Celtic Woman: Postcards from Ireland

MAN: "Dear Mom and Dad, It feels like a lifetime since I saw you last.

Almost two years have passed since that wild farewell back home.

I can still hear Dad singing "Danny Boy" at the top of his lungs!

I miss you folks so much and long to tell you all about my adventures face to face.

But for now, let me tell you, you were right about Ireland.

There's music everywhere here.

It's in the trees and the rivers.

In the wind and the rain.

It rolls in on Atlantic waves.

Boy, I wish you could hear it.

Wish you were here.

Isn't that what they say in postcards?

But I know we'll all be together again someday soon.

As sure as the sun rises.

Always your loving son, Sean."

[seagull squawking] One early morn as I walked forth By the margin of Lough Leigh The sunshine dressed the trees in green And the summer bloomed again I left the town and wandered on Through fields all green and gay And whom shall I meet but a colleen sweet At the dawning of the day No cap or cloak this maiden wore Her neck and feet were bare Down to the ground in ringlets fell Her glossy golden hair A milking pail was in her hand She was lovely, young and gay She wore the palm from Venus bright By the dawning of the day [choir chanting] [choir chanting] [choir chanting] On a mossy bank I sat me down With the maiden by my side With gentle words he courted her Asked her to be his bride She said, "Young man, don't bring me blame" And swiftly turned away And the morning light was shining bright At the dawning of the day [seagull calling] SEAN: "Hey, folks, You won't believe this, but I found your tree today!

The big oak where Dad proposed to you, Mom.

Right where you said it would be in the Wicklow Mountains.

It makes me smile to picture you guys sitting under it as kids.

How strange to imagine all the things that old oak must have seen.

So many lifetimes.

Yet still it stands.

It reminds me of that song you used to sing us, Mom.

Bonny Portmore, was it?

How did that go?"

[birds chirping] [insect buzzing] O bonny Portmore, I am sorry to see Such a woeful destruction of your ornament tree For it stood on your shore for many's the long day Till the long boats from Antrim came to float it away O bonny Portmore you shine where you stand And the more I think on you the more I think long If I had you now as I had once before All the lords in Old England would not purchase Portmore All the birds in the forest they bitterly weep Saying, "Where shall we shelter or where shall we sleep?"

For the oak and the ash they are all cutten down And the walls of bonny Portmore are all down to the ground O bonny Portmore you shine where you stand And the more I think on you the more I think long If I had you now as I had once before All the lords in Old England would not purchase Portmore O bonny Portmore you shine where you stand And the more I think on you the more I think long If I had you now as I had once before All the Lords in Old England would not purchase Portmore TARA: So we are in Muckross Abbey in Killarney, and I'm just absolutely delighted to be here.

We're recording "Where Sheep May Safely Graze" by Bach.

And I just don't think there could be a more perfect, uh, location for this, for this piece.

It's absolutely stunning.

You can see that there's a tree growing in the ruins here.

We don't have any roof on the abbey, and there's light coming in through the arches, it's absolutely stunning, and I used to come to Killarney on my holidays whenever I was younger, and I remember even coming here, I was here even just last year as well, I was just sitting and just thinking that there's no more beautiful place in this world.

It's so peaceful having this gorgeous tree, so I'm absolutely delighted to be here, and I think it's gonna be a special moment, in the special.

