Story Behind the Song
The first version I heard of this song was recorded by Dolores Keane and John Faulkner. Susan McKeown did an amazing recording of it as well. It's a sad Irish ballad.
Lyrics
On the night that I was married, and laid in my marriage bed
There came a bold sea captain, and he stood at my bed head
saying, 'rise, arise young Reilly, and come along with me
to the lowlands of Holland, for to fight and never flee
Now Holland is a pretty place for my love to dwell in
But there's no deep sea harbor for a sailor to remain.
Where the sugar cane is plentiful, and tea grows on every tree
and the Lowlands of Holland lie between my love and me.
'Be still, be still my daughter, what makes you to lament?
Is there n'er a lad in Galway to ease your heart's content?'
'Oh, there's lads enough in Galway, but ne'er a one for me.
Since the stormy seas and raging winds parted my love from me.'
I will build my lover a bonny boat; a boat with silver sails
with four and twenty young mariners for to rook her through the waves.
Come all you ranting, roaring lads! Come on, boys, pull away
For I never had but one true love and he is far away.
No shawl goes around my shoulders, no comb goes through my hair
no candlelight nor firelight will shine in my bower fair
Nor shall I lie with any man until the day I die
for the Lowlands of Holland parted my love and I
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