For I have grown weary of dust and decay,
Weary of flinging my soul wealth away,
Weary of sowing for others to reap,
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep

Bridge:
Mother, oh mother, my heart calls for you
Tired of the hollow, the base, the untrue
Manys a summer the grass has grown green
Blossomed and faded, our faces between

Backward, oh backward, Time in your flight
Make me a child again, just for tonight.
Come from the silence so long and so deep,
Rock me to sleep, mother, rock me to sleep
Rock me to sleep

Listen to Sample

About the song

The post Rock Me To Sleep, Mother appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

Daddy, when you stay out late mommy cries sometimes
She tells us she’s ok, but she keeps on crying
Her face is sad and mad
We wish she’d be more glad
Maybe you could make her laugh sometime

Daddy, if you have some time would you talk to me
And maybe if you look hard enough you’ll see
That I’m lonely deep inside
But it’s ok cuz I can hide it
And no one else will ever have to see

Bridge:
And all the things I feel I keep inside
And mommy says, “Don’t talk about it”
So I keep quiet
I’ll be good, I promise, I’ll be good

Daddy, I heard you tell momma that it wasn’t true
All the things I know you did, you said you didn’t do
You said you didn’t wanna hear that your children live in fear
Daddy, I’m telling now they do

Daddy, are you coming home tonight
And if you do, do you promise you will be all right
You won’t stumble up the stairs
Or fall over the front room chairs
And you and mommy won’t get in a fight

Listen to Sample

About the song

The post Daddy appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

For three months and a day we’ve been sailing
Around pinnacles of ice we’ve been steering
Storms and Nor’easters a raging
To deliver us to liberty’s sweet shore – john on this chorus

Sailing to liberty’s sweet shore
Sailing to liberty’s sweet shore
We left all we know to this new life we’ll go
Sailing to liberty’s sweet shore

Two pounds a head for the passage
With ease our landlord surrendered
And wiped his hands clean as he tendered
From a distance he watched us all go

We sailed on the fifth day of September
Two hundred poor souls crammed together
From our families and homeland we’re severed
The clothes on our backs all we own

We’re bowed down in sickness and hunger
We pray for the hand of our maker
My child was lost to a fever,
A quick prayer then hauled gone over broad

Oceans of tears they are falling
In hope and despair both recalling
Now the gulls of St Lawrence they are calling
Soon Quebec and liberty’s sweet shore

Listen to Sample

The post Liberty’s Sweet Shore appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

Go from my window, my love, my dove,
Go from my window, my dear.
The weather it is warm, it will never do thee harm
You can’t have a lodging here.

Go from my window, my love, oh my dove,
Go from my window, my dear.
The wind and the rain have brought you back again
But you can’t have a harbour here.

Go from my window, my love, oh my dove,
Go from my window, my dear.
The wind is blowing high and the ship is lying by
You can’t have a harbour here.

Go from my window, my love, oh my dove,
Go from my window, my dear.
The devil’s in the man that he will not understand
He can’t have a lodging here.

He can’t have a lodging here.
He can’t have a harbour here.

Listen to Sample

About the song

The post Go From My Window appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

I loved a man who was long and tall
He moved his body like a cannonball
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well.

Late last night in the pouring rain
Round my heart was an aching pain
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well.

Beside the river I sat and cried
I heard him singing on the other side
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well.

One of these days, and it won’t be long
You’ll call my name and I’ll be gone
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well

As sure as birds fly up above
Life is hard living without the one you love
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well

If I had wings like Noah’s dove
I’d fly cross the river to the one I love
Fare thee well, my honey, fare thee well
Fare thee well

Listen to Sample

About the song

The post Fare Thee Well appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

All the way through wind and rain
I’ll never deceive my heart again
Hand in hand, across the land
We’ll walk the road together

Think not of failing, carry on
When the road goes on forever
Let all the tears and strife be gone
And we’ll walk the road together

Think not of stopping in the strife
When the road goes on forever
Let joy and happiness be rife
And we’ll walk the road together

Think not of hills and mountains high
When the road goes on forever
We’ll lift our hearts up to the sky
And we’ll walk the road together

Listen to Sample

About the song

The post Walk the Road appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

Be smooth the road, mo níon ó
That lies before you as you grow
Follow your heart, mo níon ó
And love will guide you as you go

Mo níon ó, óró, mo níon ó, óró,
Mo níon ó, óró,
Go dtéigh tú slán gach oíche ‘s ló
(My child o, óró, My child o, óró,
May you go safely each night and day.)

