An arrangement of traditional Manx music for chorus and harp by Kevin Kelly.

A children’s nonsense song
One named Click he came from Ireland, courting my Aunt Joanney.
One named Clock…One named Cluck…


This live recording comes from a full concert of Manx music for chorus and harp arranged by Kevin Kelly: ‘This Fair Isle: Celtic Folksongs & Dances from the Isle of Man.’
The performers are the Athens Chamber Singers, directed by Kevin Kelly, with Elizabeth Veal on harp.
This concert took place on Saturday, 26 April 2025, at the Friendship Presbyterian Church, Athens, Georgia, USA.

The recording was made and is released here with thanks to Kevin Kelly and the Athens Chamber Singers.

The full recording can be enjoyed here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/this-fair-isle-manx-music-arranged-by-kevin-kelly/

More about the Athens Chamber Singers can be found here: http://www.athenschambersingers.org
More about Manx music can be found here: https://www.manxmusic.com/

This recording was released online by Culture Vannin, 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486


One Named Click

An arrangement of traditional Manx music for chorus and harp by Kevin Kelly.

In Manx folklore, a woman is faced with punishment by the Queen Trit Trot if she fails to 
spin a large amount of wool in a designated time, so she calls upon tree branches, 
roof slates and ocean waves to assist her.  

1. Spin wheel, spin, turn wheel, turn, and every leaf upon the trees, spin above for me.
    With myself the spinner, and with the king’s wool, 
    Help me get my spinning down before old Trit Trot come!

2. Sing wheel, spin, sing wheel, sing, and every slate upon the house spin on my behalf!
    With myself the spinner, and with the fair white wool,
    Help me get my spinning done lest Trit Trot get the wool!

3. Spin wheel, spin, hum wheel hum, and every wave upon the shore spin along with me.
    With myself the spinner, and with the loughtan wool
    Help me get my spinning done before old Trit Trot come!


This live recording comes from a full concert of Manx music for chorus and harp arranged by Kevin Kelly: ‘This Fair Isle: Celtic Folksongs & Dances from the Isle of Man.’
The performers are the Athens Chamber Singers, directed by Kevin Kelly, with Elizabeth Veal on harp.
This concert took place on Saturday, 26 April 2025, at the Friendship Presbyterian Church, Athens, Georgia, USA.

The recording was made and is released here with thanks to Kevin Kelly and the Athens Chamber Singers.

The full recording can be enjoyed here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/this-fair-isle-manx-music-arranged-by-kevin-kelly/

More about the Athens Chamber Singers can be found here: http://www.athenschambersingers.org
More about Manx music can be found here: https://www.manxmusic.com/

This recording was released online by Culture Vannin, 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486


Spinning Song

An arrangement of traditional Manx music for chorus and harp by Kevin Kelly.

The sailors’ song is twice interrupted by phrases of the Manx Fishermen’s Evening Hymn, heard faintly from a church on a distant shore.  This hymn, asking for God’s protection on the sea, is played by the harp.

1. Up with the lug and let her run before the wind and tide,
    The gannets plunge,
    The gulls keep watch, the herring shoal is wide.
    Admiral Quirk has struck his flag so down with the nets and pray,
    The fisher’s Friend to bless our homes and toil by night and day.

(Ref.) O! the herring, boys, the herring for me!
    Red or kippered, fresh or pickled,
    O! the herring is king of the sea!

2. Over the Cronk ny Arrey Laa the sun’s bright signal shines.
    ‘Tis time to haul our glittering train and ship our loaded lines.
    With moistened brow and grateful heart and joyful voice we raise,
    Homeward glides our gallant craft, our morning songs of praise.


This live recording comes from a full concert of Manx music for chorus and harp arranged by Kevin Kelly: ‘This Fair Isle: Celtic Folksongs & Dances from the Isle of Man.’
The performers are the Athens Chamber Singers, directed by Kevin Kelly, with Elizabeth Veal on harp.
This concert took place on Saturday, 26 April 2025, at the Friendship Presbyterian Church, Athens, Georgia, USA.

The recording was made and is released here with thanks to Kevin Kelly and the Athens Chamber Singers.

The full recording can be enjoyed here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/this-fair-isle-manx-music-arranged-by-kevin-kelly/

More about the Athens Chamber Singers can be found here: http://www.athenschambersingers.org
More about Manx music can be found here: https://www.manxmusic.com/

This recording was released online by Culture Vannin, 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486


King of the Sea

An arrangement of traditional Manx music for chorus and harp by Kevin Kelly.

