The Flower of Magherally
Altan Lyrics
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Nature was adorning and the wee birds sweetly singing (Oh)
I met my love near Banbridge Town, my charming blue-eyed Sally (Oh)
She's the queen of the County Down, the flower of Magherally (Oh)
With admiration I did gaze upon this blue-eyed maiden (Oh)
Adam wasn't half so much pleased when he met Eve in Eden (Oh)
Her skin was like the lily white that grows in yonder valley (Oh)
Her yellow hair in ringlets clung, her shoes were Spanish leather (Oh)
Her bonnet with blue ribbons strung, her scarlet cap and feather (Oh)
Like Venus bright she did appear, my charming blue-eyed Sally (Oh)
She's the girl that I love dear, the flower of Magherally (Oh)
I hope the day will surely come when we'll join hands together (Oh)
'Tis then I'll bring my darling home in spite of wind or weather (Oh)
And let them all say what they will and let them reel and rally (Oh)
For I shall wed the girl I love, the flower of Maherally (Oh)
The lyrics of Altan's song, The Flower of Magherally, describe the singer's encounter with his love, Sally. The song takes place on a warm summer day; the flowers are blooming, and the birds are singing. The singer meets Sally near Banbridge Town, and he is struck by her beauty. He admires her blue eyes and compares her to Adam's first encounter with Eve in the Garden of Eden.
The singer is enamored by every detail of Sally's appearance, from her white skin to her yellow ringlets and Spanish leather shoes. He describes her dress, complete with a blue ribbon bonnet and scarlet cap with a feather. The singer's infatuation with Sally is clear in every verse, and he proclaims her the "queen of the County Down" and the "flower of Magherally."
The final verse hints at the couple's desire to join together in marriage. The singer hopes for the day when he can bring Sally home, despite any challenges they may face. He is willing to face criticism and judgment from others because he has found the person he wants to spend his life with.
Overall, The Flower of Magherally is a romantic song that celebrates the beauty of nature and the love between two individuals. It captures the feeling of falling in love and the desire to share a life with someone special.
Line by Line Meaning
One pleasant summer's morning when all the flowers were springing (Oh)
It was a beautiful, sunny morning during the summer when all the flowers were in bloom, and everything was happy and green.
Nature was adorning and the wee birds sweetly singing (Oh)
The trees and shrubs were alive with bright green vegetation, and the birds were singing a sweet melody to bring cheer to everyone's day.
I met my love near Banbridge Town, my charming blue-eyed Sally (Oh)
I met my lover near Banbridge Town. She was a gorgeous woman with blue eyes, who went by the name Sally, and who was very charming and pleasant to be around.
She's the queen of the County Down, the flower of Magherally (Oh)
She is the reigning queen of the illustrious, respectable County Down, and is also the most attractive woman in Magherally.
With admiration I did gaze upon this blue-eyed maiden (Oh)
I was captivated by her beauty and intelligence; I couldn't help but gaze upon her with a sense of awe and admiration.
Adam wasn't half so much pleased when he met Eve in Eden (Oh)
Even Adam himself, who was said to have been contented in the Garden of Eden, could not have been as pleased as I was when I met Sally.
Her skin was like the lily white that grows in yonder valley (Oh)
Her skin tone was as pure and pristine as the magnificent lilies that grew in the valley that we could see in the distance.
She's my queen and my heart's delight, the flower of Magherally (Oh)
She is the most important person in my life and she brings me great joy; she is the epitome of elegance in Magherally.
Her yellow hair in ringlets clung, her shoes were Spanish leather (Oh)
Her hair was a wonderful yellow color and had been styled into ringlets, and she wore a pair of shoes made from fine Spanish leather - indicating that she was a woman of great taste and luxurious choices.
Her bonnet with blue ribbons strung, her scarlet cap and feather (Oh)
She was wearing a bonnet that had been adorned with blue ribbons, and her cap had a bold scarlet color to it with a large, handsome feather, giving her a proud and stately appearance.
Like Venus bright she did appear, my charming blue-eyed Sally (Oh)
She looked stunning, like the goddess Venus herself, and even as she waltzed across the landscape, still she looked enchanting beyond belief.
She's the girl that I love dear, the flower of Magherally (Oh)
I have never been more in love with a person in my life; she is the very essence of perfection and is someone that makes my heart melt every time I am around her.
I hope the day will surely come when we'll join hands together (Oh)
I'm dreaming of the day when we can finally be together and can join hands in matrimony; it is what I long for more than anything else.
'Tis then I'll bring my darling home in spite of wind or weather (Oh)
Even if the weather is bad or the roads are treacherous, I will make sure to bring my darling home to me so that we can be together once more.
And let them all say what they will and let them reel and rally (Oh)
I don't care what other people say about us or how they feel - I will love her no matter what they think of our relationship.
For I shall wed the girl I love, the flower of Maherally (Oh)
I am going to marry the girl I absolutely adore, the one I call the Flower of Maherally, and I will be happy with her for the rest of my life.
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