The band has recorded many albums of instrumental Irish folk music, as well as multiple collaborations with popular musicians of many genres, including Country music, Galician traditional music, Cape Breton and Newfoundland music, and rock and roll. They have performed with Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Roger Daltrey, Elvis Costello, Tom Jones, Sinéad O'Connor, James Galway, Jackson Browne, Nancy Griffith and numerous Country-western artists. In 1975, the group won praise for their playing of "Women of Ireland" for Stanley Kubrick's movie Barry Lyndon.
They have won six Grammy Awards and have been nominated eighteen times. In 2002 they were given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the UK's BBC Radio 2. The front covers of the first four albums were designed by Edward Delaney.
Paddy Moloney is the band's leader, and composes or arranges most of the band's music. While the band's members changed numerous times in the band's early history, the membership solidified in 1979 when Matt Molloy replaced Michael Tubridy.
From then until 2002, members included:
Paddy Moloney (uilleann pipes, tin whistle, button accordion, bodhrán)
Matt Molloy (flute, tin whistle)
Kevin Conneff (bodhrán, vocals)
Seán Keane (fiddle, tin whistle)
Martin Fay (fiddle, bones) (born 1938; died 14 November 2012)
Derek Bell (Irish harp, keyboard instruments, oboe) (born 21 October 1935; died 17 October 2002)
In 2002, Fay retired from active membership. In the same year, Bell died due to complications following a minor operation. Fay died on 14 November 2012.
I Know My Love
The Chieftains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
And I know my love by his way of talking
And I know my love dressed in a suit of blue
And if my love leaves me what will I do...
And still she cried, "I love him the best
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest"
And still she cried, "Bonny boys are few
There is a dance house in Maradyke
And there my true love goes every night
He takes a strange girl upon his knee
Well now don't you think that that vexes me?
And still she cried, "I love him the best
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest"
And still she cried, "Bonny boys are few
And if my love leaves me what will I do"
If my love knew I can wash and wring
If my love knew I can sew and spin
I'd make a coat of the finest kind
But the want of money sure leaves me behind
And still she cried, "I love him the best
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest"
And still she cried, "Bonny boys are few
And if my love leaves me what will I do"
I know my love is an arrant rover
I know he'll wander the wild world over
In dear old Ireland he'll no longer tarry
An American girl he's sure to marry
And still she cried, "I love him the best
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest"
And still she cried, "Bonny boys are few
And if my love leaves me what will I do"
And still she cried, "I love him the best
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest"
And still she cried, "Bonny boys are few
And if my love leaves me what will I do"
What will I do...
The lyrics of "I Know My Love" are about a woman who is in love with a man who she knows inside and out. She can recognize him by the way he walks and talks, and by the suit he wears. She is deeply upset and anxious, however, because she knows that he can be unfaithful to her. He spends his nights at a dance house in Maradyke and dances with other women, which bothers her greatly. The woman’s catchy repetition of the lines “And still she cried, ‘I love him the best, and a troubled mind sure can know no rest’ and still she cried, ‘Bonny boys are few, and if my love leaves me what will I do’” show her emotional turmoil and distress. The song is a beautiful folk love ballad that is performed by beautiful harmonies and upbeat tempo.
The woman sings about how she has many domestic skills like washing, ironing, and sewing, but she lacks the necessary money to make her beloved a coat, which only adds to her worry about losing him. The chorus repeats after each verse, with the woman pleading with her love not to leave her. In the final verse, she confesses her realization that her love is a wanderer and will marry an American girl, further adding to her overwhelming anxiety.
Line by Line Meaning
I know my love by his way of walking
I can identify my beloved by the manner he walks
And I know my love by his way of talking
I can tell it's my beloved by how he speaks
And I know my love dressed in a suit of blue
I recognize my beloved when he wears a blue suit
And if my love leaves me what will I do...
If my beloved departs, what will become of me?
