Emmet Cahill is from Mullingar,County Westmeath in Ireland. He has been inv… Read Full Bio ↴Emmet Cahill is from Mullingar,County Westmeath in Ireland. He has been involved in music since he was young, playing the piano at 5 and training in singing at 7. He spent 5 years (ages 12-17) studying music on scholarship at a secondary school in Mullingar. His major style focus has been in classical music. He then studied music at the Royal Irish Academy of Music.

He is currently a member of the Irish/Northern Irish/Scottish singing group, Celtic Thunder, where he replaced former member, Paul Byrom, upon his resignation in late 2010. He is featured in several songs on their new CD, Heritage, including a version of "Galway Girl;" a Phil Coulter Original, "Kindred Spirits;" and, on the QVC version of the CD, a Clancy Brothers compilation bonus track, where he is featured in the section of the compilation taken from "Courtin' in the Kitchen."

Spanish lady
Emmet Cahill Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

As I came down through Dublin City, at the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I spy, but a Spanish Lady
Washing her feet by the candlelight
First she washed them, then she dried them
Over a fire of amber coals
In all me life I ne'er did see, a maid so sweet about the soul

Whack for the Too Rye Ooh Ray Lady,

Whack for the Too Ra Loo Ra Lay

As I came back through Dublin City at the hour of Half past Eight,
Who should I spy but the Spanish Lady,
brushing her hair in the broad daylight
First she brushed it, then she tossed it
On her lap was a silver comb
In all me life I ne'er did see, a maid so fair since I did roam.

Whack for the Too Rye Ooh Ray Lady,
whack for the Too Rye Ooh Rye Aye

As I returned to Dublin City, as the sun began to set
Who should I spy but a Spanish lady
Catching a moth, in a golden net.
First she saw me, then she fled me
Lifted her petticoats over her knee
In all me life I ne'er did see, a maid so fair as the Spanish Lady

Whack for the Too Rye Ooh Ray Lady,
whack for the Too Rye Ooh Rye Aye

I've wandered North, and I have wonder South
Through Stoney Batter and Patrick's Close
Up and around, by the Gloucester Diamond
And back by Napper Tandys' house
Auld age has laid her hands on me
Cold as a fire of ashy coals...
But, there is the love of me Spanish Lady, a maid so sweet about the soul

Whack for the Too Rye Ooh Ray Lady,
whack for the Too Rye Ooh Rye Aye

Whack for the Too Rye Ooh Ray Lady,
whack for the Too Rye Ooh Rye Aye

Overall Meaning

The song "Spanish Lady" by Emmet Cahill is a ballad about a Spanish woman who catches the attention of the singer as he passes through Dublin City at different times of the day. The first time he sees her, she is washing her feet by candlelight and he is struck by her sweetness of soul. The second time, he sees her brushing her hair in the daylight, and is captivated by her beauty. The final time he sees her, he watches her catch a moth in a golden net before she flees from him. He reflects on his travels, but ultimately concludes that the love of the Spanish Lady remains in his heart, even in his old age.

The Whack for the Too Rye Ooh Ray Lady and Whack for the Too Ra Loo Ra Lay in the chorus serves as a catchy and rhythmic refrain, which showcases the lively Irish character of the song. It adds to the overall atmosphere of the song and also serves as an easy sing along for the listeners.

The song is notable for its portrayal of the Spanish Lady, who is depicted as a strong, independent, and beautiful figure. Her presence contrasts with the backdrop of the Dublin City, which is described more ambiguously, less defined apart from its different parts or streets. It depicts a sense of longingness of the singer for the Spanish Lady, and how she is always in his thoughts.

Overall, "Spanish Lady" is a ballad that captures the heart and imagination of its listeners. It is a spirited love song that exemplifies the lively balladry of the Irish culture.

Line by Line Meaning

As I came down through Dublin City, at the hour of twelve at night,
Late at night in Dublin city, I stumbled upon a beautiful lady from Spain.

Who should I spy, but a Spanish Lady Washing her feet by the candlelight
She was washing her feet by candlelight and I couldn't believe how stunning she was.

First she washed them, then she dried them Over a fire of amber coals
She washed and dried her feet over a fire, which was the most beautiful thing I've ever seen.

In all me life I ne'er did see, a maid so sweet about the soul
I have never seen anyone as beautiful, inside and out, as this Spanish Lady.

Whack for the Too Rye Ooh Ray Lady, Whack for the Too Ra Loo Ra Lay
This is a repeated chorus, calling out to the beautiful Spanish Lady.

As I came back through Dublin City at the hour of Half past Eight, Who should I spy but the Spanish Lady, brushing her hair in the broad daylight
Later I saw her again, this time brushing her hair in daylight and she was equally stunning.

First she brushed it, then she tossed it On her lap was a silver comb In all me life I ne'er did see, a maid so fair since I did roam.
She brushed and tossed her hair with a silver comb, and again I have never seen anyone as fair as her.

As I returned to Dublin City, as the sun began to set Who should I spy but a Spanish lady Catching a moth, in a golden net.
On another occasion at sunset, I saw her catching a moth in a golden net.

First she saw me, then she fled me Lifted her petticoats over her knee In all me life I ne'er did see, a maid so fair as the Spanish Lady
When she saw me, she fled and lifted her petticoats over her knee. Even then, she was still the fairest maid I have ever seen.

I've wandered North, and I have wonder South Through Stoney Batter and Patrick's Close Up and around, by the Gloucester Diamond And back by Napper Tandys' house
I've traveled far and wide, to the North and South, through different parts of Dublin such as Stoney Batter, Patrick's Close, and by famous landmarks like the Gloucester Diamond and Napper Tandys' house.

Auld age has laid her hands on me Cold as a fire of ashy coals... But, there is the love of me Spanish Lady, a maid so sweet about the soul
I'm older now, but I still have the love for the Spanish Lady. She will always be sweet to my soul.

Contributed by Alexis N. Suggest a correction in the comments below.

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