Spanish Lady
Encyclopedia
"Spanish Lady" is a traditional Irish folk song, also found in England
. The Bodleian Library
has several broadsides of an English ballad with this name, one dating from the 17th century. Fragmentary or related versions from the US date from 1883. It is #543 in the Roud Folk Song Index
. It should not be confused with Spanish Ladies
, an entirely different song.
(called Galway City) and Belfast
. An English version refers to Chester
.
As I went down to Dublin city,
At the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I see but the Spanish Lady,
Washing her feet by candle-light.
First she washed them, then she dried them
Over a fire of amber coal,
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so sweet about the soul.
CHORUS:
Whack fol the toora, loora laddi-o
Whack fol the toora loora lay
As I went back through Dublin city
At the hour of half-past eight
Who should I see but the Spanish Lady
Brushing her hair outside the gate.
First she brushed it, then she combed it,
On her hand was a silver comb.
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so fair since I did roam.
CHORUS
As I came back through Dublin city
As the sun began to set
Who should I see but the Spanish Lady
Catching a moth in a golden net.
When she saw me then she fled me
Lifting her petticoat over her knee
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so shy as the Spanish Lady.
CHORUS
I've wandered north and I've wandered south
By Stoneybatter
and Patrick's Close
Up and around by the Gloucester Diamond
And back by Napper Tandy's house.
Old age has laid her hand on me
Cold as a fire of ashy coals
But where o where is the Spanish Lady,
Neat and sweet about the soul?
(traditional Dublin version dating from the 19th century)
recalls encountering the song in his youth and including it in his earliest repertoire. However, the version he encountered and used is quite different to the more widely known version made popular by artists such as The Dubliners
.
This alternative version is as follows:
As I went out by Dublin City at the hour of 12 at night
Who should I see but a Spanish lady washing her feet by candlelight
First she washed them then she dried them all by the fire of amber coal
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet about the sole
I asked her would she come out walking and went on till the grey cocks crew
A coach I stopped then to instate her and we rode on till the sky was blue
Combes of amber in her hair were and her eyes knew every spell
In all my life I ne're did see a woman I could love so well
But when I came to where I found her and set her down from the halted coach
Who was there with his arms folded but the fearful swordsman Tiger Roche
Blades were out 'twas thrust and cut, never a man gave me more fright
Till I lay him dead on the floor where she stood holding the candlelight
So if you go to Dublin City at the hour of twelve at night
Beware of the girls who sit in their windows combing their hair in the candlelight
I met one and we went walking, I thought that she would be my wife
When I came to where I found her, if it wasn't for my sword I'd have lost my life.
(who sang two Dublin versions as well as an English one), The Dubliners
, Gaelic Storm
and Celtic Woman
.
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The Bodleian Library
Bodleian Library
The Bodleian Library , the main research library of the University of Oxford, is one of the oldest libraries in Europe, and in Britain is second in size only to the British Library...
has several broadsides of an English ballad with this name, one dating from the 17th century. Fragmentary or related versions from the US date from 1883. It is #543 in the Roud Folk Song Index
Roud Folk Song Index
The Roud Folk Song Index is a database of 300,000 references to over 21,600 songs that have been collected from oral tradition in the English language from all over the world...
. It should not be confused with Spanish Ladies
Spanish Ladies
Spanish Ladies is a traditional English naval song, describing a voyage from Spain to the Downs from the viewpoint of ratings of the British Royal Navy.- Origins :...
, an entirely different song.
Lyrics
The lyrics vary, depending on the provenance of the song. There are several Dublin versions, one of them usually called the Wheel of Fortune. Other Irish versions relate to GalwayGalway
Galway or City of Galway is a city in County Galway, Republic of Ireland. It is the sixth largest and the fastest-growing city in Ireland. It is also the third largest city within the Republic and the only city in the Province of Connacht. Located on the west coast of Ireland, it sits on the...
(called Galway City) and Belfast
Belfast
Belfast is the capital of and largest city in Northern Ireland. By population, it is the 14th biggest city in the United Kingdom and second biggest on the island of Ireland . It is the seat of the devolved government and legislative Northern Ireland Assembly...
