She is a graduate of the University of Limerick’s World Music Centre, and moves between Nashville, New York, the west of Ireland, and the Isle of Man.
Davis released her first Celtic album, “Down By the Sea,” in 2011. She followed this with “Songs of the Celtic Winter” (2012) and "Night Travels" (2014).
In 2015 she recorded “The Christmas Sessions,” a collaboration with guitarist John Doyle that joins Irish folk and jazz to make a collection of Christmas standards.
She also records as The Ashley Davis Band that features Dave Curley (Guitars/Banjo/Mandolin/Vocals), Colin Farrell (Fiddle/Whistles), and Will MacMorran (Guitars/Bouzouki/Pipes).
Fare Thee Well
Ashley Davis Lyrics
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For I would see the sun rise upon the new year.
Good times and rare times, they all fade the same.
How gentle are the memories that carry me away.
Fare thee well, my friend,
We'll meet again
When the moon climbs over the trees.
We'll meet again
On the road just beyond the sea.
The old year behind us, it fades with the snow
And takes me to dream of the flowers to come.
You'll meet me in the meadow and hold me again
Where the sky soothes the ground with snow falling.
Fare thee well, my friend,
We'll meet again
When the moon climbs over the trees.
Fare thee well, my friend,
We'll meet again
On the road just beyond the sea.
When you're warm and asleep and the world is still,
Will you meet me in your dreams down by the stile,
(Unintelligible), my love, I'm going away,
For the boatman is calling; he must take me today.
Fare thee well, my friend,
We'll meet again
When the moon climbs over the trees.
Fare thee well, my friend,
We'll meet again
On the road just beyond the sea.
If you're waking call me early; call me early, my dear,
For I would see the sun rise upon the new year.
In Ashley Davis's song Fare Thee Well, the lyrics describe a farewell between two friends as they look ahead to the new year. The singer asks their friend to wake them up early so they can watch the sun rise on the first day of the year. They reflect on how both good and bad memories eventually fade away, but the gentle memories remain and carry them away. The singer bids their friend farewell, hoping to meet again when the moon climbs over the trees and on the road beyond the sea. As they dream of the coming flowers, they imagine meeting their friend in the meadow again.
The singer also asks their friend to meet them in their dreams when the world is still and they are warm and sleeping, down by the stile. The singer mentions that they must go away soon because the boatman is calling for them. The song ends with the singer once again urging their friend to wake them early on the first day of the year.
Overall, the song seems to be about the fleeting nature of time and the importance of cherishing the memories we make with the people we love. It's a poignant farewell, but with the hope of meeting again in the future.
Line by Line Meaning
If you're waking call me early; call me early, my dear,
If you happen to wake up early, please don't hesitate to wake me up too. Let's witness the sunrise together as we welcome the new year.
For I would see the sun rise upon the new year.
I long to start the new year with hope and positivity, and what better way to do it than to see the sun rise and bask in its warm glow.
Good times and rare times, they all fade the same.
No matter how happy and rare the moments we share, they will all eventually come to an end and fade into memories.
How gentle are the memories that carry me away.
The memories we make together are so precious and comforting, they have the power to carry me away to a peaceful and happy place.
Fare thee well, my friend,
Goodbye for now, my dear friend,
We'll meet again
We will see each other again
When the moon climbs over the trees.
When the moon rises above the trees, signifying the start of a new evening.
On the road just beyond the sea.
We will meet each other again, in a place beyond the sea.
The old year behind us, it fades with the snow
As the snow falls and covers the ground, the old year fades away and makes way for the new one.
And takes me to dream of the flowers to come.
The snow reminds me of new life and new beginnings, and fills me with hope and dreams of vibrant flowers to come.
You'll meet me in the meadow and hold me again
We will reunite once more in a peaceful and serene meadow, where we will embrace each other tightly.
Where the sky soothes the ground with snow falling.
The snow falling from the sky blankets the ground and creates a calming and tranquil atmosphere.
When you're warm and asleep and the world is still,
When you are resting and the world around you is quiet and peaceful,
Will you meet me in your dreams down by the stile,
Will you come to me in your dreams, where we will be together by the stile,
(Unintelligible), my love, I'm going away,
I'm sorry, my love, but I must leave now,
For the boatman is calling; he must take me today.
It's time for me to go and start a new journey, the boatman is waiting to take me away.
Contributed by Gabriel K. Suggest a correction in the comments below.