Rise up your sail, mo níon ó
In your niamhog to Gola go
Soft on the waves, mo níon ó
On shining sea ‘neath the moon’s glow

Its time to sleep, mo níon ó
To settle in your downy bed
Sail intp dream, mo níon ó
With the sweet music of Triáigh Bháin

May you be safe, mo níon ó
Without a fear as each day ends
And always mind, mo níon ó
You’ve left your footprint on Tráigh Bhán

Listen to Sample

About the song

The post Mo Níon Ó appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

My feet, they are the tools of my traveling
My hands, they are the tools of my trade
Touch deep, touch deep
There’s a surprise there
There’s a surprise there
Such a surprise
I’m a beauty

My face, it’s a map of my time here
My heart, it’s a map of my dreams
Dream deep, dream deep
There’s a surprise there
There’s a surprise
Such a surprise
Such a surprise
I’m a beauty

Listen to Sample

About the song

The post I’m a Beauty appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

He said, “Give me your smile at the end of the day.”
I gave him my heart in the bargain
He sang,” Fol diddle daw, dootle ditle day.”
He was so clever and charming

Rightly dum daw, rightle diddle ditle do
Rightle dum da, diddly I do
Rightle dum daw, rightle diddle ditle do
Rightly diddly aw, diddly I do

Each day in the sky came the lone magpie
I knew that my heart was in danger
But he sang, “Fol dittle daw, dootle itle day,
My darlin’, you know I’m no stranger.”

I never knew if his love was true
His eyes they were always a’ roving
He sang, “Fol diddle daw, doodle idle day.”
I spied his feet then I was knowing

I took up my heart from the grinding stone
And gathered the bits and the tatters
Singing, “Fol dittle daw, dootle ditle day
Fare thee well to the love that was shattered

I’ve been long up and down on the same old road
With the well and the mill and the mourning
Singing, “Fol dittle daw, dootle ditle day”
I’ll be on a new road with the dawning

Listen to Sample

The post In the Wishing Well appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

Moving out to you, moving out to you
My heart is on the farthest wave moving out to you

Sometimes I hear you say my name, you steal into my sleep
And stir the sea inside of me, the longing running deep
I have enough to see me through, do you have all you need?
My heart is on the farthest wave, I cannot stop the sea

I have enough to see me through, do you have all you need?
My heart is on the farthest wave, I cannot stop the sea

Listen to Sample

The post The Farthest Wave appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

Home, sweet home, there’s no place like home
Home, sweet home, there’s no place like home

I gaze on the moon as I tread the drear wild
And feel that my mother now thinks of her child
As she looks on that moon from our own cottage door
Through the woodbine whose fragrance will cheer me no more

An exile from home, splendor dazzles in vain
Oh give me my lowly-thatched cottage again
The birds singing gaily that came at my call
Give me them and that peace of mind, dearer than all

Home, sweet home, there’s no place like home
Be it ever so humble, there’s no place like home

Listen to Sample

The post Home Sweet Home appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

I am praising Bridget
Who is daughter of Ireland
She is a daughter of all countries
We all praise her

Lóchrann geal na Laighneach
Soilsiú feadh na tíre
Ceann ar óghaibh Éireann
Ceann na mban ar míne

The bright light of Leinster
Bringing light to the country
The leader of the youth of Ireland
Our leader of gentlewomen

Tig an geimhreadh dian dubh
Gearradh lena ghéire
Ach ar lá ‘le Bríghde
Gar dúinn Earrach Éireann

Here comes the dark, hard winter
Cutting with its sharpness
But on St. Bridget’s Day
Ireland’s spring is close by

Gabhaim molta Bríghde
Ionmhain í le hÉirinn
Ionmhain le gach tír í
Molaimís go léir í

