A couple years ago I went to Ireland. I left a week earlier than the Irish Worldcon would start, because that's about as far as I thought I should stretch my finances. I had plans--go find some Irish music sessions, write thousands of words of fiction, write some new songs. But it had been a really crazy year, and I got there and, well, just caught my breath. It was like a silent retreat. I didn't realize how much I'd needed the break, and the quiet, until one of the neighbors played Tommy Makem & Liam Clancy loudly next door, an album I love, and I didn't want to hear it because it was intruding on my quiet. So I went for another walk.
Breathing Irish Air
Deirdre M. Murphy
G Em Am D
G Em
Street signs are on the buildings
Am D
And I’m walking everywhere
G Em
I thought I would be singing
Am D
I’m just breathing Irish air
Am D
I thought I’d seek out some sessions
G Em
Visit pubs with my guitar
Am D
I’m just taking in impressions
Am D
Softly walking near and far
G
I’m strolling silent, it’s so lovely
Am D
I breathe sweet Irish air inside
G
Mum and hushed with each discovery
C D G
As if I’m healing deep and wide
My rented flat’s on a wee roadway
The neighbor’s flats each share a wall
Tiny flower pots, a nice bouquet
A walk away’s a shopping mall
Mostly I wander on the cobbles
Visit each lovely church and park
Though I buy some Irish baubles
Mostly it’s the place that leaves a mark
I’m strolling silent, it’s so lovely
I breathe sweet Irish air inside
Mum and hushed with each discovery
As if I’m healing deep and wide
Too soon, I’ll board another airplane
Leave this place of sweet heart’s ease
Some part of me will still remain
Always linked by memories
I promise I’ll be back, sometime
When I don’t need the silence here
For the music and lilting rhymes
And the lively Irish cheer
I’m strolling silent, it’s so lovely
I breathe sweet Irish air inside
Mum and hushed with each discovery
As if I’m healing deep and wide
I feel I’m healing deep and wide
Copyright ©2022 Deirdre M Murphy (2/21/22)
#Irish #Ireland #walk #s022122 #air
@chipwithrow Mar 2022
What wonderful storytelling - I get a real sense of being there!
A real troubadour feel here. And the lyrics are thoughtfully rhymed, as well. Good one!
@jessespillane Feb 2022
I love your singing. There is a cool ebb and flow to the finger picked guitar; a sort of subtle, but intentional pause before starting the new phrase. Great work!
I'd love to visit Ireland some day.
@vainhirvain Feb 2022
A really nice tune combining two recent skirmish prompts (walk and Ireland)! Good idea! Your classical-like singing style ( keeping those last syllabels of each phrase very long and strong with a strong vibrato ) gives this song an interesting atmosphere, it's hard to describe, kind of religious in a way maybe.
@coolparadiso Feb 2022
#tit4tat time lovely guitar intro! very good story and well delivered! not too rushed so emphasises the lyrics well !
@ajna1960 Feb 2022
Lovely song :) I am wondering where in Ireland you were. It sounds like a large town or city as it has more than one church and a shopping centre ! lol And yet it's silent...
@crutherford Feb 2022
Lovely Job!
A real slice of a place and time.
These are my favourite lines
I wander on the cobbles
Visit each lovely church and park
Though I buy some Irish baubles
Mostly it’s the place that leaves a mark
Great skirmish! Bravo!
@jwhanberry Feb 2022
Great job integrating the prompt and your real life experience. Sounds like it was a good trip.
@thedutchwidows Feb 2022
Sometimes you need to shut down and just 'be'. Sounds a lovely place to have been to 'be'. If you see what I mean? This is a lovely song - very evocative.
@berni1954 Feb 2022
I think you were really tuned into Ireland, if this is how you reacted to it. There is a place for noisy pubs with frantic sessions, rebel songs sung by the whole bar, or some quiet singer songwriter whispering their heart out. But that's only one aspect of Eire. You seem to have been in touch with the everyday feel of the country of my family roots.
@porrectus Feb 2022
Nice sounding melody painting a very nice picture. Well done. NIce skirmish
@keithcuts Feb 2022
Lovely strolling tune and lyrics.
The descriptive words “flats” “cobble” eyc paint an adorable picture.
It all sounds Irish even. Real nice!
@mhorning Feb 2022
Your voice sounds lovely on this one. I don't think I'd be able to visit Ireland and not spend a day at Emerald Guitars though.