Music File Barry Taylor |
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A tune with the title Ellen a Roon first appears in a ballad opera by Charles Coffey (1729), however, it is not this melody. Aileen Aroon appears in Burke Thumoth's Twelve Scotch and Twelve Irish Airs With Variations (circa 1740). It's original Gaelic title was Eilionóir a Rúin.
This appears in Edward Bunting's collection. Bunting began to transcribe tunes after attending the Belfast Harp Festival in 1792. In short, there have been many variations of tunes with similar names. The tune we are familiar with today possibly dates to the late 1700s. The English words were written by Gerald Griffin (1803-1840) who according to one legend translated the Irish of Carrol O'Daly (14th Century). |
When, like the dawning day Eileen Aroon Love sends his early ray Eileen Aroon What makes his dawning glow Changeless through joy and woe Only the constant know Eileen Aroon Were she no longer true Eileen Aroon What would her lover do Eileen Aroon Fly with a broken chain Far o'er the bounding main Never to love again Eileen Aroon Youth must in time decay Eileen Aroon Beauty must fade away Eileen Aroon Castles are sacked in war Chieftains are scattered far Truth is a fixed star Eileen Aroon |
| Information from various sources, Including Digital Tradition. |
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