[orchestra playing "Where Sheep May Safely Graze"] [Tara playing violin] [Tara playing violin] I was nineteen when I came to town They called it a summer of love They were burning pages, burning flags The hawks against the doves I took a job in the steamie down in Cauldrum Street I fell in love with a laundry girl Who was working next to me Oh, she was a rare thing Fine as a beeswing So fine a breath of wind might blow her away She was a lost child, oh, she was running wild She said, "As long as there's no price on love I'll stay And you wouldn't want me any other way" Brown hair zig-zag around her face A look of half-surprise Like a fox caught in the headlights There was animal in her eyes She said, "Young man, oh, can't you see I'm not the factory kind If you don't take me out of here I'll surely lose my mind" Oh, she was a rare thing Fine as a beeswing So fine a breath of wind might blow her away She was a lost child Well, she was running wild She said, "As long as there's no price on love I'll stay And you wouldn't want me any other way" We busked around the market towns And picked fruit down in Kent We could tinker lamps and pots and knives Wherever we went And I said that we might settle down Get a few acres dug Fire burning in the hearth and babies on the rug She said, "Oh, man, you foolish man It surely sounds like hell You might be lord of half the world You'll not own me as well" Oh, she was a rare thing Fine as a beeswing So fine a breath of wind might blow her away She was a lost child Well, she was running wild She said, "As long as there's no price on love I'll stay And you wouldn't want me any other way" We were camping down the Gower one time The work was pretty good She thought we shouldn't wait for a frost And I thought maybe we should We were fighting more in those days And tempers reached a pitch And like a fool I let her run with a rambling itch Oh, she was a rare thing Fine as a beeswing So fine a breath of wind might blow her away She was a lost child Well, she was running wild She said, "As long as there's no price on love I'll stay And you wouldn't want me any other way" She said, "As long as there's no price on love I'll stay And you wouldn't want me any other way" SEAN: "My Dearest Katie, There are so many wonderful sights here in Ireland.

So much music and laughter.

But the one thing that's missing is having you here to share it all with.

Today, I spotted the prettiest little church by the side of a lake in County Cork.

It was no bigger than your Dad's tool shed.

The locals tell me it's a popular spot for weddings.

Just saying.

Always, Your Sean."

'Twas on one bright March morning I bid New Orleans adieu And I took the road to Jackson town Me fortune to renew I cursed all foreign money No credit could I gain Which filled me heart with longing For the lakes of Pontchartrain I stepped on board a rail car Beneath the morning sun And I rode the roads till evening And I laid me down again All strangers there, no friends to me Till a pretty girl towards me came And I fell in love with a Creole girl By the lakes of Pontchartrain I said my pretty Creole girl My money here's no good And if it weren't for the alligators I'd sleep out in the wood You're welcome here, kind stranger Our house is very plain But we never turn a stranger out On the banks of Pontchartrain I asked her if she'd marry me She said this could never be For she had got a lover And he was far at sea She said that she would wait for him And true she would remain Till he'd return to his Creole girl By the lakes of Pontchartrain So fare thee well, my bonny own girl I never may see you more But I'll ne'er forget your kindness In the cottage by the shore And in each social gathering A flowing glass I'll drain And I'll drink a health to my Creole girl By the lakes of Pontchartrain MUIRGEN: We've just arrived at Lissadell House, which is in Yeats Country, and I've just been given this lovely little gift.

It's really cool to be here amongst all this history just because I have been studying Yeats since I was in school myself, and we actually passed earlier the gravestone of Yeats as well, so it's really just so historical and to be performing in this incredible surrounding as well is just absolutely amazing, and I think it's going to be a really exciting finished product as well.

Down by the salley gardens My love and I did meet I passed the salley gardens So gently on my feet I bid him take love easy As the leaves grow on the tree But he, being young and foolish With me would not agree In a field down by the river My love and I did stand And on his leaning shoulder I gently laid my hand I bid him take life easy as the grass grows on the weirs But he was young and foolish and now is full of tears Down by the salley gardens My love and I did meet I passed the salley gardens So gently on my feet I bid him take love easy As the leaves grow on the tree But he, being young and foolish With me would not agree Mise ire Sine m n an Chailleach Bharra Mise ire Uaign m n an Chailleach Bharra Mr mo ghlir M a rug C Chulainn crga Mr mo nir Mo chlann fin a dhol a mthair Mr mo bhrn D'ag an dream imar chuireas dchas Mise ire Sine m n an Chailleach Bharra Mise ire Uaign m n an Chailleach Bharra CHLO: This is a very, very special day for me.

Kylemore Abbey has been on my bucket list of places to visit for many, many years.

And this song is incredibly special to me.

It's one of my all-time favorite songs anyway, but the last time I performed this beautiful song was at my grandmother's funeral a couple of years ago, and, um, to be able to get to sing this very special song in this very special place today... [tap tap] ...is something I will always, always remember.

