Galway Bay

Album: Top O' The Morning: His Irish Collection (1947)
Charted: 3
Play Video

Songfacts®:

  • The first "Galway Bay," known to those living in and around Galway Bay, Ireland as "(My Own Dear) Galway Bay," was written by Frank A. Fahy (1854–1935). It's been a folk favorite ever since, with the most highly regarded recording of it being Dolores Keane's.

    The version best known outside of Galway Bay was written by Arthur Colahan in 1947 and recorded by Bing Crosby on November 27 of that same year. Driven largely by its popularity among Irish immigrants, the song rose to #3 in the States on Billboard's Retailers Pick chart.
  • The original lyrics were more political, including a reference to English occupation with the line, "Speak a language that the English do not know." Crosby changed it to, "Speak a language that the strangers do not know" to be less politically controversial.

    "Galway Bay" is an idyllic song full of pastoral imagery; it's easy to see how it appealed the nostalgia and sentimentality of Irish immigrants.
  • Box and Cox Publications of London, England, hold the copyright to this song. The Clancy Brothers and Tommy Makem recorded a humorous version of the song. Ruby Miller covered Crosby's version on 1955's When Irish Eyes Are Smiling.

Comments

Be the first to comment...

Editor's Picks

Country Song Titles

Country Song TitlesFact or Fiction

Country songs with titles so bizarre they can't possibly be real... or can they?

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino Edition

Songs in Famous Movie Scenes: Tarantino EditionMusic Quiz

Whether he's splitting ears or burning Nazis, Quentin Tarantino uses memorable music in his films. See if you can match the song to the scene.

Gilby Clarke

Gilby ClarkeSongwriter Interviews

The Guns N' Roses rhythm guitarist in the early '90s, Gilby talks about the band's implosion and the side projects it spawned.

Amanda Palmer

Amanda PalmerSongwriter Interviews

Call us crazy, but we like it when an artist comes around who doesn't mesh with the status quo.

Michael Franti

Michael FrantiSongwriter Interviews

Franti tells the story behind his hit "Say Hey (I Love You)" and explains why yoga is an integral part of his lifestyle and his Soulshine tour.

Jules Shear - "All Through The Night"

Jules Shear - "All Through The Night"They're Playing My Song

Shears does very little promotion, which has kept him secluded from the spotlight. What changed when Cyndi Lauper had a hit with his song? Not much, really.