1.O Graih my chree, will you not come to me?
    Love of my heart, O wake, awake!  
    If I’ll not have your love and you to stay with me,
    Then will I give death my heart to break.
2. O love has worn my heart with sorrow 
    And filled my mind with a heavy grief.
    Now sleep has left my house and rest returns no more,
    I seek them vainly without relief.


This live recording comes from a full concert of Manx music for chorus and harp arranged by Kevin Kelly: ‘This Fair Isle: Celtic Folksongs & Dances from the Isle of Man.’
The performers are the Athens Chamber Singers, directed by Kevin Kelly, with Elizabeth Veal on harp.
This concert took place on Saturday, 26 April 2025, at the Friendship Presbyterian Church, Athens, Georgia, USA.

The recording was made and is released here with thanks to Kevin Kelly and the Athens Chamber Singers.

The full recording can be enjoyed here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/this-fair-isle-manx-music-arranged-by-kevin-kelly/

More about the Athens Chamber Singers can be found here: http://www.athenschambersingers.org
More about Manx music can be found here: https://www.manxmusic.com/

This recording was released online by Culture Vannin, 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486


Love of My Heart

An arrangement of traditional Manx music for chorus and harp by Kevin Kelly.

1. O the oat is good for folk and cattle, it keeps them warm and gives them mettle,
    And straw bedding is the best place to cuddle.

(Ref.) O a-millin’ O, and the corn is new,
    And the little oat grain is a-goin’ to the mill-o.

2. O the wheat is good for bread and baking, it’s good with cheese and salt and butter,
    It’s good at home and it’s good for chapel.

3. O the barley grain’s the best of any, from that alone I’ll take my portion,
    It cheers and banishes melancholy.


This live recording comes from a full concert of Manx music for chorus and harp arranged by Kevin Kelly: ‘This Fair Isle: Celtic Folksongs & Dances from the Isle of Man.’
The performers are the Athens Chamber Singers, directed by Kevin Kelly, with Elizabeth Veal on harp.
This concert took place on Saturday, 26 April 2025, at the Friendship Presbyterian Church, Athens, Georgia, USA.

The recording was made and is released here with thanks to Kevin Kelly and the Athens Chamber Singers.

The full recording can be enjoyed here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/this-fair-isle-manx-music-arranged-by-kevin-kelly/

More about the Athens Chamber Singers can be found here: http://www.athenschambersingers.org
More about Manx music can be found here: https://www.manxmusic.com/

This recording was released online by Culture Vannin, 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486


Grinding Song

An arrangement of traditional Manx music for chorus and harp by Kevin Kelly.

Sail away, my vessel brave.
So long as the tide does bear us along, 
In fine voice we are lifting our song.


This live recording comes from a full concert of Manx music for chorus and harp arranged by Kevin Kelly: ‘This Fair Isle: Celtic Folksongs & Dances from the Isle of Man.’
The performers are the Athens Chamber Singers, directed by Kevin Kelly, with Elizabeth Veal on harp.
This concert took place on Saturday, 26 April 2025, at the Friendship Presbyterian Church, Athens, Georgia, USA.

The recording was made and is released here with thanks to Kevin Kelly and the Athens Chamber Singers.

The full recording can be enjoyed here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/this-fair-isle-manx-music-arranged-by-kevin-kelly/

More about the Athens Chamber Singers can be found here: http://www.athenschambersingers.org
More about Manx music can be found here: https://www.manxmusic.com/

This recording was released online by Culture Vannin, 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486


Sail Away

An arrangement of traditional Manx music for chorus and harp by Kevin Kelly.

1. O calm you, my baby, sleep while I sing, 
    And as the wind blows your hammock will swing.
   But if the branch breaks, down, down we shall fall, 
   The babe in the cradle, the singer and all.

2. On hills of the west, O child of my love,
    When darkens the twilight, peace broods above,
    But cobwebs of music through the air go,
    Hark!  Can you not hear them drift to and fro?

3. O quiet, my child, on a wave borne along,
    The tall ship is swaying, loud the wind’s song,
   ‘Tis over the tide-ways, over the sea,
    Wrapped safe you will slumber, sailing to me.


This live recording comes from a full concert of Manx music for chorus and harp arranged by Kevin Kelly: ‘This Fair Isle: Celtic Folksongs & Dances from the Isle of Man.’
The performers are the Athens Chamber Singers, directed by Kevin Kelly, with Elizabeth Veal on harp.
This concert took place on Saturday, 26 April 2025, at the Friendship Presbyterian Church, Athens, Georgia, USA.

The recording was made and is released here with thanks to Kevin Kelly and the Athens Chamber Singers.

