Ed Sheeran

Lyrics

[Chorus]
She played the fiddle in an Irish band
But she fell in love with an English man
Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand
Said, "Baby, I just wanna dance"

[Verse 1]
I met her on Grafton Street right outside of the bar
She shared a cigarette with me while her brother played the guitar
She asked me what does it mean, the Gaelic ink on your arm?
Said it was one of my friend's songs, do you wanna drink on?
She took Jamie as a chaser, Jack for the fun
She got Arthur on the table with Johnny riding a shotgun
Chatted some more, one more drink at the bar
Then put Van on the jukebox, got up to dance

[Chorus]
You know, she played the fiddle in an Irish band
But she fell in love with an English man
Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand
Said, "Baby, I just wanna dance"
With my pretty little Galway Girl
You're my pretty little Galway Girl

[Verse 2]
You know she beat me at darts and then she beat me at pool
And then she kissed me like there was nobody else in the room
As last orders were called was when she stood on the stool
After dancing the céili singing to trad tunes
I never heard Carrickfergus ever sung so sweet
A cappella in the bar using her feet for a beat
Oh, I could have that voice playing on repeat for a week
And in this packed out room, swear she was singing to me
[Chorus]
You know, she played the fiddle in an Irish band
But she fell in love with an English man
Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand
Said, "Baby, I just wanna dance"
My pretty little Galway Girl
My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway Girl
My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway Girl
My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway Girl

[Verse 3]
And now we've outstayed our welcome and it's closing time
I was holding her hand, her hand was holding mine
Our coats both smell of smoke, whisky and wine
As we fill up our lungs with the cold air of the night
I walked her home then she took me inside
To finish some Doritos and another bottle of wine
I swear I'm gonna put you in a song that I write
About a Galway Girl and a perfect night

[Chorus]
She played the fiddle in an Irish band
But she fell in love with an English man
Kissed her on the neck and then I took her by the hand
Said, "Baby, I just wanna dance"
My pretty little Galway Girl
My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway Girl
My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway Girl
My, my, my, my, my, my, my Galway Girl (Hey)

Galway Girl by Ed Sheeran is a unique blend of Irish folk tradition and Ed’s signature acoustic pop style. It tells the story of a man and a woman meeting in an Irish pub, where they dance and sing the night away. The term “Galway Girl” describes a black haired and blue-eyed woman from the city of Galway, and it was coined by Steve Earle’s song of the same title. The track features award-winning Irish folk band Beoga as co-writers and musicians, making it a perfect collaboration of traditional Irish music with Ed’s contemporary style.

About Galway Girl

Galway Girl is a standout track from Ed Sheeran’s third studio album, ÷ (Divide), which was released on March 3, 2017. In his interview for the cover story of GQ’s March 2017 issue, Sheeran explained that he had to fight to keep “Galway Girl” on the album. The influence of Van Morrison’s Irish Heartbeat is clear, and Ed believes it will be "fucking massive." He also mentioned that he had a traditional Irish band named Beoga work on the track with him, and it was one of his favorite working experiences ever.

In addition to showcasing Sheeran's vocal and guitar abilities, “Galway Girl” features Beoga's traditional Irish instruments that give the song a distinct and unique sound. The fiddle, the pipe, the bodhran, and piano create a perfect partnership with Sheeran’s guitar and vocals, resulting in an absolute masterpiece.

The song transports the listener to an Irish pub, where they can hear the music and feel the energy of a traditional Irish music. The fusion of pop and Irish folk music creates a catchy and upbeat track that will make you dance and sing along. The lyrics of the song are fun, telling a story of a man meeting a woman in an Irish pub and spending the night dancing and singing together. The story of the song is lively, painting a vivid picture of Irish culture and tradition.

The unique blend of traditional Irish music and contemporary pop styles showcased in “Galway Girl” has made it a hit with listeners all over the world. Ed has definitely challenged himself with this track, going in a completely new direction with Irish folk music as a backdrop.

In an interview with Zane Lowe on Track x Track, Sheeran revealed how the song came to be. He was recording in Suffolk with Irish folk band Beoga, and they were working on another song when Ed asked them to try it on “Galway Girl.” The results were brilliant, and the song ended up on Sheeran's album. The lyrics are catchy and easy to follow, making it an instant crowd-pleaser. The chorus, which is laden with traditional Irish music instruments, sings "She played the fiddle in an Irish band, but she fell in love with an English man."

Overall, “Galway Girl” is a perfect representation of the joyous and festive nature of Irish folk music, fused with modern pop. The catchy lyrics and upbeat music combine to make it a song that is sure to have everyone singing, dancing, and swaying along.

Ed Sheeran has created a masterpiece that is universally relatable, with a sound that transcends cultural barriers. “Galway Girl” is a must-listen for anyone who loves a good story or is a fan of good music and a surefire way to bring a smile to your face. You won't be able to resist tapping your feet to the beat as you sing the melodies loud and proud. The fusion of styles has turned out to be a stroke of pure genius, and we can only hope to see more in the future from Ed.

• Release Date: March 3, 2017
• Artist: Ed Sheeran