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This is a traditional Irish love song from the 16th century. From roisinelsafty.com: Eleanór’s beauty and sweetness would entice the birds from the trees and bring the dead back to life. Unusual for a big sean-nós song, a refrain exists in which the singer declares his lifelong love for Eleanór and the wish to always drive the calves home together!
In the video is a beautiful rendition by Irish singer Róisín Elsafty. Róisín comes from Conamara, in the West of Ireland and grew up in a musical family. Singing came naturally, even before she learnt speak. She has been singing from an early age, inspired by her mother, Treasa Ní Cheannabháin, a native of Cill Chiaráin, Conamara, and encouraged by her father and native Egyptian Dr. Saber Elsafty. Treasa taught her “amhráin ar an sean-nós” or ‘old-Style singing’. This is the age-old art of Irish traditional singing, of an acapella-style, and sung singularly. Sean-nós songs can be as much as 600 years old, and have been handed down through the generations, and from district to district. There are a great many themes, as with many songs, but Róisín sings mostly love songs.
Please excuse the machine translation, I’ll try to get a proper translation asap.
Mo ghrá den chéad fhéachaint thú, ’Eleanóir, a rún, Is ortsa a bhím a’ smaoineamh, tráth a mbím ar mo shuaimh, Mo ghrá den tsaol thú, ó mo chéad searc, is tú is deise ná ban Éireann, ’S a bhruinnillín deas óg, is tú is deise, is milse póg, Ach chúns a mhairfeadsa beo, beidh gean a’m ort, Mar is deas mar a sheolfainn na gamhna leat, ’Eleanóir, a rún.
’S bhí bua aici go meallfadh sí na héanlaith ón gcrann, ’S bhí bua eile aici go dtóigfeadh sí an corp fuar ón mbás, ’S bhí bua eile aici nach ndéarfaidh mé mar ’sí grá mo chroí is ó mo chéad searc, ’S a bhruinnillín deas óg, is tú is deise, is milse póg, Ach chúns a mhairfeadsa beo, beidh gean a’m ort, Mar is deas mar a sheolfainn na gamhna leat, ’Eleanóir, a rún.
’S an dtiocfaidh tú nó ’bhfanfaidh tú, ’Eleanóir, a rún? Nó an aithneofá an té nach gcáinfeadh thú, mo chuid don tsaol is a stór? Ó tiocfaidh mé ach ní fhanfaidh mé, is maith a d’aithneoinn an té nach gcáinfeadh mé, ’S a bhruinnillín deas óg, is tú is deise, is milse póg, Ach chúns a mhairfeadsa beo, beidh gean a’m ort, Mar is deas mar a sheolfainn na gamhna leat, ’Eleanóir, a rún.
I love you first look, 'Eleanóir, resolution, It is your I'm thinking, when I am on my shuaimh You are my love of life, from my first love, you are more beautiful than women of Ireland, 'S its nice young bhruinnillín, you are the nicest, sweetest kiss But whilst mhairfeadsa alive, I know he'll affection you, As is nice as calf sheolfainn you, 'Eleanóir, a secret.
Till she had won to lure the birds from the trees, And there was another victory her that she dtóigfeadh the cold corpse from death, And I had another win I say not as she loved my heart from my first love, 'S its nice young bhruinnillín, you are the nicest, sweetest kiss But whilst mhairfeadsa alive, I know he'll affection you, As is nice as calf sheolfainn you, 'Eleanóir, a secret.
'll Lead you or remain you, 'Eleanóir, sweetheart? Or aithneofá the Whoever gcáinfeadh not you, my life and treasure? Since I will but I will not stay, it is good to recognize the person I gcáinfeadh not, 'S its nice young bhruinnillín, you are the nicest, sweetest kiss But whilst mhairfeadsa alive, I know he'll affection you, As is nice as calf sheolfainn you, 'Eleanóir, confidential.
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