The full recording can be enjoyed here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/this-fair-isle-manx-music-arranged-by-kevin-kelly/

More about the Athens Chamber Singers can be found here: http://www.athenschambersingers.org
More about Manx music can be found here: https://www.manxmusic.com/

This recording was released online by Culture Vannin, 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486


Slumber Song

An arrangement of traditional Manx music for chorus and harp by Kevin Kelly.

A courtship song in the style of a dialogue.

(He) Where do you go, my brown-haired girl? Where do you go, my beauty, my lamb?
(She) “I’m going to the fold,” said she.
(He) Why go you there, my brown-haired girl?  Why go you there, my little dear one?
(She) “I’m going there to milk,” said she.
(He) May I go with you, my brown-haired girl?  May I go with you, my beauty, my lamb?
(She) “O come with me then, good fellow,” said she.


This live recording comes from a full concert of Manx music for chorus and harp arranged by Kevin Kelly: ‘This Fair Isle: Celtic Folksongs & Dances from the Isle of Man.’
The performers are the Athens Chamber Singers, directed by Kevin Kelly, with Elizabeth Veal on harp.
This concert took place on Saturday, 26 April 2025, at the Friendship Presbyterian Church, Athens, Georgia, USA.

The recording was made and is released here with thanks to Kevin Kelly and the Athens Chamber Singers.

The full recording can be enjoyed here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/this-fair-isle-manx-music-arranged-by-kevin-kelly/

More about the Athens Chamber Singers can be found here: http://www.athenschambersingers.org
More about Manx music can be found here: https://www.manxmusic.com/

This recording was released online by Culture Vannin, 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486


My Brown-haired Girl

An arrangement of traditional Manx music for chorus and harp by Kevin Kelly.

1.As I went out one morning clear, across the daisied leas,
    The winds and the songbirds sang of love amid the trees.
    And in my heart love sweetly sang of thee! 
(Ref.) The earth and sky, my heart and I 
      Were bathed in melody.
2. With diamond dew the grass was decked, a gem each daisy wore,
    And all was sweet and fresh and fair on hill and dale and moor.
    And dear, my heart was gemmed and decked with tender thoughts of thee!


This live recording comes from a full concert of Manx music for chorus and harp arranged by Kevin Kelly: ‘This Fair Isle: Celtic Folksongs & Dances from the Isle of Man.’
The performers are the Athens Chamber Singers, directed by Kevin Kelly, with Elizabeth Veal on harp.
This concert took place on Saturday, 26 April 2025, at the Friendship Presbyterian Church, Athens, Georgia, USA.

The recording was made and is released here with thanks to Kevin Kelly and the Athens Chamber Singers.

The full recording can be enjoyed here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/this-fair-isle-manx-music-arranged-by-kevin-kelly/

More about the Athens Chamber Singers can be found here: http://www.athenschambersingers.org
More about Manx music can be found here: https://www.manxmusic.com/

This recording was released online by Culture Vannin, 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486


As I Went Out One Morning

An arrangement of traditional Manx music for chorus and harp by Kevin Kelly.

Written in the old form of a chaconne, based on a repeating harmonic pattern

Oie-vie [“Good night”] 
1. Time to go home and go to rest, the very chairs have said,
    This is a sign that we should move, night draws us to bed.
2. Come, my good friends, we must go home, dark grows the hearth’s warm light,
    Telling us all that we must go, the time has come to say Good night.


This live recording comes from a full concert of Manx music for chorus and harp arranged by Kevin Kelly: ‘This Fair Isle: Celtic Folksongs & Dances from the Isle of Man.’
The performers are the Athens Chamber Singers, directed by Kevin Kelly, with Elizabeth Veal on harp.
This concert took place on Saturday, 26 April 2025, at the Friendship Presbyterian Church, Athens, Georgia, USA.

The recording was made and is released here with thanks to Kevin Kelly and the Athens Chamber Singers.

The full recording can be enjoyed here: https://culturevannin.im/watchlisten/audioarchive/this-fair-isle-manx-music-arranged-by-kevin-kelly/

More about the Athens Chamber Singers can be found here: http://www.athenschambersingers.org
More about Manx music can be found here: https://www.manxmusic.com/

This recording was released online by Culture Vannin, 2025.
Culture Vannin exists to promote and support all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.
https://culturevannin.im/
www.facebook.com/culturevannin/
www.instagram.com/culturevannin/
www.youtube.com/@culturevannin8486


Good Night Song

Promoting and supporting all aspects of culture in the Isle of Man.

Culture Vannin awards grants and initiates schemes whilst supporting the work of development officers for music and language. The work of Culture Vannin has been fundamental to the revival of interest and support for Manx language and culture over the last twenty years.

Culture Vannin is the trading name for the Manx Heritage Foundation, registered charity 333 in the Isle of Man.

New tracks tagged #Isle of Man songs