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 THE
GAELIC HIT FACTORY John Spillane, Louis de Paor 2006
1. Buille mo Chroí – The Beat of my Heart.
2. Ag an gCóisir - At the party.
3. The Wounded Hero - Iníon Deichtine.
4. Inghean - Daughter.
5. Báisteach - Rain.
6. Bata is Bóthar - The Stick and The Road.
7. Rugadh orm i gCorcaigh - Rebeltown.
8. Éist do Bhéal - Shut Your Mouth.
9. Suansiúl - Sleepwalk.
10. Sorcha Rua – Red-haired Sorcha.
11. Luíonn mo Ghrá - My Love Lies.
12. Finscéal - Fairytale.
13. Lupadáin Lapadáin – The Tale of the Mermaid’s
Daughter
 "Hey
Dreamer" - John Spillane 2005
1. I'm Moving On
2. Ghosts
3. Hey Dreamer
4. Beautiful Tears
5. The Dunnes Stores Girl
6. The Only One for Me
7. A Song for Rory Gallagher
8. The Song of Lies
9. The Wild Flowers
10. The Madwoman of Cork
11. The Moon going Home
 "Will
We Be Brilliant Or What?" - John Spillane 2002
1. The Dance of the Cherry Trees
2. Will We Be Brilliant Or What?
3. Prince's Street
4. We're Going Sailing
5. Magic Nights in the Lobby Bar
6. Soon Child
7. I'm Going To Set You Free
8. Meet me On The Midnight Shore
9. All The Ways You Wander
10. Seany Boo and the Big Blue Empty
11. Let The River Flow
12. Woman My Own
13. Back To The Well For Water
Other Lyrics
14. The Bookill with the Boogaloo
15. The Prison Teacher
16. Someone has to be a Langer
17. Rinn Na Mara
18. Unbelieveable
19. Orca Orca Killer Whale
20. Farranree
1. The Dance of the Cherry Trees
Let me tell you 'bout the cherry trees
Every April in our town
They put on the most outrageous clothes
And they sing and they dance around
Hardly anybody sings or dances
Hardly anybody dances or sings
In this town that I call my own
You have to hand it to the cherry trees
And they seem to be saying,
To me anyway ;
"You know we've travelled all around the Sun
You know it's taken us one whole year
Well done everyone, Well Done"
Cherry Blossom in the air
Cherry Blossom on the street
Cherry Blossom in your hair
And a Blossom at your feet
You know we've travelled all around the Sun
You know it's taken us one whole year
Well done everyone, Well Done
On behalf of me and the Cherry Trees, Well Done!
You know me, sometimes I think I'm getting old
Not as young as I used to be
So it means even more to me
To see the Dance of the Cherry Trees
And they seem to be saying
Is it only to me?;
"You know we've travelled all around the Sun
You know it's taken us one whole year
Well Done Everyone, Well Done!
You know we've travelled all around the Sun
You know it's taken us one whole year
Well Done Everyone, Well Done!"
On behalf of me and the Cherry Trees, Well Done
Well Done Everyone, Well Done
WELL DONE EVERYONE!
2. Will We Be Brilliant Or What?
What's in this world
What have you seen happening, here?
Here in this world
What have you been doing here?
What's on your mind?
What's in your heart?
What have you got?
And will we be brilliant or what?
Will we be all dressed in sunlight?
Brilliant or what
Will we be smiling under starlight?
Brilliant or what
Will we be graceful and free?
Will we be? graceful and free?
Radiant and glorious, why not?
What have you got?
And will we be brilliant, brilliant or what?
Born to be bright
To be near sunlight
Born to be warm
To be safe from harm
Make up your mind
Take up your time
Ready or not
And will we be brilliant or what?
Will we be all dressed in sunlight?
Brilliant or what
Will we be smiling under starlight?
Brilliant or what
Will we be graceful and free
Will we be? graceful and free?
Will we be kind, why not?
What have you got?
And will we be brilliant, brilliant or what?
When living to be living
When loving to be loving
When learning to be learning
When laughing to be laughing
When leaving to be leaving
When living to be living
When loving to be loving
When learning to be learning
3. Prince's Street
I spent Monday on Strawberry Hill
Till I fell and I landed on your window-sill
I hung there by a golden fine web
I had woven from a hair of your head
I spent Tuesday just walking through town
Till I saw a gold angel come tumbling down
And waltzing with seagulls up in an elm tree
Where the wind runs her fingers above the dark Lee
And O will you meet me on Saturday night
We'll dance in the shadows between the streetlights
Between these two rivers I know where we'll meet
On Prince's Street
I spent Wednesday doing nothing at all
Till late in the evening the wind came to call
And stood at my window and danced a handstand
The sun on her shoulder and birds in her hands
The next morning I woke from a dream
Of where the fish lie on their beds of deep green
I watched Thursday morning put on it's new coat
Of cloud at the elbow, blue sky at the throat
And O will you meet me on Saturday night
We'll dance in the shadows between the streetlights
Between these two rivers I know where we'll meet
On Prince's Street
I spent Friday just counting the time
Till up in a tower I heard some bells chime
I saw a great goldfish take wing like a swan
And told me that Saturday wouldn't be long
And O will you meet me on Saturday night
We'll dance in the shadows between the streetlights
Between these two rivers I know where we'll meet
On Prince's Street
And O will you meet me on Saturday night
We'll dance with your ankles all bathed in moonlight
Between these two rivers I know where we'll meet
On Prince's Street
 4. We're Going Sailing
We're going sailing, out on the silver sea
The air is full of treasure, you and me
All along the shore you can hear the mermaids singing
"No-one will believe us, no-one will believe us"
And below on the strand the sea is answering the land
"No-one will believe us"
We're going sailing, for three nights and three days
There are one hundred islands in Roaring Water Bay
There on the hill the good people are living still
"No-one will believe us, no-one will believe us"
And we'll wake in the dawn, in the shadow of the thorn
"No-one will believe us"
How high is the mountain, how deep is the sea?
How wide is the ocean between you and me?
Underneath the waves dolphins play the same games
"No one will believe us, no-one will believe us"
And we'll wake in the dawn, in the shadow of the thorn
"No-one will believe us"
Where did we get the money, how did we live so long?
To be out on the ocean, to be singing this song?
All along the shore you can hear the mermaids singing
"No-one will believe us, no-one will believe us"
And below on the strand the sea is answering the land
"No-one will believe us"
We're going sailing, out on the silver sea
The air is full of treasure, you and me.
5. Magic Nights in the Lobby Bar
They were magic nights in the Lobby Bar
With Brendan Ring playing Madame Bonaparte's
Every note that the piper would play
Would send me away, send me away
Away through the window, away through the rain
Away 'cross the city, away in the air
To a field by a river where the trees are so green
The deepest of green that you've ever seen
Where once you have been you can go back again
You can go any time, you can go any time
'Cos it's only in your mind
They were magic nights in the Lobby Bar
With Ricky Lynch and his golden guitar
Singing;
"Autumn in Mayfield and the barley was ripe
And the harvest moon hung low in the sky
We were children and our mothers were young
And fathers were tall and kind"
And every word that Ricky would play
Would send me away, send me away
Away through the window, away through the rain
Away 'cross the city, away in the air
To a field by a river where the trees are so green
The deepest of green, you've ever seen
Where once you have been you can go back again
You can go any time, you can go any time
'Cos it's only in your mind
They were magic nights in the Lobby Bar
When Ger Wolfe would sing like a lark
Singing;
" I am the blood of Erin, spilt in an empty cave
I am the flower of Ireland, out on the drifting wave
I am the lark of Mayfield, tumbling down the hill
I am the child of summer, I can remember you still"
And every word that Ger would say
Would send me away, send me away
Away through the window, away through the rain
On a carriage of music, away in the air
To a field by a river where the trees are so green
The deepest of green that you've ever seen
Where once you have been you can go back again
You can go any time, you can go any time
'Cos it's only in your mind
"It was autumn in Mayfield and the barley was ripe
And the harvest moon hung low in the sky
We were children and our mothers were young
And fathers were tall and kind."
6. Soon Child
When will the day?
When will the dawn?
When will the blackbird
Sing from the thorn?
When will all
Our troubles be gone?
Soon, child, soon
Soon, child, soon
When will the night?
When will the one?
When will the songbird
Fly to it's young?
When will all
The damage be done?
Soon, child, soon
Soon, child, soon
Soon
Child
All of my love will surround you
We'll have music sweet and wild
Out on the road that I found you
When will the love?
When will the land?
When will the moon
Steal through the fields?
When will the winter
Take what she needs?
Soon, child, soon
Soon, child, soon
Soon
Child
All of my love will surround you
We'll have music sweet and wild
And all of the treasures I found you.
7. I'm Going To Set You Free
If you did, if you did, even if you did
Been where you shouldn't have been
Seen what you shouldn't have seen
Dreamed what you shouldn't have dreamed
That doesn't mean you have to be locked up here forever
I'm going to set you free
And if you did, if you did, even if you did
Done what you shouldn't have done
Run when you shouldn't have run
Lost when you shouldn't have won
That doesn't mean you have to be paying the price forever
I'm going to set you free
And if you did, if you did, only if you did
Strayed from the beaten track
Maybe you never got back
Went in off the black
That doesn't mean you have to be lying around here forever
I'm going to set you free
Ah if you did, if you did, even if you did
Suffered from a broken heart
Got off to a poor start
Maybe you fell apart
That doesn't mean you have to be paying the price forever
I'm going to set you free
And if you did, if you did, even if you did
Known what you shouldn't have known
Shown what you shouldn't have shown
Thrown what you shouldn't have thrown
That doesn't mean you have to be lying around here forever
I'm going to set you free
Ah if you did, if you did, even if you did
Been where you shouldn't have been
Seen what you shouldn't have seen
Dreamed what you shouldn't have dreamed
That doesn't mean you have to be locked up here forever
I'm going to set you free
8. Meet me On The Midnight Shore
Meet me on the midnight shore, meet me on the midnight shore
Meet me on the midnight shore, meet me on the midnight shore
"How are you going to break a heart
That has been broken before?"
Meet me on the midnight shore, meet me on the midnight shore
"Has been broken before
And can be broken some more"
Meet me on the midnight shore, meet me on the midnight shore
""Now we know that this world is burning
And there's a fire at the heart's core"
Meet me on the midnight shore, meet me on the midnight shore
"For tonight I'm going to take you sailing
To the island of the strong door"
Meet me on the midnight shore, meet me on the midnight shore
"And there I'll shut your wild, wild eyes
With kisses four"
Meet me on the midnight shore, meet me on the midnight shore
"Moondrum, moondrum
Beating on the ocean floor"
Meet me on the midnight shore, meet me on the midnight shore
"Now we know that this world is burning
And there's a fire at the heart's core"
Meet me on the midnight shore, meet me on the midnight shore...............
9. All The Ways You Wander
All the ways you wander, all the ways you roam
All across great oceans, all across the foam
Through the faraway houses, through the sunsets on fire
Searching for the island of your heart's desire
Where the sun is always shining and the oranges grow on the trees
You only have to wait two seconds there for every thing you please
In a garden of daisies, in a circle of light
Searching for the island of your heart's delight
I'll wait for you, like a true friend
I'll wait for you, till the very end
And if you take the long way, if you take the long way home
Down where the magicians and the dreamers roam
Through the mountains of morning, through the valleys of night
Searching for the island of your hearts delight
I'll wait for you, like a true friend
I'll wait for you, till the very end
All the ways you wander, all the ways you roam
All across great oceans, all across the foam
Through the faraway houses, through the sunsets on fire
Searching for the island of your heart's desire
10. Seany Boo and the Big Blue Empty
Oom dukadikata dadamdadam oom dukadikata dadamdadam
Oom dukadikata dadamdadam oom dukadikata dadamdadam
This is the story I have for you
It's called Seany Boo and the big blue empty
Seany Boo, Seany Boo, and the big blue empty
Now Seany Boo was afraid of his shadow
He walked the straight he walked the narrow
Went to the pool and he swam in the shallow
Poor poor Seany Boo, afraid of his shadow
Now Seany lived in the land of plenty
There wasn't any need to be hungry
Find something to keep yourself busy
Poor poor Seany Boo, in the land of plenty
Seany went to school, that's what you did
He got big 'cos that's what you did
To get a job, that's what you did
Poor poor Seany Boo
That's what you did
Well he worked in the steel and he worked in the paper
He worked over, he worked under
He worked for me, he worked for you
Poor poor Seany Boo, in steel and in paper
He had two chances of making the money
Three dreams of winning the lady
Four years of holding the baby
Poor, poor Seany Boo, he had two chances
Seany Boo looked up in the sky
Nothing there to catch his eye
Nothing there but the big blue empty
Poor, poor Seany Boo, meet the Big Blue Empty
Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah, Ah Ah Ah, Ah Ah Ah Ah, it's the Big Blue Empty
Now Seany Boo, he felt like crying
He was trying and trying
But not a tear would appear
To Seany Boo, from the big blue empty
What's outside is in, what's inside is out
That's what this is all about
What happened to me can happen to you
Says Seany Boo to the Big Blue Empty
Then the stormclouds gathered round
And the rain came pouring down
Tears streaming down the cheeks
Of Seany Boo, from the Big Blue Empty
Ah Ah Ah Ah Ah, Ah Ah Ah, Ah Ah Ah Ah, it's the Big Blue Empty
What's outside is in what's inside is out
That's what this is all about
What happened to me can happen to you
Says Seany Boo and the Big Blue Empty
Woom tukatukita dadamdadam woom tukatikita dadamdadam
Oom tukatikita dadamdadam woom tukatikita dadamdadam
That is the story I had for you
It was called Seany Boo and the Big Blue Empty
Seany Boo, Seany Boo, and the Big Blue Empty
Seany Boo, Seany Boo, and the Big Blue Empty
11. Let The River Flow
You lost your key, and you can't go home
Take a walk around town
Be on your own
And your feet are drawn, down to the river side
You sit on the stone
And you talk to the tide
Let the river go, let the river go, let the river go
Where the river must go, let the river flow
And you never know, who you might meet
When you come to the corner
And you cross the street
And you walk in the door, of Charlie's bar
And you look at the world
Through the empty jar
Let the river go, the river go, let the river go
Where the river must go, let the river flow
Ah here comes Seamus, with his boyish grin
And his crazy poems
You always like to see him
But you wish that he didn't, have to feel such pain
Such pain that he doesn't
Know if he's going or staying
Let the river go, the river go, let the river go
Where the river must go, let the river flow
And here's Fionnbarra, with his coat and his hood
Lovely fella
Not looking too good
And you wish that he didn't, have to feel such pain
Such pain that he doesn't
Know if he's going or he's staying
Let the river go, let the river go, let the river go
Where the river must go, let the river flow
If the world was an apple, if the world was a pear
If the world was a cherry
Still it wouldn't be fair
Let the river go, the river go, let the river go
Where the river must go, let the river flow
12. Woman My Own
Summer in winter, my own, my own
Dancer in summer, my own love
Flame in the darkness, my own, my own
Fountain of gladness, my own love
The secret of the sunlight
And the secret of the moonlight
Are the secrets of the ones who walk this world
This shining world
Woman, woman, my own, my own
Sweet woman, my own love
Dreamer in shadows, my own, my own
Dancer in rainbows, my own love
And I know that the spring's returning
Through the shutters of your eyes
And seven ships a sailing 'cross the skies, 'cross the skies
Don't stay too long love down by the dark valley
Don't stay too long love down by the dark shore
Don't pay no heed to those agents of worry
They only follow wherever we go
Woman, woman, my own, my own
Dark woman, my own love
Mover, like a river, my own, my own
Come nearer and nearer, my own love
WE'RE WALKING THIS WORLD
WE'RE WALKING THIS SHINING WORLD THIS SHINING WORLD
WE'RE DREAMING THIS DREAM
WE'RE DREAMING THIS SHINING DREAM THIS SHINING DREAM
WE'RE WALKING THIS WORLD
WE'RE WALKING THIS SHINING WORLD THIS SHINING WORLD
13. Back To The Well For Water
Come all of you who are going again
Going again and loving one another
Anyone going again
Back to the well
Back to the well for water
Somewhere here among the leaves
Among the thorns among the briars
Somewhere here among the leaves
You'll find the well you're after
I met a girl as the evening fell
She looked to me heaven's daughter
And she turned and she smiled at me
Going to the well for water
Leave behind your old black cloud
Your winter shroud
Going to the well for water
Leave behind your wounded pride
Back to the well
Back to the well for water
Walking out through the open fields
With my friend that I found
Walking out over open ground
O my love look what I found for you
Now me and her we're going again
Going again and loving one another
Me and her we're going again
Back to the well
Back to the well for water
So anyone going again
Going again and loving one another
Anyone going again
Back to the well
Back to the well for water
Back to the well
Back to the well
Back to the well for water
The Bookill with the Boogaloo
I met the bookill with the boogaloo
I met the bookill with the boogaloo drum
I met the bookill with the boogaloo
Battering on the steps of the stadium
Éire come on Ireland Ireland come on
Éire come on Ireland Ireland come on
I met the bookill with the boogaloo
Heading for Korea and Japan
I met the bookill with the boogaloo
Battering and a' bating for the green man
Éire come on Ireland Ireland come on
Éire come on Ireland Ireland come on
Down to the shupa with the Eurobookill
Down to the shupa with the pound coin
Down to the shupa with the Euro bookill
Down in the cheap glooshtawn
Into the chipper with the hungry bookill
Into the chipper with the bowrawn
The goat bating batter burger bookill
And the chips in the cheap glooshtawn
Supper for the bookill bawn
Long legged Italy kicked poor Sicily into the mediteranean sea
Along came Hungary, took a bit of Turkey, dipped it in Greece and fried it in Japan
Éire come on Ireland Ireland come on
Éire come on Ireland Ireland come on
Down to the town with the thirsty bookill
Down to the town to the big screen
Bating back the beer with the thirsty bookill
And the eye for the sweet colleen
Shouting for the boys in Green
Roy Keane
Éire come on Ireland Ireland come on
Éire come on Ireland Ireland come on
Are you from Korea? I am are you
Do you eat spuds? I do do you
How do you like them? big and small
How do you eat them? skins and all
Who's she? Sue she. Sooshi who?
