SHE MOVED THRO’ THE FAIR

My young love said to me “My mother won’t mind
And my father won’t slight you for your lack of kine”
And she stepped away from me and this she did say
“It will not be long, love, till our wedding day.”

She stepped away from me and she went thro’ the fair
And fondly I watch’d her move here and move there
And then she went homeward with one star awake,
As the swan in the evening moves over the lake.

The people were saying no two e’er were wed
But one has a sorrow that never was said
And she smiled as she passed me with her goods and her gear
And that was the last that I saw of my dear.

I dreamed it last night that my true love came in
So softly she entered, her feet made no din
She came close beside me and this she did say,
“It will not be long love till our wedding day.”

[There are numerous versions of this old Celtic song. The lyrics above are somewhat different from the song in the video.]

— Comments —

Jane S. writes:

The [She Moved Through the Fair] Wikipedia entry lists over 70 recordings of this song. The range of interpretations of this song are extraordinary. It’s hard to pick a favorite.

But I think that Sandy Denny of the Fairport Convention captures the haunting, poignant quality of this tune in a way that is out of this world.

Laura writes:

I dislike the rock and rock/folk versions of this song.

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