 | Cuckoo songs |  |
58
The Dawning of the Day
From your own wife and your babies, was it hard to go at last?
Mavourneen bawn! you laboured, and your breath came thick and fast,
The sweat was on your forehead, and your eyes were far away,
And I knew your soul was travelling at the dawning of the day.
Mavourneen bawn! you laboured, and your breath came thick and fast,
The sweat was on your forehead, and your eyes were far away,
And I knew your soul was travelling at the dawning of the day.
It is far far to Glanealy, and far to Wicklow Hill,
But the place your true heart loved of old your true heart loves it still;
And you could not rest in Heaven if you had not said good-bye
To the home you brought your bride to, where you heard your first child cry.
But the place your true heart loved of old your true heart loves it still;
And you could not rest in Heaven if you had not said good-bye
To the home you brought your bride to, where you heard your first child cry.
59
That night beside your quiet bed I lay as cold as stone,
My lips against your trembling hand, my lips that had no moan,
My heart had never a prayer at all and you were far away,
Still faring on to Wicklow Hills in the dawning of the day.
My lips against your trembling hand, my lips that had no moan,
My heart had never a prayer at all and you were far away,
Still faring on to Wicklow Hills in the dawning of the day.
Did you see the bonny hawthorn where we kissed for once and all?
And the stile we used to linger by in the quiet evenfall?
When the great gold moon put out the sun. Mavrone, but you are gone,
And I am in the widow's cloak and here on earth alone.
And the stile we used to linger by in the quiet evenfall?
When the great gold moon put out the sun. Mavrone, but you are gone,
And I am in the widow's cloak and here on earth alone.
I heard the women whispering that you had far to go,
You travelled all the winter night; the grey day came with snow,
And then your soul returned again with that long loving gaze,
And hearts and lips were close once more as in the happy days.
You travelled all the winter night; the grey day came with snow,
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And hearts and lips were close once more as in the happy days.
But I break my heart for that long night you travelled all alone,
Yet I'd gladly go that journey if the little ones were grown.
O sweet sweet was Glanealy and the love we had of yore,
But sweeter far to lie at rest on your proud heart, asthore.
Yet I'd gladly go that journey if the little ones were grown.
O sweet sweet was Glanealy and the love we had of yore,
But sweeter far to lie at rest on your proud heart, asthore.
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