Galway Girl
The Kilkennys are a 4-piece traditional Irish ballad group, who have been e… Read Full Bio ↴The Kilkennys are a 4-piece traditional Irish ballad group, who have been entertaining audiences all over the country, and internationally for the past ten years, with their unique and accomplished style of playing and vocal talent. Known as one of the hardest working bands in Ireland, they perform the length and breath of the country up to five nights a week. Up to now, they have been performing as Uisce Beatha, but due to various crucial reasons and the fact that a few bands with the same name have sprung up around the world, the decision was taken to change the name to The Kilkennys, as the boys are very proud of their black and amber roots! This name change coincided with the band signing up to Dolphin Records, the record company of such Irish music legends as Mary and Frances Black, Liam Clancy, Dolores Keane, Ronnie Drew, Jack L and Sonny Knowles. The band was originally formed by Dave Cashin, Adam Cashin and Tommy Mackey, while at school in St. Kierans College in Kilkenny. Robbie Campion would later come on board to complete the bands unique vocal and musical sound. The Kilkennys have shared the stage with some of the country's most prominent folk icons, including Shane McGowan, Finbarr Furey and the late Ronnie Drew. They have also toured Scotland, Germany and the US on a number of occasions to great acclaim. Now with the forthcoming release of their debut album and live DVD, audiences will be enthralled by the energy, passion and musical talents of The Kilkennys.

Members:
DAVID CASHIN: Vocals, Mandolin, Banjo, Whistles. ADAM CASHIN: Vocals, Bodhran and Percussion. ROBBIE CAMPION: Vocals, Guitar and Banjo. TOMMY MACKEY: Vocals, Bass Guitar

Galway Girl
The Kilkennys Lyrics


Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴  Line by Line Meaning ↴

Well, I took a stroll on the old long walk
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
And 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
So 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 was 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

Overall Meaning

The Kilkennys' song Galway Girl is a story about a chance encounter between a man and a woman on the old long walk in Galway City, Ireland. The singer meets a girl with black hair and blue eyes, and they stop to talk about the fine weather. The man is immediately smitten with the girl, and he knows he has to take her out for a dance around the Salthill Promenade. They start walking towards the promenade, and halfway through, it begins to rain. The girl invites him inside her flat to wait for the rain to stop, and he accepts. Inside, they dance, and the man falls in love with the girl. However, when he wakes up, he finds himself alone with a broken heart and a ticket home. He ponders what he would have done differently if he had been given a chance to rewrite their story.


The song is a romantic ballad that tells a love story in a traditional Irish folk style. It paints a picture of Galway City, its landmarks, and streets, and captures the friendly and hospitable personality of its people. The singer and the Galway girl's chance encounter is emblematic of the magic and spontaneity that often accompany life's most significant moments.


Line by Line Meaning

Well, I took a stroll on the old long walk
I went for a leisurely walk on a historic path


Of a day -I-ay-I-ay
On a lovely day with pleasant weather


I met a little girl and we stopped to talk
I encountered a young lady and paused to converse with her


Of a fine soft day -I-ay-I-ay
On a calm and gentle day with good weather


And I ask you, friend, what's a fella to do
I inquired of my friend what should I do in this situation


'Cause her hair was black and her eyes were blue
As her hair was dark and her eyes were blue, I was captivated


And I knew right then I'd be takin' a whirl
I realized that I would be dancing with her


'Round the Salthill Prom with a Galway girl
At the Salthill Prom with a woman from Galway


We were halfway there when the rain came down
We had progressed some distance when it began to rain


And she asked me up to her flat downtown
She invited me to her apartment in the city center


So I took her hand and I gave her a twirl
I took her hand and spun her around in a circle


And I lost my heart to a Galway girl
I fell deeply in love with a woman from Galway


When I woke up I was all alone
When I awoke, she was no longer beside me


With a broken heart and a ticket home
Feeling heartbroken, I had to return home


And I ask you now, tell me what would you do
I ask you, what would you have done in my place?


