Irish song - Tá Mé i Mo Shuí (Cór Thaobh a' Leithid)

[TheisenTim]

tá sé seo i gcónaí ar ceann de mo amhrán Gaeilge is fearr liom.- Jeaniebotl

[howiej103]

The best thing about this music is that it's authentic ie. not adopted by some "Irish" American bands, popularized, made cheesy and include lyrics about drinking, leprachauns and potatoes etc etc. It's the real thing and it transports you back in time...

[saoirse164]

Beautiful

[LittleBigIdeasMedia]

Why are people complaining about how a word should be spelled? If you want to do that, go post on a forum, otherwise, just enjoy the music.

[algs229635]

@LittleBigIdeasMedia Mas é muito correto alguem adcionar conhecimentos isto somente faz crescer a nossa cultura universal ok .è somente voto positivo ,Greetings from Brasil

[MultiDafydd]

Chlywais i erioed gân mor hyfryd â hon !

[gary903]

@MultiDafydd For those who do not understand Welsh, this means "I never heard a song as lovely/delightful as this."

[jfbecks17]

does anyone have a translation to this song?

I understand a few lines, but I'm having trouble :(.

[Ashari]

@jfbecks17 Omniglot.com has a translation. It won't let me post a link.

[petekay62]

@Ashari Had never heard of omniglot before. what a great site. Thank you for directing me there. Go n-eiri an tadh mo fein! (sorry if my attempt is poor).

[akropiss]

Alba Nuadh An Aigh

[HesseJamez]

Nice language, but why do you type letters if you don't speak them out?

Not very phonetical.

[caoimhin8]

@HesseJamez

Irish spelling is like English in that it heavily based on etymology (.i. historical forms of the word)....but Irish orthography is more regular then English and must remain abstract to include variant dialect pronunciations. Old Irish had a huge phonetic inventory and they had to deal with the sparse Latin alphabet.

Sin é an scéal. Ach, nach álainn í an chuma atá ar an nGaeilge? "know", "through", "enough"  or "psychology" etc. are not at all close to phonetic.

[dryadStone]

@HesseJamez

Clearly the entire Irish nation should change their ancient language just to please you.

FUCKWIT

[DaithiBOC]

@HesseJamez

It changes the pronounciation. Also, lots of the words are derived from older words and the spelling tell you which one. Irish has more sounds than English but there are only 19 letters in the Irish alphabet. As an example an "h" after a consonant changes the pronounciation. "bh" becomes either "v" or "w" depending on the vowel.

[catconstantine]

Tá an h-amhránaíocht thar barr thuas i Gaoth Dobhair! Maith sibh.

[MazziWoo]

@catconstantine pardon?

[richthesituation]

@catconstantine Aontaím. Is breá liom an guth agus an teanga.

[thrainful]

i want more of this style of music..where can i find?

[catconstantine]

@thrainful You can search Youtube for other "sean-nós" singers, such as Caitlín Maude, Brid Ní Mhaoilchiaráin, amongst others. There are Youtube channels called "clarebannerman" and "TG4gaeilge" with some good traditional sean-nós on them.

[cinemascotland]

This is actually Scottish with all due respect, not Irish.

[thebenns]

This is definitely being sung 'as Gaeilge' or in Irish here. There may well be Scottish version (indeed origin of song might be Scottish?-anyone know?). Donegal Irish and Scottish are very similar and many songs are shared across both traditions

[seamuspowers]

@cinemascotland yes but dont forget the socttish and irish have the same genetic, and mythical past. Fact is, the socts and irish are the same people, just one is prot and the other catholic. we should forget organized religion, reform the gaelic church! Anyway both the scots and irish are so related, I dont understand why there is so much hatred between the two, what for? Anyway I view both peoples as the same Hibernians and that is enough!

