Tune Req: Wedding Song Needed

Subject: Wedding Song Needed
From: Hawley
Date: 14 Aug 99 - 07:36 PM

I'll have a highland piper at my wedding next Summer and I'd like to find a tune with lyrics that would be appropriate for my Auntie to sing. "Mairi's Wedding" is one obvious choice, but I think it's sort of a silly tune. It doesn't have to be wedding-specific, just a celtic tune with lovely lyrics. Any other suggestions??? Please!!!!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Wedding Song Needed
From:
Date: 15 Aug 99 - 06:26 AM

I don't think it is quite that silly, if you read the Gaelic version. It goes

She is my love, Fair Mary,
Beautiful Mary, topic of my story.
Love of my heart, Fair Mary,
And I'm going to her wedding

I fell in love last night
My heart was high on a peak
Fair Mary, by my side, singing
And I'm going to her wedding

Golden curls, and warm eyes
Narrow eyebrows and high cheeksMouth, sweetest singing tunes
And I'm going to her wedding

It is there at the ceilidh at the Mod,
I became acquainted with the maid
And she won the gold coin
And I'm going to her wedding

My love will be to Fair Mary
Faithful, lasting forever
We will sing to our friends and loved ones,
And I am going to her wedding

For details on the story behind the original song, which was in Gaelic

Gaol Mo Chìdh'-sa Màiri Bhàn

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Wedding Song Needed
From:
Date: 15 Aug 99 - 06:28 AM

I don't think it is quite that silly, if you read the Gaelic version. It goes

She is my love, Fair Mary,
Beautiful Mary, topic of my story.
Love of my heart, Fair Mary,
And I'm going to her wedding

I fell in love last night
My heart was high on a peak
Fair Mary, by my side, singing
And I'm going to her wedding

Golden curls, and warm eyes
Narrow eyebrows and high cheeks
Mouth, sweetest singing tunes
And I'm going to her wedding

It is there at the ceilidh at the Mod,
I became acquainted with the maid
And she won the gold coin
And I'm going to her wedding

My love will be to Fair Mary
Faithful, lasting forever
We will sing to our friends and loved ones,
And I am going to her wedding

For details on the story behind the original song, which was in Gaelic

Gaol Mo Chìdh'-sa Màiri Bhàn

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Wedding Song Needed
From: emily rain
Date: 15 Aug 99 - 04:55 PM

how about the song "red is the rose", to a variant of the tune "loch lomond"?

red is the rose in yonder garden grows
fair is the lily of the valley
clear is the water that flows from the boyne
and my love is fairer than any

words can be found in digitrad.

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Wedding Song Needed
From: Muzishun
Date: 15 Aug 99 - 05:11 PM

How about Robert Burns' "My Love Is Like a Red, Red Rose"? My husband and I used it at our wedding. I sing with a small choral ensemble and I recruited them to sing for us.

Oh my love is like a red, red rose that's newly sprung in June Oh my love is like a melody that's sweetly played in tune As fair art thou my bonnie lass So deep in love am I I will come again my love though it were ten thousand mile . . . There may be another verse - I'm sure you can easily find this in it's entirety. Muzishun/Sandra Parker

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Wedding Song Needed
From: Hawley
Date: 15 Aug 99 - 09:34 PM

Oh my goodness, this are some wonderful ideas! Thank you so much for them...anyone else?!?!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Wedding Song Needed
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 15 Aug 99 - 11:32 PM

If you happen to consider "RED IS THE ROSE", you may want to change the last verse. We did this song for a wedding one time and took the liberty to change the last verse to:

Oh for the joy on our wedding day
We walked arm and arm through the heather
We made the vows that we would never part
Our love is stronger than any

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Wedding Song Needed
From: emily rain
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 12:07 AM

that's gorgeous, cap't!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Wedding Song Needed
From: Helen
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 07:44 AM

Have a look at Lesley Nelson's site. She has some beautiful songs and she also has Barry Taylor's tunes there.

Click here http://www.contemplator.com/

Helen

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Wedding Song Needed
From: Drew
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 08:26 AM

I second the "My Love is Like a Red Red Rose" idea. Better still, I can supply all the lyrics!

"My love is like a red, red rose That's newly sprung in June. My love is like a melodie, That's sweetly play'd in tune.

As fair art thou my bonny lass, So deep in love am I, And I will love thee still, my dear, Till all the seas gang dry.

Till all the seas gang dry, my dear, And the rocks melt with the sun. And I will love thee still, my dear, While the sands of life shall run.

And fare thee (the weel), my only love! And fare the well awhile! And I will come again, my love, Tho' it were ten thousand mile!"

The Fureys do a lovely version of this (features on the albumn "The Fureys Finest" among others). And finally, good luck for the big day and much happiness for the future! Drew

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Wedding Song Needed
From: Cap't Bob
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 10:41 AM

Emily ~ Thanks for the reminder and the comment on the verse change. We did that song for a wedding about fifteen years ago. Over the years I had forgotten about using it for a wedding. Our band is playing for a wedding this next weekend and we are going to use it during the ceremony. Thanks again.

Cap't Bob

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Wedding Song Needed
From: Ferrara
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 12:26 PM

A charming wedding song would be "Lassie Wi' The Yellow Coatie". The version below includes verses from both Jean Redpath's and Euan McCall's (sp?) version. It was a poem set to music. The tune they use is a little different from the one given in the DT. - Rita F

LASSIE WI THE YELLOW COATIE

CHORUS:
Lassie wi' the yellow coatie
Will ye wad [wed] a moorland jockie
Lassie wi' the yellow coatie
Will ye busk [dress up] and gang wi' me

I hae meal and milk in plenty
I hae kales and cakes fu' denty
I've a but and ben fu' genty [gentil, classy]
But I want a wife like thee. CHORUS

Tho my mailin' be but sma' [small]
Little gowd [gold] hae I tae shaw [show]
I've a hairt withoot [heart without] a flaw
And I'd gie it all tae ye. CHORUS

With my lassie and my doggie
Oe'r the dales and through the boggie
Nane on airth [none on earth]
was aye sae jaunty [ever so cheerful]
Or sae blithe as we will be. CHORUS

Haste ye lassie tae my bosom
While the roses are in blossom
Time is precious, dinna lose them
Flo'ers will fade and sae will ye CHORUS

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Wedding Song Needed
From: Hawley
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 10:57 PM

Oh my goodness...I checked back here today not even hoping that there would be MORE messages!!! I'm sitting here weeping both from the lovely lyrics and the kindness that you've all shown in helping me with this project.

Of course the fact that I've just returned from my piping instructor's home where he helped my fiance and I choose tunes for the processions at the wedding has also made me emotional :-) It looks like we'll use "Skye Boat Song" for my entrance and some combination of "Mairi's Wedding" and some slow aires for when the guests arrive - then something really jiggy for after everything is said and done. Then, we'll break out the champagne and whatever happens happens!!!!

Thank you again, I'm going to have a hard time choosing between the 3 tunes that have been uncovered for my Auntie to sing during the ceremony (Cap't Bob: my fiance really loves the replacement verse - in lieu of death!)

Thank you!!! Thank you!!!

Subject: RE: Tune Req: Wedding Song Needed
From: Helen
Date: 16 Aug 99 - 11:21 PM

Hawley,

If you really want to be overwhelmed by choices do a Forum Search on the word "wedding". There are threads on Irish wedding songs/tunes, Celtic wedding songs/tunes, folksongs for weddings etc.

Helen