John McCormack The Dawning of the Day

[redneck10ivan]

good song.

[liamthedream]

The tune belonged to an Old Irish Marching Song, "The Dawning of the Day" it was played regularly in Croke Park by the Artane Boys Band and of course by the Irish Army Number One Band on State occassions. Of course, it was slowed down by the Dubliners when they sang and recorded it.

[smilezify]

he always makes me cry since i was a young child so sad,and I have to do 4 variations of this now for college, couldn't have picked a better air myself!

[BoudiccaBlanc]

THE DAWNING OF THE DAY

(Irish: Fáinne Geal an Lae)

As I walked out one morning fair, it being in the month of June

The dew was sparkling on the grass and the small birds in full tune

And when returning from a walk, by the fields I chanced to stray

It was there I met my heart's delight by the dawning of the day

(1-5)

[BoudiccaBlanc]

Her head and beautiful neck were bare and mantle none she wore

Her golden hair, in ringlets fair, it hung her shoulders o'er

Her rosy cheeks and ruby lips, they stole my heart away

And I stood to stare at that Venus fair at the dawning of the day

(2-5)

[BoudiccaBlanc]

"Where are you going my pretty fair maid, where are you going so soon?"

"I'm going a milking my cow, kind sir, it being in the month of June

The pasture that my cow feeds on, it lies so far away

And I've got to be there each morning fair at the dawning of the day"

(3-5)

[BoudiccaBlanc]

"Come sit you down, my pretty fair maid, supposing it was a mile

Come sit you down on this primrose bank and we will chat a while

With the lambs all sporting on every side and the meadows blooming gay

I'll pledge to you my heart and hand at the dawning of the day"

(4-5)

[BoudiccaBlanc]

"Oh no, kind sir" the maid replied, "I cannot tarry now

My parents wait for my return from the milking of my cow

But perhaps we'll meet some other time, if you chance to pass this way"

She gently glided from my sight at the dawning of the day

(5-5)

--Written by Thomas Connellan (c. 1640/1645 – 1698)

The woman is an "Aisling." which is a symbol of Ireland. The woman (Ireland) must go about her work until she (Ireland) is free.

[solsticecelt1]

Patrick Kavanagh wrote Raglan road, didn't Thomas Connlan write the dawning of the day?

[BoudiccaBlanc]

@solsticecelt1

Aye! in the 1600's

[Ettoredipugnar]

 Ragland road

[BoudiccaBlanc]

@Ettoredipugnar Same tune as Raglan road (a poem written by Patrick Kavanagh)

Luke Kelly set the poem to an ancient Irish song written by Thomas Connellan. ("Fáinne Geal an Lae" --"The Dawning of the Day") in the 1600's

(John McCormack sings the original song in English.)

[Heckyweck]

@BoudiccaBlanc - Patrick Kavanagh wrote " Raglan road ", after meeting a beautiful young girl from Dingle, Co. Kerry, Hilda Moriarty,

She was a medical student at UCD. & she once compteted with Maureen o' Hara for a film role.

Benedict Kiely realised the words would fit the song " Fainne geal an lae "

Paddy Kavanagh handed the poem to Luke Kelly ( They were all in the pub together ), - & Luke sang it straight away, to the air suggested by B. Kiely.

- & all the angels in heaven smiled...

[musicyouri]

this is touching in an unexplainable touching way. maybe better to stay unexplained and unanalyzed. just sit down, close your eyes and ... oh hell I'm getting all poetic now. fuck it. this is a type of gold you can't win.

cheers

[royboy1930]

makes me think of time long gone

[CUITKIN]

Who is the accompanist on piano. Is that Gerald Moore?

[gaeilgesinger]

If only he were singing it in Irish!!!

[Preacherman1882]

What a great singer. I'm a singer, and I'd like to be able to sing like that. People say I'm good, but in my opinion, there is always room for improvement. God Bless.

The Preacherman.

[clarebannerman]

Fáinne Geal an Lae (Dawning of the Day) is the proper title of this song. Remember learning it off by heart in Gaelic going to school. Raglan Road was written as a poem by Paddy Kavanagh and adopted to the above air in the early 60's.