Spend all your time waiting For that second chance For a break that would make it okay There's always some reason To feel not good enough And it's hard at the end of the day I need some distraction Oh, beautiful release Memories seep through my veins And may be empty Oh, and weightless and maybe I'll find some peace tonight In the arms of the angel Fly away from here From this dark, cold hotel room And the endlessness that you fear You were pulled from the wreckage Of your silent reverie You're in the arms of the angel May you find some comfort here You're so tired of the straight line And everywhere you turn There's vultures and thieves at your back The storm keeps on twisting You keep on building the lies That you make up for all that you lack It don't make no difference Escaping one last time It's easier to believe In this sweet madness Oh, this glorious sadness That brings me to my knees In the arms of the angel Fly away from here From this dark, cold hotel room And the endlessness that you fear You were pulled from the wreckage Of your silent reverie You're in the arms of the angel May you find some comfort here Oh, the arms of the angels May you find some comfort here SEAN: "Dear Tommy, Greetings from Galway, little brother.

Today, after walking along the Old Bog Road, I went into a little bar for a rest and a quiet drink.

Well, quiet I did not get.

Lively music sessions seem to just erupt out of nowhere here.

And, I've got to tell you, it was one of the best nights I've ever had.

You'd love it here!

Love, Seanie."

[sheep bleating] At Oranmore In the county Galway One pleasant evening In the month of May I spied a damsel She was young and handsome Her beauty fairly took my breath away She wore no jewels Nor costly diamonds No paint or powder No, none at all She wore a bonnet With a ribbon on it And around her shoulders Was the Galway shawl I played "The Black Bird" "The Sack of Barley" "Rodney's Glory" and "The Foggy Dew" She sang each note Like an Irish linnet And tears welled in her eyes of blue 'Twas early, early All in the morning I hit the road For old Donegal Said she, "Goodbye, sir" She cried and kissed me My heart remains With the Galway shawl She wore no jewels Nor costly diamonds No paint or powder No none at all She wore a bonnet With a ribbon on it And around her shoulder Was the Galway shawl She wore no jewels Nor costly diamonds No paint or powder No none at all She wore a bonnet With a ribbon on it And around her shoulder Was the Galway shawl May it be an evening star shines down upon you May it be when darkness falls your heart will be true You will walk a lonely road Oh, how far you are from home Morni utli Believe and you will find a way Morni alanti A promise lives within you now May it be the shadow's call will fly away May it be your journey on to light the day When the night is overcome You may rise to find the sun Morni utli Believe and you will find a way Morni alanti A promise lives within you now A promise lives within you now Oh, Danny boy the pipes, the pipes are calling From glen to glen and down the mountainside The summer's gone and all the roses falling It's you, it's you must go and I must bide But come ye back when summer's in the meadow Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow It's I'll be here in sunshine or in shadow Oh, Danny boy Oh, Danny boy, I love you so But when he comes And all the flowers are dying And I am dead as dead I well may be You'll come and find the place where I am lying And kneel and say an Ave there for me And I shall hear though soft you tread above me And o'er my grave will warmer, sweeter be When you will bend and tell me that you love me And I shall sleep in peace until you come to me me Oh, the summertime is coming And the trees are sweetly blooming And the wild mountain thyme Grows around the blooming heather Will you go, lassie, go?

And we'll all go together To pull wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather Will you go, lassie, go?

And we'll all go together To pull wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather Will you go, lassie, go?

I will build my love a bower By yon clear and crystal fountain And on it, I will pile All the flowers of the mountain Will you go, lassie, go?

And we'll all go together To pull wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather Will you go, lassie, go?

If my true love, he won't have me I will surely find another To pull wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather Will you go, lassie, go?

And we'll all go together To pull wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather Will you go, lassie, go?

[pipes playing] Go, lassie, go And we'll all go together To pull wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather Will you go, lassie go?

And we'll all go together To pull wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather Will you go, lassie, go?

SEAN: "Darling Katie, Today, in County Wexford, I watched a lone piper standing on the wall of a grand old castle.

He was playing your favorite hymn, "Amazing Grace."