. An English version refers to Chester
Chester
Chester is a city in Cheshire, England. Lying on the River Dee, close to the border with Wales, it is home to 77,040 inhabitants, and is the largest and most populous settlement of the wider unitary authority area of Cheshire West and Chester, which had a population of 328,100 according to the...
.
As I went down to Dublin city,
At the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I see but the Spanish Lady,
Washing her feet by candle-light.
First she washed them, then she dried them
Over a fire of amber coal,
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so sweet about the soul.
CHORUS:
Whack fol the toora, loora laddi-o
Whack fol the toora loora lay
As I went back through Dublin city
At the hour of half-past eight
Who should I see but the Spanish Lady
Brushing her hair outside the gate.
First she brushed it, then she combed it,
On her hand was a silver comb.
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so fair since I did roam.
CHORUS
As I came back through Dublin city
As the sun began to set
Who should I see but the Spanish Lady
Catching a moth in a golden net.
When she saw me then she fled me
Lifting her petticoat over her knee
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so shy as the Spanish Lady.
CHORUS
I've wandered north and I've wandered south
By Stoneybatter
Stoneybatter
Stoneybatter, historically known as Bohernaglogh , is a suburb of Dublin, Ireland, situated on the Northside of the city between the River Liffey, the North Circular Road, Smithfield Market, and Grangegorman. It is located in the Dublin 7 postal district.James Collins' 1913 book, 'Life in Old...
and Patrick's Close
Up and around by the Gloucester Diamond
And back by Napper Tandy's house.
Old age has laid her hand on me
Cold as a fire of ashy coals
But where o where is the Spanish Lady,
Neat and sweet about the soul?
(traditional Dublin version dating from the 19th century)
Variations
There are other variations of the song, with some involving duels. The Irish singer Christy MooreChristy Moore
Christopher Andrew "Christy" Moore is a popular Irish folk singer, songwriter, and guitarist. He is well known as one of the founding members of Planxty and Moving Hearts...
recalls encountering the song in his youth and including it in his earliest repertoire. However, the version he encountered and used is quite different to the more widely known version made popular by artists such as The Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
.
This alternative version is as follows:
As I went out by Dublin City at the hour of 12 at night
Who should I see but a Spanish lady washing her feet by candlelight
First she washed them then she dried them all by the fire of amber coal
In all my life I ne'er did see a maid so sweet about the sole
I asked her would she come out walking and went on till the grey cocks crew
A coach I stopped then to instate her and we rode on till the sky was blue
Combes of amber in her hair were and her eyes knew every spell
In all my life I ne're did see a woman I could love so well
But when I came to where I found her and set her down from the halted coach
Who was there with his arms folded but the fearful swordsman Tiger Roche
Blades were out 'twas thrust and cut, never a man gave me more fright
Till I lay him dead on the floor where she stood holding the candlelight
So if you go to Dublin City at the hour of twelve at night
Beware of the girls who sit in their windows combing their hair in the candlelight
I met one and we went walking, I thought that she would be my wife
When I came to where I found her, if it wasn't for my sword I'd have lost my life.
Covers
It has been covered by many artists, including Frank HarteFrank Harte
Frank Harte was a traditional Irish singer, song collector, architect and lecturer. He was born and raised in Dublin. His father Peter Harte who had moved from a farming background in Sligo owned 'The Tap' pub in Chapelizod...
(who sang two Dublin versions as well as an English one), The Dubliners
The Dubliners
The Dubliners are an Irish folk band founded in 1962.-Formation and history:The Dubliners, initially known as "The Ronnie Drew Ballad Group", formed in 1962 and made a name for themselves playing regularly in O'Donoghue's Pub in Dublin...
, Gaelic Storm
Gaelic Storm
Gaelic Storm is a Celtic band. Their music includes traditional Irish music, Scottish music, and original tunes in both the Celtic and Celtic rock genres...
and Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman
Celtic Woman is an all-female musical ensemble conceived and assembled by Sharon Browne and David Downes, a former musical director of the Irish stage show Riverdance...
.
External links
- Spanish Lady on IrishSongs.com
- http://www.irishmusicforever.com/spanish-lady