Its the first of May, Happy Bealltainn! One of the best days of the year in my humble opinion…its coming indicates its time to go out searching for wildcrafted herbs and fresh young shoots of plants. So what are your plans for today? Why not start it off by listening to this amazing traditional song by The Gloaming calling in the Summer (Samhradh means summer in Irish gaelic). I have provided a the lyrics and a translation after the video.
Sit back with a cup of tea and enjoy. For more about Bealltainn have a look at another post here
Samhradh, Samhradh
Samhradh , Samhradh
Bábóg na Bealtaine, maighdean an tSamhraidh,
Suas gach cnoc is síos gach gleann
Cailíní maiseacha gheala-bhán gléigeal
Thugamar féin an Samhradh linn
chorus/curfá
Samhradh buí na nóiníní gléigeal
Thugamar féin an samhradh linn
Ó bhaile go baile ‘s go Malainn ‘na dhiaidh sin
Thugamar féin an samhradh linn
Tá nead ag an ghiorria ar imeall na haille,
Is nead ag an chorr éisc i ngéagaibh an chrann,
Tá’n chuach ‘s na héanlaith a’ seinm le pléisiúr,
Thugamar féin an samhradh linn.
Tá an fhuiseog a’ seinm ‘s a’ luascadh sna spéartha
Beacha is cuileoga is bláth ar na crainn
Tá míl ar an gcuiseach ‘s coilm a’ beiceadh,
Thugamar féin an samhradh linn.
Translation of Samhradh Samhradh
Summer
May Dolls, summer Maidens
Up each hill and down each glen
Girls dressed up so white, bright and radiant
We brought the summer with us
Chorus
Fair summer of the bright daisies
We brought the summer with us
From town to town and to Malin after
We brought the summer with us
The Hare has a nest on the cliff edge
And the Heron’s nest in the branches of the Glen
The Cuckoo and the birds are singing with pleasue
We brought the summer with us
Chorus
The lark is singing and fluttering in the sky
Bees and little flies and trees in bloom
Honey in hives and doves are calling
We brought the summer with us
Chorus X 2
1 comment
Thank you so much for this. Another song to add to my list to memorize! Lovely.