Spanish lady
Maighread & Triona Ni Dhomhnaill Lyrics
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About the hour of twelve at night
It was there I saw a fair pretty female
Washing her feet by candlelight
First she washed them, then she dried them
Over a fire of ambery coals
And in all my life I never did see
A maid so neat about the soles
She had twenty eighteen sixteen fourteen
Twelve ten eight six four two none
She had nineteen seventeen fifteen thirteen
Eleven nine seven five three and one
I stopped to look but the watchman passed
Says he, "Young fellow, now the night is late
And along with you home or I will wrestle you
Straight away to the Bridewell gate
I got a look from the Spanish lady
Hot as a fire of ambery coals
And in all my life I never did see
A maid so neat about the soles
She had twenty eighteen sixteen fourteen
Twelve ten eight six four two none
She had nineteen seventeen fifteen thirteen
Eleven nine seven five three and one
As I walked back through Dublin City
As the dawn of day was o'er
Oh whom should I spy but the Spanish lady
When I was weary and footsore
She had a heart so filled with loving
And her love she longed to share
And in all my life I never did meet
A maid who had so much to spare
She had twenty eighteen sixteen fourteen
Twelve ten eight six four two none
She had nineteen seventeen fifteen thirteen
Eleven nine seven five three and one
I have wandered north and I've wandered south
By Stoneybatter and Patrick's Close
And up and around by the Gloucester Diamond
Back by Napper Tandy's house
Old age has laid her hand upon me
Cold as a fire of ashey coals
And gone is the lovely Spanish lady
Neat and sweet about the soles
'Round and around goes the wheel of fortune
Where it rests now wearies me
Oh fair young maids are so deceiving
Sad experience teaches me
She had twenty eighteen sixteen fourteen
Twelve ten eight six four two none
She had nineteen seventeen fifteen thirteen
Eleven nine seven five three and one
The song "Spanish Lady" tells the story of a young man who tells of seeing a beautiful Spanish woman washing her feet by candlelight in Dublin city. He is struck by her beauty and grace, particularly in the way she washes and dries her feet. However, the watchman warns him to go home or else he will be taken to the Bridewell gate, so he leaves. The man later sees the Spanish lady again, and she shows him kindness and love. The song ends with the man reflecting on his past and reminiscing about the Spanish lady, who is now gone.
One interpretation of the song is that it represents the fleeting nature of love and desire. The man is struck by the beauty of the Spanish lady, but he can't stay with her because of the watchman. Later, when he meets her again, he is too tired and worn out to pursue a relationship. The song also has a nostalgic quality to it, as the man reflects on his past and realizes that the Spanish lady was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
Line by Line Meaning
As I was walking through Dublin City
The singer was walking in the city of Dublin.
About the hour of twelve at night
It was around midnight.
It was there I saw a fair pretty female
The singer saw a beautiful woman.
Washing her feet by candlelight
She was washing her feet with the help of a candle.
First she washed them, then she dried them
She washed and dried her feet.
Over a fire of ambery coals
She used amber colored coals to dry her feet.
And in all my life I never did see
The singer has never seen before.
A maid so neat about the soles
A woman who is so careful about the cleanliness of her feet.
She had twenty eighteen sixteen fourteen
She had a lot of suitors.
Twelve ten eight six four two none
But not all of them were successful.
She had nineteen seventeen fifteen thirteen
The numbers could represent their ages.
Eleven nine seven five three and one
Or the sequence of those who tried their luck.
I stopped to look but the watchman passed
The singer paused to observe but a watchman warned him.
Says he, 'Young fellow, now the night is late
The watchman warned the singer about the time.
And along with you home or I will wrestle you
The watchman threatened to take the singer to jail.
Straight away to the Bridewell gate
The jail or prison where offenders are detained.
I got a look from the Spanish lady
The woman noticed the artist looking at her.
Hot as a fire of ambery coals
She gave the singer a burning look with her eyes.
As I walked back through Dublin City
The singer was returning back through the city.
As the dawn of day was o'er
It was now morning.
Oh whom should I spy but the Spanish lady
The artist saw the same Spanish lady.
When I was weary and footsore
The artist was tired and exhausted.
She had a heart so filled with loving
The woman was kind and loving.
And her love she longed to share
She wanted to share her love.
And in all my life I never did meet
The singer has never met before.
A maid who had so much to spare
A woman who had so much love to give.
I have wandered north and I've wandered south
The singer has wandered in different directions.
By Stoneybatter and Patrick's Close
The artist has walked through these places.
And up and around by the Gloucester Diamond
The artist walked up and around this area.
Back by Napper Tandy's house
The singer returned back to this house.
Old age has laid her hand upon me
The singer is old now.
Cold as a fire of ashey coals
The artist feels cold and lifeless.
And gone is the lovely Spanish lady
The artist can no longer see the lovely Spanish lady.
Neat and sweet about the soles
A woman who was clean and well-presented.
'Round and around goes the wheel of fortune
The fortune wheel keeps on turning.
Where it rests now wearies me
The artist is tired of wondering when it will stop.
Oh fair young maids are so deceiving
The singer has learned from experience that young women can be deceptive.
Sad experience teaches me
The singer has learned a sad lesson from experience.
Contributed by Grayson C. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@rositaberman1658
Wundervoll. Habe mir vorhin die CD gekauft (Putumayo-Celtic Women).Seitdem bin ich nur am Heulen.đđđđđ
@christianbach4818
Klasse Musik,Danke Triona
@NinjaGoemonMusic
Oooooo puré LOVE
@bredafinn1849
Love this song alwayd
@rositaberman1658
A cheer for Ireland and the six counties still under foreign law.đđđđđđ
@bucklilli9832
such beautiful voices these ladies have. What do the numbers mean?
@agarfield50
The numbers, counting down even and then odd, to 0 mean (I believe) that the singer thinks the Spanish lady HAD IT ALL. She had the odds and evens. It's an older song and the "have it all odds and evens" is an archaic phrase. I hope this helps.
@seadnamacseoin4417
Is aoibheann liom an leagan seo den Spanish Lady.
@agarfield50
I agree. It's the best. I suspect the number countdown is too confusing (or too archaic) for other singers. I love it too.
@burghquay
go h-alainn