Has Sorrow Thy Young Days Shaded
Has sorrow thy young days shaded
As clouds o’er the morning fleet
To fast have those young days faded
That even in sorrow were sweet
Does time with his cold wind wither
Each feeling that once was dear.
Then, child of misfortune, come hither
I’ll weep with thee tear for tear
Has hope like the bird in the story
That fleeted from tree to tree
Like the talisman’s glittering glory –
Has hope been that bird to thee?
On branch after branch alighting,
The gem did she still display,
And, when nearest and most inviting.
Then take the fair gem away
If thus the young hours have fleeted
When sorrow itself looked bright
If thus the fair hope had cheated,
that lead thee along so light
If thus the cold world now wither
Each feeling that once was dear
Then, child of misfortune, come hither,
And I’ll weep with thee tear for tear
This, for me, is the saddest, and yet most beautiful song ever written by Moore. He captures beauty in the midst of heartache so delicately with his lyrics. This song is sung to the old Irish air of “Sly Patrick”. It refers to Sarah Curran, who was engaged to be married to Robert Emmett at the time of his execution for leading the unsuccessful rebellion of 1803. Moore was a fellow student of Emmett at Trinity College, Dublin and after hearing of Emmett’s execution wrote this song as a tribute to him. I was introduced to this song by my friend, Jody Beggan in 1988 and I’ve loved it ever since.
