By Chance It Was

The overarching meaning of "By Chance It Was" lies in the celebration of steadfast, enduring love and the romantic idealization of a pure, pastoral life. At its core, the song presents a narrative of a chance encounter between two lovers whose affection for one another must withstand a significant test of time. The lyrics brilliantly juxtapose the fleeting, delicate beauty of a single morning with the vast, daunting expanse of a three-year wait before the couple can be married.

The song thoroughly explores the tension between immediate desire and enforced patience. The maid perceives the three-year delay as an insurmountable burden, lamenting that it is "three times too long." However, the narrator counters this natural anxiety with a deeply philosophical and romantic perspective on love and time. He suggests that genuine, "fervent" love possesses the power to alter one's perception of reality. The central message conveyed by the closing verses is that when love is true and resistant to decay, the agonizing wait becomes insignificant, and years of longing can pass as fleetingly as a single day.

In the quiet, early hours of the morning, just as the sun is beginning to crest the horizon, a man experiences a profound and unexpected encounter. Walking down by a deeply shadowed myrtle grove, he crosses paths with the woman he loves, an event that brings him great surprise and joy. The world around them is waking up; the birds are singing glorious, joyful melodies, and the air is pleasant and fresh. In this secluded, beautiful setting among the blooming flowers, they are completely alone.

As they wander together through the lush, dew-covered green grass, the young woman appears timid and coy, reflecting the delicate and innocent nature of their budding romance. Intrigued and enamored, the narrator gently questions her presence in such a remote place so early in the morning, asking why she has ventured out before the bright rays of the sun (referred to poetically as Phoebus) have even had a chance to drink up the morning dew.

She answers him with pure and simple honesty, explaining that she has come out to tend to her beloved flocks. She watches over the ewes and their tender lambs as they graze peacefully by the myrtle grove and playfully jump beside their mothers. For her, this simple pastoral life at the dawn of the day brings absolute contentment and peace. Hand in hand, the two lovers walk together to watch the flock at play, sharing an intimate, idyllic moment.

As they continue their walk down the road, the man reveals the bittersweet truth of their situation. He tells his sweet maid that he has already served or lived in his current station for three years, and he is bound to stay there for three more long years. He earnestly pleads with her to wait for him, promising that once these weary years have finally passed, they will be married.

The young woman expresses her dismay, lamenting that three years is far too long to wait, viewing the delay as a heavy and painful burden. However, the man comforts her with a song of his own, reassuring her that hope has the power to make time slip away quickly. He declares that when love is strong, eager, steadfast, and immune to decay, the passing seasons fly by swiftly, and even years of waiting can feel as though they were but a single day.

"By Chance It Was" is a traditional folk song with roots stretching back centuries across the British Isles. The lyrical structure and melody have been passed down through the oral tradition, existing in various regional iterations and broadsides before being documented by folk song collectors in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, such as in Sabine Baring-Gould's notable collection Songs of the West.

In 1974, the celebrated Irish musical group Clannad recorded their distinctive interpretation of the song for their second studio album, Clannad 2, released on the Gael Linn record label. Produced by Dónal Lunny, the album captured the band—comprising the Brennan siblings (Máire, Ciarán, and Pól) and their twin uncles (Noel and Pádraig Duggan)—during their formative years. At this stage, Clannad was deeply focused on arranging traditional Celtic folk music rather than the synthesizer-infused New Age style they would pioneer in the 1980s.

Notably, "By Chance It Was" holds a highly unique place in the tracklist of Clannad 2. It stands out as the sole track featuring English lyrics; the remainder of the album comprises Irish Gaelic songs and traditional instrumental dances. By incorporating an English-language traditional ballad, Clannad showcased their expanding repertoire and their dedication to preserving the broader tapestry of folk music, utilizing their signature acoustic instrumentation to breathe new life into an age-old narrative.

The lyrics of "By Chance It Was" are incredibly rich with traditional pastoral symbolism and classical metaphors that elevate the rural love story.

• The Myrtle Grove: The setting where the lovers meet is deeply symbolic. In classical antiquity, the myrtle tree was sacred to Venus (Aphrodite) and has long served as a poetic emblem of love, romance, and marriage.
• Morning and Dew: The early morning setting—"just as the sun did rise"—and the "dewy grass" represent the dawn of their love, new beginnings, purity, and untainted innocence before the harsh realities of the day (and life) set in.
• Bright Phoebus: The song employs classical personification by referring to the sun as "bright Phoebus," invoking the Greek and Roman god Apollo. This artistic flourish elevates the rustic scene into a timeless, mythical realm.
• Flocks and Lambs: The ewes and tender lambs symbolize pastoral simplicity, gentleness, and a life closely tied to the natural world.
• Time and Seasons: The concept of time serves as a metaphor for the trials and endurance required in a relationship. The final stanza's assertion that fervent love can compress years into "one day" symbolizes love's transcendent power to overcome earthly constraints and the pain of waiting.

