In 1996 Parsons sang with folk musician Jon Hicks on his album Chasing the Bear. She then toured extensively in Europe and the USA as Niamh Parsons & The Loose Connections, with the traditional group Arcady and with Dublin guitarist Graham Dunne, with whom she has been playing as Niamh Parsons & Graham Dunne since 1999. She has also appeared solo at many festivals and venues in Ireland and Great Britain. Her 2002 album "Heart's Desire" won the 2003 Association for Independent Music award.
Parsons is one of the most distinctive voices in Irish music. Her voice has drawn comparisons to such venerated singers as Dolores Keane, June Tabor and Sandy Denny. The great Scottish balladeer Archie Fisher said of Parsons, "a songstress like her comes along once or twice in a generation."
It has been said that Parsons may not be the most famous Irish Balladeer, but many feel she's the best. Described in the Boston Herald as both emotionally haunting and tonally as clear as crystal, Parsons's albums have been 'must-have' collector's items for any lover of songs and singing. Parsons has recorded a series of studio albums and live albums. From 1999, Parsons has been playing in a duet with Ennis-based guitarist Graham Dunne as recorded as Niamh Parsons & Graham Dunne.
Growing up in Dublin, Parsons's music loving parents brought herself and her sister to the local folk club in The Old Shieling Hotel in Raheny, where the young girls were exposed to songs and singing from the likes of The Johnstons, Emmet Spiceland, Sweeney's Men, Dolly McMahon, Danny Doyle and many of the other musicians and singers that were playing in Folk clubs at that time. "My father was a great singer, and on long journeys the family used to sing in the car—I don't remember a time in my life when I was not singing—I love songs."
Parsons developed this love into a penchant for collecting songs. She is always on the lookout for songs that speak to her—listening to new albums, scouring the Traditional Music Archives in Dublin, sharing notes with a network of friends and other singers. Once she discovers a song she likes, Parsons views herself as the vehicle for the music. "For me the song is more important than listening to my voice," she says. "I consider myself more a songstress than a singer—a carrier of tradition."
Throughout her career, Parsons has performed with a wide variety of artists, and has appeared at nearly every prestigious folk festival on either side of the Atlantic. As a member of the traditional Irish band Arcady (led by De Dannan's Johnny "Ringo" McDonagh), she sang on their Shanachie recording Many Happy Returns. She appeared before President Clinton and Irish Prime Minister Bertie Ahern in Capitol Hill, Washington, joined Grammy Award winner Paul Winter for an album and a summer concert in New York, and performed on "A Prairie Home Companion" when the show broadcast live from Dublin.
Parsons's recording career began as Niamh Parsons & The Loose Connections, her band of top-notch Belfast musicians she formed with songwriter and bass-player Dee Moore. The band recorded two albums of contemporary and traditional material together. Their debut recording, Loosely Connected (Greentrax, 1992) met with the highest of praise. A beautiful mix of traditional Irish and contemporary songs, it featured the memorable "Tinkerman's Daughter" and featured Brian Kennedy, piper John McSherry, guitarist Paul McSherry and a variety of wonderful Belfast musicians.
The second album, Loosen Up (Green Linnet, 1997), was another buoyant mix of originals and well-chosen contemporary ballads, like Brid Murphy's gorgeous "Clohinne Winds" and Tom Waits' "The Briar and the Rose," a powerful a cappella duet with Fran McPhail of the Voice Squad. Once again the album featured first-class musicians, including guitarist Gavin Ralston, world-renowned saxophone player Ritchie Buckley and Kilkenny accordion player Mick McAuley (now with Solas).
In 1999, Parsons took a bold step and returned to her roots with her first solo album, Blackbirds and Thrushes (Green Linnet) a collection of traditional Irish ballads gathered from over 15 years of Parsons's singing repertoire. In her words, "these songs are living in me." The album won instant acclaim as a welcome return to traditionalism. The Boston Globe declared that it "expressed the sorrow and longing of the Celtic soul more deeply than any within recent memory", and Irish Music Magazine called it "simply magnificent traditional singing."
At this stage, Parsons found her self alone, without a band, and called on the talents of her friend Graham Dunne. They formed a strong bond from the outset, and without doubt, he was the perfect foil for her voice.
Keeping in form, Parsons's next CD In My Prime (Green Linnet 2000) was another collection of mostly traditional material, and again received widespread praise. Folk Roots named it one of the top albums of the year and The Irish Voice called the album "a must-have disc for lovers of Irish song." The album was nominated for Album of the Year by BBC Radio 2 (UK) and the Association for Independent Music (US).
Over the next two years Parsons and Graham toured constantly, and Heart's Desire was released in 2002. This album furthers the tradition of Irish song with unadorned settings and heartfelt delivery. She gathered together a collection of songs drawn from both traditional sources and modern writers including Mark Knopfler and Andy Irvine. The talented musicians who play on the album include in addition to her main accompanist, guitarist Graham Dunne, accordionist Josephine Marsh and Dennis Cahill, who produced the CD, and calls it "her best work yet." Heart's Desire is dedicated to the memory of her father, Jack Parsons. "Daddy had a beautiful voice," says Parsons, "and a great ear for a good song."
In September 2005, Parsons and Dunne recorded a concert at the Fylde Folk Festival, in the UK, and released this as a live album Live at Fylde which features many favourite of Parsons's traditional songs, all on one album. The Old Simplicity is the latest CD to be released with Dunne. Produced by Dennis Cahill again this album contains songs of hunger, of danger, of death and defeat, and ultimately, of love.
This is a body of work that has proven Parsons one of the premier vocalists of her time and a keeper of the flame in Irish traditional song.
Website: www.niamhparsons.com
The Rigs of Rye
Niamh Parsons Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Down between two rigs of rye, I heard two lovers talking
He said 'Lassie lassie, I must go away, and so no longer with you can I stay
But I've a word or two to say, if you've a mind for to tarry,
Of you, your father he takes good care, and your mother too, she combs down your yellow hair
And your sisters too say they'll get no share, if you follow me love, a stranger
And lassie, lassie, your fortune it is but small, and perhaps it's true that you've got none at all,
And I'm not a match love for you at all, so go and give your love to another'.
'Oh my father can fret and my mother can frown and my sisters too I do disown
and if they were dead and below the ground I'd still follow you love, you're no stranger'
But this lassie's courage began to fade and her rosy cheeks they soon grew wan and pale
And the tears came trickling down like hail or the heavy shower in summer.
And he's taken her kerchief of linen so fine, and he's kissed her lips and then he's dried her eyes
Saying 'Weep no more love for you shall be mine and all that I said was to try you'
And this laddie was of courage bold, a gallant chief, just 19 years old
And he's made the hills and the valleys to roam and the young bonny lass has gone with him
And this couple they are married now, and they have babies one and two
And they live in Breckin the winter through, and in Montrose in the summer.
The Rigs of Rye by Niamh Parsons tells the story of two lovers who discuss the consequences of their impending separation in the month of July while they are in the middle of two fields of rye. The man tells the woman that he must leave her and advises her to find love elsewhere. He tells her that she has very little fortune and that she deserves someone better. However, the woman is determined to stay with him as she disowns her family and is willing to follow him wherever he goes. As she begins to cry, the man comforts her and confesses that all he said was to test her devotion. In the end, they leave together and are now married with children.
The lyrics tell a beautiful, timeless tale of love, devotion, and courage. The song emphasizes the importance of loyalty, understanding, and the risk that comes with following one's heart. The imagery of two fields of rye and the beautiful Scottish countryside paint a vivid picture of the setting for the lovers' conversation. The lyrics also highlight the harsh reality of social and economic status in determining who one can love, which was a familiar theme in traditional songs.
Line by Line Meaning
It was in the month of sweet July, before the sun shone in the sky
In the middle of summer, before the sun had risen high, I heard a conversation between two lovers.
Down between two rigs of rye, I heard two lovers talking
I overheard a conversation of two lovers beneath two rows of rye crops.
He said 'Lassie lassie, I must go away, and so no longer with you can I stay
The man said to the woman, 'My dear, I must leave and can no longer be with you.'
But I've a word or two to say, if you've a mind for to tarry,
However, I have a few things to say if you are willing to listen.
Of you, your father he takes good care, and your mother too, she combs down your yellow hair
Your father and mother take good care of you and your beautiful blonde hair.
And your sisters too say they'll get no share, if you follow me love, a stranger
Your sisters say they won’t get their share if you come with me, a stranger.
And lassie, lassie, your fortune it is but small, and perhaps it's true that you've got none at all,
My dear, your dowry is small, and you might not even have one, in fact.
And I'm not a match love for you at all, so go and give your love to another'.
To be honest, I'm not a suitable match for you, so you should find another love.
'Oh my father can fret and my mother can frown and my sisters too I do disown
The woman replied, 'I don't care if my father and mother disapprove or if my sisters disown me.'
and if they were dead and below the ground I'd still follow you love, you're no stranger'
Even if they were dead and buried, I would still follow you, my beloved, because you're no stranger to me.
But this lassie's courage began to fade and her rosy cheeks they soon grew wan and pale
However, the woman's courage began to falter, and her cheeks grew pale and wan.
And the tears came trickling down like hail or the heavy shower in summer.
Her tears flowed like hail or a heavy summer rain.
And he's taken her kerchief of linen so fine, and he's kissed her lips and then he's dried her eyes
He took her fine linen handkerchief, kissed her lovingly, and wiped her tears.
Saying 'Weep no more love for you shall be mine and all that I said was to try you'
He said, 'Don't cry, my love. You'll be mine, and everything I said was just to test you.'
And this laddie was of courage bold, a gallant chief, just 19 years old
The man was a brave and daring young chief, just nineteen years of age.
And he's made the hills and the valleys to roam and the young bonny lass has gone with him
He took her to wander through hills and valleys, and the young and beautiful girl went with him.
And this couple they are married now, and they have babies one and two
Now this couple is married and has one or two babies.
And they live in Breckin the winter through, and in Montrose in the summer.
They spend their winters in Breckin and their summers in Montrose.
Writer(s): Niamh Parsons, Dennis Cahill, Graham Dunne
Contributed by Chase G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.