Kimono'ver to my place baby
Kimono'ver to my place
I met the bookill with the boogaloo
I met the bookill with the boogaloo drum
I met the bookill with the boogaloo
Battering on the steps of the stadium
I met the bookill with the boogaloo
Heading for Korea and Japan
I met the bookill with the boogaloo
Battering and a 'bating for the green man
Éire come on Ireland Ireland come on
Éire come on Ireland Ireland come on
(optional verse)
Into the laba with the sleepy bookill
Into the laba with the big yawn
Into the laba with the sleepy bookill
Up with the big boodawn
The Prison Teacher
When I was a prison teacher
Teaching in a prison school
I taught a load of young fellas
How to play guitar
Music behind bars
Well some of them thought they could never
Do anything so clever
As playing a guitar
But I set them all on fire
I came around behind them
Before they knew what they were doing
They were all playing E minor
E minor
The easiest chord in the book E minor
Two fingers
Listen to the sound
Ah happy days in the prison school
Strumming away on the old E minor
Happy days in the prison school
Strumming away on the old E minor
Play it again Bobby
Play it again Jimmy
Play it again Sam
E minor
Listen to the sound
When I was a prison teacher
Teaching in a prison school
Way down in Cork Harbour
Ninety two to ninety seven
Spike Island
Listen to the sound
Ah happy days in the prison school
Strumming away at the old E minor
Happy days in the prison school
Strumming away on the old E minor
Play it again Bobby
Play it again Jimmy
Play it again Sam
E minor
Listen to the sound
And the strings of my guitar
Began to look like prison bars
And the music flowed out free
Out into the sea
Around Spike Island
Listen to the sound
When I was a prison teacher
Teaching in a prison school
Well I won't keep you much longer
But one thing I noticed alright
Teaching in a prison school
There was nobody there from Bishopstown
There was nobody there from Rochestown
There was nobody there from Montenotte
There was nobody there from Douglas
When I was a prison teacher
Ah do the rich get all the breaks?
Do the poor get all the heartaches?
Well I'll meet you all in the middle
And we'll all have a great big party
And we'll sit around in a circle
And we'll all play E minor
The easiest chord in the book E minor
Two fingers
LISTEN TO THE SOUND.
Someone has to be a Langer
Someone has to be a langer
Someone has to be sound
Someone has to have a laugh
Someone has to be around
Someone has to do the thinking
Someone has to do the praying
Someone has to do the drinking
Someone has to do the playing
Someone has to go home
Someone has to go to bed
Someone has to go to jail
SOMEONE HAS TO DO ALL THE WORK AROUND HERE!
And if it wasn't you
It'd only be somebody else
If it wasn't you
It'd probably only be somebody else
Someone has to be you
Someone has to be me
Someone has to be her
Someone has to be him
SOMEONE HAS TO GET UP IN THE MORNING
And if it wasn't you
It'd only be somebody else
If it wasn't you
It'd only probably be somebody else
SOMEONE HAS TO BE A LANGER
SOMEONE HAS TO BE SOUND
SOMEONE HAS TO HAVE A LAUGH
SOMEONE HAS TO BE AROUND.
For the meaning of the word langer see A DICTIONARY OF CORK SLANG by Sean Beecher (Mercier Press). He maintains the word was brought back by the Munster Fusiliers from India, where it was the name of a type of long-tailed monkey. Thank you, John Spillane 13th April 2002.
Rinn Na Mara
Shaothraíos an talamh dorcha sa pharóiste faoin leaba
Gur fhás crann ard castáin go déanach san oíche
Fréamha mo chosa, craobhacha mo lámha
Fréamha mo chosa, cosa insan láib
Duilliúr mo ghruaig, ag séideadh sa ghaoth
Aniar aduaidh, cé a dhúiseoidh mé?
Téir síos go Rinn na Mara tá aimitis ar an trá
Cuir in uisce reatha é go ceann trí lá
Ceangail i gceirt is caith ar do chorp
Corcra an lia, corcra an chloch
Aniar aduaidh an t-éinín is lú
Aon fhocal uaidh, sin a dhúiseoidh tú.
Translation;
I worked the dark land in the parish under the bed
Till there grew a tall chesnut tree late in the night
My feet are the roots, my arms the branches
My feet the roots, roots in the earth
My hair the leaves, waving in the wind
From the northwest, who will wake me up?
Go down to the point of the sea there's amethyst on the strand
Place it in running water for three days
Wrap it in a cloth and wear it on your body
Purple the healer, purple the stone
From the northwest the tiniest of birds
One word from him, that's what will wake you up.
Rinn na Mara is a song I wrote in Irish in 1987 in Rinn na Mara when I was living there. It is a place near Blackrock in Dublin, called Seapoint in English. There is a stop on the DART there. I sang it on an album by NOMOS called "I Won't Be Afraid Any More" in 1995 and it also appeared on an album called SULT. The music is a slip-jig but I'm not able to put down the notes here.It is a crazy, riddle, question and answer song.
18 - Unbelieveable Unbelievable Unbelievable
The good ones weren't the good ones at all Unbelievable Unbelievaable
The good ones weren't the good ones at all You feel what you feel what you feel is what you feel
Theres no getting away
You feel what you feel what you feel is what you feel
You feel betrayed Unbelievable Unbe####inglievable
The good ones weren't the good ones at all After you crawled through the mud and the fire and the wire and the blood and the tyres
And into the light
You thought you were in the clear
There were no weapons of any kind anywhere in sight Unbelievable Unbelievable
The good ones weren't the good ones at all The bad ones were better you knew what you had
They didn't pretend to be your friend
Or smile when they lie with their masks and their disguise
And you didn't have to carry them around in your head in the end Ah Unbelievable Unbe####inglievable
The good ones weren't the good ones at all What was I like when I walked with you that day on the strand my friend
Like an old torn lion
War weary and wounded and worn and torn
This is going to take time Ah Unbelievable Unbelievable
The good ones weren't the good ones at all.
19 - Orca Orca Killer Whale
Well I woke up this morning
And you would not believe what I saw
Three whales outside my window
Swimming in the river Lee
Orca Orca Killer Whale You never saw such excitement
People came from far and near to see the whales
They lined up on the banks of the river
Nobody had ever heard of such a thing before
Orca Orca Killer Whale I met an old woman in the super market
She said John you have to write a song about the whales
Who else is going to do it?
I went ORCA ORCA Killer Whale I met a busker on Paul Street
He said they've come with a message to the human race
We've got to clean up the seas
I said I thought they came up after the salmon and the mullet
Orca Orca Killer Whale Well they swam up to the city hall
They were singing to the city fathers
In a language nobody could understand
They were singing Orca Orca Killer Whale There was lads coming out of Charlies
At one O' clock in the morning
They were out of their heads on E's
They thought they were after taking one too many
When they saw the three whales on Union Quay
Orca Orca Killer Whale Well they swam right up the the south channel
Where there wasn't that much water
People were getting worried
They came up as far as the School of Music
They came to hear the human children playing the violin
Orca Orca Killer Whale The place was full of stories
All the talk was of the whales
The salmon were jumping into the nets
Down by Blackrock Castle
To get away from the mammals
Orca Orca Killer Whale A fella saw a duck swimming
On the pleasant waters of the Lee
Next thing a mighty jaw rises from the depths
Swallows the duck
I didn't believe that one
Till I saw on the television
What they do with the penguins
Down by the south pole
Orca Orca Killer Whale Old fellas were saying
When I was a young fella
You could walk across the river Lee
On the backs of the mullet
That's how plentiful they were
I heard that three or four times
Orca Orca Killer Whale The crowd from the university
Seemed fairly on the ball
They said there was one mother
One young son and an older male
Maybe an older son
They were expert at catching fish
Orca Orca Killer Whale Well they hung around for about a week
Certainly they got plenty of fish
Plenty salmon and mullet
The Irish won't eat the mullet
We think we're too good
They say they eat the shit off the bottom
I'd say they're grand
The French love them
Also the Orca Orca Killer Whale They went back out the harbour
Then the word came through
Mama Orca had passed away
It turns out she was old
She came up the River to die
With her two sons around her
And to have one last lash off the mullet
And to hear the children play the violin
She had nothing to lose
Orca Orca Killer Whale The two lads headed off to the ocean
Out past Roche's Point
There was a pod outside of thirty whales
Waiting for the boys
Sorry to hear about your mother
Pod that was the word for a load of whales
You had to have the word, pod
Orca Orca Killer Whale That was the summer of the whales
Now they're just a vague memory
The strange people of Cork
We have the memory of a goldfish
I met an old woman in the super market
She said John you have to write a song about the whales
Only for her there'd be no song
I went ORCA ORCA KILLER WHALE
ORCA ORCA KILLER WHALE 20. Farranree
Someday when I'm free
I'm going up to Farranree
I'm going up to the King's Country
To see what I can see
I'm going to look down on this town
City of Angels, City of Rivers
City of Dreams
City of Women, City of Boys
City of Sorrows, City of Joys
City of Sunsets, in a Valley of Gold
City of Secrets, that never will be told
That never will be told
Running wild and free
Through the Valley of the Lee
The River sang for me
From Guagán Barra to the Sea
But still I could not see
Blinded by Angels
Blinded by Visions
Blinded by Love
In a City of Sorrows, City of Joys
City of Women, City of Boys
City of Girls, City of Men
City of Heartaches, that will never come again
That can never come again
Ah Someday whan I'm free
I'm going up to Farranree
I'm goiing up to the King's Country
To see what I can see
Someday when I'm free
I'm going up to Farranree
Someday when I'm free
1. I'm Moving On
I'm moving on, time to be gone
Good luck and goodbye, I have to fly
Make lots of money, keep talking funny
Run in the sun, what's done is done
This is the end, my fairweather friend
Goodbye
So long, farewell
Be gone
I'll see ya when I do, even if I don't
I won't think about ya, I wouldn't doubt ya
I'll get on without ya, don't think I won't
I have to go, you have to know
My fine feathered friend, this is the end
Goodbye
So long, farewell
Be gone
Keep being you, do what you do
Take what you want, want what you take
Good luck and farewell, time is gonna tell
Hope it all works out, what's it all about
Who said to who, I said to you
Goodbye
So long, farewell
Be gone
Go and be happy, better make it snappy
You have no fear, I won't be here
I'm gonna be gone, if you hear a song
Laughing in the trees, smiling in the breeze
It might be me, I might be free
Goodbye
So long, farewell
Be gone
I'm moving on, time to be gone
Good luck and goodbye, I have to fly
Make lots of money, keep talking funny
Run in the sun, what's done is done
This is the end, my fairweather friend
Goodbye
So long, farewell
Be gone
I'm moving on
(john spillane)
2. Ghosts
It had to happen, as these things do
That the ghost of me would meet the ghost of you
In the shadows of this haunted town
As the night came floating down
You look through me, I look through you
What do you see when you see right through?
