1. Solas is an American musical group officially formed in 1996, playing Irish traditional music as well as original compositions that dabble in the country, rock, and americana genres. The band's original lineup consisted of Seamus Egan (flute, tenor banjo, mandolin, tin whistle/low whistle, guitar, bodhrán), Winifred Horan (fiddle), John Doyle (guitar), John Williams (accordian), and Karan Casey (lead vocals). Over the years, only Egan and Horan have stayed with the band. The current members are now Egan, Horan, Deidre Scanlan (lead vocals), Eamon McElholm (guitar), and Mick McAuley (button accordion/piano accordion, concertina, low whistle, backing vocals).
2. Solas is a French rock band. The band released an album with the title 'Viens Sur Moi' in 2006.
The Unquiet Grave
Solas Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
Soft falls the gentle rain
I never had but one true love
And in Greenwood she lies slain
I'd lose much for my true love
As any young man may
I'll sit and I'll mourn all on your grave
When the twelfth month and a day had passed
The ghost began to speak
"Who is it that sits all on my grave
And will not let me sleep?"
"'Tis I, 'tis I, thine own true love
That sits all on your grave
I ask of one kiss from your sweet lips
And that is all that I crave"
"My lips, they are as clay, my love
My breath is earthy strong
And if you should kiss my clay-cold lips
Your time, 'twould not be long"
"Look down in the yonder garden fair
Love, where we used to walk
The fairest flower that ever bloomed
Has withered and too the stalk"
"The stalk, it has withered and dried, my love
So will our hearts decay
So make yourself content, my love
'Til death calls you away"
The Unquiet Grave is a traditional folk song that speaks of a love that transcends beyond the living world. The song opens with a somber tone, describing the cold wind and gentle rain that fall upon the singer's true love who lies in Greenwood, likely a graveyard. It is evident that the singer has lost her true love, and her love for her partner continues even in death. The singer would give up everything for her true love, and she continues to mourn for her for twelve months and a day, which is a common mourning period in traditional folklore.
As the mourning period draws to an end, the ghost of the singer's true love appears to speak to her from beyond the grave. The ghost asks the singer to identify themselves and why they are sitting on her grave not letting her sleep. The singer identifies herself as the true love of the ghost and requests a kiss from her sweet lips. However, the ghost warns that her lips are as cold as clay and any kiss from her could bring death close. The ghost then directs the singer's attention to the garden, where the flower that has withered and died, just like their hearts.
The Unquiet Grave is a powerful and poignant song that captures the mournful longing of a lover who cannot find rest until they reunite with their beloved. The song speaks to the human desire for connection and the powerful emotions love can evoke.
Line by Line Meaning
Cold blows the wind upon my true love
The wind is blowing coldly upon my beloved
Soft falls the gentle rain
The rain falls gently
I never had but one true love
I have only ever loved one person
And in Greenwood she lies slain
She was killed and buried in Greenwood
I'd lose much for my true love
I would sacrifice a lot for my beloved
As any young man may
As any young man would do
I'll sit and I'll mourn all on your grave
I will sit and mourn on her grave
For twelve months and a day
For a year and a day
When the twelfth month and a day had passed
When a year and a day had gone by
The ghost began to speak
The ghost started to speak
"Who is it that sits all on my grave
"Who is sitting on my grave
And will not let me sleep?"
And won't let me rest?"
"'Tis I, 'tis I, thine own true love
"It's me, your true love
That sits all on your grave
Sitting on your grave
I ask of one kiss from your sweet lips
I ask for one kiss from your sweet lips
And that is all that I crave"
That's all I want."
"My lips, they are as clay, my love
"My lips are like clay, my love
My breath is earthy strong
My breath is strong and earthy
And if you should kiss my clay-cold lips
If you were to kiss my cold, lifeless lips
Your time, 'twould not be long"
Your time on earth would be short."
"Look down in the yonder garden fair
"Look down at the beautiful garden below
Love, where we used to walk
Where we used to walk together
The fairest flower that ever bloomed
The most beautiful flower that ever existed
Has withered and too the stalk"
Has withered away and died too."
"The stalk, it has withered and dried, my love
"The stem has withered and dried out, my love
So will our hearts decay
So will our hearts wither away
So make yourself content, my love
So be happy, my love
'Til death calls you away"
Until death takes you away."
Contributed by Aiden B. Suggest a correction in the comments below.