Lyr Req: Emer's Farewell to Cucullain (A P Graves)

25 May 97 - 09:37 PM (#5739)
Subject: Emer's Farewell
From: [e-mail]

The tune Londonderry was given to Petrie by Miss Jane Ross of Londonderry, a well-known collector of traditional Irish music. Sir Hubert Parry called it "the most beautiful tune in the world" The first known words to be added to it were by Alfred Perceval Graves -" Would I were Erin's appli blossom o'er thee" and the second version, " Emer's farewell" was made by the same writer. The most popular version, "Danny Boy" was written by the prolific lyricist Frederick E Weatherby in 1913. Do the words for "Emer's Farewell" still exist?

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14 Nov 09 - 07:54 PM (#2766217)
Subject: Lyr Req: EMER'S FAREWELL TO CUCULLAIN (A P Graves)
From: Jim Dixon

From Songs of Old Ireland: A Collection of Fifty Irish Melodies, words by Alfred Perceval Graves, music arranged by Charles Villiers Stanford (London: Boosey & Co., 1882), page 3, where it appears with musical notation for one voice and piano:


EMER'S FAREWELL TO CUCULLAIN.

1. O might a maid confess her secret longing
To one who deeply loves but may not speak!
Alas! I had not hidden to thy wronging
A bleeding heart beneath a smiling cheek;
I had not stemmed my bitter tears from starting,
And thou hadst learned my bosom's dear distress,
And half the pain, the cruel pain of parting.
Had passed, Cucullain, in thy fond caress.

2. But go! Connacia's hostile trumpets call thee,
Thy chariot mount and ride the ridge of war,
And prove whatever feat of arms befall thee,
The hope and pride of Emer of Lismore;
Ah, then return, my hero, girt with glory,
To knit my virgin heart so near to thine,
That all who seek thy name in Erin's story
Shall find its loving letters linked with mine.

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14 Nov 09 - 08:07 PM (#2766222)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Emer's Farewell to Cucullain (A P Graves)
From: MartinRyan

In fairness, the original enquiry did receive a prompt reply in this thread !

Regards

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