You see nothing
Nothing but empty
Promises of plenty
Promises of you
Promises of you
It had to happen, as these things do
That the ghost of me would meet the ghost of you
By some thin thread that did not fall
When we thought love had broken all
We thought love had broken all
And left nothing
Nothing but empty
Promises of plenty
Promises of you
Promises of you
Nothing
Nothing but empty
Promises of plenty
Promises of you
Promises of you
It had to happen, as these things do
That the ghost of me would meet the ghost of you
In the shadows of this haunted town
As the night came floating down
(john spillane)
3. Hey Dreamer
You forgot who you are, you forgot what you are
You forgot what you're for, you've forgotten
You forgot where you're from, you forgot where you're goin'
You forgot everything, you've forgotten
Hey Dreamer, where did you leave your dream?
Where did you leave your dream?
Hey Dreamer, where do you hide your dream?
Where do you hide your dream?
You are a star in the night, you are a wave shining bright
You are a bird in full flight, you've forgotten
You are a child on the run, you are a ray of the sun
You are everyone, you've forgotten
Hey Dreamer, where did you leave your dream?
Where did you leave your dream?
Hey Dreamer, where do you hide your dream?
Where do you hide your dream?
You are a flame in the wind, you are a leaf in the breeze
You are a song in the trees, you've forgotten
You are a star in the night, you are a wave shining bright
You are a bird in full flight, you've forgotten
Hey Dreamer, where did you leave your dream?
Where did you leave your dream?
Hey Dreamer, where do you hide your dream?
Where do you hide your dream?
(john spillane)
4. Beautiful Tears
And the first thing you'll do is to stop pretending
Stop pretending, you're always pretending
The first thing you'll do is to stop pretending
There's no need to pretend
And the next thing you'll do is go down to the water
Go down to the water, down to the water
The next thing you'll do is to go down to the water
And cry down tears
Your tears, beautiful tears
Let down your tears
Beautiful tears
Beautiful, beautiful tears
You thought, you thought, if you ever started
If you ever started, if you ever started
You thought, you thought, if you ever started
Your tears would never end
Your tears, beautiful tears
Let down your tears, beautiful tears
Beautiful, beautiful tears
You can cry for yourself, you can cry for the others
You can cry for yourself, you can cry for the others
You can cry for your country, you can cry for your mother
Beautiful, beautiful tears
Your tears, beautiful tears
Let down your tears, beautiful tears
Beautiful, beautiful tears
And the first thing you'll do is to stop pretending
Stop pretending, you're always pretending
The first thing you'll do is to stop pretending
There's no need to pretend
(john spillane)
5. The Dunnes Stores Girl
Hey check out the Dunnes Stores Girl
She's the one who rules my world
I'm gonna walk down the aisle with the Dunnes Stores Girl
I'm gonna waltz down the aisle with the Dunnes Stores Girl
She rules my world
I'm gonna walk down the aisle with the Dunnes Stores Girl
In your dreams says her brother, he's a skinhead and he wants me dead
In my dreams is right I said
I'm gonna run down the aisle with the Dunnes Stores Girl
She rules my world
Na Na Na Na Na Na
Na Na Na Na Na Na
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
The Dunnes Stores Girl
She knows we're looking at her and she knows she's looking fine
And she doesn't have all day and you have to wait in line
I would wait in line till kingdom come
For salvation in her smile
And I'd love to stop that clock looking down on her all the time
Like a jumped up little manager in a suit that doesn't rhyme
And you never patronise her only always idolize her
The Dunnes Stores Girl
Na Na Na Na Na Na
Na Na Na Na Na Na
Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na Na
The Dunnes Stores Girl
On a cold and rainy Friday night
Waiting for the world to close
When she comes up behind me
So brave and so warm
I know it'll never rain again
I know it'll never ever rain again
On the rebel streets of our dreams
And she doesn't believe a word that I say
She laughs when I tell her she's a Saturday in May
And you never underestimate, you never underestimate
The Dunnes Stores Girl
Hey check out the Dunnes Stores Girl
She's the one who rules my world
I'm gonna walk down the aisle with the Dunnes Stores Girl
I'm gonna waltz down the aisle with the Dunnes Stores Girl
SHE RULES MY WORLD!
(words - louis de paor, music - john spillane)
6. The Only One For Me
It's been ten long years since the boy went singing
To his true love's door
Crying oh my true love let me in
Ten long years or more
Down she comes with her falling hair
Comes to let him in
Comes to show him a secret light
Burning
You're the only one for me
You're the only one for me
And you'll always be
The only one for me
Now the boy walks in stony silence
His hollow footsteps ring
Alog the streets where he once went spinning
Loving everything
Now the footprints of crows and sparrows
Gather round his eyes
Now the weight of the world has cut him
Down to size
You're the only one for me
You're the only one for me
And you'll always be
The only one for me
You're the only one for me
You're the only one for me
And you'll always be
The only one for me
It's been ten long years since the boy went singing
To his true love's door
Crying oh my true love let me in
Ten long years or more
(john spillane)
7. A Song For Rory Gallagher
Corcra an dath atá ar ghruaig mo ghrá
Is is duibhe ná dubh iad bratacha a lámh
Corcra an dath atá ar ghruaig mo ghrá
Ag sileadh anuas ar a guailne
If I told you what I thought of you the first time that I saw you
With the sun in your hair and the world at your feet
And the future far behind you
Would you care to remember or dare to remember me?
Rory, Rory, Rory?
You had eyes for no one anyone could see
And the dead ones among us said they'd seen you before
Only the air seemed brighter and our hearts felt lighter
When you took us out of this world
Rory, Rory
Can you hear me?
Rory?
Corcra an dath atá ar ghruaig mo ghrá
Is is duibhe ná dubh iad bratacha a lámh
Corcra an dath atá ar ghruaig mo ghrá
Ar foluain os cionn mo chroí
If I told you that I thought of you every now and then
And again when the moon disappears
Since you walked out the door on the far side of here
With our hearts held safe in your hands
Would you ever look after forever and ever
I know you'll look after me
Rory, Rory, Rory, Rory
Rory, Rory, Rory
Can you hear me?
An é nár airís an tuile
ag líonadh ort, rabharta cos is lámh
a dhein bord loinge den urlár
i Halla na Cathrach
is ná líonfaidh feasta an poll
a d'fhágais ar ardán i do dhiaidh?
An mbraitheann tú anois é,
ár ngile mearluaimneach méar,
agus solas na bhflaitheas
ag sluaistiú ciúnais ar shúile
an tslua 'tá buailte le stáitse
ag glaoch ar ais ort ón ndoircheacht
Rory Rory Rory
An gcloiseann tú anois ár nguí?
An gcloiseann tú anois ár nguí?
An gcloiseann tú anois ár nguí?
An gcloiseann tú anois ár nguí?
An gcloiseann tú anois ár nguí?
An gcloiseann tú anois ár nguí?
An gcloiseann tú anois ár nguí?
(translation;-
Sung;
Purple is the colour of my true love's hair
and blacker than black the flags of her hands
purple is the colour of my true love's hair
spilling down on her shoulders
Purple is the colour of my true love's hair
and blacker than black the flags of her hands
purple is the colour of my true love's hair
flying bravely over my heart
Spoken;
Did you really not hear
the tide flooding in behind you
the waves of pounding feet
that rocked the floor of the City Hall
until it rolled like the deck of a ship
and will never fill the emptiness
you left behind you on stage?
Do you feel it now,
our swiftfingered brightness,
as the light of heaven
shovels silence on the eyes
of the crowd as they press against the stage,
calling you back from the darkness
Rory Rory Rory?
Now do you hear our prayer?
Now do you hear our prayer
Now do you hear our prayer?
