A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow (Cailin Deas Crúite na
mBó in the Irish language) is a traditional
18th-century Irish Ballad. The English version is
attributed to Thomas Moore (1779–1852). Originally
sung in Irish Gaelic, the song was popular through the
early 20th century. It enjoyed a revival when an
updated swing version sung by Irish-American
singer/actress Judy Garland was featured in the 1940
film Little Nellie Kelly. The updated version is true
to the original musical air, and incorpora...(+)
A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow (Cailin Deas Crúite na
mBó in the Irish language) is a traditional
18th-century Irish Ballad. The English version is
attributed to Thomas Moore (1779–1852). Originally
sung in Irish Gaelic, the song was popular through the
early 20th century. It enjoyed a revival when an
updated swing version sung by Irish-American
singer/actress Judy Garland was featured in the 1940
film Little Nellie Kelly. The updated version is true
to the original musical air, and incorporated original
lyrics by MGM Musical Director Roger Edens, and
featured Garland singing the song to George Murphy
using some of the original Gaelic lyrics in the first
chorus, which was true to the traditional air, before
moving into an up-tempo swing version typical of the
era.
The song was released as the B-side of the more popular
Garland song It's A Great Day for the Irish by Decca
Records in 1940. It became a popular song for
Irish-Americans during St Patrick's Day celebrations.
It remained a popular number for Garland throughout her
career, and most notably she sang it live in its
original Irish language version in July 1951 at her
Theatre Royal concerts in Dublin, Ireland. A Dublin
review stated: "Remember the song she sang in "Nellie
Kelly" - "The Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow." Judy is
providing herself with the Irish version - "Cailin Deas
Cruidte na mBo" while in Ireland". Later in 1951, she
included the song in her first record-breaking
appearance at New York's Palace Theatre, although this
time reverting to the new version that combined both
English- and Irish-language lyrics. The song is also
featured on "Garland at the Grove" on Capital Records,
recorded live in 1958 at the Coconut Grove in
Hollywood. Singers and groups including Bing Crosby,
Ruby Murray, Carmel Quinn, Clannad, The Fureys,
Blackthorn Ceilidh Band and The Chieftains, among
others, have recorded the song in either form or a
combination of both. Duck Baker recorded a fingerstyle
guitar arrangement.
Although this work was originally written for Folk
Instruments, I created this arrangement for Flute, Oboe
& Concert (Pedal) Harp.
SHEET MUSIC