The Maid of Culmore
The Choral Scholars of University College Dublin & Desmond Earley Lyrics
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There is no fairer* harbour all around can be found
Where the children do wander as they play along the shore
And the joy bells are ringing for the maid of Culmore.
The first time I saw her she passed me by
And the next time that I saw her she bid me goodbye
But the last time I met her it broke my heart sore
If I had the power the storms for to rise
I would blow the wind higher, I would darken skies
I would blow the wind higher and salt seas to roar
On the day that my darling sailed away from Culmore.
From the shores of America, my love I’ll go seek
For it’s there I know no-one, and no-one knows me
But if I do not find her, I’ll return home no more
Like a pilgrim I’ll wander for the maid of Culmore.
The song "The Maid of Culmore" depicts a tale of lost love and heartbreak. The lyrics describe the beauty of Derry, where the story begins, and then shifts to the story of a man who fell in love with a woman named the maid of Culmore. It seems that their love was short-lived as the lyrics narrate three different encounters with the maid, with the last one being the most heart-wrenching as she sails away from Ireland, leaving the singer behind. The singer expresses his intense sorrow and desire for vengeance, wishing to have the power to raise storms and darken skies to signify this deep pain inside him.
The lyrics also reveal that the love between the maid and the singer was forbidden, as he plans to seek her out in America, where he knows no one and no one knows him. It's possible that this was due to social status or cultural differences, but it's left up to interpretation. The man sounds determined to find the woman he loves no matter what it takes. He speaks almost as if he were on a pilgrimage, willing to wander and search everywhere for her if he needs to. In conclusion, The Maid of Culmore is a moving song that tells a heartbreaking story about lost love and the lengths to which someone can go to find it.
Line by Line Meaning
From sweet lovely Derry for fair London town
Leaving the beautiful town of Derry for the bustling city of London
There is no fairer* harbour all around can be found
London has the most beautiful harbour compared to other places
Where the children do wander as they play along the shore
The shoreline is a happy place for children to play
And the joy bells are ringing for the maid of Culmore.
The town is celebrating the beautiful and beloved Maid of Culmore
The first time I saw her she passed me by
The artist first saw the Maid of Culmore but did not interact with her
And the next time that I saw her she bid me goodbye
On the next encounter, the Maid of Culmore said goodbye to the singer
But the last time I met her it broke my heart sore
The last time the singer saw her, it hurt his heart because he knew she was leaving
For she sailed out of Ireland and away from Culmore.
The Maid of Culmore left Ireland and the town of Culmore
If I had the power the storms for to rise
If the artist had the power to control the weather
I would blow the wind higher, I would darken skies
He would make the wind stronger and the skies darker
I would blow the wind higher and salt seas to roar
He would make the sea stormy
On the day that my darling sailed away from Culmore.
He would have made a storm on the day the Maid of Culmore left
From the shores of America, my love I’ll go seek
The singer will search for his love in the distant shores of America
For it’s there I know no-one, and no-one knows me
He will go to a place where he is unknown and the love he seeks is also unknown
But if I do not find her, I’ll return home no more
If the singer is unable to find his love, he will not return home
Like a pilgrim I’ll wander for the maid of Culmore.
He will wander like a pilgrim in search of the Maid of Culmore
Lyrics © BARDIS MUSIC, USA ATTN: PETER BARDON
Written by: Kevin Whyms
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bobtnailer
Another AWESOME job from the Choral Scholars!!
I think Irish music was invented for Mark Waters’ voice! Not only is he a phenomenal singer, but he’s a very modest and down-to-earth young man. My wife and I got to spend a little time visiting with him last year, and he is as enjoyable to talk with as he is to listen to! Just a great guy!!
Hazel Conway also has a fantastic voice, and it’s great to hear her featured in another song!
Someone mentioned Abby Molloy in an earlier comment. My only gripe about her is that she doesn’t have enough stuff on YouTube! She has a gorgeous voice...it just sounds so PURE!
Kudos to Desmond Earley for the amazing job he does with the choir! It’s a stroke of genius to keep bringing the graduates back for new projects!
@dublinoseven3279
Finally a video conference that couldn’t have been an email!
@larl07
As the old saying goes, 'there is always gold in the comments section'.
@trygveplaustrum4634
They're back!
...And that guy's back!
...And that girl's back!
...They're all back!
@griffinmaverick6144
I literally watched this video to see if anybody I recognized from their older videos was still around lol.
@jeffreyhoward6319
@YoutubeUser They probably received their degrees and moved on to other things
@paulymetricdrums
Moved to the very bottom of my soul. Thank you all for the work that you do.
@callisastapp7160
this is my fave choral group but - I don't know any of their names XD
@TruelyView
@@callisastapp7160 Mark Waters
@MedicAngel
Mark Waters... sigh... that voice ... I love the whole choir, but if I could listen to only one song before I passed... it would be Mark singing a parting glass...
@davidrice7655
I know exactly what you mean🙏