[chamberlandbigshtyle]

@clarebannerman What about Connie Foley?? Thats who I grew up with.. I can't find him out here...

[johnfoconnor]

Yes the tune is "Raglan Road"; I think the original tune is called "Fainne Geal an Lae" and that translates to "The Dawning of the Day". We all learned that tune on our tinwhisltes in primary school.

I must say thanks to person who posted this song here, go raibh mile maith agat.

[abcd12347995]

i love the irish sound

[solsticecelt1]

I also play this on tin whistle and sing this and raglan road.

[flanncada]

I know its a qubble but I wish that we had a more accurate title for this song. It grates a bit with me when what is in fact a rebel song (or at least a protest song) is depicted as a simple love song. There are many clues in the words - especially in Gaelic (the sun is shining; the colour of the girl's hair and milking pail; the light will arrive from the south etc) which indicate that 'The Bright Ring of the Day' refers to a different dawn,

[BoudiccaBlanc]

Thank you for posting this vid..."LUV' John McCormack's recordings! :-)

@ flanncada, ...People have been writing poetry with double meanings for centuries. They have also be using old tunes to new verses. Why not take each work as uniqe and enjoy it for the beauty of the verse and the quality of the music?

Life is too short for stressing out over the little things in life that we can't do anything about anyhow!.....I know, I'm an old lady!

[cottagecheese54]

yes, Raglan Road can be heard in the movie "The Matchmaker," with Jeanine Garafalo. Beautiful little movie set in Ireland.

[brennan93]

@cottagecheese54 ...Not to forget In Bruge.

[solsticecelt]

The sunshine dressed the trees in green, and the summer bloomed again! Beautiful lyrics!

[luckydo4142]

i play this on tinwhistle

[solsticecelt]

I sing and play this on tin whistle,(not at same time) You can't beat a good Irish ballad, and Mc Cormick certainly does us proud.

[50percentfree]

my parents bought old oak beds from his old house...whenever i sleep in it my voice becomes ..tenotesque...no really it does.

[Spanduer90]

different but good version

[derekj28]

brilliant.. as a child i learned this in school ..

[antares4242]

joeygsmom: Yes they seem to be alike! Loreena McKennitt and Sinéad O'Connor sang both very beautifully 'Raglan Road'. (Checkout on Youtube)

[joeygsmom]

this is the tune of Raglan Road isnt it?

Now theres two great Irish singers, John McCormack and Luke Kelly.

[solsticecelt]

Both are gone but not forgotten.

[joeygsmom]

isnt it great we still have these recordings? and the people who put them on here, thank you...

[johnfoconnor]

Maybe somebody else can tell us what the earliest version of this tune is known as? My guess is that it is called "Bruacha Locha Lein" (the banks of Loch Lein). So it may be a Kerry song; and a great melody.

[GaeilgeMilis]

@johnfoconnor

Lovely melody, especially in gaeilge.

[GaeilgeMilis]

@johnfoconnor Lovely

[flanncada]

@joeygsmom Patrick Kavanag grabbed this tune to bemoan the fact that a young lady had the good sense to dump him. The literal meaning of the song is 'The Bright Ring of the Day. It is an 'aisling' where the poet expresses his love for Ireland in the guise of a young woman. As the sun is shining, the girl is going milking and the light is coming from the west (in the gaelic version) the meaning would be clear to any Irishman - that it is the dawn of freedom that is referred to

[joeygsmom]

@flanncada thanks for the info, you sound like a poet at heart yourself :-)

[patthecatman]

@joeygsmom yes, it is. i'd say "dawning" prdedates "raglan".

[BoudiccaBlanc]

@joeygsmom

John McCormack came before Luke Kelly and the tune (Irish: Fáinne Geal an Lae) was written in the 17th century (1600's) by Thomas Connellan.

[chantdelouve]

Great song and great singer =happiness

[lorgain2]

Thanks for posting this song, a lovely air, John McCormack the great one.