[cinemascotland]

@seamuspowers well actually the highlanders, like myself, are gaels. The scots, as in folk down in central scotland, are britons. Its only the highlanders and the irish that have that in common, meaning we are all of the gael blood. Scots have a totally and completely different mindset and frankly when I go to visit my good friends in co mayo, I have more in common with the lads in the bar there than I do with anyone in edinburgh or glasgow.

[BlindObedienceBrutal]

Harmonically fascinating and emotionally moving.

I haven't heard this group before. Really great find. Thanks!

[EverythingZen14]

Does anyone know where i might be able to get information about the scales and phrasing used in this sort of traditional celtic music?

[songpidgeon]

try searching on google for "mode scales" or "celtic composition structure" :-)

[EverythingZen14]

Thanks, I'll try that.

[laughingowl28]

what is this song about? it's so beautiful and somber. but it seems like somber with hope. i could be dead wrong.

[DaithiBOC]

It is a sad love song about a man who lies awake all night while his family sleeps dreaming of a woman he cannot have. He says love is a painful illness and that it "Chuir sí arraing is céad go géar trí cheart-lár mo chroí." sends a hundred arrows trhrough his heart. I saw this group last year in Donegal. The leader is Doimnic Mac Giolla Bhríde. Great group.

[EverythingZen14]

No, thats right. These old Irish, and Celtic in general, hymns use the Penatonic scale which has 5 modes. The Penatonic scale is used by the Eastern Churches (Orthodox Christian) exactly because they sound somber and hopeful. 4 of the modes are used, and the 5th is always discarded for some reason that i dont know.

[EverythingZen14]

I am actually inclined to believe the old celtic style of singing and composing comes from their deep rooted faith which was given them by the Apostles of Ireland. From what I understand, when Rome departed from the Eastern Churches, the Celts were very stubborn in not going along with Rome for a long time, which would explain why this musical style survived in the Celtic lands longer than other places. I heard many celts went so far as to move to the East.

[EverythingZen14]

I should say, rather, the Apostles of the Celtic lands, theres more to celts than just the Irish. Sorry for the potentially offensive way I said things, it was unintentional.

[BAC1954]

Hi, Nach deas an glor binn o Dun na nGall. GRMA

[RuairiDoherty]

i have to sing this in my choir in school -_-

[eiremic]

love this!

[beezybub]

yes clannad do have a version but its not half as haunting as this ;)

[IlStudioso]

Doesn't Clannad have a song by this same name? I think it's spelled "tá mé 'mo shuí", roughly the same. I have the song on their album "Rogha: The Best of Clannad"

[RedHead531]

I Lub Ireland Its such a beautiful country the people there are wonderful too !

[EverythingZen14]

I feel like this style of singing could easily be adapted to the Orthodox Church's liturgical prayers. I wonder what the Church's musical tradition in the Celtic lands was like before Roman Patriarch departed from the rest of the Church. I'd be willing to bet the Celtic tradition was gorgeous.

[Quentin0000000000]

well yea but not suited to days culture

there was sacrifices in old Celtic culture

[EverythingZen14]

Not the old Celtic Orthodox Culture. The sacrifices were part of the pagan culture. St.s Columba, Patrick, Cuthbert, etc. are all Orthodox Saints from the British Isles.

[lalealynn]

Dublin girl here i love this:-) Thanks a mil:-)

[gDisk12]

Translation:

I have not slept since the moon lit the heavens last night/Just setting the fire and stroking the ember to light/The household's retired and I am left here to sigh/The roosters are crowing, all the world is asleep barring I.

My soul is enthralled with your mouth, your face and your brow/For your sparkling blue eyes I abandoned contentment and glee/Due to longing for you, I'm unable to travel the way/O Friend of my bosom, the hills come between you and me.

[gDisk12]

Wise men proclaim that lovesickness can leave one unwell/I did not believe it until my poor heart came under its spell/A malaise in my craze, I failed to ignore/With a hundred and more aching pangs it's pierced my heart to the core.

I met a Banshee by the Fairyrath near Ballina/I asked her politely if one could be cured of this "Gra"/She answered me kindly in tones so simple and low/Once it sets in the heart it cannot be freed evermore.