If her hair was black and her eyes were blue
If she had dark hair and blue eyes like the Galway girl


I've traveled around I've been all over this world
I have journeyed far and wide across the globe


Boys I ain't never seen nothin' like a Galway girl
But I have never come across anyone quite like that Galway girl




Contributed by Aaliyah I. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
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Most interesting comments from YouTube:

@fhtwbdd

"The Galway Girl"
Song by Steve Earle
from the album Transcendental Blues
Released 2000
Recorded 2000
Genre Folk
Celtic
Length 3:05
Songwriter(s) Steve Earle
Producer(s) Jamie Bedford, Ray Kennedy
"Galway Girl" is a song written by Steve Earle[1] (An American) and recorded with Irish musician Sharon Shannon originally as "The Galway Girl". It was featured on Earle's 2000 album Transcendental Blues.[2] "The Galway Girl" tells the semi-autobiographical story of the songwriter's reaction to a beautiful black-haired blue-eyed girl he meets in Galway, Ireland.[1] Local references include Salthill and The Long Walk.

A cover version of the song by Mundy and Sharon Shannon reached number one and became the most downloaded song of 2008 in Ireland, and has gone on to become the eighth highest selling single in Irish chart history.[3] It has been subject of a great number of covers and live interpretations.



@ThZuao

Well, I took a stroll on the old long walk
Of a day -I-ay-I-ay
I met a little girl and we stopped to talk
Of a fine soft day -I.


And I ask you, friend
What's a fella to do
If 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
On a day -I-ay-I-ay
And she asked me up to her flat downtown
Of a fine soft day -I
So I took her hand and I gave her a twirl
And I lost my heart to a Galway girl.

And I ask you, friend, tell me what would you do?
If her hair was black and her eyes were blue.



When I woke up I was all alone
Had a broken heart and a ticket home.


And I ask you, friend
What's a fella to do?
If her hair was black and her eyes were blue
I've traveled around
Been all over this world
Boys I ain't never seen nothin' like a Galway girl



@punkrockeris666

Well, I took a stroll on the old long walk
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
And 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
So 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 was 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



All comments from YouTube:

@andreb732

The kilkennys really should publish their version of all those classic irish songs on an album.

@SuperElch2000

i was in Irleland and hear this Song. Back in my Country i Search that song for so long time and now i found it. Im so Happy Right now

@SamPower782

cranium642 I want them. Ireland wants them.

@TheTimeDetective42

@@cranium642He's just a tourist mate! Sheesh1 I heard it in Ireland too and love it!

@martinhalbritter8958

Same here 😀 greets from Germany 🙂

@prettygay

I loved Galway so much. The energy there is amazing. Maybe I'll move there some day

@spartan109100

long live the ireland and the irish people =) i like so much this song it reminds me my trip in dublin lats year ^^
greetings from a french guy with an irish heart ;)

@DWren0987

This is such get up amd dance music, really brings Ireland to wherever you are. Just had to stop myself getting up and dancing in the train whilst listening 😁

@fhtwbdd

"The Galway Girl"
Song by Steve Earle
from the album Transcendental Blues
Released 2000
Recorded 2000
Genre Folk
Celtic
Length 3:05
Songwriter(s) Steve Earle
Producer(s) Jamie Bedford, Ray Kennedy
"Galway Girl" is a song written by Steve Earle[1] (An American) and recorded with Irish musician Sharon Shannon originally as "The Galway Girl". It was featured on Earle's 2000 album Transcendental Blues.[2] "The Galway Girl" tells the semi-autobiographical story of the songwriter's reaction to a beautiful black-haired blue-eyed girl he meets in Galway, Ireland.[1] Local references include Salthill and The Long Walk.

A cover version of the song by Mundy and Sharon Shannon reached number one and became the most downloaded song of 2008 in Ireland, and has gone on to become the eighth highest selling single in Irish chart history.[3] It has been subject of a great number of covers and live interpretations.

@jarltorn1868

This is so good I love it. I always wanted a vacation trip to Ireland

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