> Folk Music > Songs > Edward on Lough Erne’s Shore

Edmund/Edward on Lough Erne’s Shore

[ Roud 3476 ; Ballad Index TST141 ; Mudcat 11428 ; trad.]

This song has the same Roud number as Lough Erne Shore.

Paddy Tunney printed Edward on Lough Erne Shore in his 1991 book Where Songs Do Thunder. I do not know of a recording of him singing it.

Cathal McConnell sang Edmund on Lough Erne’s Shore in 1978 as the title track of his Topic album On Lough Erne’s Shore. He noted:

This song is attributed to Peter Magennis, a poet, who lived in the Derrygonelly area of Co. Fermanagh. A book of his work can still be found in some libraries. He died in the early part of this century. The tune is a variant of Boolavogue and the song came to me from Mick Hoy.

Irish duo Lumiere sang Edward on Lough Erne’s Shore in 2009 on their eponymous Sony CD Lumiere. They noted:

This beautiful song is one we love to sing in unison. The setting of Loch Erne in County Fermanagh is the scene. The song is written from the woman’s point of view and conveys sincere love to Edward in language of a time past. It is from singing of the great Paddy Tunney that we heard this particular song.

Lyrics

Edward on Lough Erne Shore in Where Songs Do Thunder

The sun was setting behind yon mountain, the dew was falling upon the lea
And I was seated beside a fountain; a feathered warbler sang on a tree
With loves and kisses his notes were sounding, made me reminded of days of yore
When in a bower I plucked a flower and dreamed of Edward on Lough Erne shore.

A crop of sorrow I will reap tomorrow, my rose is fading and my hopes decay
For it’s in the night time when all are sleeping, awake I’m weeping till the break of day
Delight has fled me and woe has wed me, why did you leave me, my love a stóir?
For love is golden, and bonniest Edward would not forsake me on Lough Erne shore.

O, the cuckoo’s notes in the air are sounding, a song so fleeting to please the ear
And every note is a bliss abounding, here in this valley if he was near
Each step I take by the winding river where we have wandered in days of yore
Reminds me of Edward, my banished lover, who left me lonely on Lough Erne shore.

O, could I move like a moon o’er the ocean I would send a sigh o’er the distant deep
Or could I fly like a bird in motion; by my Edward’s side I would ever keep
I would fondly soothe him, with songs amuse him; our feelings fuse them; he’d sigh no more
And seven long years they would soon pass over; then we’d both live happy on Lough Erne shore.

Lumiere sing Edward on Lough Erne Shore

The sun was setting behind yon mountain the dew was falling upon a lea
And I was seated beside a fountain; a feathered songster sang upon a tree
With love and longing his notes were sounding, made me reminded of days of yore
When in a bower I picked a flower remembering Edward on Loch Erne’s Shore

The cuckoo’s note on the air is sounding with songs so pleasing to greet the ear
And every note were a bliss abounding within the valley if he were here
Each step I’d take by the winding river where we have wandered in days of yore
Reminds me of Edward, my only lover, and makes me lonely on Loch Erne’s Shore

O could I move like a wind o’er the ocean I’d send a sigh o’er the distant deep
Or could I move like a bird in motion;; by my Edward’s side I would ever keep
I’d gently soothe him, with words amuse him; my love I’d prove him and he’d sigh no more
For seven years they would soon pass over; we’d both be happy on Loch Erne’s Shore