(words - louis de paor, music - john spillane, john reynolds)
8. The Song of Lies
And her mouth was as red
As the fresh fallen snow
The day she told me again
How another man's love
Was as white as the raven
While mine was blacker than blood
How another man's love
Was as white as the raven
While mine was blacker than blood
And I asked if she knew
For sure that the rain
In her eyes would never run dry
Till the flames of the sun
Ran like ice in her veins
And froze the door to her heart
Till the flames of the sun
Ran like ice in her veins
And froze the door to her heart
And she told me the last time
As if for the first time
If the world turns away from the sun
Then nothing and never
Would always be true
And that she would forever be mine
Oh that nothing and never
Would always be true
And that she would forever be mine
And I swear that the sun
In her eyes turned to stone
And her dress was as white as the moon
And the priest told me nothing
And no one was true
And that she would forever be mine
And the priest told me nothing
And no one was true
And that she would forever be mine
Oh the blackened sole
Of her small bright shoe
Has left its mark
In the long white hall of my heart
(words - louis de paor, music - john spillane)
9. The Wild Flowers
'Twas the wild flowers I preferred
Who owed nothing to nobody
Who blossomed in the ditches
And made their own way in the world
'Twas the wild flowers I admired
Who never done nothing to you
But driven from the garden
They sang their own songs in the spring
You can have your lily
You can have your rose
That were taken and broken
And bred by people
They were grafted and lamed
Twisted and tamed
But the wild flowers I enjoyed
They had nothing to do with you
They flowered by the roadside
And they wore their own colours in the sun
That were there before you
Will be there after you
That will out, that will out
LIke your own true nature
You can try, you can try
That you never will defeat
The wild flowers I admired
They had nothing to do with you
But banished from the garden
They made their own way in the world
They wore their own colours in the sun
And they sang their own songs in the spring
(john spillane)
10. The Madwoman of Cork (the poem"The
Madwoman of Cork" by Patrick Galvin)
To-day
Is the feast day of Saint Anne
Pray for me
I am the madwoman of Cork.
Yesterday
In Castle Street
I saw two goblins at my feet
I saw a horse without a head
Carrying the dead
To the graveyard
Near Turner's cross.
I am the madwoman of Cork
No one talks to me.
When I walk in the rain
The children throw stones at me
Old men persecute me
And women close their doors.
When I die
Believe me
They'll set me on fire.
I am the madwoman of Cork
I have no sense.
Sometimes
With an eagle in my brain
I can see a train
Crashing at the station.
If I told people that
They'd choke me -
Then where would I be?
I am the madwoman of Cork
The people hate me.
When Canon Murphy died
I wept on his grave
That was twenty-five years ago.
When I saw him just now
In Dunbar Street
He had clay in his teeth
He blest me.
I am the madwoman of Cork
The clergy pity me.
I see death
In the branches of a tree
Birth in the feathers of a bird.
To see a child with one eye
Or a woman buried in ice
Is the worst thing
And cannot be imagined
I am the madwoman of Cork
My mind fills me.
I should like to be young
To dress up in silk
And have nine children.
I'd like to have red lips
But I'm eighty years old
I have nothing
But a small house with no windows
I am the madwoman of Cork
Go away from me.
And if I die now
Don't touch me.
I want to sail in a long boat
From here to Roches Point
And there I will anoint the sea
With oil of alabaster.
I am the Madwoman of Cork
And to-day is the feast day of
Saint Anne.
Feed me.
(words - patrick galvin, music - john spillane)
11. The Moon Going Home
As we were facing
Down to the river of darkness
I called on the night to protect us
As we were together
And as it was us
A great white MOON ROSE before us
Ah just one kind look
From the LADY of the LAMP
Lean down from the sky to guide us
A faded flower in her lily-white hand
On her long slow dance towards her LOVER
It's the MOON going HOME
Her face in the clouds
A great crowd of stars all around her
She comes to her window
With a CANDLE in her hand
On her long slow dance towards her lover
It's the MOON going HOME
It's the MOON going HOME
Ah just one kind look
From the Lady of the Lamp
Lean down from the sky
To guide us
A faded flower in her lily-white hand
On her long SLOW DANCE towards her lover
It's the MOON GOING HOME
It's the moon going home
It's the moon going home
IT'S THE MOON GOING HOME
(john spillane)
6. Bata is Bóthar
Ó chaitheas-sa seal i measc na bPoncán,
Ag codailt amuigh faoi chrann mo dhóchais,
Ag réabadh fallaí a thóg m'athair romham
Idir é is an doicheall i bhfuinneoga a súl.
Thugadar go fial dúinn
A raibh acu le tabhairt,
Bata is bóthar is fonn abhaile:
'Téir abhaile go hIfreann
Is fan sa bhaile in Éirinn'.
Is chuas ina dhiaidh sin go Londain groí,
Mo dhá láimh liom is mé liom féin,
Dá mbeinnse céad bliain ag doras Sheáin bhuí,
Ní bhfaighinn bheith istigh i ngar dá chroí.
Sea thugadar go fial dúinn
A raibh acu le tabhairt,
Bata is bóthar is fonn abhaile:
'Téir abhaile go hIfreann
Is fan sa bhaile in Éirinn'.
Is bhíos ag an deireadh i ndeireadh an domhain,
Ag luí béal faoi i bpoll an uaignis,
Ag scríobadh na cré i dtrinse rómhór,
A bhí chomh cúng le huaigh mo linbh.
Sea thugadar go fial dúinn
A raibh acu le tabhairt,
Bata is bóthar is fonn abhaile:
'Téir abhaile go hIfreann
Is fan sa bhaile in Éirinn'.
Is bhíos-sa lá i dTír na nDall,
Ag iarraidh dídin' ó racht na farraige;
Ní bhfuaireas-sa ann ach airgead ag méileach
Is fliuchadh mo bhéil de mo dheora féin.
Thugamar go fial dóibh
A raibh againn le tabhairt,
Bata is bóthar is fonn abhaile:
'Téir abhaile go hIfreann
Is fan sa bhaile as Éirinn.
Sea téir abhaile go hIfreann
Is fan sa bhaile as Éirinn'.
The Stick and the Road
I did my time in America,
Sleeping rough under the tree of hope,
Tearing down walls my father had built
Between him and the hatred he saw in their eyes.
They gave us all that they had to give,
The stick and the road and a longing for home:
'Go back to the hell that you came from
And stay there forever in Ireland'.
Then I went over to London town,
All on my own and nothing to show for it;
If I stayed for a hundred years at their door,
They'd never let me in any closer to their hearts.
They gave us all that they had to give,
The stick and the road and a longing for home:
'Go back to the hell that you came from
And stay there forever in Ireland'.
I ended up then at the ends of the world,
Lying face down in the pit of loneliness,
Scratching the earth in the bottom of a trench,
That was narrow as the grave where my child was buried.
They gave us all that they had to give,
The stick and the road and a longing for home:
'Go back to the hell that you came from
And stay there forever in Ireland'.
Finally I landed in the land of the blind,
Looking for shelter from the angry sea;
All that I found was the bleating of money
And my own tears to cure my thirst.
We gave them all that we had to give,
The stick and the road and a longing for home:
'Go back to the hell that you came from
And stay there forever away from Ireland;
Go back to the hell that you came from
And stay there forever away from Ireland'.
1. Buile mo Chroí
(The Beat of my Heart)
An gcloiseann tú bualadh mo chroí,
Buille mo chroí, greadadh mo chroí,
An gcloiseann tú greadadh mo chroí?
Are you hearing the beat of my heart,
The bang of my heart, the scrape of my heart,
Are you hearing the scrape of my heart?
An mbraitheann tú cuisle mo chroí
I dtearmann do lámh, i ngéibheann do ghrá,
An mbraitheann tú cuisle mo chroí?
Are you feeling the pulse of my heart
In the palm of your hand, in the jail of your love,
Are you feeling the pulse of my heart?
Tá botún sa tsaol nach maithim do Dhia,
An ghrian i do shúil ag teacht idir mé
Agus solas an lae, tá botún sa tsaol.
There's a fault in this world and I won't forgive God,
The sun in your eye that comes between me
And the light of the sky; there's a fault in this world.
An gcloiseann tú bualadh mo chroí,
Greadadh mo chroí, briseadh mo chroí,
An gcloiseann tú briseadh mo chroí?
Are you hearing the beat of my heart,
The bang of my heart, the break of my heart,
Are you hearing the break of my heart?
Tá cóta an athar rómhór dá mhac,
A bhróga caite ar chosa mo mhic,
Ag bualadh mo chroí, greadadh mo chroí,
Briseadh mo chroí, an gcloiseann tú briseadh mo chroí?
Your old man's coat is too big for you, boy,
His wornout shoes on the feet of my son,
Kicking my heart, tearing my heart, breaking my heart,
Are you hearing the tear of my heart.
An gcloiseann tú bualadh mo chroí
Briseadh mo chroí, greadadh mo chroí
An gcloiseann tú greadadh mo chroí?
Are you hearing the beat of my heart,
The bang of my heart, the scrape of my heart,
Are you hearing the tear of my heart?
Sioscadh mo chroí, doirteadh mo chroí,
An gcloiseann tú sioscadh mo chroí?
Briseadh mo chroí, uaigneas mo chroí,
An mbraitheann tú uaigneas mo chroí?
Cogar mo chroí, cogar a chroí,
An gcloiseann tú cogar mo chroí?
2. Ag an gCóisir
Tar liom go himeall an domhain
Go mblaisfimid dul faoi na gréine
As lámha a chéile,
Is beadsa in éad leis an ngealaigh
A bhraitheann tú dod mhealladh.
Nó raghaimid ag siúl sa bháisteach
Ag lorg tuar ceatha chun imeacht air
Is beadsa in éad leis an ngealaigh
A bhraitheann tú dod mhealladh.
Táimse in éad leis an ngealaigh.
Má thiteann tú i ngrá liom,
Má thiteann tú i ngrá liom,
Má thiteann tú i ngrá liom,
Ná habair os ard é.
