Marie's Wedding
The Chieftains/Van Morrison Lyrics

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Step we gaily on we go
Heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm and arm and row and row
All for Marie's wedding

Over hillways, up and down
Myrtle green and bracken brown
Past the sheilings through the town

All for the sake of marie

Step we gaily on we go
Heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm and arm and row and row
All for Marie's wedding

Red her cheeks as rowan's are
Bright her eyes as any star
Fairest of them all by far
Is our darlin' marie

Step we gaily on we go
Heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm and arm and row and row
All for Marie's wedding

Plenty herring, plenty meal
Plenty peat to fill her kreel
Plenty bonnie bairns as well
That's the toast for Marie

Step we gaily on we go
Heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm and arm and row and row
All for Marie's wedding

Step we gaily on we go
Heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm and arm and row and row
All for Marie's wedding

Step we gaily on we go
Heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm and arm and row and row
All for Marie's wedding

Step we gaily on we go
Heel for heel And toe for toe
Arm and arm And row and row
All for Marie's wedding

Na-na-na-na-na
Step we gaily on we go
Heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm and arm and row and row
All for Marie's wedding

Na-na-na-na-na
Step we gaily on we go
Heel for heel and toe for toe

Arm and arm and row and row
All for Marie's wedding

Overall Meaning

"Marie's Wedding" is a traditional Irish and Scottish folk song that tells the story of a joyous wedding celebration. The song describes a group of people traveling to the wedding of Marie, a beautiful and beloved bride. As they make their way over hills and through towns, they sing and dance, with arms linked and toes tapping, in honor of the bride-to-be.

The lyrics paint a vivid picture of the festivities, with plenty of food, drink, and dancing to go around. They describe Marie as the fairest of them all, with rosy cheeks and bright eyes. The chorus is a lively refrain that urges everyone to keep moving and celebrating, cheering for Marie and her groom.

The song is notable for its upbeat tempo and catchy melody, as well as its ability to evoke a sense of community and camaraderie. It is often played at Celtic weddings and other celebrations, and has become a widely popular folk song in the UK and abroad.

Line by Line Meaning

Step we gaily on we go
Let us merrily proceed on our journey

Heel for heel and toe for toe
Let us walk in perfect unison

Arm and arm and row and row
Let us march forward together

All for Marie's wedding
In celebration of Marie's marriage

Over hillways, up and down
Across hills and valleys

Myrtle green and bracken brown
Amidst verdant forests and rugged countryside

Past the sheilings through the town
Past small rural dwelling places and through the town

All for the sake of marie
All to celebrate and honor Marie

Red her cheeks as rowan's are
Her cheeks are as red as the berries of the rowan tree

Bright her eyes as any star
Her eyes are as bright as the stars in the sky

Fairest of them all by far
She is the most beautiful of them all

Is our darlin' marie
Marie is our beloved one

Plenty herring, plenty meal
There is an abundance of fish and food

Plenty peat to fill her kreel
There is an ample supply of peat to heat her home

Plenty bonnie bairns as well
There are also plenty of beautiful children

That's the toast for Marie
That is the celebratory drink raised in honor of Marie

Na-na-na-na-na
N/A

Lyrics © EB MUSIC SERVICES
Written by: VAN MORRISON, PADDY MALONEY

Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind

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Comments from YouTube:

@redingtonm

2y↑1

My sister got married today and my cousin played this on bagpipes I ugly cried.

@adamparker7445

2y↑3

My family had this cd while I was growing up, we used to listen to this on car trips and such. This Christmas I was back home and put this on the stereo...we all had a great time singing along together.