Connemara Cradle Song: A Song History
"Connemara Cradle Song" is an Irish lullaby set on the Connemara coast of County Galway, and its verses dwell on the sea and the currach, a traditional boat whose timber frame was at first covered with animal skins.[1] Its melody is the one also heard in the American folk song "Down in the Valley."[1][2]
[Killary Bay, Connemara. County Galway, Ireland], photochrom, between ca. 1890 and ca. 1900. A Connemara inlet, shown for its setting; it has no connection to the song.
Sources differ on who wrote the words.[1][2] Ask About Ireland says the original author is unknown while noting that some credit the lyrics to the singer Delia Murphy (1902–1971), and Mainly Norfolk reports that Pat Conway's 1999 songbook names John Francis Waller (1809–1894) instead.[1][2] Mainly Norfolk also credits the Mayo-born Murphy with making the song popular, says she apparently claimed copyright in it in 1951, and lists her 78 rpm recording on the Melodisc label.[2] Murphy recorded more than a hundred songs on 78 rpm discs between the 1930s and the 1950s.[3]
Tommy Makem recorded it on Songs of Tommy Makem in 1961, and Gay Woods sang it with Steeleye Span on Bedlam Born in 2000.[2] Shelley Stevens includes it in Baker's Dozen #1: Celtic Music, thirteen Celtic tunes arranged for solo mountain dulcimer in DAD tuning with standard notation and tablature, published by Fingers Of Steel.[4]
Sources
- Ask About Ireland: "Connemara Cradle Song".
- Mainly Norfolk: "The Connemara Cradle Song".
- Connaught Telegraph: "Delia Murphy - the Blackbird from Roundfort".
- Fingers Of Steel: "Shelley Stevens, Baker's Dozen #1: Celtic Music".
- Image: [Killary Bay, Connemara. County Galway, Ireland], photochrom, between ca. 1890 and ca. 1900. Library of Congress.