And still she cried, "I love him the best
Nevertheless, she lamented, "He is my greatest love
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest"
Anxiety prevents peace of mind
And still she cried, "Bonny boys are few
Still, she exclaimed, 'Good-looking boys are scarce
And if my love leaves me what will I do"
And if he deserts me, what will I do?
There is a dance house in Maradyke
Maradyke has a dance hall
And there my true love goes every night
My true love visits it every evening
He takes a strange girl upon his knee
He sits a foreign girl on his lap
Well now don't you think that that vexes me?
Do you not believe that is annoying to me?
If my love knew I can wash and wring
If my beloved knew I could do laundry
If my love knew I can sew and spin
If my loved one were aware that I can sew and spin
I'd make a coat of the finest kind
I would stitch the highest quality coat
But the want of money sure leaves me behind
But I am held back by the lack of funds necessary
I know my love is an arrant rover
I know my beloved is a notorious wanderer
I know he'll wander the wild world over
I know he will travel the entire world
In dear old Ireland he'll no longer tarry
He will no longer linger in beloved old Ireland
An American girl he's sure to marry
He will likely wed an American woman
And still she cried, "I love him the best
Yet again, she exclaimed, "He is my greatest love
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest"
Restlessness will persist in a worried mind
And still she cried, "Bonny boys are few
Still, she exclaimed, 'Good-looking boys are scarce
And if my love leaves me what will I do"
And if he deserts me, what will I do?
And still she cried, "I love him the best
Still, she exclaimed, "He is my greatest love
And a troubled mind sure can know no rest"
Restlessness will persist in a worried mind
And still she cried, "Bonny boys are few
Still, she exclaimed, 'Good-looking boys are scarce
And if my love leaves me what will I do"
And if he deserts me, what will I do?
What will I do...
What are my options...
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management
Written by: PADDY MOLONEY
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind
@bugler75
Hi there. I have often searched for the history of Irish folk music (I’m from Ulster and a traditional musician).
To be honest I haven’t given this song a lot of attention ( I have made a cursory search!) but I haven’t found a lot of history despite some searching. This version does date back to the early 20th century though so it probably does date back further if you take the route of other Irish songs and the use of older English words (“tarry”, “vexes me?”).
Sorry I can’t answer your question positively!
To note is that older versions sing “an English girl he is sure to marry” rather than “an American girl…”. This change is more “politically correct” for the 20 th century.
Ultimately, I play and enjoy it as is.
It is lovely.
From an Ulster-man
Ian
Edit: I’ve had a few beers after a great night in the pub in France thanks to St Patrick!
@guitaro5000
I'm not sure if you're talking about composition talent or performing talent. I'll have to say Aguilera really really had pipes.
@educasado
I was barely19 when this cover was released and I remember I watched this video again and again, as I was desperately in love with Andrea Corr
@paulsweeney2215
This is the best version of this song I've heard to date. The singing is crystal clear, and combined with the backing of the chieftains, it's a perfect match.
@rogueriderhood1862
Wonderful version, love the Corrs and the Chieftans!
@SilentRuth10
And people wonder why I love Irish music so much... :D Music is my SOUL, people!
@seandoyle7844
That's how it should be done, great work..
@macsteed01
This is simply my favourite video of the Corrs. The singing the music and the ladies are perfect. Andrea shows her potential acting talent. The chieftains are remarkable as usual.
@TheOBOM
If this doesn't make you happy, nothing will!
@sandeepsreehari5028
Nobody has any idea for how long I've been looking for this song.... when I was 2 yesterday old... I was living in Chicago, there, my dad bought a cassette and this was the song, now after over 20 long years, the tune still used to ring in my mind, I tried and tried by couldn't find it, I tried midomi, Siri etc... was almost depressed and then, like a miracle I found this video on YouTube... amazing song, I just love the chords and her voice !!!
@nitewatchman1576
I put it on loop all night............ yes!