Shannon began her own recording career in 1989, working with producer John Dunford and musicians such as Adam Clayton, Mike Scott and Steve Wickham. The work with Scott and Wickham led to Shannon's joining their band, The Waterboys. Shannon was with the band for eighteen months, and contributed both accordion and fiddle to their Room to Roam album. Like Wickham, she left the group when Scott and group member Anthony Thistlethwaite wanted to move the band back to a more rock and roll sound. With Disirt Tola, Shannon toured the United States at age fourteen, whereas her first world tour was with The Waterboys.
Shannon's solo work has achieved remarkable airplay and commercial success, especially in Ireland. After her inclusion on A Woman's Heart, a compilation album and a tribute to her work on The Late Late Show, Shannon's music received a great deal of exposure, contributing to the record-breaking sales of her debut album
Her 2000 album, The Diamond Mountain Sessions, which included vocals from a wide variety of artists, was also a commercial success, being certified triple platinum.
Shannon recorded with Steve Earle on the song "The Galway Girl", which was released on both Earle's album Transcendental Blues, and Shannon & Friends' The Diamond Mountain Sessions. Both albums were released in 2000.
Another collaboration with Earle was the instrumental "Dominic Street", released on Earle's 2002 album Sidetracks. Shannon has also worked with Jackson Browne, the band Coolfin, Dónal Lunny, Moya Brennan, Kirsty MacColl, Christy Moore, Sinéad O'Connor, Liam O'Maonlai, and John Prine, amongst others.
Her more recent albums include:
Renegade (2007)
Saints & Scoundrels (2009)
Upside down (2009)
Flying Circus (2012)
The Galway Girl
Sharon Shannon Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Of a day-I-ay-I-ay
I met a little girl and we stopped to talk
Of a fine soft day-I-ay-I-ay
And I ask you, friend, what's a fella to do?
'Cause her hair was black and her eyes were blue
And I knew right then I'd be takin' a whirl
We were halfway there when the rain came down
Of a day-I-ay-I-ay
She asked me up to her flat downtown
Of a fine soft day-I-ay-I-ay
And I ask you, friend, what's a fella to do?
'Cause her hair was black and her eyes were blue
I took her hand and I gave her a twirl
Oh, and I lost my heart to a Galway girl
When I woke up I was all alone
With a broken heart and a ticket home
And I ask you now, tell me what would you do?
Ha, if her hair is black and her eyes were blue
'Cause I've traveled around I've been all over this world
Boys, I ain't never seen nothin' like a Galway girl
The song "Galway Girl" by Sharon Shannon captures the essence of young love and a one night stand that goes wrong. The song begins with the singer taking a stroll on the old long walk and meeting a beautiful girl with black hair and blue eyes. He is instantly taken with her and knows that he will be taking a whirl around the Salthill Prom with her. The innocence and excitement of new love is captured in the lyrics.
As they walk and talk, and get to know each other, it begins to rain. The girl invites him to her flat downtown and he accepts. Once there, the singer is torn between his heart and his mind. He knows that he is falling in love with this girl but also knows that he will have to leave soon. As he gives her a twirl, he realizes that his heart is lost to a Galway girl.
As the night comes to the end, the singer wakes up alone with a broken heart and a ticket home. The song captures the ephemeral nature of young love that is bound to be fleeting. It leaves the listener wondering what could have happened and what the fate of the Galway girl was.
Overall, the lyrics of "Galway Girl" are simple and straightforward, yet they capture the essence of young love and the heartbreak that often follows. The song leaves a lasting impression on the listener, evoking emotions of nostalgia and longing.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I took a stroll on the old long walk
I went for a leisurely walk on a historic route
Of a day-I-ay-I-ay
On a pleasant day
I met a little girl and we stopped to talk
I encountered a young woman and we engaged in conversation
Of a fine soft day-I-ay-I-ay
On a delightfully mild day
And I ask you, friend, what's a fella to do ?
I pose the rhetorical question to you, my friend, what is a man supposed to do in this situation?
'Cause her hair was black and her eyes were blue
Her appearance was striking with her dark hair and blue eyes
And I knew right then I'd be takin' a whirl
At that moment, I was certain I would be dancing with her
'Round the Salthill Prom with a Galway girl
We would be dancing around the Salthill Promenade with this young woman from Galway
We were halfway there when the rain came down
We had gotten halfway to our destination when it started to rain
She asked me up to her flat downtown
She invited me to her apartment in the city center
And I ask you, friend, what's a fella to do?
Again, I ask you my friend, what is a man supposed to do in this situation?
'Cause her hair was black and her eyes were blue
Her physical features were still captivating
I took her hand and I gave her a twirl
I took her hand and playfully spun her around
And I lost my heart to a Galway girl
I fell in love with this girl from Galway
When I woke up I was all alone
The next morning, I found myself alone
With a broken heart and a ticket home
Feeling heartbroken, I left with my ticket back home
And I ask you now, tell me what would you do
Reflecting on the situation, I now ask you, what would you do?
If her hair is black and her eyes were blue
Assuming you were in my shoes and she had those same striking features
I've traveled around I've been all over this world
I've been fortunate to travel and see many places in the world
Boys, I ain't never seen nothin' like a Galway girl
But I have to say, I've never met anyone quite like that Galway girl
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Steve Earle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@GrooveDoctor77Musician
this is the best version of Galway girl Ive heard , look at the stage full of great happy musicians, the audience is dancing ,smiling ....what a beautiful sight
@GrooveDoctor77Musician
Yep , Steve is a great songwriter
@emmapardy4893
wrong!!!! Celtic Thunder is the best.try it!!😀
@fix313
emma celtic thunder do to much lip sync so as for better no way this is best version by far
@DFCZE
All those Celtic woman and Thunders and shit can go f themselves.
@mrghost5116
GrooveDoctor77 😭😭 im crying with joy bc this was my favorite song when i was little and still is .I remember listening to this when i was four in the very back of my mums car
@jadefire2817
Some people have difficulty chewing gum and walking. This gentleman is chewing gum, gigging a mandolin, singing, keeping time, and sounding fabulous.............all at the same time!
@ianparadox1108
Ouyltelygekkekegwjgl
@ryanpatton7386
Horse of a man
@Ironworthstriking
Fun fact: singers often chew gum so their mouth doesn't dry out while performing.