I am praising Bridget
Who is daughter of Ireland
She is a daughter of all countries
We all praise her

Listen to Sample

The post Gabhaim Molta Bríghde appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

There isn’t a night that I play tricks
That I don’t get butter and an egg from the hen
A sugar loaf put down beside me
And all the hen in the saucepan

Óró mo ghiolla beag
Grá mo chroí mo ghiolla ‘s tú
Óró mo ghiolla beag
‘S tú peata beag do mháthar

Óró my little boy
My own love, my own boy
Óró my little boy
You are your mother’s little pet

Téigh is tabhair na gabhair abhaile
Téigh is tabhair na gabhair abhaile
Téigh is tabhair na gabhair abhaile
Is meannán beag don pháiste

Go and bring the goats home
Go and bring the goats home
Go and bring the goats home
And a small goat for the baby

Ceannóidh mise bagún duit
Ceannóidh mise bagún duit
Ceannóidh mise bagún duit
Is cupla tor cabaiste

I’ll buy bacon for you
I’ll buy bacon for you
I’ll buy bacon for you
And a couple of heads of cabbage

Ceannóidh mise bróga duit
Ceannóidh mise bróga duit
Ceannóidh mise bróga duit
‘S stocaí beaga bána

I’ll buy a pair of shoes for you
I’ll buy a pair of shoes for you
I’ll buy a pair of shoes for you
And little, white socks

Listen to Sample

The post Peata Beag Do Mháthar appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

If it hurts your heart, cast it up on the shore
Let it go forever, ceart go leor
Wash away the sorrow, the tears of no tomorrow
Be like the sea

The sea, the sea, dive with me
We’ll lose these rags we’re wearing and be
Like the sea, the sea, wild and free
We’ll swim out past the longing so deep

Down below these waves in the deepest depth
There are echoes sounding true as your breath
The still, small voice in you, the endless open blue
Be like the sea

Go on forever, shine out in the sun
The full a tá sé everyone
Dance yourself around, give up the small ground
Be like the sea

The sea, the sea, dive with me
We’ll lose these rags we’re wearing and be
Like the sea, the sea, wild and free
We’ll swim out past the longing so deep

Away out past the longing so deep

Listen to Sample

The post Be Like The Sea appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

And before the black hunger, I’d husbands in plenty
Maybe your granddad was one of the many
Or was he that red-coat who swigged more than any?
Glory oh glory, glory, when the evening declines
Glory oh glory, glory, as the evening declines

You can have all your gold, the high king of all metals
With soft talk and kisses we’ll never want better
And the west of a ditch is the best of all settles
Glory oh glory, glory, when the evening declines
Glory oh glory, glory, as the evening declines

I am old, very old, but I don’t need a wattle
I am old, yes, I’m old, but I’m not a dry nettle
So you clout the pot, and I’ll clout the kettle
Glory oh glory, glory, when the evening declines
Glory oh glory, glory, as the evening declines

Listen to Sample

The post As The Evening Declines appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

Óró dance and dance
Óró dance lightly
Óró dance and dance
And dance, my dear
Óró dance and dance
Óró dance lightly
Óró dance and dance
And dance, my dear

Caithfimid suas é, suas é
Caithfimid suas a’ páiste
Caithfimid suas é, suas é
‘S tiocfaidh sé anuas amárach
Caithfimid suas é, suas é
Caithfimid suas a’ páiste
Caithfimid suas é, suas é
‘S tiocfaidh sé anuas amárach

Up we’ll throw and throw
Up we’ll throw the child
Up we’ll throw and throw
And he’ll come down tomorrow
Up we’ll throw and throw
Up we’ll throw the child
Up we’ll throw and throw
And he’ll come down tomorrow

Racha’ mé siar is siar
Is racha’ mé siar lem’ stóirín
Racha’ mé siar is siar
Is fanfa’muid thiar a’ spórtaíocht
Racha’ mé siar is siar
Is racha’ mé siar lem’ stóirín
Racha’ mé siar is siar
Is fanfa’muid thiar a’ spórtaíocht

