Irish Gardens
Irish Gardens
 |
US $7.99
How Yeats borrowed an old song when writing The Salley Gardens
The Irish love song Down by the Salley Gardens sounds like it has come straight out of the folk music tradition but in fact it was written by the classically educated poet W B Yeats.
The song is a tale of unrequited love in which the young man pursues a girl he meets while out walking. He manages to establish a relationship with her temporarily but then he loses her because he ignores her pleas to "take love slowly".
He effectively frightens her away and is left to regret his haste and his foolishness.
Yeats originally wrote the lyrics in the late 1880s and they weren't put to music until 1909 when the composer Herbert Hughes added them to the tune of the Irish folk song, The Maids of Mourne.
This gave the words a new lease of life as the song became an instant hit and is still popular today. It has been performed by artists all over the world, even in Asian countries like South Korea which have no direct cultural connection with Ireland.
It was perhaps ironic that Yeats poem should have found greater fame as a song because it was based on an Irish traditional air that he heard an old woman singing in county Sligo in Ireland. Yeats was very young at the time and could only remember a few lines.
He was also unable to recall the name of the original song but research has shown that it was almost certainly the old Irish folk tune, The Rambling Boys of Pleasure. It refers to the Salley Gardens and has two lines which are virtually identical to the Yeats version.
She said to take love easy as the leaves grow on the tree
But I was young and foolish and with her did not agree.
Yeats acknowledged his debt to this song by originally calling his poem, An Old Song Re-sung, when it was first published in 1889.
However, once it was put to music and started to become popular it quickly became known as Down By the Salley Gardens and the original title is now largely forgotten.
Incidentally, salley comes from a Gaelic word meaning willow. Willow branches were used to thatch roofs so many villages kept small plantations of willow trees which were known as salley gardens.
The Salley Gardens often became popular as a meeting place for lovers.
About the Author
Michael Curran has written extensively about Down by the Salley Gardens lyrics and chords and other Irish songs for the Irish Music Forever website.
|
|
The Salley Gardens - (Irish Tune) $45 Britten's unique treatments of English folk songs have long been an important part of contemporary vocal literature. This adaptation for strings of the Irish ballad is a refreshing, lovely setting for your ensemble to perform and to enjoy the creativity of a 20th-century master. |
|
|
In Gardens $65 In Gardens |
|
|
Irish Blessing $7.99 Irish Blessing |
|
|
Irish Socks $9.99 Truly a cheerful treat for Irish feet?.socks with shamrocks, an Irish flag and the word Irish! Cotton and spandex. |
|
|
Irish Blessing 4 Plate $11.99 Irish Blessing 4 Plate |
|
|
Irish Blessing 8 Plate $22.99 Irish Blessing 8 Plate |
|
|
Irish Dancer Bead $53 Irish Dancer Bead |
|
|
Born Usa 100% Irish $59 Born Usa 100% Irish |
|
|
Irish Cup Of Tea Bead $70 Irish Cup Of Tea Bead |
|
|
Irish Mom Bead $31 Irish Mom Bead |
|
|
Irish Soup Recipes Magnet $9.99 Irish Soup Recipes Magnet |
|
|
Irish Cottage Bead $55 Irish Cottage Bead |
|
|
Irish Stout Recipes Magnet $9.99 Irish Stout Recipes Magnet |
|
|
Honey With Irish Cream Liqueur $7.99 Honey With Irish Cream Liqueur |
|
|
Irish Tux Shirt $21.99 Irish Tux Shirt |
|
|
Irish $10 Irish |
|
|
Down By The Sally Gardens $4.99 "By Irish Folk Song. For piano, voice, and guitar (chords only). Classical; Folk; Irish; Traditional. 2 pages. Published by Hal Leonard - Digital Sheet Music" |
|
|
Irish Sweatshirt $39.99 Let the world know that you're proudly Irish! Printed in the USA. 50% cotton / 50% polyester. |
|
|
Personalized Irish Angel Ornament $6.99 An adorable angel and as Irish as can be! Resin. Imported. |
|
|
Irish Attitude License Plate Cover $7.99 Irish Attitude License Plate Cover |
|
|
Summer Fruit Preserve With Irish Whiskey $7.99 Summer Fruit Preserve With Irish Whiskey |
|
|
Irish Whiskey Loaf $24.99 Ultra moist and delectable, this favorite Irish treat is filled with raisins, pecans, and real Irish whiskey. 17 oz. USA. |
|
|
Irish Visor $21.99 What could say Irish more than this! Be noticed by all and have fun doing it! Cotton/polyester. One size fits most. |
|
|
Irish Moss $4.99 Irish Moss forms a lush emerald green carpet of moss-like foliage with delicate white flowers in midsummer. Hardy enough for sunny or shady locations. Flowers bloom on short 2-4" stalks. Irish Moss is just the ground cover you need for rock gardens and planting between stepping stones or pavers. Stays green all year. Plant 12" apart. Evergreen. |
|
|
Into Gardens $6 Into Gardens - Arrington De Dionyso |
|
|
Gardens $59.99 Gardens - Wall Decal |
|
|
Green with Irish $10.99 These green with white shamrock socks show that you're Irish from the tip of your toes to your knees! Organic Cotton and Spandex. One size first most. USA. |
|
|
Best Irish Folk Songs $10.99 These ever-popular songs include Danny Boy, When Irish Eyes Are Smiling, Black Velvet Band, and 17 other Irish favorites. Canada. |
|
|
Down By the Salley Gardens $1.7 "By Traditional Irish. Arranged by Daniel Rash. For TTBB choir (Accompaniment: Piano, Irish Whistle Or Flute And Uilleann Pipes). Folk, Secular. Medium Adult. Octavo. 12 pages. Duration 3 min. Published by Hinshaw Music Inc." |
|
|
Musical Irish Dancer $29.99 This Irish lass will dance her way into your heart! Dressed in traditional Irish costume the 7? figurine is adorned with shamrocks and plays ?Irish Lullaby?. Please state name up to 24 characters. Poly Resin. Dancer must be screwed in counter clockwise to top of base. |
|
|
Irish Limp T-Shirt $17.99 This famous Irish blessing captures cheeky Irish wit at its finest! Printed in USA. 100% cotton. Sizes S (35), M (38), L (43), XL (47), 2XL (50), 3XL (54). |
|
|
Nostalgic Irish Blessing Thermometer $13.99 This distressed Irish designed tin thermometer would look great hanging anywhere. How appropriate that the three lines of the Irish Blessing all have to do with weather - wind, rain, and sun. Imported. |
|
|
Irish Framed Print $32.99 This iconic Irish cottage print and God?s family blessing will warm your heart. A lovely gift for a special Irish friend or for yourself. Imported. 14 x 7? with polystone resin frame. |
|
|
Irish Tin Whistle $9.99 Easy to play, this Irish-made tin whistle in the key of D lets you perform traditional Irish tunes instantly, even if you can't read music. Includes instructions and diagrammed sheet music. |
|
|
Irish Diplomacy Plaque $14.99 Our handmade ceramic plaque perfectly captures the mischievous wit of the Irish. USA. 3 3/4 x 5 3/4. |
This entry was posted on Tuesday, February 5th, 2008 at 2:11 pm and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.