Luke Kelly – Raglan Road lyrics

On Raglan Road of an autumn day
I saw her first and knew
That her dark hair would weave a snare
that I might one day rue;
I saw the danger, and I passed
along the enchanted way,
And I said, let grief be a fallen leaf
at the dawning of the day.

On Grafton Street in November
we tripped lightly along the ledge
Of a deep ravine where can be seen
the worth of passion's pledge,
The Queen of Hearts still making tarts
and I not making hay -
Oh I loved too much and by such by such
is happiness thrown away.

I gave her gifts of the mind
I gave her the secret sign
That's known to the artists who have known
the true gods of sound and stone
And word and tint without stint for I gave her poems to say.
With her own name there and her own dark hair
like clouds over fields of May

On a quiet street where old ghosts meet
I see her walking now
Away from me so hurriedly
my reason must allow
That I had loved not as I should
a creature made of clay -
When the angel woos
the clay he'd lose his wings
at the dawn of day.