Blackbirds and Cake?
Great, I went and restarted my computer before I posted my last entry. I was talking about making apple cakes and stuff...
So my inner choir girl's been overloaded with all the Christmas music, and today I was humming a song I learned back in choir in primary school... until I realized I wasn't old enough back then to actually learn the lyrics, and the teacher just fed us the pronunciations. I went and looked up the song with what I remembered, then found the version that I think we used (from http://www.gurman.org/ashgrove/):
Down yonder green valley where streamlets meander
When twilight is fading I pensively rove.
Or at the bright noontide in solitude wander
Amid the dark shades of the lonely ash grove.
Twas there while the blackbird was cheerfully singing
I first met that dear one, the joy of my heart.
Around us for gladness the bluebells were ringing
Ah! then little thought I how soon we should part.
Still glows the bright sunshine o'er valley and mountain,
Still warbles the blackbird its note from the tree;
Still trembles the moonbeam on streamlet and fountain,
But what are the beauties of Nature to me?
With sorrow, deep sorrow, my bosom is laden,
All day I go mourning in search of my love!
Ye echoes! oh tell me, where is the sweet maiden?
"She sleeps 'neath the green turf down by the Ash Grove."
So my inner choir girl's been overloaded with all the Christmas music, and today I was humming a song I learned back in choir in primary school... until I realized I wasn't old enough back then to actually learn the lyrics, and the teacher just fed us the pronunciations. I went and looked up the song with what I remembered, then found the version that I think we used (from http://www.gurman.org/ashgrove/):
Down yonder green valley where streamlets meander
When twilight is fading I pensively rove.
Or at the bright noontide in solitude wander
Amid the dark shades of the lonely ash grove.
Twas there while the blackbird was cheerfully singing
I first met that dear one, the joy of my heart.
Around us for gladness the bluebells were ringing
Ah! then little thought I how soon we should part.
Still glows the bright sunshine o'er valley and mountain,
Still warbles the blackbird its note from the tree;
Still trembles the moonbeam on streamlet and fountain,
But what are the beauties of Nature to me?
With sorrow, deep sorrow, my bosom is laden,
All day I go mourning in search of my love!
Ye echoes! oh tell me, where is the sweet maiden?
"She sleeps 'neath the green turf down by the Ash Grove."