We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

The Song of the Wandering Aengus

from A Rose From My Mother's Garden by Ruth Cooke

/

  • Streaming + Download

    Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality download in MP3, FLAC and more.
    Purchasable with gift card

      £1 GBP  or more

     

  • Buy the Full Digital Album

about

W.B.Yeats was deeply immersed in Irish folklore, and Aengus was a god of Irish mythology, one who stayed forever young, and lived in a marvellous palace where no-one ever died and a never- exhausted vessel of wine and a roast pig were always available. He is associated with love, youth, and poetic inspiration, and is traditionally described as having singing birds circling his head. The most famous story about him is how he became sick with love for a young girl named Caer, having only seen her in a dream. After years of searching, he finally found her. Yeats has taken this strand of Aengus’s story and created a poem both mysterious and intensely personal. Unlike the Aengus of myth however, this one does age, and yet still follows his Hero’s Quest in the hopes of its fulfilment.

lyrics

Lyrics

I went out to the hazel wood
Because a fire was in my head
I cut and peeled a hazel wand
And hooked a berry to a thread

And when white moths were on the wing
And moth-like stars were flickering out
I dropped the berry in a stream
And caught a little silver trout.

When I had laid it on the floor
I went to blow the fire aflame
But something rustled on the floor
And someone called me by my name.

It had become a glimmering girl
With apple blossom in her hair
Who called me by my name and ran
And faded through the brightening air.

Though I am old with wandering
Through hollow lands and hilly lands
I will find out where she is gone
And kiss her lips and take her hands

And walk among long dappled grass
And pluck till time and times are done
The silver apples of the moon,
The golden apples of the sun.

credits

from A Rose From My Mother's Garden, released October 12, 2019
Poem by WB Yeats, tune Ruth Cooke

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Ruth Cooke image

Ruth Cooke UK

Wbsite: www.ruthcooke.com
Ruth has been writing and performing songs for many years now but has mostly been too busy living to record anything!
She is mostly to be found at folk clubs and festivals or at small gatherings and round campfires - although she wouldn’t say no to a small stadium!
She loves singarounds wherever they may be and is a regular floor singer at Lewes Saturday Folk Club. ... more

contact / help

Contact Ruth Cooke

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

If you like Ruth Cooke, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Seafood Sam joins the show to discuss his newest album, " Standing On Giant Shoulders".
listen now