Má thiteann tu i ngrá liom,
Ná habair os ard é,
Ná habair le do bhéal é,
Má thiteann tú i ngrá liom.
Siúil go mall
Trasna chugam anall,
Siúil go hard.
Go mbainfidh tú an cian díom,
Go mbainfidh tú an croí díom,
Ó cuirfidh tusa croí ionam
Má bhaineann tú an cian díom.
Nuair a thiteann tú i ngrá liom,
Ná coinnigh agat féin é,
Ná coinnigh ina rún é
Más mise féin do rún.
Siúil go mall
Trasna chugam anall,
Siúil gan scáth.
Is má thiteas-sa i ngrá leat,
Ó, gan fhios dom fhéinig,
Ná habair os ard é
Is ná coinnigh é mar rún.
Ná habair le do bhéal é,
Ná habair leis an slua,
Ná habair le do bhéal leo
Gur thiteas-sa i ngrá leat.
Siúil go mall
Trasna chugam anall,
Siúil gan náire.
Sea, abair le do shúil liom,
Ó, gan fhios dóibh go léir,
Is abair go soiléir é
Gur liomsa atá do shúil.
Sea, is liomsa atá do shúil.
Nuair a thiteann tú i ngrá liom.
Má thiteann tú i ngrá liom.
At the party
Come with me to the end of the world
And taste the setting sun from my hands
While I envy the moon
That's trying to take you from me.
Let's walk in the rain together
Searching for a rainbow
To take us away from here
While I envy the moon
That's trying to take you from me.
I envy the moon …
If you happen to fall for me,
If you happen to fall for me,
If you happen to fall for me,
Don't breathe a word to anyone.
If you happen to fall for me,
Don't breathe a word to anyone,
Don't say anything
If you happen to fall for me.
Just take it slowly,
And walk over here,
Straight and proud.
Take the sadness from me,
Take my heart from me;
I'll take heart from you
If you take my sadness from me.
When you fall for me,
Don't keep it to yourself,
Don't keep it a secret,
If I happen to be the one for you.
Just take it slowly,
And walk over here,
Walk without fear.
And if I've fallen for you
Without realising it,
Don't breathe a word of it,
And don't keep it a secret.
Don't even whisper it
To anyone here,
Don't tell them out loud
That I've fallen for you.
Just take it slowly,
And walk over here,
Walk without shyness or shame.
Yes, let your eyes tell me
Without anyone knowing,
Tell me clearly
That I'm the only one,
When you fall in love with me,
If you fall in love with me.
3. The Wounded Hero/ Iníon Deichtine
Walk on down the alley, boy, and cry;
Walk on down the alley, boy, and cry;
Drag your hurley along the ground,
When you're down, you're down;
Walk on down the alley, boy, and cry;
Cry, cry, cry.
The oceans are made from the people's tears;
The oceans are made from the people's tears;
Lash the stars across the sky,
A stick in your hand
And a tear in your eye;
Walk on down the alley, boy, and cry.
Cry, cry, cry.
Stand up straight and count your lucky stars;
Stand up tall and count your lucky stars;
Never lie down; never walk away;
Never look back no matter what they say.
Stand up tall and count your lucky stars.
Try, try, try.
This is what it's like to be alive;
This is what it's like to be alive;
Lash the stars across the sky,
A stick in your hand
And a tear in your eye.
Walk on down the alley, boy, and cry.
Cry, cry, cry.
Ar Bhóthar an Chaisleáin Nua,
tá cailín fionn ag siúl i dtreo an bhaile,
maide fuinseoige ag sileadh óna láimh
chomh héasca leis an loca
a rinceann ar chlár a héadain.
Tá mant, mar is cóir, san adhmad críonna,
is marc dá réir ar ghrua na mná,
faghairt na himeartha ina súil,
is a cromán chomh casta sa tsiúl
le bais an chamáin
a d'fhás gan choinne ina glaic.
Doirtfear fuil ach a dtiocfaidh sí
chomh fada le cóisir Chulainn.
Your day will come;
Your light will shine;
Lash the stars across the sky,
A stick in your hand
And a tear in your eye.
Walk on down the alley, boy, and cry.
Cry, cry, cry, cry, cry.
Deichtine's Daughter
On Newcastle Road, a fair-haired girl
is walking towards town, an ash-stick
swinging in her hand, easy as the lock
of hair dancing on her forehead.
As you'd expect, there's a nick
in the seasoned wood, another
in the girl's cheek, and the fire
of combat blazing in her eyes.
Her hip bones jut and angle,
turned like the blade of a hurley
that grew unexpectedly in her fist.
Blood will be spilt
when she arrives at Culann's feast.
(trans Biddy Jenkinson)
4. Inghean
Tá sí chomh lán de nádúr le crúiscín
ag cur thar maoil le bainne,
nó buicéad uisce
líonta thar a bhruach,
ag stealladh farraige
ar an ngaineamh spalptha.
Scairdeann sí áthas gan smál
is beireann chugam an farasbarr,
curadhmhír an tsolais
i mbasa fíneálta
gan deoir a dhoirteadh.
Tá eagla orm breith uaithi
ar an dtaoide lán
i mbabhla scoilte mo lámh
nó go ritheann an sáile os mo chionn
is briseann ar mhéaracán mo chroí
ná toillfeadh seile cuaiche ann
murach í.
Ó nár tháinig ciall, ná suaimhneas croí
le haois,
Is é seo mo ghuí dhuitse fhéin, a inghean,
Le grá is le gruaim m'athairchroí:
Go raibh fad is leithead Mheirice
Is a locha móra groí
Ag síneadh i do chroí,
Do chroí rómhaith rómhór
Atá lán, rólán de ghrá,
A inghean, a inghean,
Atá lán, rólán de ghrá, a inghean.
Go siúla tú ar chosán mín, ar chosán
mín an áthais,
Go múchfaidh an solas deireanach
I súil bhocht chaoch mo chinn.
Is go maire tú gach lá dá rabhair
Faoi sholas dheireadh an tsamhraidh,
Is nár mhaire mise lá níos sia ná sruthán
geal do gháire,
A inghean, a inghean,
Atá lán, rólán de ghrá, a inghean.
A inghean, a inghean,
Atá lán, rólán de ghrá, a inghean.
Is ó nár ghlac tú riamh le comhairle ó sheandaoine,
Is é seo mo ghuí dhuitse fhéin, a inghean,
Le grá is le gruaim m'athairchroí,
A inghean, a inghean,
Le grá is le gruaim m'athairchroí.
Tá eagla orm breith uaithi
ar an dtaoide lán
i mbabhla scoilte mo lámh
nó go ritheann an sáile os mo chionn
is briseann ar mhéaracán mo chroí
ná toillfeadh seile cuaiche ann
murach í.
Daughter
She is full of love
as a milkjug, filled
to the lip and above
or a brimming bucket
spilling sea
on parched sand.
She pours pure joy
and brings me the best of it,
the champion's portion of light
in cupped hands, never spilling a drop.
I am afraid to take hold
of the tide
in the cracked bowl of my fists,
but the sea rushes in over my head,
flooding the thimble of my heart
that couldn't, but for her,
catch a cuckoo spit.
And since sense and peace of mind have never come with age,
This is my prayer for you, daughter,
With all the love and loneliness in my fatherheart:
That your heart be as large
As all the great lakes of America,
Your heart that is so good and so big,
So full, too full, of love,
Daughter, my daughter,
So full, too full, of love.
May you walk the gentle path, the gentle path of happiness
Until the last light is put out
In my feeble, wornout eyes.
May you live each day of your life
In the kind light of a late summer,
And may I not live a single day longer
Than the bright stream of your laughter,
Daughter, my daughter,
So full, too full, of love.
Daughter, my daughter,
So full, too full, of love.
And since you never took advice before from the old,
This is my prayer, my wish, for you, daughter,
With all the love and loneliness of my heart.
Daughter, my daughter,
So full, too full, of love.
I am afraid to take hold
of the tide
in the cracked bowl of my fists,
but the sea rushes in over my head,
flooding the thimble of my heart
that couldn't, but for her,
catch a cuckoo spit.
9. Suansiúl
Shiúlamar tré bháisteach
An oíche sin sa bhFómhar
Gan ré ná réalta romhainn sa ród.
Bhí boladh úr aráin
Ag cumhrú an aeir
Ag ramhrú anáil ár mbéil.
Bhí na bóithre gan trácht,
Gach solas ina ghlas
Ag fáiltiú romhainn beirt chun siúil,
Ise lena méara ag casadh fáinne fí
Mo sheanabhróg ag rince céim.
Bhí an oíche róghearr is an domhan róchúng,
An mhaidin rómhór leis an ngrian;
Bhí an bóthar chomh fuar
Is an domhan róchúng dár suansiúl,
Dár suansiúl, a rún.
Chualamar na buidéil ag clingeadh insa bhfuacht
Is iad ag fógairt tús an lae;
Bhí crúiscín bainne i gcúinne den spéir,
An mhaidin ina cupa lán.
Tar liom go himeall an domhain …
Táimse in éad leis an ngealaigh …
Chualamar na buidéil ag clingeadh insa bhfuacht
Is iad ag fógairt tús an lae;
Bhí crúiscín bainne i gcúinne den spéir,
An mhaidin ina cupa lán.
Bhí an oíche róghearr is an domhan róchúng,
An mhaidin rómhór leis an ngrian;
Bhí an bóthar chomh fuar
Is an domhan róchúng dár suansiúl,
Dár suansiúl, a rún.
