Lyr Add: The Song of Wandering Aengus

Subject: Lyr Add: The Song of Wandering Aengus
From: Monologue John
Date: 06 Feb 23 - 04:05 PM

The Song of Wandering Aengus
(William Butler Yeats - 1865-1939)

I went out to the hazel wood,
Because a fire was in my head,
And cut and peeled a hazel wand,
And hooked a berry to a thread;
And when white moths were on the wing,
And moth-like stars were flickering out,
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.

When I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire a-flame,
But something rustled on the floor,
And someone called me by my name:
It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded through the brightening air.

Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands,
I will find out where she has gone,
And kiss her lips and take her hands;
And walk among long dappled grass,
And pluck till time and times are done,
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Song of Wandering Aengus
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 17 Feb 23 - 06:41 PM

I love this poem. There's a sense of a "tumbling forward" in its narrative that draws me in - the repetitions of "And," the repeats of hazel, fire, berry, moths, apple, lands... and the last two lines are sublime. I don't like most poetry, mainly because of the way that Wordsworth's introspective indulgences were thrust down our throats at way too young an age. But this one really does it for me...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Song of Wandering Aengus
From: Joe Offer
Date: 17 Feb 23 - 07:55 PM

Wikipedia says "The most famous musical setting of the poem was by Travis Edmonson of the folk duo Bud & Travis. Edmonson titled the song "Golden Apples of the Sun", and it was released on the 1960 Bud & Travis album Naturally: Folk Songs for the Present. Their version has been covered, sometimes as "Golden Apples of the Sun" and sometimes as "The Song of Wandering Aengus".

1962 Judy Collins recording, which she titles "Golden Apples of the Sun: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T48vA3BUYxI

Jean Redpath (1987): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M4GX9rf_CLE

Karan Casey (2006): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I7xhCuy-BTg

Here's a 1966 recording by Dave Van Ronk. I suppose it is the same melody Judy Collins used, but Van Ronk added his own affectation. I can't say that I like it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4Zd5ilU2bU

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Song of Wandering Aengus
From: Steve Shaw
Date: 19 Feb 23 - 12:32 PM

Words from the poem were used for the title of a wonderful album of traditional Irish music, "The Fire Aflame" by Matt Molloy, Seán Keane and Liam O'Flynn.

Subject: RE: recordings: The Song of Wandering Aengus
From: Felipa
Date: 19 Feb 23 - 01:02 PM

Serafynn https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cRJ3LG48Wsg
I had this Serafynn album as a youth. Serafynn's rendition was the first I heard of the poem set to music

Donovan Leitch https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UQUT6mS0eY8
There are several other youtube offerings of Donovan's recording

Christy Moore https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3k5uyJ1BXWQ

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: The Song of Wandering Aengus
From: GUEST,Nick Dow
Date: 20 Feb 23 - 06:50 AM

Martyn Wyndham Read sang it in the 1970s unaccompanied. I loved the song.