My mother who is recovering from a stroke has just remembered that her father used to call her Macushla and wondered what it meant,she then went on to remember that she thought it was in a song that he used to sing to her as a child.When I found this and read it to her she was very emotional,she only remembers her father vaguely as he left when she was very young,8 years old I think and the next time she saw him he was dead having been murdered.
It would be lovely if I could get a recording or hopefully a download but unfortunateley have not been able to find one,I know the 3 Irish Tenors recorded it and there are older Irish Folk recordings .So if anyone can help please let me know.
mó cúisla
macushla
1. (an Irish term of address expressing affection) darling
Celtic word meaning love of my heart
The Irish language origins, mo chroà (my heart), mo chuisle (my
pulse; as in 'a chuisle mo chroÃ", pulse of my heart - in English
we can call someone a "heart throb")
This song was 1st recorded by the famous Irish tenor
John Francis McCormack one of the greatest singers of this century. Born in Athlone, Ireland, 14 June 1884, died 16 September 1945. He was the first artist to record the World War One hit song It's a Long Way to Tipperary, in 1914.Macushla was recorded by John 30 March 1911.
Macushla
(Josephine V. Rowe, Dermot MacMorrough)
Macushla! Macushla!
Your sweet voice is calling,
Calling me softly,
Again and again,
Macushla! Macushla!
I hear it in vain.
Macushla, Macushla,
Your white arms are reaching,
I feel them enfolding,
Caressing me still.
Fling them out from the darkness,
My lost love, Macushla,
Let them find me and bind me
Again, if they will.
Macushla! Macushla!
Your red lips are saying
That death is a dream,
And love is for aye,
Then awaken, Macushla,
Awake from your dreaming,
My blue-eyed Macushla,
Awaken to stay.
Words by Josephine V. Rowe
Music by Dermot MacMorrough
c. 1910, Boosey & Co., New York
