Erin's Green Shore Lyrics
Mick MoloneyMusic Video
Erin's Green Shore
One evening of late as I rambled
On the banks of a clear purling stream
I sat down on a bed of primroses
And I gently fell into a dream
I dreamed I beheld a fair female
Her equal I had ne'er seen before
As she sighed for the wrongs of her country
As she strayed along Erin's green shore.
I went to her and I quickly addressed her
Fair maid, will you tell me your name?
And why through this wild wooded country
In the midst of these dangers you came?
I'm a daughter of Daniel O'Connell
And from England I have lately come o'er
I have come to awaken my brethren
Who slumber on Erin's green shore.
Her eyes were like two sparkling diamonds
Or the stars of a bright frosty night
Her cheeks were like two blooming roses
And her teeth of the ivory so white
She resembled the Goddess of Freedom
And green was the mantle she wore
Bound 'round with the shamrock and roses
As she strayed along Erin's green shore
In transports of joy I awoke then
And found I had been in a dream
For this beautiful damsel had fled me
And I longed for to slumber again
May the heavens above be her guardian
For I know I shall see her no more
May the sunbeams of glory shine o'er her
As she strays along Erin's green shore.
Song Details
✍️ Composer & Lyricist: Traditional
📝 Song Brief: The story of a man who had a dream about a fair maiden who had come back from England and seemed troubled as she "sighed for the wrongs of her country", while walking along the green shores of Ireland. She was warning him of the dangers that were to follow... "I have come to awaken my brethren, who slumber on Erin's green shore." The history of Ireland and the long battle for freedom and emancipation from England lay testament to this song.
📖 Glossary:- Erin:
A poetic name for Ireland, often used in songs and poetry to evoke the island’s natural beauty, history, and cultural identity. The word comes from the Irish Éire, meaning “Ireland.” - Daniel O'Connell (1775–1847)
Irish political leader in the first half of the 19th century who campaigned for Catholic emancipation, including the right for Catholics to sit in the Westminster Parliament, which had been denied for over 100 years, and to repeal of the Act of Union which combined Great Britain and Ireland. - Goddess of Freedom:
A symbolic figure representing Ireland as a woman who embodies liberty, resilience, and national pride. In folk songs, she often appears in dreamlike or poetic imagery, expressing sorrow for Ireland’s hardships and hope for renewal. - Shamrock:
A small three‑leafed clover traditionally associated with Ireland. It is widely used as a symbol of Irish identity and heritage. In songs and poetry, the shamrock often appears as a gentle emblem of Ireland and its cultural traditions.
🍀 Genre: Irish Folk Song
👥 Covers: The Royal Scots Dragoon Guards, Seamus Creagh, Harry Hibbs...
🎤 Featured Artist: Mick Moloney - Irish-born American musician and scholar.
💿 Album: Far From The Shamrock Shore (Feb 12, 2002)
Released: Feb 12, 2002
Country: US
Format: CD, Album
Label: Shanachie
