Story Behind The Song
Gaelic lyrics collected in Ireland by Douglas Hyde. Translated and published by Hyde in 1893. Set to new music by composer Jennifer Cutting.
Song Description
Traditional Irish love song with lush New Age sound palette. A story of separation and reunion; a woman's lament turns to joy as her lover returns from sea. Ethereal female vocal by leading Celtic singer Grace Griffith. Instrumentation includes Celtic
| Song Length |
4:15 |
Genre |
World - Celtic, New Age - Neo Classical |
| Tempo |
Very Slow (Under 70) |
Lead Vocal |
Female Vocal |
| Mood |
Poignant, Endearing |
Subject |
Long, Ocean, Sea |
| Similar Artists |
Sarah Mclachlan |
Language |
English |
| Era |
1800 - 1899 |
| |
Lyrics
My grief on the sea
How the waves of it roll!
For they heave between me
And the love of my soul
Abandoned, forsaken
To grief and to care
Will the sea ever waken
Relief from despair
My grief and my trouble,
Would he and I were
In the province of Leinster,
Or county of Clare
Were I and my darling
Oh, heart-bitter wound!
On board of a ship
For America bound
On a green bed of rushes
All last night I lay,
And I flung it abroad
With the heat of the day.
And my love came behind me,
He came from the South
His breast to my bosom
His mouth to my mouth.