Ar Fol Lol Lol O

Trad

Ar fol lol lol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay
Ar fol lol lol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay
Ar fol lol lol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay
Fol lee fol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay

There’s lilt in the song I sing, there’s laughter and love
There’s tang of the sea and blue from heaven above
Of reason there’s none and why should there be for bye
As long as there’s fire in the blood and a light in the eye

Ar fol lol lol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay
Ar fol lol lol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay
Ar fol lol lol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay
Fol lee fol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay

The heather’s ablaze with bloom and myrtle is sweet
There’s a song in the air, the road’s a song at our feet
So step it along as light as a bird on the wing
And while we are stepping we join our voices and sing

Ar fol lol lol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay
Ar fol lol lol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay
Ar fol lol lol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay
Fol lee fol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay

And whether the blood be highland, lowland or no
And whether the skin be black or white as the snow
Of kith and of kin we’re one, be it right, be it wrong
As long as our voices join the chorus of song

Ar fol lol lol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay
Ar fol lol lol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay
Ar fol lol lol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay
Fol lee fol o horo, ar fol lol lol ay

This is well-known in the Irish and Scots Gaelic, at least in chorus and tune. The English version bears little relation to the original as we first heard it, and although written in the early part of the 20th century, it seems appropriate today.

Gordon McIntyre sang Er Fa La La Lo in 1966 on the Australian album A Wench, a Whale and a Pint of Good Ale. The album’s liner notes called it “a traditional Irish song with the message of a protest song written yesterday” but with the Highlands and Lowlands references in the song it could be a Scottish ballad.