Monday, March 16, 2009

Eileen Aroon by Bob Dylan

Because it is the eve of St Patrick's Day I thought you might like to hear an Irish song sung live by Bob Dylan. The song is "Eileen Aroon" which he performed live at 11 shows in 1988 and 1989 at the start of his "Never Ending Tour". Here is audio of a performance at Jones Beach Theatre, Jones Beach State Park, Wantagh, New York 30 June 1988 . He usually included a traditional style song in his sets at that time. He never recorded the song as far as we know.

Youth will in time decay
Eileen Aroon
Beauty must fade away
Eileen Aroon
Castles are sacked in war
Dhieftains are scattered far
Truth is a fixed star
Eileen Aroon.

Presumably he learned it from the Clancy Brothers who had recorded it in 1961 on their LP Clancy Brothers & Tommy Makem. Text of the version sung by Dylan and more information here.

No comments: