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The Nightingale

from On the Salt Sea by Áit Ait

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The Nightingale This beautiful anti-war ballad tells the tale of a man who is taken by a ‘press gang’ and forced to fight for England aboard the ship ‘The Nightingale’. He laments leaving his love and his home, and prays that, if he makes it home alive, he will never again experience ‘cruel war’ or lay eyes on the ship that stole him away.

lyrics

Woeful was the day when I was pressed to sail afar
And leave behind the girl I loved in the town of Ballynagard
The shady groves were my delight til I was forced to sail
You all may guess at my distress lying in the Nightingale

Oh grief and woe that I must go and fight for England’s king
I do not know his friend or foe and war’s a cruel thing
The Nightingale lies near at hand, my time alas is brief
From pearling streams and mountain rills I part with bitter grief

No more I’ll walk the golden hills with Nancy by my side
Or stroll along the sun-bright rills or view my land with pride
We sail away at dawn of day our sails already set
When old Ireland’s shore I see no more, I will sigh with deep regret

Now all is change and I must range across the ocean wide
Our ship she may in Biscay Bay be sunk beneath the tide
If I should fall by a cannonball or sink beneath the sea
Good people all, a tear let fall and mourn for mine and me

But if God should spare my graying hair and bring me back again
I’ll love far more my Antrim shore, it’s dark blue hills and glens
Around my fire but one desire God grant til life shall fail
To keep me far from cruel war and from the Nightingale

credits

from On the Salt Sea, released January 1, 2024

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Áit Ait Saint Paul, Minnesota

Áit Ait (Irish for “strange place” or “uncanny valley”) are an experimental folk duo focused on reinterpretations of traditional songs – dark and deep, bright and sparkling; full of noise and life. Based in Minnesota, Áit Ait is Aja McCullough (song) and Patrick Maun (sound). ... more

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