Cunla - Traditional

 

Cé hé siúd thíos 'tá ag leagadh na gclaíochaí? x 3 (Who is that down there knocking down the (stone) walls?) "Mise mé féin" a deir Cúnnla.

("Me, myself" says Cúnla.)

A Chúnla a chroí ná tar níos goire dhom! x 3 (Cúnnla dear don't come any nearer to me!) Go deimhin muise tiocfaidh! a deir Cúnla.

("Surely I will!" says Cúnla.)

Cé hé siúd thíos 'tá ag buaileadh na fuinneoige? x 3 (Who is that down there knocking the windows?) "Mise mé féin" a deir Cúnla.

("Me, myself" says Cúnla.)

Cé hé siúd thíos 'tá ag tarraingt na pluide dhíom? x 3 (Who is that down there pulling the blanket off me?) "Mise mé féin" a deir Cúnnla.

("Me, myself" says Cúnla.)

Cé hé siúd thíos 'tá ag tochas mo bhonnachaí? x 3 (Who is that down there tickling the soles of my feet?) "Mise mé féin" a deir Cúnla.

("Me, myself" says Cúnla.)

CUNLA dear don’t come any nearer to me x3 Maybe I shouldn’t say CUNLA.

 

A Mother’s Song - Original by Sile Neil

[Chorus]

Wrap the little baby in a blanket, in a blanket

Keep the little baby snug and warm

Rock the little baby ever gently, ever gently

Sing the little babe a soothing song

[Verse 1]

Mamas gone to the market, feet running all the way

Only thoughts on her mind the dealers will be kind

With their prices at the end of the day

[Verse 2]

Mama’s gotta be the man now, pappa’s been so long away

From the camp no one’s heard, a year and still no word

It’s so hard to keep her fears at bay

[Verse 3]

Mamas got to speak for us now, words she finds hard to say

She is lonely through as she joins another queue

If she could only work she’d pay her way

 

 

Black Night - Original by Bernadette O'Neill

 

[Chorus]

Into the black , black night , he walks with his head bowed low, he's lost his only love and now he must away into the black,black night, rain wash away his pain. The roar of the thundering sky , my lady goodbye, goodbye, my lady goodbye.

[Verse 1]

He thinks of the day they met, the light that shone from her eyes.

and oh how his heart did rise, watching her from afar. She said come with me talk a while , tell me your story now. how quickly the time went by, so lost in the lady's smile.

[Verse 2]

And daily their love did grow, stronger each passing hour.

He promised her moon and stars and love eternally.

She gave him her heart her hand entirely and freely.

And caught in his web of love , submitted completely.

[Verse 3]

Stay with me by my side, love me and lie with me, these were the sweet soft words that led her to be his bride.

Two hearts then became as one and blessings from all abound.

No girl ever felt so loved, no man ever walked so proud.

[Verse 4]

Bright was the Spring sweet song of joy that lay just ahead and warm was the summer sun that shone on the lovers fair.

But cold was the autumn chill that brought her to deaths dark door

And black was the winter night, that took her away

 

Leaving the Land - Original by Eric Bogle

[Verse 1]

It's time to go, jenny

No need to close the door

What if the dust gets in the house

It doesn't matter any more

You and the dust have been at war for far too many years Now the war is over jenny dear.

[Chorus]

Leaving the land

Leaving the land

Leaving all I've ever been and everything I am Leaving the land.

[Verse 2]

Remember when I brought you here

Those long bright years ago

For all that time you've been my heart

And this land has been my soul

The long bright days are over now but still the heart beats on But jenny dear the soul is gone.

[Verse 3]

It’s time to go, jenny

Drive quickly down the track

We'll never see what lies ahead if we keep on looking back

Behind is just an empty house

Old memories and ghosts

And our small dream gathering dust.

 

Jimmy Duffys/The Sailors Bonnet/The Star of Munster - Tunes Traditional

 

 

 

 

 

The Mermaid - An Mhaighdean Mhara - Traditional

Is cosúil gur mheath tú nó gur thréig tú an greann

Tá an sneachta go freasach ‘s fá bhéal na mbeann

Do chúl buí daite is do bhéilín sámh

Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh 's í 'ndiaidh an Éirne 'shnámh

 

A mháithrín mhilis duirt Máire Bhán

Fá bhruach an chladaigh 's fá bhéal na trá

Maighdean mhara mo mhaithrín ard

Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh 's í 'ndiaidh an Éirne 'shnámh

 

Tá mise tuirseach agus beidh go lá

Mo Mháire bhroinngheal 's mo Phádraig bán

Ar bharr na dtonna 's fá bhéal na trá

Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh 's í 'ndiaidh an Éirne 'shnámh

 

English Translation 

 

You seem to be pining

And forsaking the fun

The snowdrifts are heavy

By the fords in the burn

Your bright golden tresses

And smile gentle and mild

I give you Mary Kinney

Who has swum the ocean wide

 

"Darling mother,"

Cries Máire Bhán

From the banks of the ocean

And down by the tide

"Mermaid, my mother, my pride"

I give you Mary Kinney

Who has swum the ocean wide 

I'm tired and weary

And will be 'til dawn

For my darling Mary

And my Pádraid bán

As I ride on the billows

And drift with the tide

I give you Mary Kinney

Who has swum the ocean wide 

 

The Dimming Of The Day - Richard Thompson

[Verse 1]

This old house is falling down around my ears

I'm drowning in a river of my tears

When all my will is gone you hold me sway

I need you at the dimming of the day

[Chorus]

You pulled me like the moon pulls on the tide

You know just where I keep my better side

[Verse 2]

What days have come to keep us far apart

A broken promise or a broken heart

Now all my bonny birds have wheeled away I need you at the dimming of the day

[Chorus]

Come the night you're only what I want

Come the night you could be my confidant

[Verse 3]

I see you on the street in company

Why don't you come and ease your mind with me

I'm living for the night we steal away

I need you at the dimming of the day

[Chorus]

You pulled me like the moon pulls on the tide

You know just where I keep my better side

I'm living for the night we steal away

I need you at the dimming of the day