Collaboration between traditional Irish band The Chieftains and Northern Ir… Read Full Bio ↴Collaboration between traditional Irish band The Chieftains and Northern Irish singer-songwriter Van Morrison. Their album Irish Heartbeat was released in 1988 on the Mercury label.

The album was recorded on dates from September to December 1987 and in January 1988 at Windmill Lane Studios, Dublin. The Chieftains and Van Morrison had met years before at the Edinburgh rock festival. They joined up in Belfast during Morrison's No Guru tour and afterwards, Morrison and Paddy Moloney discussed recording an album together during a walk. They each had a list of songs and reached a consensus to cover two of Morrison's previously released tracks (the title track was one) and the rest from traditional Irish songs. In October 1987 they performed together at Balmoral Studio in Belfast. The concert was broadcast on St. Patrick's Day in 1988.

Marie's Wedding
Van Morrison & The Chieftains Lyrics

Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴

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

The lyrics to Van Morrison & The Chieftains' song "Marie's Wedding" describe a lively and joyful procession in honor of a woman named Marie's wedding. The singers urge each other to step gaily and move in unison, heel to heel and toe to toe, as they make their way through hillways, past townships and sheilings, all dressed in myrtle green and bracken brown. The focus of their enthusiasm is Marie, who is described as having rosy cheeks and bright eyes, and who is deemed the "fairest of them all by far." The song celebrates the abundance of the occasion, with plenty of herring, meal, peat, and bonnie bairns to toast to.

The song is a traditional Scottish folk tune that has been covered by many artists, including Van Morrison and The Chieftains. The infectious melody and celebratory lyrics have made it a popular choice for weddings and other festive occasions. The song is notable for its use of repetition, which builds a sense of momentum and communal spirit, as the singers urge each other to keep going, step by step, in honor of Marie's special day. The song is also notable for its references to Scottish culture and countryside, including the sheilings (small seasonal dwellings) and traditional dress colors of myrtle green and bracken brown.

Line by Line Meaning

Step we gaily on we go
We joyfully continue our journey

Heel for heel and toe for toe
We walk in unison, matching step for step

Arm and arm and row and row
We link arms and sing in chorus

All for Marie's wedding
For the occasion of Marie's marriage

Over hillways, up and down
We travel up and down the hills and valleys

Myrtle green and bracken brown
Covering the landscape with lush greens and browns

Past the sheilings through the town
We weave through the countryside and town alike

All for the sake of marie
For the purpose of celebrating Marie's special day

Red her cheeks as rowan's are
Her cheeks are as rosy as rowan berries

Bright her eyes as any star
Her eyes are as radiant as any star in the sky

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