Thirteen traditional songs in Irish with contemporary guitar accompaniment. Complete texts, translations, and notes supplied.
Includes unlimited streaming of Casadh na n-Amhrán / Turning the Song
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about
This song combines features of a few different genres. There are elements of the basic chanson d’amour, the man’s lovesong which was a staple of the tradition from the Middle Ages onwards: the broken heart, the invitation to a retreat into nature, the suffering of personal talents, the promise of gifts and happiness. The man is socially inferior to the woman but no less ambitious for that. Marriage would elevate him socially (while personally leaving his labouring talents intact). The last verse suggests that the young woman is well off and will continue to be so, owning fine clothes, cows, bees, gold and a silk-lined coach. The last item may suggest a reference to a feature of Ascendancy life. John O’Daly’s Poets and Poetry of Munster (1849) states that ‘the song was composed as a welcome home in the year 1666, to Elizabeth, daughter of Colonel Robert Stuart, of the Irry, Co. Tyrone’.
lyrics
Bruach na Carraige Báine
Siar cois abhainn gan bhréag gan dabht, Tá an ainnir chiúin tais mhánla;
Is gur gile ar a com í ná an eala ar an dtonn Ó bhaithis go bonn a bróige.
’Sí an stáidbhean í a chráigh mo chroí,
Is d’fhág sí m’intinn brónach,
Is leigheas le fáil níl agam go brách
Ó dhiúltaigh mo ghrá geal domsa.
Do b’fhearr liom fhéin ná Éire mhóir Ná saibhreas Rí na Spáinne,
Go mbéinnse ’gus tusa i lúb na finne
I gcoillte i bhfad ónár gcáirde
Ó mise ’gus tusa bheith pósta a ghrá, Le haon-toil athar is máthar,
A mhaighdean óg is milse póg,
Ós tú grian na Carraige Báine.
Is treabhadóir mise, do threabhfainn is d’fhuirsfinn ’S na comharsain go bhfeicid mo thréithe;
’S níl aon tsórt nithe ar mo bhéim ná tuigim,
Is treabhaim gan tuirse go héascaidh;
An fómhar nuair a thigeann mo chuid eorna bhainim Is cuirim go seascair im’ sheomra,
An lár do scriosfainn, do bhuailfinn tuille
Ar thaoibh na Carraige Báine.
A stuaire an chinn chailce, más dual go mbeir agam, Beidh cóir ort a thaithneodh led’ cháirde,
Idir shíoda ’gus hata ó bhonn go baitheas
Is gach ní insa chathair dá áilleacht;
Beidh do bhólacht á gcasadh gach nóin chun baile, Is ceol binn ag do bheacha ar do bhánta,
Beidh ór ar do ghlacadh is cóiste ad tharraingt
Go bruach na Carraige Báine.
-------
The Bank of the White Rock
Oh, west by the river, without lie or doubt, Lives the quiet kind gentle girl;
Her skin is brighter than the swan on the wave, From her head to the sole of her shoe.
She’s the stately woman who tormented my heart, And left my mind in sadness,
And no hope of a cure can I hope to have,
Since my bright love has denied me.
Oh, I would prefer to the whole of Ireland, Or the riches of the King of Spain, That you and I would be in some quiet place,
In the woods, far from our friends.
Oh, I wish you and I could be married, my love, With the consent of father and mother,
Oh, young girl of the sweetest kiss, For you are the sun of the White Rock.
A ploughboy am I, I can plough, I can harrow, And my neighbours can see my attainments,
I understand everything about my implements, And I plough easily without tiring;
When harvest comes I reap my barley
And store it cosy in my barn,
I could wreck the threshing floor, and then flail more, On the side of the White Rock.
O handsome fair girl, if fate gives you to me, You’ll be treated as your friends would like,
With silks and a hat for your limbs and your head, And everything fine from the city.
Your cows will come home every evening,
Your bees will make music in the fields;
You’ll have gold on your fingers and a coach to convey you To the banks of the White Rock.
Fran O’Rourke is emeritus professor of philosophy. With John Feeley he has given recitals of Irish traditional songs
associated with James Joyce from San Diego to Shanghai.
John is Ireland’s leading classical guitarist. He has performed concerts around the world and recorded many CDs, most recently Bach’s Cello Suites 1-3....more
