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The Moorlough Shore
Sinéad O'Connor Lyrics


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Your hills and dales and flowery vales
That lie near the Moorlough Shore.
Your vines that blow by borden's grove.
Will I ever see no more

Where the primrose blows
And the violet grows,
Where the trout and salmon play.

With my line and hook delight I took
To spend my youthful days.

Last night I went to see my love,
And to hear what she might say.
To see if she'd take pity on me,
Lest I might go away.
She said, "I love an Irish lad,
And he was my only joy,
And ever since I saw his face
I've loved that soldier boy."

Well perhaps your soldier lad is lost
Sailing over the sea of Maine.
Or perhaps he is gone with some other lover,
You may never see him again.
Well if my Irish lad is lost,
He's the one I do adore,
And seven years I will wait for him
By the banks of the Moorlough Shore.

Farewell to Sinclaire's castle grand.
Farewell to the foggy dew.
Where the linen waves like bleaching silk
And the falling stream runs still
Near there I spent my youthful days
But alas they all are gone
For cruelty has banished me
Far away from the Moorlough Shore.

Overall Meaning

In "The Moorlough Shore," Sinéad O'Connor sings about a lost love and the longing to return to the idyllic landscapes of her youth. The song is a nostalgic tribute to the beauty of the Moorlough Shore, with its hills, dales, flowery vales, vines, primroses, and violets. Sinéad reminisces about spending her youthful days fishing for trout and salmon, enjoying the simple pleasures of life.


However, the tone of the song shifts as Sinéad begins to talk about her lost love. She visits her love to see if she will take pity on her so that she wouldn't have to leave, but she is told that her soldier boy is the only one for her. Sinéad wonders if her love is also lost, sailing over the sea of Maine or gone with another lover. But she remains faithful, declaring that she will wait for him for seven years by the banks of the Moorlough Shore.


Line by Line Meaning

Your hills and dales and flowery vales That lie near the Moorlough Shore.
Talking about the beautiful natural scenery near the Moorlough Shore.


Your vines that blow by borden's grove. Will I ever see no more
Expressing the sadness of never being able to see the beautiful vines near Borden's Grove.


Where the primrose blows And the violet grows, Where the trout and salmon play.
Describing a place where primroses and violets bloom and fish swim.


With my line and hook delight I took To spend my youthful days.
Recalling youthful memories of fishing with a line and hook.


Last night I went to see my love, And to hear what she might say.
Going to see the artist's love to hear if they still have feelings for them.


To see if she'd take pity on me, Lest I might go away.
Asking the love interest to have sympathy for them, so they never have to part.


She said, "I love an Irish lad, And he was my only joy, And ever since I saw his face I've loved that soldier boy."
The singer's love interest confesses their love for an Irish lad who is a soldier.


Well perhaps your soldier lad is lost Sailing over the sea of Maine. Or perhaps he is gone with some other lover, You may never see him again.
Speculating on the soldier's whereabouts and suggesting that he may be gone or with another lover.


Well if my Irish lad is lost, He's the one I do adore, And seven years I will wait for him By the banks of the Moorlough Shore.
Professing love for the Irish soldier lad and waiting for him for seven years by the Moorlough Shore.


Farewell to Sinclaire's castle grand. Farewell to the foggy dew. Where the linen waves like bleaching silk And the falling stream runs still.
Saying goodbye to Sinclaire's castle and the foggy dew, describing the beauty of the linen and the flowing stream nearby.


Near there I spent my youthful days But alas they all are gone For cruelty has banished me Far away from the Moorlough Shore.
Remembering spending youthful days near there but being forced to leave due to some form of cruelty, far away from the Moorlough Shore.




Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Written by: BERNARD O'NEILL, ADRIAN MAXWELL SHERWOOD, BERNARD ALEXANDER, ALAN EDWARD BRANCH, KIERAN KIELY, DONAL LUNNY, SINEAD O'CONNOR, TRADITIONAL

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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

Itziar Sanchez Guardamino

Your hills and dales and flowery vales
That lie near the Moorlough Shore
Your vines that blow by borden's grove
Will I ever see you more

Where the primrose blows
And the violet grows
Where the trout and salmon play

With the line and hook, delight I took
To spend my youthful days
Last night I went to see my love
And to hear what she might say

To see if she'd take pity on me
Lest I might go away
She said, "I love that Irish lad
And he was my only joy
And ever since I saw his face
I've loved that soldier boy."

Perhaps your soldier lad is lost
Sailing over the sea of Maine
Or perhaps he is gone with some other lover
You may never see him again
Well if my Irish lad is lost
He's the one I do adore
And seven years I will wait for him
By the banks of the Moorlough Shore

Farewell to Sinclaire's castle grand
Farewell to the foggy hill
Where the linen waves like bleach-ed silk
And the banching stream runs still
Near there I spent my youthful days
But alas they are not now mine
For cruelty has banished me
Far away from the Moorlough Shore



José María

Your hills and dales and flowery vales
That lie near the Moorlough Shore
Your vines that blow by Borden's grove
Will I ever see you more
Where the primrose glows
And the violet grows
Where the trout and salmon play
With my line and hook delight i took
To spend my youthful days
Last night I went to see my love
And to hear what she might say
To see if she'd take pity on me
Lest I might go away
She said, "I loved an Irish lad,
And he was my only joy,
and ever since I saw his face
I have loved that soldier boy"
Perhaps your soldier lad is lost
Sailing over the sea of Maine
Or perhaps he's gone with some other one
You may never see him again
Well if my Irish lad is lost,
He's the one I do adore,
And seven years I'll wait for him
By the banks of the Moorlough shore



All comments from YouTube:

T A W S

As a young black kid living in the projects, a place where emotion is seen as weakness, I learned to be present with my emotions and proudly accept myself because of her fearless loving honesty.

Miriam Henry

I am sure Sinéad would be very happy to hear this. I wish you the very best.

Margaret Maher

Life lessons come to you in many places. Stay aware, because there is a lot of love and knowledge to be had, to pick up and carry with you. If you have not read it, pick up a copy of "The Little Prince". if you love this song, I think that children's story will resonate with you. Bless you!

Not All Who Wander Are Lost

I don't know you but I'm so happy for you. That is amazing how much she and her music touched you and made such a difference in your life. Sinead has always been one of my favorite artists because of all of the emotion she pours into every piece she sings.

FlatlandMando

This woman has always been able to pound a tune home...never holds back. Few are like her.

Itziar Sanchez Guardamino

Your hills and dales and flowery vales
That lie near the Moorlough Shore
Your vines that blow by borden's grove
Will I ever see you more

Where the primrose blows
And the violet grows
Where the trout and salmon play

With the line and hook, delight I took
To spend my youthful days
Last night I went to see my love
And to hear what she might say

To see if she'd take pity on me
Lest I might go away
She said, "I love that Irish lad
And he was my only joy
And ever since I saw his face
I've loved that soldier boy."

Perhaps your soldier lad is lost
Sailing over the sea of Maine
Or perhaps he is gone with some other lover
You may never see him again
Well if my Irish lad is lost
He's the one I do adore
And seven years I will wait for him
By the banks of the Moorlough Shore

Farewell to Sinclaire's castle grand
Farewell to the foggy hill
Where the linen waves like bleach-ed silk
And the banching stream runs still
Near there I spent my youthful days
But alas they are not now mine
For cruelty has banished me
Far away from the Moorlough Shore

100NocãoPl4ys s

Que voz linda, Deus lhe deu amada. Conserve-a pra sempre.

Carol Browning

She is new to me, and full of magic and wonder in her voice!

Not All Who Wander Are Lost

Sinead is an amazing human being. She feels with every ounce of her being and she funnels that into every song she writes and sings. I see you commented 2 years ago. I hope you've heard more of her music by now and have grown to love her even more. I have followed her since her beginning in music and I love her and appreciate her so very much. She is one of a kind.

Rocco

She never fails to bring the best along with her.

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