The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #28299   Message #350771
Posted By: Alice
03-Dec-00 - 02:51 PM
Thread Name: Gartan Mother's Lullaby - another verse
Subject: Lyr Add: THE GARTAN MOTHER'S LULLABY
I received this third verse too late to include in the corrections/additional info in the DT on THE GARTAN MOTHER'S LULLABY, but here it is. Sent to me by John McLaughlin, from the first published version in 1904 in "The Songs of Uladh [Ulster]" by Herbert Hughes and Joseph Campbell.

THE GARTAN MOTHER'S LULLABY Tune collected in Donegal by Herbert Hughes, lyrics by Joseph Campbell

Sleep O babe, for the red bee hums the silent twilight's fall
Aoibheall from the grey rock comes, to wrap the world in thrall
A leanbhan [baby] O, my child, my joy, my love my heart's desire
The crickets sing you lullaby, beside the dying fire.

Dusk is drawn and the Green Man's thorn is wreathed in rings of fog
Siabhra sails his boat till morn, upon the Starry Bog
A leanbhan O, the paly moon hath brimmed her cusp in dew
And weeps to hear the sad sleep-tune, I sing O love to you.

Faintly sweet doth the chapel bell, ring o'er the valley dim
Tearmann's peasant voices swell, in fragrant evening hymn
A leanbhan O, the low bell rings, my little lamb to rest
And angel-dreams till morning sings, its music in your breast.

Alice Flynn