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When A Man​’​s In Love

from When Two Lovers Meet by Sarah McQuaid

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I heard the wonderful Dundalk singer Seán Corcoran doing this song a good few years ago and was struck by its sensuous lyrics (“her hands so soft her breath so sweet / her tongue did gently glide” – mmmm!). It belongs to a genre known as “night visiting” songs and probably dates from the mid-19th century. I love the wide-open, lonely sound of the wooden and steel guitars together.

lyrics

When a man’s in love he feels no cold
Like me some time ago
Like a hero bold to seek his girl
He’ll plough through frost and snow

The moon she gently shed her light
Along my weary way
’Til I arrived at that sweet spot
Where all my treasure lay

I rapped at my love’s window saying
My dear are you within?
Slowly she unlocked the door
And slyly I slipped in.

Her hands so soft, her breath so sweet
Her tongue did gently glide
I stole my arms around her waist
And asked her to be my bride.

Take me to your chamber love
Oh take me to your bed
Take me to your chamber love
For to rest my weary head

Oh to take you to my chamber love
My parents would never agree
But sit you down by yon coal fire
And I’ll sit close by thee.

Many’s the night I’ve courted you
Against your parents’ will
But you never said you’d be my bride
So it’s now my dear sit still

For tonight I’m going to cross the sea
To far Columbia’s shore
And you will never never see
Your youthful lover more

Oh are you going to leave me now
Oh dear what can I do?
I’ll break through every bond of home
And go along with you

Perhaps my parents won’t forget
But surely they’ll forgive
For it’s from this hour, my dearest dear
Along with you I’ll live

credits

from When Two Lovers Meet, released February 1, 1997
Trad arr. S. McQuaid / G. O’Beirne
Sarah – guitar, vocals
Gerry O’Beirne – National Steel guitar

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Sarah McQuaid Penzance, UK

“One of the most instantly recognisable voices in current music … Shades of Joni Mitchell in a jam with Karen Carpenter and Lana Del Rey.” —Neil March, Trust The Doc

“Captivating, unorthodox songwriting … layered satin vocals ... enthralling, harrowing arrangements … a gateway into a true innovator’s soul.” —PopMatters

See sarahmcquaid.com/about for more info.
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