August
Michael McGlynn Lyrics
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White over yellow harvest's song
Upon her dewy rainbow way
She shall be beautiful and strong
The lidless eye of noon shall spray
Tan on her ankles in the hay
Shall kiss her brown the whole day long
Above the crickets of the hay
I'll know her when her odd eyes fall
One May-blue, one November-gray
I'll watch her down the red barn wall
Take down her rusty scythe and call
And I will follow her away
I will follow her away
The lyrics of Michael McGlynn's "August" paints a picturesque scene of the arrival of a woman at the break of dawn amidst the harvest season. She is described as being beautiful, strong, and resolute. The reference to the "white over yellow harvest's song" is indicative of the contrast between the sky and the fields, reminiscent of the changing seasons. The use of the dewy rainbow pathway further enhances the idea of color and beauty that surrounds her.
The second stanza transforms the experience from a visual one to an auditory one, as the singer listens to the crickets in the hay, waiting for the arrival of the woman. The description of her eyes as "one May-blue, one November-gray" emphasizes the contrasting elements that seemingly exist within her. The singer then observes her as she takes down her rusty scythe and calls, signaling the beginning of the workday. The final line, "And I will follow her away," captures the singer's infatuation with the woman, suggesting the possibility of a romantic pursuit.
Line by Line Meaning
She'll come at dusky first of day
The woman will arrive at daybreak, at the very moment when the sky turns from dark to light.
White over yellow harvest's song
The colors of the harvest will be all around her, singing a song of white and yellow.
Upon her dewy rainbow way
She will follow a path that seems to be made of a rainbow, covered with dew.
She shall be beautiful and strong
The woman will be radiant and powerful.
The lidless eye of noon shall spray
The high sun will shine brightly, with no shade to protect her.
Tan on her ankles in the hay
She'll get a suntan on the exposed part of her legs from working in the hay.
Shall kiss her brown the whole day long
The sun will continuously kiss and darken her skin throughout the day.
I'll know her in the windows tall
The artist will recognize her from a tall window.
Above the crickets of the hay
The woman will be positioned above the sound of the crickets in the hay.
I'll know her when her odd eyes fall
He'll recognize her by the way her unique eyes look down.
One May-blue, one November-gray
Her eyes will be two different colors -- one a blue like May skies, the other gray like the November's rain clouds.
I'll watch her down the red barn wall
The artist will observe her walking down a wall painted the color of sunset.
Take down her rusty scythe and call
The woman will retrieve her old and worn scythe and shout out for the singer.
And I will follow her away
The singer will leave everything behind to follow the woman into the unknown.
Lyrics © O/B/O APRA AMCOS
Written by: . TRADITIONAL, AUTHOR UNKNOWN COMPOSER, COMPOSER AUTHOR UNKNOWN, MICHAEL MCGLYNN, MICHAEL PHILIP MCGLYNN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@Gimmer3
August
by Francis ledwidge.
S HE'LL come at dusky first of day,
White over yellow harvest's song.
Upon her dewy rainbow way
She shall be beautiful and strong.
The lidless eye of noon shall spray
Tan on her ankles in the hay,
Shall kiss her brown the whole day long.
I'll know her in the windrows, tall
Above the crickets of the hay.
I'll know her when her odd eyes fall,
One May-blue, one November-grey.
I'll watch her from the red barn wall
Take down her rusty scythe, and call.
And I will follow her away.
@charlottemacdonald927
I turn to this song every first of August. Today I found out that I was born at the traditional start of Lughnasadh, and it made this song all the more special. Thank you for what you bring to my life.
@sondraburnham177
Michael has developed a delicious group of singers. They blend and harmonize beautifully. Intricate vocals a cappella like this gives the serene sense it was meant to be.
@sevenseasonsofbrown
delicious is a very interesting word to describe a group of singers
@NicMiller
I just don't know how I've gone this far in life without hearing this song. Your art has changed the course of my day, and maybe more than just today.
@padraigoneill9295
there is a melancholic air to this song , that the promise glory of summer is soon to draw to an end. beautifully done by ANUNA.
@NicMiller
Michael, this May-blue I remembered this song and quickly came back to have another listen. Thank you again. It is a powerful thing, during difficult times, to remember that the Sublime does exist in this world, and that it is not subjective or relative.
@anunachoir
+Nic Miller Thanks Nic. Yes - I agree very much. I've just set the companion to this piece - "May" - similar but very dissimilar in many ways. May is a very special month and a time to press the reset switch on so many things.
@nicolemee8453
My favourite Anuna song. Brings me peace when I listen to it.
@winnieladyofthedulcimer
Musically magic and mystical - an earthbound journey of the voice and soul. Beautiful visuals.
@azriannakrajnik
This is unbelievably beautiful. Thank You.