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THE SPINNING WHEEL

(Click here to listen to 'The Spinning Wheel')

Mellow, the moonlight to shine is begining
Close by the window young Eileen is spinning
Bent o'er the fire, her blind grandmother sitting
Crooning and moaning and drowsily knitting

Merrily, cheerily, noiselessly whirring
Swings the wheel, spins the wheel, while the foot's stirring
Sprightly and lightly and airily ringing
Sounds the sweet voice of the young maiden singing

Eileen, a chara, I hear someone tapping
'Tis the ivy dear mother, against the glass flapping
Eileen I surely hear someone is sighing
'Tis the sound mother dear of the autumn winds dying

Merrily, cheerily, noiselessly whirring
Swings the wheel, spins the wheel, while the foot's stirring
Sprightly and lightly and airily ringing
Sounds the sweet voice of the young maiden singing

There's a form at the casement, the form of her true love
And he whispers with face bent 'I'm waiting for you love'
Get up from the stool, through the lattice step lightly
And we'll rove in the grove while the moon's shining brightly

Merrily, cheerily, noiselessly whirring
Swings the wheel, spins the wheel, while the foot's stirring
Sprightly and lightly and airily ringing
Sounds the sweet voice of the young maiden singing

The maid shakes her head, on her lip lays her fingers
Steals up from the stool, longs to go and yet lingers
A frightened glance turns to her drowsy grandmother
Put's one foot on the stool, spins the wheel with the other

Merrily, cheerily, noiselessly whirring
Swings the wheel, spins the wheel, while the foot's stirring
Sprightly and lightly and airily ringing
Sounds the sweet voice of the young maiden singing

Lazily, easily, swings now the wheel round
Slowly and lowly is heard now the reel's sound
Noiseless and light to the lattice above her
The maid steps then leaps to the arms of her lover

Merrily, cheerily, noiselessly whirring
Swings the wheel, spins the wheel, while the foot's stirring
Sprightly and lightly and airily ringing
Sounds the sweet voice of the young maiden singing

Slower and slower and slower the wheel swings
Lower and lower and lower the reel rings
Ere the reel and the wheel stop their ringing and moving
Through the grove the young lovers by moonlight are roving

Merrily, cheerily, noiselessly whirring
Swings the wheel, spins the wheel, while the foot's stirring
Sprightly and lightly and airily ringing
Sounds the sweet voice of the young maiden singing

(By John F. Waller)

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    • HOLY WELLS OF DONEGAL >
      • Bruckless St. Conall's
      • Doochary St. Sarah's Well
      • FANAD Carryblagh St. Colmcilles Well
      • INISHOWEN Grianan St. Patrick's Well
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