Tuesday, August 16, 2016

Trad Tuesday: Bitter the Parting by John Doyle



John Doyle is an Irish singer/guitarist who also writes songs in traditional modes. He played with Solas for several years and is now on his own. Bitter the Parting is one of his songs, here sung with Kate Rusby, the great English folksinger.

With a red rose in summer, the leaves often green
You walked without speaking, your arm held in mine
And the lon dubh was singing as we passed on by
And bitter the parting of lovers entwined

[Kate Rusby]
You said that you loved me, you said that you cared
You told me you would never go and leave me behind
The one that I love has altered his mind
And bitter the parting of lovers entwined

[John]
I have to leave now this place I adored
No more can I wander the wild glens and the shores
For the tyrants have robbed me of house, lands, and pride
And it's bitter the parting of lovers entwined

[Kate]
The dew from the morning still hung from the leaves
The dogs they were barking from over the fields
[both]When you sighed and I cried for what we had done
And it's bitter the parting of the wounded in love

[John]
So we kissed and we parted and from her I didn't steer
I sat by the river and watched it flow by
[both] Like time in a bottle, it weaves and it glides
And bitter the parting of lovers entwined

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