Origins: She Moves through the Fair

Subject: Lyr Add: SHE MOVED THROUGH THE FAIR
From: cleod
Date: 19 May 97 - 10:41 AM

In response to Mr.Greenhaus...thanks for the suggestion, but it's not that easy to do on my computer...anyway, I'll just post the short (more popular) version, as opposed to the long one, which has bags of lyrics...here goes...

SHE MOVED THROUGH THE FAIR

My young love said to me, "My mother won't mind
And my father won't slight you for you lack of kind."
And she stepp'd away from me and this she did say,
"It will not be long, love, till our wedding day."

She stepp'd away from me and went thro' the fair,
And fondly I watch'd her move here and move there,
And then she went homeward with one star awake,
As the swan in the evening moves over the lake.

Last night she came to me, she came softly in,
So softly she came that her feet made no din.
And she laid her hand on me and this she did say,
"It will not be long, love, till our wedding day."


I got this from a book but Sinead O'Connor also sang this on "The Long Black Veil" with The Chieftains.

Line Breaks
added.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From: Kim
Date: 12 May 97 - 12:57 PM

I know a version of She Moves Through The Fair that is on an old album by Alfred Deller, the countertenor. The album is called The Cruel Mother. I'm looking for a CD version of it as the LP my dad bought at a concert in Elsinor Castle in 1959 is a little beat up now. I know the lyrics are on the back of the cover, I'll post them if they are legible.Many of the songs on this are from the Childs collection.

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 06 May 97 - 02:15 PM

Speaking for the Digital Tradition, we ALWAYS want the words.

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From:
Date: 05 May 97 - 10:20 PM

Hi,

It's interesting that this song should raise so much interest. Seamas Ennis traced as a version of the Bold Forester, but indeed, it goes back to a version found in South Uist--in the Gaelic, I'm afraid. I don't suppose anyone wants the words?

Dave Murphy

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From: dick greenhaus
Date: 04 May 97 - 11:07 PM

Hi cleod- Why not post them here, so everybody can share them?

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From: cleod
Date: 03 May 97 - 12:37 PM

I have the lyrics to this...just e-mail me at [e-mail] and i'll send it to anyone who needs them.

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From: Muriel Doris
Date: 17 Apr 97 - 08:59 PM

Yet another version called Our Wedding Day in Folk Songs of Britain and Ireland, edited by Peter Kennedy. The words are a bit different than most -- she runs away with someone else -- "I'd lost my wee darling through courting too slow.".

No suggestion as to the origin.

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From: Kymbo
Date: 09 Apr 97 - 04:22 AM

Seems that Sinead O'connor does a nice little number on this one on an Megastar Celtic complimation album called 'Common Ground'. Should have the lyrics on it too. Does anyone know if she's made an exclusively folkie CD?

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From: MARTIN RYAN
Date: 03 Apr 97 - 05:01 PM

Paddy Tunney wrote at least that verse!

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From:
Date: 02 Apr 97 - 07:50 PM

There is a version of this that a friend I knew long ago had: Paddy Tunny, and he had his version collected in Northern Fermanagh. The first verse is the same as the later Lagan-Valley version that most people know, but the second verse is nice:

She moved away from me as she moved through the fair With hand-clappen dealers whose voice wrent the air her cheeks were as roses and her feet ne'er touch the ground And all that gazed on her were silent around.

There's a rumor that Paddy wrote this verse himself, but what if he did--it's a good song.

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From: Berna-Dean
Date: 28 Mar 97 - 02:05 PM

This Irish folk song is also known as "The Wedding Song", as the last words in many of the verses are "and this she did say, it will not be long love, til our wedding day". As above Martin Ryan already sent you in that direction.

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From: Susan of DT
Date: 27 Feb 97 - 04:19 PM

Can't trust those titles, can you. In general, if you don't find a song by title, try a phrase or unusual word.

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 27 Feb 97 - 04:32 AM

Mea culpa! The Sam Henry version is already in the DT as "Our Wedding Day"

Regards

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From: Martin Ryan
Date: 27 Feb 97 - 04:17 AM

There is a lovely North of Ireland version called "Out of the Window" - which is on its way to the DT.I think its in Sam Henry's "Songs of the People" collection.

Colum certainly seems to have tidied up a folk version in writing his poem.His set (which is the standard one sung), has perhaps become a bit hackneyed (despite Van the Man's efforts!).A fine traditional singer called Aine Ui CHeallaigh recently recorded the "Out ofthe WIndow" version

Regards

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From: LaMarca
Date: 26 Feb 97 - 05:29 PM

The Irish poet, Padraic Colum, had all four verses in one of his collections. He was also a folklorist who produced many fine collections of mythology from different lands, so he was probably setting down a trad. poem rather than claiming he wrote it.

The song is found in the Tinker (non-Romany Irish and Scottish gypsies) tradition; Maggie Barry does a haunting rendition...

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From: Susan of DT
Date: 25 Feb 97 - 09:02 PM

In the last verse her ghost visits him, so she died before they could be wed. The verse you quaoted is in the DT.

Subject: RE: She Moves Through the Fair
From: Valerie
Date: 25 Feb 97 - 06:00 PM

I love sad songs too!

According to the Ossian Publication "Folksongs & Ballads Popular in Ireland - Volume 1" (a jaunty little title, I know), and according to what I believe to be popular mythology, this beautiful tune / song goes back to Medieaeval times.

I have heard that the tune came to Ireland from the Middle East, via Europe, and also that it is a Gypsy melody. I can't say if either (or both) theories are correct though. I've always preferred to think that the tune wandered around continents in search of a home. Van Morrison's version is stunning.

Don't know if this counts as "information", but hope it's of interest.

Valerie

Subject: She Moves Through the Fair
From: Lisa
Date: 25 Feb 97 - 01:12 PM

Hello All,

"She Moves Through the Fair" has been one of my favorite celtic songs for several years, but I have no idea of its origins, or the story behind the song. Perhaps this information does not exist, but if anyone is aware of it, I would much appreciate your help. My favorite verse is the third one, which some singers leave out:

People say no two ere were wed, but one has a sorrow that never was said, and she smiled as she passed me, with her goods and her gear, and that was the last that I saw of my dear.

Heart-breaking, isn't it? (I always like sad songs best.]

Thanks for your help,

Lisa