FAINNE GEAL AN LAE lyrics and chords
(See The Dawning Of Day Lyrics And Chords in English) 4/4 The sheet music for tin whistle and banjo / mandolin is included. List of my As Gaeilge songs .
As played by Na Casaidigh (Use Capo on 1st fret). Written by Thomas Connellan who was a blind Harper from the Sligo area.
As played by Na Casaidigh (Use Capo on 1st fret). Written by Thomas Connellan who was a blind Harper from the Sligo area.
[C)Maidin moch do (Em)ghabhas a(F)mach,
Ar (C)bruach (F)Locha (C)Léin;
An (F)Samhradh teacht 's an (C)chraobh len'ais,
Is (Am)lonradh (F)te ón (G7)ngréin,
Ar (F)thaisteal dom trí (C)bhailte poirt
is bánta (F)míne (G7)réidhe,
Cé (C)a gheobhainn lem’ais ach an (Em)chúileann (F)deas,
Le (C)fáinne (F)geal an (C)lae.
Ní (C)raibh bróg ná stoca, (Em)caidhp ná (F)clóc;
Ar mo (C)stóirin (F)óg ón (C)spéir,
Ach (F)folt fionn órga (C)síos go troigh,
Ag (Am)fás go (F)barr an (G7)fhéir.
Bhí (F)calán crúite ai(C)ci ina glaic,
'S ar dhrúcht ba (F)dheas a (G7)scéimh,
Do (C)rug barr gean ar (Em)Bhéineas (F)deas,
Le (C)fáinne (F)geal an (C)lae.
Guitar Part:
C-F-C-C-Am-F (picked chords)
G-F-G6-G (single-strumed chords) (G6: 3-2-0-0-0-0)
Do (C)shuígh an bhrídeog (Em)síos le (F)m'ais,
Ar (C)bhrinse (F)glas den (C)fhéar,
Ag (F)magadh léi bhíos dá (C)maíomh go pras,
Mar (Am)mhnaoi nach (F)scarfainn (G7)léi.
'S é (F)dúirt sí liomsa, (C)"imigh uaim,
Is scaoil mé ar (F)siúl mé (G7)a réic",
Sin (C)iad aneas na (Em)soilse ag (F)teacht,àshort rest!
Le (C)fáinne (F)geal an (C)lae.
Guitar Part:
C-C-Em-F-C-F-C-C
C-C-Em-F-C-F-C-C
C-Am-F-C-F-G-F-F
C-C-Em-F-C-F-C-C
The sheet music is in the key of D.
This is the same tune as Raglan Road.
Ar (C)bruach (F)Locha (C)Léin;
An (F)Samhradh teacht 's an (C)chraobh len'ais,
Is (Am)lonradh (F)te ón (G7)ngréin,
Ar (F)thaisteal dom trí (C)bhailte poirt
is bánta (F)míne (G7)réidhe,
Cé (C)a gheobhainn lem’ais ach an (Em)chúileann (F)deas,
Le (C)fáinne (F)geal an (C)lae.
Ní (C)raibh bróg ná stoca, (Em)caidhp ná (F)clóc;
Ar mo (C)stóirin (F)óg ón (C)spéir,
Ach (F)folt fionn órga (C)síos go troigh,
Ag (Am)fás go (F)barr an (G7)fhéir.
Bhí (F)calán crúite ai(C)ci ina glaic,
'S ar dhrúcht ba (F)dheas a (G7)scéimh,
Do (C)rug barr gean ar (Em)Bhéineas (F)deas,
Le (C)fáinne (F)geal an (C)lae.
Guitar Part:
C-F-C-C-Am-F (picked chords)
G-F-G6-G (single-strumed chords) (G6: 3-2-0-0-0-0)
Do (C)shuígh an bhrídeog (Em)síos le (F)m'ais,
Ar (C)bhrinse (F)glas den (C)fhéar,
Ag (F)magadh léi bhíos dá (C)maíomh go pras,
Mar (Am)mhnaoi nach (F)scarfainn (G7)léi.
'S é (F)dúirt sí liomsa, (C)"imigh uaim,
Is scaoil mé ar (F)siúl mé (G7)a réic",
Sin (C)iad aneas na (Em)soilse ag (F)teacht,àshort rest!
Le (C)fáinne (F)geal an (C)lae.
