Erin Grá mo Chroí

Play recording: Erin Grá mo Chroí

níl an taifead seo ar fáil faoi láthair

Well, this is about an emigrant who was in New York and he was looking back, how it broke his mother’s heart that he had to go away and he was thinking of the turf fire burning at home at night while he was in a foreign land.

At the setting of the sun, when my daily work was done
I wandered to the sea shore for a walk
I being all alone, I sat down upon a stone
To gaze on the scenery of New York.

Oh Erin grá mo chroí¹, you’re the only land for me
You’re the fairest spot my eyes did e’er behold
You’re the bright star of the west, and the land St Patrick blessed
You’re far dearer than silver or of gold.

The turf will burn bright on the hearth at home tonight
The snowflakes will fall fast on a winter’s day
St Patrick’s day will come and the shamrock will be worn
In my own native isle so far away.

Chorus

It broke my mother’s heart when from her I went to part
Will I ever see my darling any more?
Not until my bones are laid in a cold and silent grave
In my own native isle so far away.

Chorus

This what I call Erin grá mo chroí, which means Ireland, Love of my Heart… Most of the songs I sing, first of all are Gaelic, secondly they are sad, because at the time these songs were composed and made, it was a crime to speak the Gaelic language. It was an offence under sentence of death to speak the Gaelic language and, of course, the people were persecuted in every way if they did speak the Gaelic language… That’s why all the songs are sad. Mostly about people who suffered, you know, all the time. Because, I’m afraid they had nothing to laugh about them times.