Story Behind The Song

Susan found this old tale and saw herself reminded of modern Ireland and the struggles it still faces with the division between North and South.

Song Description

Our famous foster-mother bound us in a blood pact of friendship. so that rage would never rise between friends in fair Eiga (from The Tain, a verse from Cuchulainn's lament for his foster brother Ferida, whom he had killed). The two had trained together as boys under the guidance of the woman warrior Scathach and years later, they were tricked into fighting each other to the death. Cuchulainn was badly wounded after the battle with Ferida, and some of his men came and carried him to water. Ireland's rivers, named after godesses, were renowned for particular properties such as bringing ease, steadfastness or lasting health. So they bathed him in each river in order to bring these qualities to his war weary spirit.

Lyrics

Bathe me in the waters of the Lagan of the Boyne
Of the Liffey of the Slaney, of the Barrow, Sore and Suir
Of the Blackwater, the Bann, the Lee, the Shannon, Foyle and Erne
Bathe me in the waters

O bless the water that flows from the fields
Into the sea that surrounds our little island of green
Hope is a river that flows from these stone walls
Into an ocean we have never seen

Hope is a dress that my mother once wore
A fiddle tune I heard that has no words
Hope is the one thing we have never lost
Though we are tired from the old war

Same anger in our hearts, same desolation and loss
Why are we divided
Bind us in friendship so rage will never rise again
In fair Eire between friends