In more recent times she has collaborated again with Davey (who is also her husband) and Co. Kerry based musicians (Seamus Begley, Éilís Ní Chinneide, Laurence Courtney, Daithí Ó Sé, Eoin Begley)to produce a unique body of work based on local poet Caoimhin O Cinneide's poetry which they converted into a group of songs and they now perform these as a band called Beal Tuinne. Rita has also been performing with other musicians such as Liam O'Flynn, Arty McGlynn, Neil Martin, Sean Keane, Noel Eccles and Shaun Davey in a new venture called The Funeral Band. She has also been performing in a quartet with her husband Shaun Davey and guitarist Gerry O'Beirne and concertina player Eoin Begley.
Rita has sung for and with many of the great names in Irish music including Shaun Davey, Bill Whelan, Donal Lunny, Andy Irvine, Christy Moore, Luka Bloom and Jimmy McCarthy. She has also sung songs for theatre, television and film including The Deer's Cry for 'Who Bombed Birmingham' and Todavia Cantamos for 'The Tailor of Panama'. She has sung in many great venues including the National Concert Hall, Dublin, The Albert Hall, London and Chicago Symphony Centre, Chicago.
Free And Easy
Rita Connolly Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Spanish ships a-fishing
What can you see from the masthead?
A Portugee from Newfoundland
Rising up on the breaking wave
Let it carry you over all the sea in the morning
Weigh, hey, and up she rises
And we're sailing free and easy
What can you see from the masthead?
A trading ship from Galway
What does he pay for the passage?
A just reward for the pilot
Rising up on the breaking wave
Let it carry you over all the sea in the morning
Weigh, hey, and up she rises
Sun is up, the bird's a-wing
And we're sailing free and easy
We'll stay at sea when the wind is keen
and wave begin to billow
We'll keep at sea when the wind it fails
And homeward bound we'll row
Where shall we go for a cargo?
We'll run right down to Vigo
And if the Bay shall make a storm
We'll take a look in at Bordeaux
What spy you now from the masthead?
An Algerine on the quarter
What shall we do to greet him?
Acquaint him with our ordnance
Rising up on the breaking wave
Let it carry you over all the sea in the morning
Weigh, hey, and up she rises
Sun is up, the bird's a-wing
And we're sailing free and easy
Rita Connolly's "Free and Easy" is a lively folk song that evokes the image of being on a ship and observing other vessels on the open sea. The song has a nautical theme and is about the life of sailors and the adventures they have on their travels.
The opening refrain of the song asks, "What can you see from the masthead?" This refers to the position above the deck where the mast and the rigging are situated. From this vantage point, the singer sees Spanish ships fishing and Portuguese traders from Newfoundland. The song is telling the story of a trading vessel and its crew who encounter other ships during their journey.
The second verse talks about the Galway trading ship and the pilot who guides it across the seas. The crew earns a just reward for their efforts. The last verse describes the crew's plans to sail to Vigo for a cargo, and if the weather is bad, they'll stop in Bordeaux. The "Algerine on the quarter" refers to a vessel approaching from off the ship's side. Upon seeing this, the crew must take action to protect itself from the Algerine, using "ordnance" or weapons.
Line by Line Meaning
What can you see from the masthead?
As a sailor, what sights do you see from the highest point of the ship?
Spanish ships a-fishing
You might see Spanish boats engaged in catching fish.
A Portugee from Newfoundland
You may see a Portuguese ship originating from Newfoundland.
Rising up on the breaking wave
Ride the wave and let it lift you up.
Let it carry you over all the sea in the morning
Allow it to take you across the vast ocean in the morning.
Weigh, hey, and up she rises
A sea chantey that encourages hard work and good spirits on board.
Sun is up, the bird's a-wing
The morning has arrived, and the birds are active.
And we're sailing free and easy
As we continue our trip, we are relaxed and enjoying the moment.
A trading ship from Galway
Another ship from Galway, involved in the business of trade.
What does he pay for the passage?
What is the amount paid for the voyage by the trading ship?
A just reward for the pilot
The payment made to the pilot is fair compensation for their services.
We'll stay at sea when the wind is keen
Even when the winds are strong, we'll remain at sea.
And wave begin to billow
When the waves start to soar, we'll still continue sailing.
We'll keep at sea when the wind it fails
We'll keep going even if the wind dies down.
And homeward bound we'll row
We'll use our paddles to get home if we have to.
Where shall we go for a cargo?
Where should we go to find things to transport?
We'll run right down to Vigo
We'll go straight to Vigo to load up our cargo.
And if the Bay shall make a storm
If the sea acts up while we're there,
We'll take a look in at Bordeaux
we'll check out Bordeaux for any goods we need to replace.
What spy you now from the masthead?
What can you see now from the ship's highest point?
An Algerine on the quarter
You might come across an Algerian ship on the stern of your own ship.
What shall we do to greet him?
What are the actions we should take to extend a greeting?
Acquaint him with our ordnance
We'll introduce him to our weapons as a warning.
Rising up on the breaking wave
Once again, the sailors are encouraged to ride the waves to propel them forward.
Let it carry you over all the sea in the morning
In the morning, use the water's natural energy to move across the vast ocean.
Weigh, hey, and up she rises
The sea chantey is sung again to inspire the crew's hard work and positivity.
Sun is up, the bird's a-wing
The day has started, with birds being active.
And we're sailing free and easy
The voyage is ongoing, and the crew is enjoying the journey.
Contributed by Adam V. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@terrybutler8674
I once had a brief phone conversation with Rita. I could have listened to that gloriously beautiful voice all day.
@WaveWatcher10
One of my favourite albums .. Rita Connolly an amazing gifted singer.. Shaun Davey grifter writer and composer
@tomryan4360
i was joking.she is the best .and i love her so!pity im nearly eighty and she is happily married!
@sigutjo
Only now that I write down the lyrics into my songbook I notice that they made a mistake. They dropped two lines and replaced them with lines from the second strophe. Doesn't ruin it for me though, still one of my all-time favorites.
@tomryan4360
what a woman!not a bad singer either.
@tomryan4360
yiz must all be dead out there