I imagined the notes rising into the misty Irish sky and traveling across the sea to you.

It made me feel a little closer to you.

And the last words of that song suddenly struck me more deeply than ever before.

'And grace will lead us home.'"

[pipes playing "Amazing Grace"] Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost, but now I'm found Was blind but now I see 'Twas grace that taught my heart to fear And grace, my fears relieved How precious did that grace appear The hour I first believed Through many dangers, toils and snares We have already come 'Twas grace that brought us safe thus far And grace will lead us home And grace will lead us home Ahh ahh ahh Amazing grace, how sweet the sound That saved a wretch like me I once was lost but now am found Was blind but now I see Was blind but now I see I see [birds call] Black is the colour of my true love's hair His lips are like some roses fair He has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands And I love the ground whereon he stands I love my love and well he knows I love the ground whereon he goes I wish the day it soon would come When he and I could soon be one Black is the colour of my true love's hair His lips are like some roses fair He has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands And I love the ground whereon he stands I go to Clyde and I mourn and weep For satisfied, I ne'er can be I write him a letter, just a few short lines And suffer death a thousand times Black is the colour of my true love's hair His lips are like some roses fair He has the sweetest smile and the gentlest hands And I love the ground whereon he stands TARA: We are in Johnnie Fox's, which is, I think I've been told, the highest pub in Ireland.

Which is very exciting, I've always wanted to come visit here.

'Cause it's not too far away, really, from us, but I've never had the opportunity, so I'm delighted to be here, this is like the coolest place.

There's loads of stuff all over the walls.

It's brilliant here now, so this is like the session piece, we've got all the lads, it's like we're, you know, having a session at the weekend.

We've got all the real Irish instruments.

It's a real fun one.

So this is "The Banshee" and "The Calm of the Day."

So, yeah, it's cool, it starts off a little bit slow, but then things definitely get, um, a bit exciting, up the tempo, and we have some amazing dancers joining us, so it's a really upbeat number.

[tempo quickens] [applause] [tapping] [drumming] [repeats rhythm] [drumming] [repeats rhythm] [drumming] [clapping] [tapping] [clapping] [drumming] [clapping] [drumming] [tapping] [clapping] [drumming] [tapping] MAN: Whoo!

[drumming] [tapping] [drumming] [tapping and drumming] [whooping] [tapping] [tapping] [tapping] [drumming and tapping] [drumming] [tapping] [shuffling] [rapid tapping] [drumming] [whooping] [applause and cheers] SEAN: "Dear Mom and Dad, My journey is at an end, and tomorrow I set off for home.

But tonight I'm raising a glass to Ireland.

To all the amazing things I've seen here.

To the breathtaking landscapes.

To the warmest, most charming people a weary traveller could have the good fortune to meet.

I'll never forget them.

But I think what I'll carry with me the most is the music.

Always the music.

See you soon.

Sean."

[seagull calling] [acoustic guitar playing] Of all the money that e'er I had I spent it in good company And all the harm that e'er I did Alas, it was to none but me And all I've done for want of wit To memory now I can't recall So fill to me the parting glass Good night and joy be to you all So fill to me the parting glass And gather as the evening falls And gently rise and softly call Good night and joy be to you all Of all the comrades that e'er I had They're sorry for my going away And all the sweethearts that e'er I had They'd wish me one more day to stay But since it fell into my lot That I should rise and you should not I'll gently rise and softly call Good night and joy be to you all So fill to me the parting glass And gather as the evening falls And gently rise and softly call Good night and joy be to you all Ahh la la la la La la ah ah ah ah Ah la la ah ah ah ah La la ah ah ah ah ah ah Since it fell into my lot That I should rise and you should not I'll gently rise and softly call Good night and joy be to you all Fill to me the parting glass And gather as the evening falls And gently rise and softly call Good night and joy be to you all Fill to me the parting glass And gather as the evening falls And gently rise and softly call Good night and joy be to you all Good night and joy be to you all Go, lassie, go And we'll all go together To pull wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather Will you go, lassie, go?

And we'll all go together To pull wild mountain thyme All around the blooming heather Will you go, lassie, go?