In regards to the meaning of this song:
Before a live performance on the EP Five Stories Falling, Geoff states “It’s about the last time I went to visit my grandmother in Columbus, and I saw that she was dying and it was the last time I was going to see her. It is about realizing how young you are, but how quickly you can go.”
That’s the thing about Geoff and his sublime poetry, you think it’s about one thing, but really it’s about something entirely different. But the lyrics are still universal and omnipresent, ubiquitous, even. So relatable. That’s one thing I love about this band. I also love their live performances, raw energy and Geoff’s beautiful, imperfectly perfect vocals. His voice soothes my aching soul.
On Raglan Road on an Autumn Day,
I saw her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare
That I may one day rue.
I saw the danger, yet I walked
Along the enchanted way
And I said let grief be a falling leaf
At the dawning of the day.
On Grafton Street in November,
We tripped lightly along the ledge
Of a deep ravine where can be seen
The worst of passions pledged.
The Queen of Hearts still baking tarts
And I not making hay,
Well I loved too much; by such and such
Is happiness thrown away.
I gave her the gifts of the mind.
I gave her the secret sign
That's known to all the artists who have
Known true Gods of Sound and Time.
With word and tint I did not stint.
I gave her reams of poems to say
With her own dark hair and her own name there
Like the clouds over fields of May.
On a quiet street where old ghosts meet,
I see her walking now away from me,
So hurriedly. My reason must allow,
For I have wooed, not as I should
A creature made of clay.
When the angel woos the clay, he'll lose
His wings at the dawn of the day.
I saw her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare
That I may one day rue.
I saw the danger, yet I walked
Along the enchanted way
And I said let grief be a falling leaf
At the dawning of the day.
On Grafton Street in November,
We tripped lightly along the ledge
Of a deep ravine where can be seen
The worst of passions pledged.
The Queen of Hearts still baking tarts
And I not making hay,
Well I loved too much; by such and such
Is happiness thrown away.
I gave her the gifts of the mind.
I gave her the secret sign
That's known to all the artists who have
Known true Gods of Sound and Time.
With word and tint I did not stint.
I gave her reams of poems to say
With her own dark hair and her own name there
Like the clouds over fields of May.
On a quiet street where old ghosts meet,
I see her walking now away from me,
So hurriedly. My reason must allow,
For I have wooed, not as I should
A creature made of clay.
When the angel woos the clay, he'll lose
His wings at the dawn of the day.
Lyrics submitted by yuri_sucupira
Raglan Road Lyrics as written by Patrick Kavanagh Paddy Moloney
Lyrics © BMG Rights Management, Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC, Downtown Music Publishing, Peermusic Publishing, Kobalt Music Publishing Ltd.
Lyrics powered by LyricFind
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my absolute favorite movie. that scene is absolutely magnificent
How I love this song. I will never forget "I saw her first and knew That her dark hair would weave a snare That I may one day rue. I saw the danger, yet I walked Along the enchanted way And I said let grief be a falling leaf At the dawning of the day. "
its actually a peom written by patrick kavanagh but i think its about a guy for falls for a girl even though he knows hell get hurt. she is quite promiscous but monogamy is very important to him. and so he ends up distraught
Not a bad rendition by Van but try Luke Kelly's version for the full effect. Luke sat down with Kavanagh to arrange the words around the traditional tune "Dawning of the Day" whence the line in the song.
Not a bad rendition by Van but try Luke Kelly's version for the full effect. Luke sat down with Kavanagh to arrange the words around the traditional tune "Dawning of the Day" whence the line in the song.
Stumbled upon this song through Cristin Milioti's version which I found on Youtube. Thank God for that. :)
This song was made by an artist a long time ago and argues that most of us have free will, that most of us can choose to master grief that resides within or to have grief master us. It is a hopeful song written by someone who I think intended to try and help others master their own grief, but I'm not sure.
He said: "Let grief be a falling leaf, at the dawning of the day."
@sdz896542 - I think the author is letting you know - by writing such a full poem of the story(!) - that his experience was signficant, and it sure was not good. He is rueing the notion that he could dismiss grief so easily. The song in that context is not so hopeful. For the author, the pain of those memories will always be, until his memories die with him.