May Morning Dew Lyrics
Dolores KeaneMusic Video
May Morning Dew Lyrics
How pleasant in winter to sit by the hob
Listening to the barks and the howls of a dog
Or in summer to wander the wide valleys through
And to pluck the wildflowers in the May morning dew
Summer is coming, oh, summer is here
With the leaves on the trees and the skies blue and clear
And the birds, they are singing their fond notes so true
And the flowers they are springing in the May morning dew
The house I was rearеd in is but a stone on a stone
And all round the gardеn the weeds, they have grown
And all the kind neighbours that ever I knew
Like the red rose they withered in the May morning dew
God be with the old folks, who are now dead and gone
And likewise my brothers, young Denis and John
As they tripped through the heather, the wild hares to pursue
As their joys, they were mingled in the May morning dew
Song Details
🎶 Music & Lyrics: Traditional
📅 Earliest Date: 1979 (Paddy Tunney - The Stone Fiddle)
📝Song Brief: A traditional Irish folk song about memories, home, and how life changes over time. With its quiet early‑morning setting and dew-covered fields, the song captures the feeling of looking back on the past with both warmth and sadness, reflecting on the changes that come with age and loss. Its imagery of rural Ireland and its unaccompanied style have made it a favourite of the Irish singing tradition.
🍀 Genre: Irish Folk Song
👥 Covers: Siobhan Miller, Dervish, Sean Keane, The Chieftans, Broceliande, Lais, Brigid Mae Power.
🎤 Featured Artist: Dolores Keane
💿 Album: Lion In a Cage
Released: 1989
Format: CD / Digital download / Streaming
Label: Round Tower Music
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📖 References
- Tunney-The Stone Fiddle, pp. 30-31, "May Morning Dew" (1 text, 1 tune)
- Roud #5405
