I Know My Love
The Chieftains feat. The Corrs Lyrics


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I know my love by his way of walking
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
And if my love leaves me what will I do"

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...

Overall Meaning

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
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