She Moved Through The Fair - Recordings

Recordings

In recent times, following Fairport Convention's version of the song in the sixties, hundreds of artists have recorded this song in its traditional form. Most have kept to some form of the traditional lyrics: however, the versions by Sinéad O'Connor (as used in the soundtrack of the film Michael Collins), Trees and Nana Mouskouri change the gender of the pronouns and so the song became "He Moved Through the Fair". O'Connor and Trees' versions keep the original "She Moved Through the Fair" title on their sleeves, although Mouskouri changes the name to suit the variant. An alternative version of the lyrics was also used in Mary Black's version of the song.

Other notable versions:

• Davey Graham recorded a version in 1962.

• Anne Briggs sang an unaccompanied three-verse version in 1963.

• Odetta recorded the song on her 1963 album, One Grain of Sand.

• John Martyn's version was present on his 1967 debut album, London Conversation.

• Alfred Deller performed a version of it with Desmond Dupre, for the Folksongs album.

• Alan Stivell's 1972 version, sung in English, is also very close to the original song.

• Roger Whittaker recorded a version for Folksongs of our Island Vol 1 (1977).

• Art Garfunkel recorded a version for his third album Watermark (1977).

• Loreena McKennitt featured it on her 1985 album Elemental.

• In 1986, Eyeless in Gaza featured an a cappella version on the album Back from the Rains.

• All About Eve featured a version on their eponymous 1988 debut album, and often performed it live in their early days. Following an acrimonious departure from the band, guitarist Tim Bricheno would later use a sample of the vocal in the song "Wrong Thing", recorded by his later band, XC-NN.

• In 1988 Van Morrison and the Chieftains recorded a version for the album Irish Heartbeat and a live version of it also appeared on Van Morrison's 1990 concert video, Van Morrison: The Concert.

• In 1989 Simple Minds recorded a song called "Belfast Child", which made it to No. 1 in the UK Charts. This song uses the traditional tune associated with "She Moved Through the Fair", but with completely different words. The song appears on their album Street Fighting Years.

• Marianne Faithfull recorded it for her album North Country Maid in 1966 and also featured a version on her 1990 album Blazing Away, and has often sung it in concert.

• In 1991 it was recorded by Feargal Sharkey.

• Máire Brennan recorded a version as a B-side to her 1992 single, "Against the Wind".

• Sinéad O'Connor performed it on The Chieftains' collaborative album The Long Black Veil in 1995. She also recorded a solo version which was featured on the soundtrack of the 1996 film Michael Collins.

• Irish Boyband Boyzone performed it on the album A Different Beat in 1996.

• English musician Mike Oldfield covered the song on his album Voyager (1996).

• For the Irish musical Lord of the Dance, which began touring in 1996, the musical score composed by Ronan Hardiman includes a version of the song from the female point of view sung by Anne Buckley.

• The King's Singers recorded a version for their 1997 album Spirit Voices.

• Bert Jansch recorded a version for his 1998 album Toy Balloon.

• In 1998, Sarah Brightman recorded a version (as "He Moved Through the Fair") as a B-side to her "Eden" single.

• Alan Hacker and Tony Coe recorded an arrangement by Hacker, under the title "One Star Awake", on their 1999 album Sun moon and stars.

• Charlie Zahm recorded it on his 1999 album The Celtic Balladeer.

• Charlotte Church recorded the song on her 2000 album Charlotte Church.

• Andreas Scholl recorded it for his album Wayfaring Stranger (2001).

• Anthony Kearns recorded it on the 2002 album The Very Best of the Irish Tenors.

• Wayne Shorter recorded an instrumental arrangement as "She Moves Through the Fair" on his 2003 album Alegría.

• Rory Gallagher recorded a version with Bert Jansch released on the posthumous album Wheels Within Wheels (2003).

• Celtic Woman recorded the song on their 2004 eponymous first album.

• Enter the Haggis covered the song on their 2005 album Casualties of Retail.

• Hayley Westenra recorded a version in her 2005 album Odyssey.

• Michael Londra recorded a version in his 2006 album Celt.

• Cara Dillon recorded the song on her 2009 Hill of Thieves album.

• Nyle Wolfe included a version in his 2009 album Home Ground.

• Camilla Kerslake included a version in her eponymous debut album.

• Culann's Hounds are joined by Sara Gardner on their album One for the Road.

• Rolf Harris and Kate Bush recorded a version in 2009 which has not yet been released.

• Fionnuala Sherry of the New Instrumental duo Secret Garden recorded a version for her 2010 solo debut Songs From Before.

• Jim Causley recorded a Devonshire version on his 2011 album Dumnonia.

• Young Australian singer/harpist Siobhan Owen recorded a version on her 2009 album Celestial Echoes.

• Jimmy Page, guitar player of Led Zeppelin, recorded "White Summer" based on Davey Graham's arrangement in 1969.

• Andrea Corr recorded the song for the album Celtic Skies. released in 2012.