Eileen Aroon
tune trad. Irish, words attributed to Carrol O'Daly, 1300s
Poetry originally in Gaelic, from a very long time ago. "Aroon" means "my treasure," and
someone upon whom you can depend is a treasure, indeed, in any millennium.
Colcannon trad. Irish
A love song to the potato, perhaps a bit too nostalgic about all that hard work mom used to do to put
the delicious food on the table.
An' Thou Were My Ain Thing trad. Scots, before 1770
A breathtaking pledge of love. "Til fates my thread of life have spun" refers to the ancient Greek
mythology of one's life ending when a mystical thread is cut by one of the fates, immortal ladies
spinning away. Thanks to the UUlations for putting up with my delayed-gratification harmonies!
Waly, Waly trad. Scots
In 1671 Lady Barbara Douglas separated from her husband, and rumors and gossip abounded. This ballad
speculat4es that the lady was betrayed, and that the butler did it with a pair of shoes left behind by
a handsome visitor. At the end Barbara bewails her unjust fate with a snippet of the ancient lament,
"The Water Is Wide".
The Lady Leroy trad. Irish
A wily lass escapes her family's disapproval with her beloved, leading him from Ireland to Boston. The trajectory
is a common one, but her tactic of dressing as a man was not. She is definitely in charge!
Amaryllis trad. Irish tune, words by Diane Taraz, 1990
Each and every winter my amaryllis plant blooms in an inspiring display.
Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier trad. Irish
The ancient lament has been done dozens of ways by scores of singers. My version on the dulcimer is
particularly passionate.
Johnny Be Fair trad. Irish
Classic Irish humor.
Air From County Derry trad Irish
Probably the most beloved melody from Ireland, the tune of "Danny Boy" goes so nicely on the dulcimer.
The Rantin' Dog / Hishie Ba' Robert Burns / trad. Scots
The "dog" is the father of the singer's unwanted unborn child. That rascal, Rabbie Burns, supposedly
send this poem to his knocked-up girlfriend to cheer her up! She wonders who will supply the "groanin' malt",
the ale brewed to pay the midwife and fortify everyone for the ordeal of labor. She declares that as long as Rab shares
the shame of sitting in
the "creepie chair," the stool of repentance in church, she will be satisfied. She also wonders who will
make her "fidgin' fain," or feeling frisky
In the second song, a traditional lament, the bold front meets harsh reality. She sings forlornly, "Hush, baby,"
I'm your ma, but heaven knows who your father is."
What Is the Wind? trad. Scots melody, words by Diane Taraz, 2011
Inspired by the swooping swallows and blazing sunsets at the Isles of Shoals, where I go every summer to
recharge my spiritual batteries. An utterly Unitarian Universalist song!
Your Truest Friend trad. Irish, words by Diane Taraz, 2013
Eternal thanks to my partner and patron, John, my aroon!
Normandy trad. irish, words by Diane Taraz, 1989
I wrote this before I met John, who whisked me off to France on his frequent-flyer ticket. This trip assured us that
we were quite compatible, and I gloried in visting the land of my ancestors.