The Galway Girl
Steve Earle Lyrics
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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
'Round the Salthill Prom with a Galway girl
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
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
If her hair is black and her eyes were blue
I've traveled around, I've been all over this world
Boys, I ain't never seen nothin' like a Galway girl
The Galway Girl by Steve Earle is a joyous tune that tells the story of a brief encounter that leaves a lasting impression. Beginning with a stroll on the old long walk, the singer meets a beautiful girl with black hair and blue eyes. The singer is instantly smitten and knows that he will be taking a whirl with her around the Salthill promenade. As he walks with the Galway girl, the rain comes pouring down, and she invites him to her flat downtown. As they dance and twirl, he loses his heart to her.
Unfortunately, the singer wakes up alone with a broken heart and a ticket home. He is left wondering what he should have done differently. The lyrics imply that this encounter was so vivid and passionate; it was unlike anything he had experienced before. This immersive experience was short-lived and left the singer with only a memory to cherish.
Overall, the song captures the essence of being in the moment and cherishing each experience, no matter how brief. The Galway girl would be a reminder of the magical moments that once graced his life.
Line by Line Meaning
Well, I took a stroll on the old long walk
I went for a leisurely walk on an old, familiar path
Of a day-I-ay-I-ay
On a lovely day
I met a little girl and we stopped to talk
I encountered a young lady and we engaged in conversation
Of a fine soft day-I-ay-I-ay
On a beautiful, calm day
And I ask you, friend, what's a fella to do?
I inquire to you, my friend, what is a man to do in this situation?
'Cause her hair was black and her eyes were blue
Because she had black hair and blue eyes
And I knew right then I'd be takin' a whirl
And I immediately knew that I would be taking a spin or turn with her
'Round the Salthill Prom with a Galway girl
Around the Salthill Promenade with a woman from Galway
We were halfway there when the rain came down
We were halfway through our journey 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 took her hand and I gave her a twirl
And I took her hand and spun her around
And I lost my heart to a Galway girl
And I fell in love with a woman from Galway
When I woke up I was all alone
When I woke up, she was no longer with me
With a broken heart and a ticket home
I was heartbroken and had a ticket to return home
And I ask you now, tell me what would you do
And now I ask you, what would you do in my situation?
If her hair was black and her eyes were blue
If you fell for a woman with black hair and blue eyes
I've traveled around, I've been all over this world
I've journeyed far and wide throughout the world
Boys, I ain't never seen nothin' like a Galway girl
But I have never seen anyone like the woman from Galway
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Universal Music Publishing Group
Written by: Steve Earle
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind