John McCormack The Dawning of the Day

John McCormack The Dawning of the Day

The Dawning of the Day (Irish: Fáinne Gael an Lae) is an old Irish air composed by the blind harpist Thomas Connellan in the 17th Century.

An Irish-language song with this name (Fáinne Gael an Lae) was published by Edward Walsh (1805-1850) in 1847 in Irish Popular Songs and later translated into English as The Dawning of the Day. The melody of this song was used by Irish poet Patrick Kavanagh to his poem, "Raglan Road".

Raglan Road has been was performed by a number of notable artists including: The Dubliners, Sinéad O'Connor, Luke Kelly and Dire Straits. This song also goes by the Gaelic name Fáinne Geal an Lae literally "The bright ring of the day" often played as a march and one of the first tunes that a student of Irish music will learn.

This is an Aisling where the poet encounters a mysterious beautiful woman who symbolises Ireland - Cait Ní Duibhir, Caitlín Ní Uallacháin, Róisín Dubh etc. In this case, she upbraids him as a frivolous rake and points to the approaching dawn (of freedom from English rule). At the end of the Desmond Rebellions and Nine Years' War, Irish poets were facing their own elimination as a matter of deliberate English policy.

Lyrics:
One morning early I went out
On the shore of Lough Leinn
The leafy trees of summertime,
And the warm rays of the sun,
As I wandered through the townlands,
And the luscious grassy plains,
Who should I meet but a beautiful maid,
At the dawning of the day.
No cap or cloak this maiden wore
Her neck and feet were bare
Down to the grass in ringlets fell
Her glossy golden hair
A milking pail was in her hand
She was lovely, young and gay
Her beauty excelled even Helen of Troy
At the dawning of the day.
On a mossy bank I sat me down
With the maiden by my side
With gentle words I courted her
And asked her to be my bride
She turned and said, "Please go away,"
Then went on down the way
And the morning light was shining bright
At the dawning of the day.

Category:

Music

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• McCormack
• The
• Dawning
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• the
• Day

[joeygsmom]

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

[joeygsmom]

this is the tune of Raglan Road isnt it?

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

[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.

[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...

[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]

@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.)

[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.

[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]

"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)