
Lisa, Méav and Órla performing on-stage.
Not shown: Máiréad Nesbitt.
"At The Céilí" is a Celtic Woman song whose music was composed by David Downes and whose lyrics were written by Shay Healey. Originated in the show A New Journey and on the album of the same title, it was originally sung by Lisa Kelly, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, and Órla Fallon, with the accompaniment of Máiréad Nesbitt's fiddle.
Lyrics[edit | edit source]
Lisa Kelly, Méav Ní Mhaolchatha, and Órla Fallon
Tonight we're going to meet some lads us girls are dressed up gaily
And we'll be dancing 'till the dawn we're going to the Céilí
The lads they come from miles around from Ennis and Kilmaley
To show us all their fancy steps we're going to the Céilí
They're planning tunes on everything from pipes to ukulele
It sounds so good you can't sit down we're dancing at the Céilí
Lisa
All the boys we loved so well so handsome young and charming
They're in New York and Boston now they should be home here farming
My own true love has sailed away to be an endless rover
'Cause times are tough and he must leave
To start a new life over
He writes me letters every week to say how much he's slaving
And he promises that he'll be back before the hay needs saving
But it's hard to love somebody that you're not in touch with daily
So I'm looking for somebody new tonight down At The Céilí
The winter nights are long and hard and time goes by so slowly
I wish my true love he was here and in his arms I'd roll
He'd whisper tender words of love to me and kiss my lips so sweetly
And quickly I'd surrender to
His manly charms completely
Lisa and Méav
He writes me letters every week to say how much he's slaving
And he promises that he'll be back before the hay needs saving
But it's hard to love somebody that you're not in touch with daily
So I'm looking for somebody new tonight down At The Céilí
So I'm looking for somebody new tonight down At The Céilí
Órla
I hope I meet someone tonight who'll make me heart beat fast
A handsome man with laughing eyes who smiles as he walks past
And when they play an old-time waltz he'll twirl me round the floor
And promise me that I will be his girl forevermore
His girl forevermore
His girl forevermore
He'll promise me that I will be
His girl forevermore
Méav
I'm somewhat in a bother that is really quite alarming
I have two lads pursuing me and each of them is charming
One of them is dark and poor one fair with lots of money
I don't know which one to choose
The flower or the honey
All
What on Earth am I to do it's driving me half crazy
Tonight I'll make my mind up when I see them At The Céilí
Méav
To be a poor man's wife would mean a life of washing dishes
While a rich man's wife would surely have
great luxury and riches
In comfort how I know it wouldn't be too hard to wallow
And being poor is not much fun
Which one should I follow
All
What on Earth am I to do it's driving me half crazy
Tonight I'll make my mind up when I see them At The Céilí
Lisa
I've been lucky I've found a lad who's handsome and a neighbour
Órla
And me I've met a decent man whose friendship I will savour
Méav
And me I've made my choice as well and in no way was it aisy
But I'd rather have a man for love
Than be a rich man's lady
All
And that is how the story ends may true love never fail me
We got ourselves three men tonight
And we met them At The Céilí