Guitar: The Wren Song
February 20, 2011 Bird House Feeder
This is an excerpt from Wikipedia re St Stephen’s Day: In Irish it is called Lá Fhéile Stiofán or Lá an Dreoilín — the latter translates literally as another English name used, the Day of the Wren or Wren’s Day. When used in this context, “wren” is often pronounced “ran”. This name alludes to several legends, including those found in Ireland linking episodes in the life of Jesus to the wren. Although now mostly a discontinued tradition, in certain parts of Ireland persons carrying either an effigy of a wren or an actual caged wren [live or dead], travel from house to house playing music, singing and dancing. Depending on which region of the country, they are called Wrenboys and Mummers. A Mummer’s Festival is held at this time every year in the village of New Inn, Co. Galway and Dingle Co. Kerry. St Stephen’s Day is also a popular day for visiting family members. A popular rhyme, known to many Irish children and sung at each house visited by the mummers is The Wren Song (this version popularized by the Irish group The Clancy Brothers). There is a similar tradition in the Isle of Man where the song Hunt The Wren is the Manx equivalent. See: www.youtube.com
Comments (10)
Hummingbirds are fun, entertaining, full of energy and it’s easy to attract hummingbirds.
A nice song Tony!! Well done.
“And then in Armagh where I was born and bred praise be to God, the first thing you’re likely to hear when you’re being rocked to sleep would be something like, ‘Up the long ladder and down the short rope. To hell with King Billy and God bless the pope. If that doesn’t do we’ll tear him in two and send him to hell with his red, white, and blue!”
-Tommy Makem (after singing the Wren Song recorded over 20 years before I was born).
Great tune once again, Tony!
Indeed I recognize the quote, having learned the song first from that very record along with the medley I uploaded last week, When I Was Young.
EXCELLENT!!….Tony!!
Thank you for your kind comment.
Compliments of the season to you.
You’re welcome Tony, I think you did that song EXTREMELY well.
Thank you again. Perhaps you would like to check out the Manx equivalent of the same tradition. It is called ‘Hunt The Wren’ and quite often instead of the more usual greeting at this time of the year you might hear someone say, “Happy Hunt the Wren”.
I checked it out Tony and I like it but no as much as your rendition. I have heard the expression….”HAPPY HUNT the WREN” and it brings back fond memories.
Thank YOU again….and MERRY CHRISTMAS!!….and HAPPY HUNT the WREN
my last name is wren
@Metalhead12828 Ah but surely with a capital W