The emotional landscape of "By Chance It Was" is predominantly serene, tender, and deeply romantic, though it is nuanced by an undercurrent of bittersweet longing. The opening verses evoke a profound sense of calm and joyful wonder as the lovers meet in a beautiful, untouched natural setting. The atmosphere shifts slightly toward melancholy when the reality of their three-year separation is revealed, introducing a touch of anxiety and sadness through the young maid's response.

However, the song ultimately resolves on a note of triumphant hope and quiet confidence. The soothing combination of the acoustic guitar, the graceful flute, and Máire Brennan's comforting vocals ensures that the tension never overwhelms the listener. Instead, the predominant emotion remains one of peaceful endurance and unwavering devotion.

While "By Chance It Was" was not released as a commercial single, its inclusion on Clannad 2 (1974) played a vital role in establishing Clannad's reputation as master interpreters of traditional Celtic and British Isles folk music. The album itself is considered a foundational work in the contemporary Celtic music movement. By carefully curating traditional songs and arranging them with a blend of deep reverence and gentle innovation, Clannad helped spark a folk revival that resonated well beyond the borders of Ireland.

For the band, choosing to sing a traditional English ballad demonstrated their versatility and broad appreciation for the wider folk tradition. This artistic decision paved the way for their future international crossover success in the 1980s, where they would famously blend these deep traditional roots with atmospheric, New Age soundscapes. To this day, the track is cherished by fans of acoustic folk as a prime example of Clannad's early, unadorned musical brilliance.

The song follows a highly traditional folk ballad structure, generally organized into stanzas with a consistent ABAB or AABB rhyme scheme (for instance, rhyming "surprise" with "rise," and "air" with "fair"). This predictable, satisfying rhyming pattern is a hallmark of the oral tradition, originally designed to make the lengthy narratives easier for singers to memorize and recite over generations.

Rhythmically, the lyrical meter features a lilting, unhurried pattern that naturally mimics the gentle strolling of the lovers through the grass and the peaceful grazing of the sheep. Musically, Clannad stretches the pacing into a longer, quieter form, granting the rhythm a deeply meditative, almost suspended quality. The tempo is intentionally slow and deliberate, providing ample space for the listener to absorb the rich poetic imagery and the emotional weight of the lovers' long-term pact. The interplay between the structured, centuries-old lyrical rhythm and the flowing, rubato-like acoustic accompaniment generates a powerful atmosphere of timelessness.

Musically, Clannad's arrangement of "By Chance It Was" is characterized by its restrained, acoustic elegance. The instrumentation is incredibly intimate, anchored by a slow, repeating acoustic guitar line that sets a tranquil, meditative framework. A simple piano provides subtle harmonic backing, and during the instrumental break, a delicate flute embellishes the primary melody, mirroring the pastoral, bird-song imagery present in the lyrics.

Vocally, Máire Brennan's delivery is crystalline, emotive, and understated, perfectly capturing the tender, conversational dialogue between the two lovers without resorting to melodrama. Lyrically, the song employs traditional folk ballad techniques, utilizing dialogue to advance the narrative. The language features archaic and poetic phrasing (such as "thou," "abode," "wended," and "fain"), firmly rooting the song in its historical context. Furthermore, the use of alliteration—most notably in the phrase "fervent, fain and fast"—gives the concluding moral of the story a highly rhythmic and memorable quality that emphasizes the unshakable strength of the lovers' bond.

What does the myrtle grove symbolize in 'By Chance It Was'?

In the song, the myrtle grove symbolizes love, romance, and marriage. This imagery is rooted in classical mythology, where the myrtle tree was considered sacred to Venus, the goddess of love, making it a fitting setting for a romantic encounter.

Who originally wrote the song 'By Chance It Was'?

'By Chance It Was' is a traditional English folk ballad, meaning its original author is unknown. The song has been passed down orally for generations and was preserved by song collectors in the 19th century before Clannad arranged it for their 1974 album.

Why is 'By Chance It Was' a unique track on the Clannad 2 album?

The song is unique because it is the only track on the 'Clannad 2' album sung entirely in English. The rest of the album consists of traditional Irish Gaelic songs and instrumental folk dances, highlighting the band's Celtic roots.

What is the meaning behind the lyrics 'Before bright Phoebus' glittering ray'?

'Bright Phoebus' is a classical reference to Apollo, the ancient Greek and Roman god of the sun. The lyric poetically describes the morning sun, asking why the young woman is out before the sun has risen high enough to evaporate the morning dew.

What is the overarching meaning and message of 'By Chance It Was'?

The song is a celebration of steadfast, enduring love. It tells the story of two lovers who must wait three years to marry. The core message is that true, fervent love alters the perception of time, making years of waiting feel as brief as a single day.