Bill Hughes formed the idea of a trio of Irish tenors during a Cannes festival at which the famous Three Tenors, Luciano Pavarotti, José Carreras and Plácido Domingo were performing. Hughes wanted to produce a television special and first approached Ireland's Finbar Wright in 1998 to join the group but Wright's recording contract with Sony BMG prohibited such a venture. Hughes then invited Canadian John McDermott to head up the group and he accepted. After conferring with Ireland's leading vocal coach, Dr. Veronica Dunne, Anthony Kearns and Ronan Tynan were asked to join. In 1999, "The Irish Tenors-in Dublin" debuted on PBS television in the United States.
PBS signed up for another special by the increasingly popular new group but early in 2000 McDermott's mother died and John decided he could not fully commit himself to the group. Days before PBS was to film The Irish Tenors - Live in Belfast Hughes again contacted Finbar Wright and asked him to step in. Wright agreed to help and was asked to stay on for upcoming tour dates. Having left Sony, Wright was able to join the trio on a permanent basis.
In 2001, the Irish Tenors filmed their third special, an historic PBS broadcast at New York's Ellis Island , hosted by Irish/American actor Martin Sheen. Their album "Ellis Island" topped Billboard's Heatseeker list and landed on its "Top 10 Best of 2001".
In 2006, after Tynan left the group to concentrate on his solo career, Karl Scully was asked by Kearns and Wright to join the trio. This successful blend of voices spurred Bill Hughes to produce a television 9 part series for Ireland's RTE titled The Irish Tenors & Friends. Friends performing on the television special with The Irish Tenors include Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber , Paul Carrick, Finbar Furey , Hayley Westenra , Shayne Ward , Sharon Shannon, Peter Grant , Rebecca Storm, Lucia Evans , and Celine Byrne.
In 2007 the South Carolina Legislature issued a "Proclamation" welcoming the trio to that State at their performance in Charleston.
The trio continues to tour yearly.
Spanish Lady
The Irish Tenors Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
At the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I see but a Spanish lady
Washing her feet by candle light.
First she washed them, then she dried them
O'er a fire of amber coal,
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so sweet about the sole.
Whack for the toora loora lay.
Whack for the toora loora laddy,
Whack for the toora loora lay.
As I came back through Dublin city
At the hour of half past eight,
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady
Brushing her hair in broad daylight.
First she tossed it, then she brushed it,
On her lap was a silver comb,
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so fair since I did roam.
Whack for the toora loora laddy,
Whack for the toora loora lay.
Whack for the toora loora laddy,
Whack for the toora loora lay.
As I went back through Dublin city
As the sun began to set,
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady
Catching a moth in a golden net.
When she saw me then she fled me,
Lifting her petticoat o'er her knee,
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so shy as the Spanish lady.
Whack for the toora loora laddy,
Whack for the toora loora lay.
Whack for the toora loora laddy,
Whack for the toora loora lay.
I've wandered north and I've wandered south,
Through Stonybatter and Patrick's Close,
Up and around the Glouster diamond
And back by Napper Tandy's house.
Old age has her hand laid on me,
Cold as a fire of ashy coals,
But in all my life I ne'er did see,
A maid so sweet as the Spanish lady.
Whack for the toora loora laddy,
Whack for the toora loora lay.
Whack for the toora loora laddy,
Whack for the toora loora lay.
The Irish Tenors' song "Spanish Lady" is a beautiful ode to a young Spanish woman seen by the singer during his travels through Dublin. The lyrics follow a journey through Dublin city at different times of the day and night, each time the singer sees the same beautiful Spanish lady engaging in different activities. The singer watches her wash her feet by candlelight, brush her hair in broad daylight and catch a moth in a golden net as the sun begins to set. Throughout each encounter, the singer is struck by her beauty and charm.
The song is a poignant reminder of the fleeting nature of youth and beauty, as the singer reflects on his own age and the passing of time. The final verse sees the singer reminiscing about his travels through Dublin city, but all the while his thoughts are on the young Spanish lady he met long ago. The song is a beautiful tribute to youth and beauty, and a reminder to cherish these moments before they are gone.
Overall, "Spanish Lady" is a romantic and nostalgic ballad that transports the listener to the streets of Dublin, and reminds us of the beauty that can be found in everyday moments.
Line by Line Meaning
As I came down through Dublin City
At the hour of twelve at night,
Who should I see but a Spanish lady
Washing her feet by candle light.
At midnight in Dublin, I stumbled upon a Spanish lady washing her feet by candlelight.
First she washed them, then she dried them
O'er a fire of amber coal,
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so sweet about the sole.
She washed her feet and dried them over a fire of amber coal, and I've never seen anyone with such sweet soles.
Whack for the toora loora laddy,
Whack for the toora loora lay.
Whack for the toora loora laddy,
Whack for the toora loora lay.
A musical expression of enjoyment and appreciation.
As I came back through Dublin city
At the hour of half past eight,
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady
Brushing her hair in broad daylight.
Later, at half past eight, I saw the same Spanish lady brushing her hair in broad daylight.
First she tossed it, then she brushed it,
On her lap was a silver comb,
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so fair since I did roam.
She tossed and brushed her hair, and held a silver comb on her lap, and I've never seen a more beautiful woman since my travels began.
As I went back through Dublin city
As the sun began to set,
Who should I spy but the Spanish lady
Catching a moth in a golden net.
Later, at sunset, I saw the Spanish lady catching a moth in a golden net.
When she saw me then she fled me,
Lifting her petticoat o'er her knee,
In all my life I ne'er did see
A maid so shy as the Spanish lady.
When she saw me, she ran away, lifting her petticoat over her knee, and I've never seen such a shy maiden as her.
I've wandered north and I've wandered south,
Through Stonybatter and Patrick's Close,
Up and around the Glouster diamond
And back by Napper Tandy's house.
I've traveled far and wide, from the north to the south, through Stonybatter and Patrick's Close, over the Glouster diamond, and back by Napper Tandy's house.
Old age has her hand laid on me,
Cold as a fire of ashy coals,
But in all my life I ne'er did see,
A maid so sweet as the Spanish lady.
I may be old, but I still remember the beauty of the Spanish lady, who was as sweet as if she were warming me in a cold fire of ashy coals.
Whack for the toora loora laddy,
Whack for the toora loora lay.
Whack for the toora loora laddy,
Whack for the toora loora lay.
A musical expression of enjoyment and appreciation.
Writer(s): MC-NAMARA FRANCIS ANTHONY
Contributed by Charlotte L. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
Phyllis Ramsey
Can you believe this concert was nineteen years ago? Amazing! Such great voices and such great camaraderie!
Cindy Snow
Well you look young☺
Cathy Arnett
What a joyous song... they loved performing this ... always such perfection👌👍❣️
Rikki0
I love the way they so seem to enjoy what they are doing. Like three teenage best friends having the time of their lives. They catch you up in the fun they are having and just carry you right along with them. Thanks guys. It's a great ride.
gjm1953
That's the way I feel about it, RikkO. They seem to be having just as great a time as their audience!
Luis Correia
Sweeps you up in the song
Jody Pearce
Great song, great trio. Sounds like an old Western movie tune. Love it.
Sandy Weld
They are having such fun with this song - that's the Irish!
Dale Kundtz
AMAZINGLY BEAUTIFUL!
Paula Bowen
Brilliant!!!!!!!!