Sleepwalk
We walked through the downpour
One night in September
Without a star or a moon to guide us.
The smell of the bakery
Was sweetening the air,
As thick as bread in our mouths.
There wasn't a car or a truck on the road
And all the traffic-lights were green
Hurrying us along on our way.
Her fingers were dancing a reel
While my worn-out shoes kept time.
The night was too short and the world too small,
The morning in cahoots with the sun.
The streets were too cold
And the world too small for our sleepwalk,
Our sleepwalking love.
We heard bottles rattle in the cold
Announcing the start of the day;
There was a jug of milk in the corner of the sky
And morning was filled to the brim.
Come with me to the edge of the world …
I envy the moon …
We heard the bottles rattle in the cold
Announcing the start of the day;
There was a jug of milk in the corner of the sky
And morning was filled to the brim.
The night was too short and the world too small,
The morning in cahoots with the sun.
The streets were too cold
And the world too small for our sleepwalk,
Our sleepwalking love.
8. Éist do Bhéal
Ná habair m'ainm leis an bhfear
A labharfaidh im dhiaidh i do chluais,
A bhéarfaidh aniar chugat
Gealach is grian mar dhuais;
Ná habair gur seanascéal é sin
A chuala tú uaim fadó.
Éist do bhéal.
Éist do bhéal is bí ciúin.
Don gcéad uair i do shaol, bí ciúin,
Is éist do bhéal, do bhéilín bán.
Éist do bhéal.
Má chloiseann tú caint
I dtábhairní an bhaile
Gur ghearras-sa mo ghruaig,
Gur duine le Dia mé
A d'imigh ar buile i do dhiaidh
Ná habair gur seanascéal é sin
A chuala tú uaim fadó.
Éist do bhéal.
Éist do bhéal is bí ciúin.
Don gcéad uair i do shaol, bí ciúin,
Is éist do bhéal, do bhéilín bán.
Éist do bhéal.
Má chíonn tú i mbrionglóid
Mé ag siúl cois toinne
Lem stuabhean rua,
Gan fáinne ar mhéar,
Gan scáil ar ár gcraiceann gan smál,
Ná habair gur seanascéal é sin
A chuala tú uaim fadó.
Éist do bhéal.
Éist do bhéal is bí ciúin.
Don gcéad uair i do shaol, bí ciúin,
Is éist do bhéal, do bhéilín bán.
Éist do bhéal. Éist do bhéal is bí
ciúin.
Don gcéad uair i do shaol, bí ciúin,
Is éist do bhéal, do bhéilín bán.
Éist do bhéal.
Shut your mouth
Don't mention my name to the man
Who will whisper in your ear when I'm gone,
Promising you the moon and the stars.
Don't tell him you heard it all before
A long time ago from me.
Shut your mouth.
Shut your mouth and say nothing.
For once in your life, say nothing.
Just shut your lovely mouth.
If you hear them talking
In the pubs around town,
Saying I've chopped off my hair,
That I've taken to prayer,
And gone mad since you left,
Don't tell them you heard it all before
A long time ago from me.
Shut your mouth.
Shut your mouth and say nothing.
For once in your life, say nothing.
Just shut your lovely mouth.
If you see me in your dreams
Walking by the sea
With my red-haired girl,
No ring on her finger
Or shadow on her skin,
Don't tell them you heard it all before
A long time ago from me.
Shut your mouth.
Shut your mouth and say nothing.
For once in your life, say nothing.
Just shut your lovely mouth.
5. Báisteach
An cumhrán a chaitheadh sí sna déaga
is ailceimic a colainne tríd,
farraige, féar is fiúise
i naoi déag seachtó a naoi,
do shiúl thar bráid sa tsráid aréir
nóscumaliom mar bháisteach,
comhartha broinne ar a rúitín clé
is lúba airgid ar a riostaí geanmnaí.
Mar a bheadh scáth fearthainne sa ghaoth
d'iompaigh mo chroí
isteach is amach
faoin gcith cumhra
ná fliuchfadh barra mo mhéar.
Nuair a d'éirigh an ghrian
thar mhaol gualainne aniar,
bhí cumhracht cnis
ar bhláthanna teochreasa
ag briseadh
tré leacacha na cathrach.
Rain
That perfume she wore in her teens
shot through with the alchemy of her body
- sea, grass and fuschia
in nineteen seventy nine -
walked past on the street last night
as couldn't-care-less as rain,
a birthmark on her left ankle
and silver bracelets on her untouchable wrists.
Like an umbrella in a high wind,
my heart turned inside out
under a drench of fragrance
that left my fingertips
bonedry.
When the sun rose
over her shoulder,
tropical flowers
perfumed like skin
burst through paving stones
all over the city.
7. Rugadh orm i gCorcaigh
B'fhada liom go dtréigfinn
An chré róbhog dar di mé
Sara bhfáiscfí an deoir dheireanach
As an gcloch im lár,
Sara gcaithfeadh an grá
A dhá láimh timpeall mo mhuiníl
Dom tharraingt síos
Go tóin an phoill abhaile.
Rugadh orm i gCorcaigh,
Tarraing anáil, tarraing anáil,
Rugadh orm i gCorcaigh,
Tarraing anáil go híseal,
Rugadh orm i gCorcaigh,
Cathair faoi thalamh,
Baile faoi thoinn,
Meilimse garbh is mín,
Tarraing anáil isteach is amach,
Tarraing anáil go hÉirinn.
Ní thánag anuas leis an mbáisteach,
Tarraing anáil, tarraing anáil,
Ní thánag anuas leis an mbáisteach,
Tarraing anáil go héasca,
Ní thánag anuas leis an mbáisteach,
Coinnigh do sheile,
Coinnigh do dheoir,
A Chríost na bhFlaitheas in airde,
Tarraing anáil isteach is amach,
Tarraing anáil más féidir.
Tá Dia idir sinn agus Bóthar na Laoi,
Mar dhea, mar dhea,
Dia idir sinn agus Bóthar na Laoi,
Tarraing anáil le chéile,
Dia idir sinn agus Bóthar na Laoi,
Uisce faoi thalamh i mbaile na gclog,
Carraig na bhfear i gcuan na mban,
Tarraing anáil isteach is amach,
Tarraing anáil go hÉirinn.
Ó mairim ó shin i ndomhan na ndeor,
Tiocfaidh tú slán, ní thiocfaidh tú slán,
Mairim ó shin i ndomhan na ndeor,
Tiocfaidh tú slán ar éigin,
Mairim ó shin i ndomhan na ndeor,
Greim an fhir bháite ar bhruach na habhann,
Ní ghoilfidh an chathair im dhiaidh,
Tarraing anáil isteach is amach,
Tarraing anáil go hÉirinn.
Ó rugadh orm i gCorcaigh,
Tarraing anáil, tarraing anáil,
Rugadh orm i gCorcaigh,
Tarraing anáil go híseal,
Rugadh orm i gCorcaigh,
Cathair faoi thalamh,
Baile faoi thoinn,
Meilimse garbh is mín
Tarraing anáil isteach is amach,
Tarraing anáil go hÉirinn.
Rebeltown
I couldn't wait to get away
from the soft soft earth
that had made me
before the last tear
was squeezed
from the stone in my heart,
before love wrapped itself
round my neck,
dragging me, drowning,
home.
I was brought up in a rebel town,
Do what you're told,
Don't answer back;
I was brought up in a rebel town,
Do what you're told,
Do you hear me?
I was brought up in a rebel town,
Underground city,
Submarine town,
Chewing them up
And spitting them out,
Do what you're told,
Don't answer back,
It's nothing to do with you boy.
I didn't come down in the last shower,
Mind your own business,
Know what I mean.
I didn't come down in the last shower,
Like it or not, I know what you mean,
I didn't come down in the last shower,
Say what you like
Only do what you're told,
Jesus Christ on a bike.
God is between us and the Lee Road,
Mar dhea, mockia,
God between us and out the Lee Road,
Down on your knees,
Say your prayers, boy,
God between us and out the Lee Road,
Think what you like,
I never said that;
Mind your own business,
Do what you're told,
Walk away and don't look back;
Who do you think you are, boy?
I'm still living here beside heaventown,
Never give up, never give in,
Still living here beside heaventown,
Holding on by the skin of my teeth,
Still living here beside heaventown,
Holding like death to the edge of the world,
They're chewing me up
And spitting me out,
I'll never give up,
Never give in,
But nobody knows that I'm here, boy.
I was brought up in a rebel town,
Do what you're told,
Don't answer back;
I was brought up in a rebel town,
Do what you're told,
Do you hear me?
I was brought up in a rebel town,
Underground city, submarine town,
Chewing them up
And spitting them out,
Do what you're told,
Don't answer back,
It's nothing to do with you boy.
11. Luíonn mo ghrá
Luíonn mo ghrá,
Aonarach in Éirinn,
Goirt an tsáile
Lena cíoch iarsnámha,
Ag tnúth le teacht a céile.
Tá an fharraige lán
Ag tuileadh is ag trá
Is ag trá.
Ar bhóithrín dóite,
Ag crosaire allúrach,
Scoitheann na gluaisteáin
M'ordóg dhílis.
Tá bóithrín dóite
Ag crosaire allúrach
Ag caitheamh sáil mo bhróige.
Tá an fharraige lán
Ag tuileadh is ag trá
Is ag trá.
I ngairdín a máithrín
I gcathair gheal na gréine,
Tá corcra na gcaor
Ar a teanga úr.
