Connemara Cradle Song

Cradle Songs or Lullabies have a great history in Ireland .. and this is one of my favourites. 
Here's my recording of The Connemara Cradle Song  

I was brought up about 4 miles inland from the Atlantic Ocean and I used to imagine that if I was really quiet, on windy nights, I could hear the waves.   

Nowadays, we spend a lot of time in Connemara and I've always loved that part of the country.  Here are the lyrics of the song along with some pics from our last trip down in Ballyconneely.

The Connemara Cradle Song (trad) lyrics

The Wild Atlantic Shore

On wings of the wind o'er the dark rolling deep

Angels are coming to watch o'er thy sleep

Angels are coming to watch over thee

So list to the wind coming over the sea

Hear the wind blow dear, hear the wind blow

Lean your head over and hear the wind blow

The Sky Road outside Clifden

 Oh, winds of the night, may your fury be crossed

May no one who's dear to our island be lost

Blow the winds gently, calm be the foam

Shine the light brightly and guide them back home

Hear the wind blow love, hear the wind blow

Lean your head over and hear the wind blow

The sun on the water makes my heart skip a beat

The currachs are sailing way out on the blue
Laden with herring of silvery hue
Silver the herring and silver the sea
And soon there'll be silver for baby and me
Hear the wind blow love, hear the wind blow
Lean your head over and hear the wind blow

Omie Strand

The currachs tomorrow will stand on the shore
And daddy goes sailing, a sailing no more
The nets will be drying, the nets heaven blessed
And safe in my arms dear, contented he'll rest
Hear the wind blow love, hear the wind blow
Lean your head over and hear the wind blow

Low tide

I was really surprised when I was playing over in America that people knew the song and could sing along easily with it - then I found out that it very closely resembles the American song "Down in the Valley"!

It was written by Frances Waller who also wrote the Spinning Wheel ….

And was first recorded by Delia Murphy in 1936.