[barraogriobhtha]

Irish spelling is really quite regular, especially compared to English. Think about "through", "rough", and "cough". Now tell me how Gough Street in San Francisco should be pronounced!

[chakalingchakaloo]

how come goidfidh's pronounced like getchy?

[barraogriobhtha]

The letter h in Gaelic represents a mutation of the proceeding consonant. In the past, a dot was placed over the letter instead. Anyway, my name is "Barra" in Irish, with "Dear Barry" existing as "A Bharra". "B" therefore mutates to become "Bh", with "Bh" being pronounced as English's "V". "goidfidh" is the verb "to steal". The letter "F" is always pronounced like the letter "H" in English in verb endings. Search "Irish Pronunciation" in Google to learn more.

[chakalingchakaloo]

that's what I meant with my earlier comment, irish spelling may be constant but the letters represent different sounds than in the actual latin alphabet, don't get me started on english but at times irish has, to me very strange letter combinations to represent sounds which otherwise could be represented by much more logical ones.

[bubbalovesobama]

Irish Gaelic is perhaps the most beautiful language of all time.

Over a thousand years ago Gaelic was spoken all over Europe. It almost became a dead language but now is making an amazing comeback.

I'm studying Gaelic now because I love it.

[illinois1776]

really? me too; for the same reason. it really is a cool language. very earthy and tribal; emotional and poetic. i'm sure youve found so far that it's really hard to translate anything literally

[irishxxkelt]

I wouldn't say Gaelic was spoken all over Europe a thouand years ago. But it would have been spoken in Ireland and Scots Gaelic was related to it.

[helgajohnrobbie]

i think that 2000 years ago gaelic(or celtic languages) were spoken all over europe, however, the romans then drove the celts to britain and ireland and north france. This is why Gàidhlig a' Chòrn, Gymru, Breton Gaelic, Gaeilge and Gàidhlig are all related

[irishxxkelt]

There are some studies that the Irish are related to people in Galicia in Northern Spain.

The word Gael or Gall means foreigner.

[laserlad2008]

actually, the words Gael and Gall are opposites of each other. We Irish call ourselves "The Gaels" which means the Irish. e.g. Gaeltacht - place where Irish is spoken/Irish people live. Gall, true, means foreigner, and Galltacht means place where English is spoken/English people live!

[irishxxkelt]

I never heard of a Galltacht but I am not saying you are incorrect. Now it seems we share some DNA with the Basques!

[laserlad2008]

Yeah Galltacht is barely ever used, bt I remember my Leaving Cert Irish teacher had a fierce dislike of anything English, and she used to complain about having to work in a Galltacht (she lived in a Gaeltacht - kinda confusing eh?)

[nallyterrace]

But to make matters even more confusing the word Gael and Gall actually mean the same thing, Gael being the even more ancient word for the foreigners who came to Irish shores (i.e. the Gaels).

[laserlad2008]

well.... if we were to take the Gaels as being the native population, which it is as of now, although yes they did displace other races such as the firbolgs, de danann etc, then Gael means native and Gall means foreigner... But you are right!

[gobgrah]

very true my educated freind.

[AbigailGreen]

I love having the words written along with the song. That's really nice for us learners.

[SockBoy65]

Oh dear. :( My Gaelic is so rusty, I fear I've forgotten most of it. :(

[laserlad2008]

Rule #1 of Irish - DO NOT REFER TO IT AS GAELIC! In Ireland Gaelic is a sport. Gaeilge is the language, pronounced (In Donegal, where I live) as GAELIG. NEVER NEVER NEVER write Gaelic if you're talking about the language!

[SockBoy65]

See, I told you my Gaeilge is rusty. :) What is the sport "Gaelic" you refer to?

I've not heard of that one.

[laserlad2008]

Gaelic refers to Gaelic football, its an abbreviation of the term! As in... I play Gaelic and hurling!