I ngairdín a máithrín
I gcathair gheal na gréine,
Tá súil le teacht na hoíche.
Tá an fharraige lán
Ag tuileadh is ag trá
Is ag trá.
Siúlód an fharraige.
Siúlód abhaile
Anocht.
My love lies
My love lies
All on her own in Ireland,
Sea-salt on her skin,
Waiting for her love to return.
The sea keeps on
Ebbing and flowing
And ebbing again.
On a burning highway
At a foreign crossroad,
The cars keep passing
My stubborn thumb.
There's a burning highway
At a foreign crossroad
Wearing down the soles of my shoes.
The sea keeps on
Ebbing and flowing
And ebbing again.
In her mother's garden
In the bright city of the sun,
Her tongue
Is purple as a berry.
In her mother's garden
In the bright city of the sun,
They're waiting
For the night to come.
The sea keeps on
Ebbing and flowing
And ebbing again.
I'll walk the ocean
Home tonight.
10. Sorcha Rua
An dtiocfaidh tú liom, a Shorcha Rua,
An dtiocfaidh tú liom ag siúl?
An dtiocfaidh tú liom, a Shorcha Rua, Rua,
An dtiocfaidh tú liom ag siúl?
I bhfad ód bhaile, i bhfad ód mhuintir?
Abair go dtiocfaidh tú liom,
Go dtiocfaidh tú liom,
Abair go dtiocfaidh tú liom.
An rachaidh tú liom, a Shorcha Rua,
Go mbrisfimid croí do Mhaim?
An rachaidh tú liom a Shorcha Rua, Rua,
Go mbrisfimid croí do Mhaim?
Ó chathair na gcuan go himeall an domhain,
Abair go rachaidh tú liom,
Go rachaidh tú liom,
Abair go rachaidh tú liom.
Ós tú an Aoine i dtús gach seachtain',
An ghrian a ghortaíonn mo shúil ar maidin,
An doircheacht chneasta i gcuisle an ghrá,
An samhradh sa gheimhreadh idir Nollaig is Cáisc;
Abair go dtiocfaidh tú liom,
Go dtiocfaidh tú liom,
Abair go dtiocfaidh tú liom,
Go dtiocfaidh tú liom.
An bhfanfaidh tú liom, a Shorcha Rua,
An bhfanfaidh tú liom go fóill?
An bhfanfaidh tú liom, a Shorcha Rua, Rua,
An bhfanfaidh tú liom go fóill?
Mise agus tusa i gcoinne an tsaoil,
Abair go bhfanfaidh tú liom,
Go bhfanfaidh tú liom.
Abair go bhfanfaidh tú liom.
Cár imigh tú uaim, a Shorcha Rua,
Cár imigh tú uaim leat fhéin?
Cár imigh tú uaim, a Shorcha Rua, Rua,
Cár imigh tú uaim leat fhéin?
Ó cad a dhéanfaidh mise liom féin?
Abair go bhfillfidh tú chugam,
Go bhfillfidh tú chugam.
Abair go bhfillfidh tú chugam.
An dtiocfaidh tú liom, a Shorcha Rua,
An dtiocfaidh tú liom ag siúl?
An dtiocfaidh tú liom, a Shorcha Rua, Rua,
An dtiocfaidh tú liom ag siúl?
Red-haired Sorcha
Will you come with me, young Sorcha Rua,
Will you come and walk with me?
Will you come with me, young Sorcha Rua,
Come and walk with me?
Away from your family, away from home?
Promise you'll come with me,
Away with me,
Promise you'll come with me.
Will you go with me, young Sorcha Rua,
Till we break your mother's heart?
Will you go with me, young Sorcha Rua,
And we'll break your mother's heart?
From the city of harbours to the edge of the world,
Tell me you'll go with me,
You'll go with me,
Only tell me you'll go with me.
Because you are a Friday
At the start of each week,
The sun that grazes my eye in the morning,
The gentle dark at the heart of love,
The summer in winter
Between Christmas and Easter,
Tell me you'll come with me,
You'll come with me,
Only tell me you'll come with me,
Promise you'll come with me.
Will you stay with me, young Sorcha Rua,
Will you stay with me a while?
Stay with me, young Sorcha Rua,
Stay with me a while,
Just you and me against the world,
Say you'll stay with me,
Stay with me,
Only say you'll stay with me.
Where have you gone, young Sorcha Rua,
Where have you gone away?
Where have you gone, young Sorcha Rua,
And why did you go alone?
And what am I left to do?
Say you'll come back, young Sorcha Rua,
Say you'll come back to me,
Promise you'll come back to me.
Will you come with me, young Sorcha Rua,
Will you come and walk with me?
Will you come with me, young Sorcha Rua,
Come and walk with me?
12. Finscéal
Tell me that story again …
Díbeartach ab ea í sin,
glan amach as finscéal
ón bhFionnlainn,
súile chomh mór le fochupáin,
is gruaig chomh fionn
go gcaithfí an focal a chumadh
mura mbeadh sé ann cheana
le teacht ar ghile a foilt.
Bhíothas sa tóir uirthi
is bhíomar sa bhforaois
nár foraois in aon chor
ach trá airgid in aice le cloch na rón.
Bhíos ag gabháil roimpi,
ag réiteach na slí di,
mar a mheasas,
mo dhá chois fathaigh
báite sa sneachta,
nár sneachta in aon chor
ach gaineamh bhuí
a bhí déanta ag túirne
na samhlaíochta thar oíche.
Bhíos á griogadh is á gríosadh
le coimeád suas liom
ach ní fhéadfainn
féachaint im dhiaidh
ar eagla m'eagla féin.
Bhí sise ag canadh
chomh hard is a bhí inti
le misneach a thabhairt dúinn beirt,
is bhí a fhios agam ar a shonsan
nach dtiocfadh sí suas liom go deo.
Má fhanann tú léi,
adúirt mo choinsias glan,
béarfar ar an mbeirt agaibh
is caithfidh duine éigin teacht slán
chun go mairfidh a scéal
ina diaidh, go mbeidh a fhios
ag an saol is a máthair
gur dheinis-se do dhícheall
ach go háirithe.
I bhfad tar éis dóibh
a cuid focal a cheangal
is ceirt ramhar an chiúnais
a chur siar ina béal briste,
airím, is dóigh liom,
a glór caoin ag dul faoi
sna poill atá tochailte
ag sluaiste troma mo bhróg,
an t-amhrán céanna i gcónaí
á rá go leanfaidh sí
go himeall an domhain mé
agus thairis amach más gá,
nach gcoimeádfaidh sí siar go brách mé
ó na harda atá ceaptha
ó thús an tsaoil dom leithéid.
Tá a fhios agam, ar sise,
nach bhfágfadh sé go brách mé
mura gcaithfeadh sé dul ar aghaidh
ar mo shonsa. Ar mo shonsa amháin
a d'fhág sé ina dhiaidh mé.
Tell me that story again …
Fairytale
She was a refugee,
straight out of a fairytale from Finland,
with eyes as big as saucers
and hair so fair
the word would have to be invented
if it wasn't already there
to match the brightness
swept back from her face.
They were after her,
and we were deep inside the forest
that wasn't a forest at all
only a silver strand beside Cloch na Rón.
I was ahead of her,
preparing the way, or so I thought,
my two giant feet buried in snow
that wasn't snow at all
only golden sand
spun from the loom
of imagination over night.
I was coaxing and cajoling her
to keep up with me,
too afraid of being afraid
to look behind me.
She was singing
as loud as she could to keep our spirits up,
and I knew she would never ever catch up with me.
If you wait for her, my conscience said,
they'll catch both of you
and one of you must get through
to tell what happened here,
so the world and its mother will know
that you, at least, did everything you could.
For a long time after
they have tied her words
and gagged her broken mouth
with the filthy rags of silence,
I can hear, I think, her sweet voice sinking
in the holes dug up
by the heavy shovels of my shoes.
I hear the same song over and over,
telling them she would follow me
to the ends of the earth
and further if she had to,
that she would never keep me back
from the heights that I and others like me
were destined to climb
since the beginning of time.
I know, she says, he would never
have left me, only he had to
keep going for my sake.
He left me for my sake.
13. Lupadáin lapadáin (The
Tale of the Mermaid's Daughter)
And tell me that story over again,
The only story you tell,
Lupadáin lapadáin,
Muranáin maranáin,
Tell me that story again.
How your skin was as smooth
As the side of a seal,
Tell me that story again;
Of days and nights
That would never end,
And tell me that story again;
Lupadáin lapadáin,
Muranáin maranáin,
Tell me that story again.
How the light was as hard
As the keel of a ship,
Tell me that story again,
Of a man as tall
As the sky is wide
Turned upside down
In the water;
Lupadáin lapadáin,
Muranáin maranáin,
Tell me your story again.
Of a man as bright as a sail,
And down as deep
As a smother;
Lupadáin lapadáin,
Muranáin maranáin,
Tell me that story again;
How you hauled him up
By the strings of his heart,
Tell me that story again;
How you left him stranded
High and dry,
Just tell me that story again;
Lupadáin lapadáin,
Muranáin maranáin,
Tell me your story again.
How you couldn't breathe
In the pools of air;
Tell me that story again;
How you wouldn't breathe
For love nor money,
Tell me that story again;
Why you wouldn't breathe
For love nor money,
For love nor money nor me.
Sleep now …
Codladh sámh.
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