The Verdant Braes of Screen

The Verdant Braes of Screen is a traditional Irish song. It is believed that the Screen refers to Ballinascreen in County Londonderry, Northern Ireland. Brae refers to a hillside, especially along a river.^[1]

Lyrics

As with many traditional songs, a number of versions of the lyrics exist. One version, as sung by Altan, includes these lyrics^[2]

As I roved out one evening fair
By the verdant braes of Screen
I set my back to a hawthorn tree
To view the sun in the west country
And the dew on the forest green

A lad I spied by Abhann's side
And a maiden by his knee
And he was as dark as the very brown wood
And she all whey and wan to see
All whey and wan was she

"Oh sit you down on the grass," he said
"On the dewy grass so green
For the wee birds all have come and gone
Since I my true love have seen," he said
"Since I my true love have seen"

"Then I'll not sit on the grass," she said
"Nor be a love of thine
For I hear you love a Connaught maid
And your heart's no longer mine," she said
"And your heart's no longer mine"

"And I will climb a high, high tree
And I'll rob a wild bird's nest
And back I'll bring whatever I do find
To the arms that I love best," she said
"To the arms that I love best"

Interpretations

The song has been interpreted by Tomas O'Canainn, John Renbourn, Keven Moyna, Cathal Lynch, The Beggarmen, Maranna McCloskey, Terence O'Flaherty, An Tor, Cara Dillon, Cherish The Ladies, The Beggermen, Steve Tilston and Maggie Boyle, Louis Killen and Altan.

See also

Music of Ireland

References

The Pennyburn Piper Presents Uilleann Pipes, Tomas O'Canainn