Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary

Subject: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 07:58 PM

Just heard this lovely tune for the first time. The recording was by Sinead O'Connor, on the Thistle and Shamrock program.

I'm looking for the lyrics she sang, and more info on origin, but am only finding links to Loreena McKennit's version, which is different.


Dani

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 08:14 PM

Dani - are you sure that having these lyrics posted wont offend some
Non Religious visitors to this site ?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 08:14 PM

I've just come from the 'Piccanninny' thread

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 08:32 PM

*&^% 'em.

Stay away from those threads, my friend. They only upset your tummy and take away the precious time you have on the planet.

I actually just found an I-tunes version of the song by Mary Beth Cross, but I can't quite make out all the words, and would still love some background. Fiona Ritchie said (I think) the thing's 1,000 years old?!

Dani

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: Leadfingers
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 08:42 PM

Loreena McKennit's version :-

The first good joy that Mary had
It was the joy of one.
The first rejoice that Mary had
Was to see her new born son.

To see her new born son good man,
And blessed may he be.
Sing Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
To all eternity.
The next good joy that Mary had
It was the joy of two.
To see her son Jesus,
Make the lame to go.

The next rejoice that Mary had,
It was the joy of three.
To see her own son Jesus,
To make the blind to see.

To make the blind to see good man,
And blessed may he be.
Sing Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
To all eternity.

The next good joy our lady had,
It was the joy of four.
It was the rejoice of her dear son,
When he read the bible o'er.

The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of five.
To see her own son Jesus,
To make the dead alive.

To make the dead alive good man,
And blessed may he be.
Sing Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
To all eternity.

The next rejoice our lady had,
It was the rejoice of six.
To see her own son Jesus,
To bear the crucifix.

The next good joy that Mary had,
It was the joy of seven.
To see her own son Jesus,
To wear the crown of heaven.

To wear the crown of heaven good man,
And blessed may he be.
Sing Father, Son and Holy Ghost,
To all eternity.

And glory may he be,
And blessed now be she.
And those who sing the seven long verses,
In honour of our lady.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: Fergie
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 08:43 PM

Hi Dani

There are many threads regarding this song already here on Mudcat

Try searching under Seven Joys of Mary.

Fergus

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 21 Dec 08 - 09:00 PM

I've been around the block a time or two : )

I did look there first, but under Seven Rejoices, and not much there. Under Seven Joys, lots more -- thanks!

.... still not the worlds Sinead sang. There were lots of alleluias in the chorus, very pretty.

Dani

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: masato sakurai
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 04:18 AM

Mary Beth Cross - The Seven Rejoices of Mary is at Last.fm.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: Paul Burke
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 04:22 AM

The first good joy that Mary had,
It was the Joy of Sex...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 05:38 AM

LOL!

There's another Seven Joys of Mary, an old Irish traditional hymn in a minor key with lots of Alleluia's in it, which is absolutely beautiful and is not any of those above.

Title is: Seacht Suáilcí na Maighdine Muire

Here's a YouTube clip of it, so you can see if it's the one you're after (I haven't heard Sinead O'Connor's version). You have to sit out an overlong intro of irritating whoooshy Keltic Synth, but it's worth the wait. Singer is Aoife ní Fhearraigh:

http://uk.youtube.com/watch?v=M_tq3euN0WA

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 05:43 AM

I'm doing my usual trick of posting first and looking at the related links at the head of the thread second. See the "Lyr Req: Seacht Suailci na Maighdine Muire" link above for the words & more info.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 08:48 AM

Thanks, guys... getting warmer on the track, and as usual, wonderfully fun sidebars : )

Dani

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: meself
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 12:50 PM

I haven't heard Sinead's recording, but I know a version that I got from a recording made by an Irish woman with a group of Irish monks; I'm sure someone here would know the name(s). I've probably mixed up some of the lyrics of the verses over the years with those of other version, but anyway:


The first rejoice our lady got,
It was the rejoice of one;
It was the rejoice of Jesus Christ,
When first He was her Son.

Chorus
Glo-ory, lady be,
And blessed now is she,
And those who sing these seven long verses,
In honour of our la-dy;
Sing halleluia, sing halleluia,
Sing hallelu', the heavens are true,
Sing halleluia.

The second rejoice our lady got,
It was the rejoice of two;
It was the rejoice of her dear Son,
When he made the lame to go.

The third rejoice ...
......................
When he made the blind to see.

The fourth rejoice ...
When he read the Bible o'er.

The fifth rejoice ...
When he brought the dead alive.

The sixth rejoice ...
Upon the crucifix.

The seventh rejoice ...
When He opened the gates of Heaven.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 12:56 PM

Haven't time to Google it right now, but it's GOTTA be Noirín ní Riain, with the monks of Glenstal Abbey in Limerick.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: meself
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 01:00 PM

Looks like that would be the one (her Wiki bio).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: GUEST,Dani
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 08:09 PM

THAT'S the one! That's it! Well, some of the verses are a little different, but they seem to be kind of zipper verses. The chorus is the one Sinead sang... nice.

Mudcat does it again!

Now to learn more about the song. Is it really that old?!

Dani

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: meself
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 08:17 PM

Just looked back at what I wrote this morning, and see a mistake: after the first verse, each verse begins with the line, "The NEXT rejoice Our Lady got,". (Maybe some mudelf can make the correction?).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Seven Rejoices of Mary
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Dec 08 - 08:20 PM

So, Sharon Shannon apparently had lots of guests on her album " and Friends".

From a review:

"The Seven Rejoices of Mary is a very interesting piece, which Sinéad learned from some monks"

You can hear a bit of them singing it here:

http://www.amazon.com/Libertango-Sharon-Shannon/dp/B0002T2Q2E

Dani