I will go west, go west
I’ll go west with my darling
I will go west, go west
And we’ll stay there playing
I will go west, go west
I’ll go west with my darling
I will go west, go west
And we’ll stay there playing

‘S buachaill maith súiste, súist’
Buachaill maith súiste é Páid
Buachaill maith súiste, súiste, súist’
‘S is cailin deas tuirn’ í Cáit
‘S buachaill maith súiste, súist’
Buachaill maith súiste é Páid
Buachaill maith súiste, súiste, súist’
‘S is cailin deas tuirn’ í Cáit

The boy is good at threshing
Patrick is good at threshing
The boy is good at threshing, threshing, threshing
And Cathy is good at spinning
The boy is good at threshing
Patrick is good at threshing
The boy is good at threshing, threshing, threshing
And Cathy is good at spinning

__________

Dilín ó damhsa, ó damhsa
Dilín ó damhsa ó dí
Dilín ó damhsa, ó damhsa
Dilín ó damhsa ó dí
Dilín ó damhsa, ó damhsa
Dilín ó damhsa ó dí
Dilín ó damhsa, ó damhsa
Dilín ó damhsa ó dí

Dileen oh dance, oh dance
Dileen oh dance, oh dee
Dileen oh dance, oh dance
Dileen oh dance, oh dee
Dileen oh dance, oh dance
Dileen oh dance, oh dee
Dileen oh dance, oh dance
Dileen oh dance, oh dee

Cuirfead mo rún chun suain
Cuirfead mo rún ‘na luí
Cuirfead mo rún chun suain go cúin
Le dilín ó damhsa ó dí
Cuirfead mo rún chun suain
Cuirfead mo rún ‘na luí
Cuirfead mo rún chun suain go cúin
Le dilín ó damhsa ó dí

I’ll put my love to sleep
I’ll put my love down
I’ll put my love to sleep quietly
With singing dileen oh dance, oh dee
I’ll put my love to sleep
I’ll put my love down
I’ll put my love to sleep quietly
With singing dileen oh dance, oh dee

Dilín ó damhsa, ó damhsa
Dilín ó damhsa ó dí
Dilín ó damhsa, ó damhsa
Dilín ó damhsa ó dí
Dilín ó damhsa, ó damhsa
Dilín ó damhsa ó dí
Dilín ó damhsa, ó damhsa
Dilín ó damhsa ó dí

Dileen oh dance, oh dance
Dileen oh dance, oh dee
Dileen oh dance, oh dance
Dileen oh dance, oh dee
Dileen oh dance, oh dance
Dileen oh dance, oh dee
Dileen oh dance, oh dance
Dileen oh dance, oh dee

Listen to Sample

The post Dance The Baby appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

Though waves divide us, and friends be chiding
In faith abiding I’ll still be true
And I’ll pray for you on the stormy ocean
In deep devotion, that’s what I’ll do

What would you do, love, if distant tidings
Your fond confidings should undermine?
And I, abiding ‘neath sultry skies
Should think other eyes were as bright as thine?

Oh say it not, though guilt and shame
Were on your name, I would still be true
But that heart of yours, should another share it
I could not bear it, what would I do?

What would you do, love, when home returning
With hopes high burning, with wealth for you
If my barque which bounded o’er the foreign foam
Should be lost near home? What would you do?

So you were spared, I’d bless the morrow
In want and sorrow, that left me you
And I’d welcome you from the wasting billow
My heart, your pillow, that’s what I’ll do

Listen to Sample

The post What Will You Do, Love? appeared first on Cathie Ryan.

By night and day we’ll sport and we’ll play
And delight as the dawn dances over the bay
Sleep blows the breath of the morning away
And we follow the heron home

In darkness we cradled our sorrow
And stoked all our fires with fear
These bones that lie empty and hollow
Are ready for gladness to cheer

Long may you sing of the salmon
And the snow-scented sound of your home
While the north wind delivers its sermon
Of ice and salt water and stone

By night and day we’ll sport and we’ll play
And delight as the dawn dances over the bay
Sleep blows the breath of the morning away
And we follow

Listen to Sample

The post Follow The Heron appeared first on Cathie Ryan.