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This is a traditional Irish song arranged by Michael McGlynn. It appears on Anúna’s 1995 album Omnis. See also two other versions by Clannad and Altan.
Dúlamán is Irish for “channelled wrack”, a type of edible seaweed. The text of the song relates to the Irish practice of gathering seaweed for various purposes, dating from lean times when seaweed was valuable as a defence against famine.
The mother telling the daughter that the men are coming and the girl wanting to look like she’s good housewife material, i.e., showing them she can spin.In the second verse, the mother and daughter are talking about how unattractive the fellow is (the dulaman gaelach); however, in the third and fourth verse they’ve decided that he looks like he could afford to spend some money on them, as he can dress himself fairly well. In the fifth verse, the fellow promises the girl a present as an enticement to marriage. However, in the sixth verse the girl’s daddy (who is also a ‘dulaman gaelach’ – the names change in this verse) demands to know the fellow’s (the ‘dulaman maorach’ now) intentions; and, the daddy declares in the last verse that he’ll not let the fellow take his daughter away. However, the upstart says that he’ll just kidnap her!
In Ireland certain men made their livings by collecting and selling different types of seaweed, and were frequently nicknamed for the particular types in which they dealt. Dúlamán Gaelach is a seaweed used in dying cloth, while dúlamán maorach is an edible variety. The song is a conversation between two seaweed collectors. Dúlamán Gaelach has a beautiful daughter whom Dúlamán Maorach wishes to marry. Gaelach is not exactly thrilled with the idea of having Maorach as a son-in-law, but Maorach elopes with his daughter anyway.
A'níon mhín ó Sin anall na fir shúirí A mháithair mhín ó Cuir na roithléan go dtí mé
Curfá 1: Dúlaman, dúlaman Dúlaman na binne buí Dúlaman na binne buí Gaelach Dúlaman, dúlaman Dúlaman na farraige Dúlaman na binne buí Gaelach
Rachaimid go Doire Leis an dúlamán Gaelach Is ceannóimid bróga daora Ar an dúlamán Gaelach
(Curfá 1)
Bróga breaca dubha Ar an dúlamán Gaelach Tá bearéad agus triús Ar an dúlamán Gaelach
Curfá 2: Dúlaman na binne buí Dúlaman na binne buí Gaelach Dúlaman na binne buí Dúlaman na binne buí Gaelach
(Curfá 1 & 2)
Tá ceann buí óir Ar an dúlamán gaelach Tá dhá chluais mhaol Ar an dúlamán gaelach
(Curfá 1 & 2, 2x)
Oh gentle daughter Here come the wooing men Oh gentle mother Put the wheels in motion for me
Chorus 1: Seaweed, seaweed Seaweed of the yellow peaks Irish seaweed of the yellow peaks Seaweed, seaweed Seaweed of the ocean Irish seaweed of the yellow peaks
I would go to Dore With the Irish seaweed "I would buy expensive shoes," Said the Irish seaweed
(Chorus 1)
The Irish seaweed Has beautiful black shoes The Irish seaweed Has a beret and trousers
Chorus 2: Seaweed of the yellow peaks Irish seaweed of the yellow peaks Seaweed of the yellow peaks Irish seaweed of the yellow peaks
(Chorus 1 & 2)
There is a yellow gold head On the Irish seaweed There are two blunt ears On the Irish seaweed
(Chorus 1 & 2, 2x)
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