Guitar Part:
C-C-Em-F-C-F-C-C
C-C-Em-F-C-F-C-C
C-Am-F-C-F-G-F-F
C-C-Em-F-C-F-C-C
The sheet music is in the key of D.
This is the same tune as Raglan Road.
It’s in C major, and usually played as a slow 4/4 ballad, with a graceful, lilting flow — think of a harp or slow fingerstyle guitar.
Below you’ll find both a gentle strumming pattern and a fingerpicking tab for the first verse and chorus (which, in this case, blend together naturally).
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Slow Irish Air)Count: 1 2 3 4
Play softly, allowing chords to ring — this song should breathe.
Pattern:↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
(count: 1 2& &3 4&)
| C | C | ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑ 1 2& &3 4& Bass alternation (optional for flow):
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (Verse + Chorus)We’ll use a slow rolling arpeggio pattern in 4/4 that feels natural and melodic:
Thumb (p) → Index (i) → Middle (m) → Ring (a)
This gives each chord a soft, harp-like shimmer.
Let all notes ring together slightly — that’s what gives it the Irish air quality.
Use:
First Verse + Chorus TabC Em F e|--------0-------------0-------|--------0-------------0-------|--------1-------------1-------| B|------1---1---------1---1-----|------0---0---------0---0-----|------1---1---------1---1-----| G|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----2-------2-----2-------2---| D|--2-----------2---------------|--2-----------2---------------|--3-----------3---------------| A|3------------------------------|------------------------------|----------------3-------------| E|-------------------------------|0-----------0-----------------|------------------------------| Maidin moch do ghabhas amach, ar bhruach Locha Léin; C F C e|--------0-------------0-----|--------1-------------1-----|--------0-------------0-----| B|------1---1---------1---1---|------1---1---------1---1---|------1---1---------1---1---| G|----0-------0-----0-------0-|----2-------2-----2-------2-|----0-------0-----0-------0-| D|--2-----------2-------------|--3-----------3-------------|--2-----------2-------------| A|3----------------------------|----------------3-----------|3---------------------------| E|------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------| An Samhradh teacht ’s an chraobh len’ais, is lonradh te ón ngrian, F C Am e|--------1-------------1------|--------0-------------0------|--------0-------------0------| B|------1---1---------1---1----|------1---1---------1---1----|------1---1---------1---1----| G|----2-------2-----2-------2--|----0-------0-----0-------0--|----2-------2-----2-------2--| D|--3-----------3--------------|--2-----------2--------------|--2-----------2--------------| A|----------------3-------------|3----------------------------|0----------------------------| E|------------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------| Ar thaistil dom trí bhailte poirt is bánta míne réidhe, F G7 C e|--------1-------------1------|--------1-------------1------|--------0-------------0------| B|------1---1---------1---1----|------0---0---------0---0----|------1---1---------1---1----| G|----2-------2-----2-------2--|----0-------0-----0-------0--|----0-------0-----0-------0--| D|--3-----------3--------------|--0-----------0--------------|--2-----------2--------------| A|----------------3-------------|----------------2-------------|3----------------------------| E|------------------------------|3-----------------------------|-----------------------------| Cé a gheobhainn lem’ ais ach an chúileann deas, le fáinne geal an lae.
Below you’ll find both a gentle strumming pattern and a fingerpicking tab for the first verse and chorus (which, in this case, blend together naturally).
🎸 Strumming Pattern (4/4 Slow Irish Air)Count: 1 2 3 4
Play softly, allowing chords to ring — this song should breathe.
Pattern:↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑
(count: 1 2& &3 4&)
- Beat 1: Light downstroke on bass strings (root emphasis)
- Beats 2–4: Flowing brush on middle and treble strings
- Use fingers or soft pick; dynamics should rise and fall naturally.
| C | C | ↓ ↓↑ ↑↓↑ 1 2& &3 4& Bass alternation (optional for flow):
- C → 5th / 4th strings
- F → 4th / 3rd strings
- Em / Am → 6th / 4th strings
- G7 → 6th / 4th strings
🎵 Fingerpicking Tab (Verse + Chorus)We’ll use a slow rolling arpeggio pattern in 4/4 that feels natural and melodic:
Thumb (p) → Index (i) → Middle (m) → Ring (a)
This gives each chord a soft, harp-like shimmer.