[AyeYirMa]

gaelic is gaelic football. it's kinda like rugby, it was invented a hundred or so years ago with the GAA (Gaelic Athletic Association)

But the irish sport you really wana know about is huring :D

It's the fastest field game in the world, predates christianity! Started as a way to train warriors for battle and now it's the best thing i've ever played :D

[Irishfianna]

its more than a hunred years old its older than soccer

[Cstrife234]

@laserlad2008 Gaelic is the anglo-latinate form. We call Deutschland as Germany. Zhong Guo as China...etc. Though, I agree with you...it ought to be said as it really is. Typing in CAPITAL LETTERS DOES NOT MAKE YOUR POINT OF VIEW STICK, CONTRARY TO POPULAR BELIEF. :D

haha.

[sirchristian12]

@laserlad2008 Aye totally agree wit ya! I come from Cork! AH it's nice to here

someone from Donegal. Aye am Irish American and not a damn plastic eiter. I don't feel like I belong over here, I want to go back. It's Gaeilge not Gaelic, you are totally right!

I been tryin to tell some of me friends tat haha

[MacTireMhaighEo]

@laserlad2008 Not that you're pedantic or anything a chara. Lig na scith agus tóg go bog é ;-)

[changolini]

@laserlad2008 wats the mane of this group or band that sings gaeilge

[jeffreywish]

@laserlad2008 ur not the boss of anything

[jeffreywish]

@laserlad2008 gaelic football is a sport

[LotusboyPhoenix]

@laserlad2008 I studied Gaeilge/Gaelic for several years with help from native speakers. While I agree with your technical definitions, I would also like to point out that semantic perspectives & local dialects vary greatly in many languages. EX: in Amer. English, "Gaelic" means the lang. of the Scots, Irish & Maix, & the dictionary definition refers to anything of Gaelic origin (including people, food, dances, clothing, events, games/sports, literature, businesses/establishments and so on.)...

[LotusboyPhoenix]

Clearly, b/c the meaning variations among dialects exist, it's granted that when an American says "Gaelic" (as a noun, not an adj.) they're indicating the language. When an Irish person says "Gaelic" as a noun, we know they are talking about the sport *cough*. -Simply, when I speak English, I call the Irish language "Gaelic". When I'm speaking Irish, I call it "Gaeilge" (pronounced as I was taught "Gah- ale- gee- yah" with the syllables strewn together into "gael-gya").

[LotusboyPhoenix]

continued - I understand that in Ireland "Gaelic" means something different than it does in the U.S., but I don't see how that is any different than British English having different definitions than U.S. Eng (such as in the word "mate" which in Br. & Aus. English means something akin to "friend" or "pal" in their own dialects, but in the U.S. would solely indicate the verb "to mate" = to procreate, & the noun "mate" which is a procreation partner, whether referring to humans or animals. more...

[LotusboyPhoenix]

BTW, I've been told my accent is like that of a Dublin grandparent.

[LotusboyPhoenix]

@ laserlad2008 - if I'm not gonna suckerpunch an Aussie for calling me "mate" (in U.S. english this could be construed at a sexual advance), then why do you feel the need to correct in the manner of (as u put it) "NEVERx3" when it would be just as easy to recognize the accent & understand the intention of the word. It's one thing to say, "oh, that word means something else to my people", and another thing to tell someone that the word is never to be used in the context of their own native lang.

[urikadoori]

@laserlad2008 Why not? I speak Hebrew, which is also called "Ivrit" (in Hebrew). Gaelic is the anglicization of the word Gaeilge (or Gaidhlig where the Scottish version is concerned) just as Hebrew is the Anglicization of Ivrit. IMHO, both versions are valid.

[pattheswan]

go h-álainn ar fad. Go raibh míle maith agaibh as é a phostáil! Beidh súil in airde agam leis an dlúth-dhíosca seo freisin.

[TheBigMusic]

Is maith liom! Go raibh maith agat!

[WolfArden44]

My goodness,that is so pretty.Love the language.

[bafr1]

gur a maith agait