from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , as Traditional
Shule Agra
Language: English
His hair was black, his eye was blue,
His arm was stout, his word was true.
I wish in my heart I was with you,
Go thee, thu Mavourneen slaun!
Shule, shule, shule agra!
Only death can ease my woe,
Since the lad of my heart from me did go,
Go thee, thu Mavourneen slaun!
I sold my rock, I sold my reel,
When my flax was spun, I sold my wheel,
To buy my love a sword of steel,
Go thee, thu Mavourneen slaun!
Shule, shule, shule agra!
Only death can ease my woe,
Since the lad of my heart from me did go,
Go thee, thu Mavourneen slaun!
I’ll dye my petticoat, I’ll dye it red,
And round the world I’ll beg my bread,
Till I find my love alive or dead.
Go thee, thu Mavourneen slaun!
Shule, shule, shule agra!
Only death can ease my woe,
Since the lad of my heart from me did go,
Go thee, thu Mavourneen slaun!
King James was routed in the fray;
The “wild-geese” went with him away,
My boy went too, that dreary day.
Go thee, thu Mavourneen slaun!
Shule, shule, shule agra!
Only death can ease my woe,
Since the lad of my heart from me did go,
Go thee, thu Mavourneen slaun!
Authorship
- from Volkslieder (Folksongs) , as Traditional [author's text not yet checked against a primary source]
Musical settings (art songs, Lieder, mélodies, (etc.), choral pieces, and other vocal works set to this text), listed by composer (not necessarily exhaustive)
- by Timothy Hoekman , "Shule Agra", 2010, published 2011 [ voice, clarinet and piano ], from Three Irish Folksongs, no. 1 [sung text not yet checked]
Researcher for this text: Malcolm Wren [Guest Editor]
This text was added to the website: 2020-09-14
Line count: 32
Word count: 214