Let all notes ring together slightly — that’s what gives it the Irish air quality.
Use:
- Thumb (p) → bass strings (E, A, D)
- Index (i) → G string
- Middle (m) → B string
- Ring (a) → high E
First Verse + Chorus TabC Em F e|--------0-------------0-------|--------0-------------0-------|--------1-------------1-------| B|------1---1---------1---1-----|------0---0---------0---0-----|------1---1---------1---1-----| G|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----0-------0-----0-------0---|----2-------2-----2-------2---| D|--2-----------2---------------|--2-----------2---------------|--3-----------3---------------| A|3------------------------------|------------------------------|----------------3-------------| E|-------------------------------|0-----------0-----------------|------------------------------| Maidin moch do ghabhas amach, ar bhruach Locha Léin; C F C e|--------0-------------0-----|--------1-------------1-----|--------0-------------0-----| B|------1---1---------1---1---|------1---1---------1---1---|------1---1---------1---1---| G|----0-------0-----0-------0-|----2-------2-----2-------2-|----0-------0-----0-------0-| D|--2-----------2-------------|--3-----------3-------------|--2-----------2-------------| A|3----------------------------|----------------3-----------|3---------------------------| E|------------------------------|----------------------------|----------------------------| An Samhradh teacht ’s an chraobh len’ais, is lonradh te ón ngrian, F C Am e|--------1-------------1------|--------0-------------0------|--------0-------------0------| B|------1---1---------1---1----|------1---1---------1---1----|------1---1---------1---1----| G|----2-------2-----2-------2--|----0-------0-----0-------0--|----2-------2-----2-------2--| D|--3-----------3--------------|--2-----------2--------------|--2-----------2--------------| A|----------------3-------------|3----------------------------|0----------------------------| E|------------------------------|-----------------------------|-----------------------------| Ar thaistil dom trí bhailte poirt is bánta míne réidhe, F G7 C e|--------1-------------1------|--------1-------------1------|--------0-------------0------| B|------1---1---------1---1----|------0---0---------0---0----|------1---1---------1---1----| G|----2-------2-----2-------2--|----0-------0-----0-------0--|----0-------0-----0-------0--| D|--3-----------3--------------|--0-----------0--------------|--2-----------2--------------| A|----------------3-------------|----------------2-------------|3----------------------------| E|------------------------------|3-----------------------------|-----------------------------| Cé a gheobhainn lem’ ais ach an chúileann deas, le fáinne geal an lae.
he Dawning Of The Day
English Translation:
Copy the guitar chords from the Irish
version
One morning early I went out
On the shore of Lough Leinn
The leafy trees of summertime,
And the warm rays of the sun,
As I wandered through the townlands,
And the luscious grassy plains,
Who should I meet but a beautiful maid,
At the dawning of the day.
No cap or cloak this maiden wore
Her neck and feet were bare
Down to the grass in ringlets fell
Her glossy golden hair
A milking pail was in her hand
She was lovely, young and gay
Her beauty excelled even Helen of Troy
At the dawning of the day.
On a mossy bank I sat me down
With the maiden by my side
With gentle words I courted her
And asked her to be my bride
She turned and said, "Please go away,"
Then went on down the way
And the morning light was shining bright
At the dawning of the day.
English Translation:
Copy the guitar chords from the Irish
version
One morning early I went out
On the shore of Lough Leinn
The leafy trees of summertime,
And the warm rays of the sun,
As I wandered through the townlands,
And the luscious grassy plains,
Who should I meet but a beautiful maid,
At the dawning of the day.
No cap or cloak this maiden wore
Her neck and feet were bare
Down to the grass in ringlets fell
Her glossy golden hair
A milking pail was in her hand
She was lovely, young and gay
Her beauty excelled even Helen of Troy
At the dawning of the day.
On a mossy bank I sat me down
With the maiden by my side
With gentle words I courted her
And asked her to be my bride
She turned and said, "Please go away,"
Then went on down the way
And the morning light was shining bright
At the dawning of the day.
Fainne Geal an Lae Sheet Music Plus The Tin Whistle Notes And Mandolin / Tenor Banjo Tab
Irish / Gaeilge Ebook Of Songs For Tin Whistle. Price €6.90.
You'll be directed to the download page after payment.
You'll be directed to the download page after payment.
