The Spanish Lady - Cathy Jordan (The Crankie Island Song Project)

The Spanish Lady
Dublin
This old Dublin song has many versions, the lady in question is a “lady of the night” the odd and even numbers in this version are said to refer to ‘she had the odds and evens of it’ ie she had it all.
Cathy Jordan - Vocals, Guitalele
Anna Houston - Vocals, cello,
Claudia Schwab - Vocals, violin,
Rick Epping - Vocals, harmonica Concertina
Seamie O’Dowd - Vocals, Guitalele
Jon Berkeley - Original crankie illustrations
www.crankieisland.com
Peter Crann - Production Coordinator
Thanks to The Arts Council Of Ireland for their support.
Cathy Jordan’s Crankie Island 32 track album available now on Bandcamp
cathyjordan.ba...
Recorded in Scott Nolan’s studio Winnipeg Canada
Engineered by Jamie Sitar
Mastered by Richard Ford
Lyrics (and numbers):
As I went down through Dublin City at the hour of 12 at night
Who should I see but the Spanish lady washing her feet by candle light
First she washed them then she dried them, over a fire of amber coals
In all my life I never did see a maid so sweet about the souls
She had 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 none
She had 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1
As I came back through Dublin City at the hour of half past eight
Who should I see but the Spanish lady combing her hair in the broad daylight
First washed it then she brushed it, I her lap lay a silvery comb
In all my life I near did see a maid so sweet as I did roam
She had 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 none
She had 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1
As I came back through dublin city, just as the sun was about to set
Who should I see but the Spanish lady catching a moth in a golden net
When she saw me then she fled me lifting her petticoats ore her knee
In all my life I nare did see a maid so shy as this lady
She had 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 none
She had 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1
Round and round goes the wheel of fortune, where it rests now wearies me, fair maid they are so deceiving sad experience teaches me
Old age has laid her hand upon me, cold as a fire of ashy coals
Where is the lovely Spanish lady so mortal neat as I did roam
She had 20, 18, 16, 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 2 none
She had 19, 17, 15, 13, 11, 9, 7, 5, 3, and 1

[@amyohara6144]

~Excellent

[@sentimentaloldme]

Beautiful interpretation of this great old number I first heard sung by the Johnstons many many years ago.

[@86themadhatter27]

Love this. Heard it on the Ray Darcy show the other day and had to find it.

[@scealmusic2832]

Looking forward to this! love Jon's work!