Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog (Leo O'Kelly)

Subject: Lyr Add: TIR NA NOG (Leo O'Kelly)
From: Zhenya
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 04:36 PM

TIR NA NOG

(Leo O'Kelly)

Across the dewy morning hills of Eireann
Rode Niamh Chinn Oir on a snow-white steed
To Oisin fairy poet of the Fianna
For she fain would this mortal wed

Come with me to the fairy land of Tir Na Nog
For I have long loved you said she
And Oisin taken with her beauty
He bade farewell to his company

They rode through stormy regions far across the sea
To a land where time had ne'er its harvest reaped
And for an age there Oisin lived contented
Till longing for his comrades made him weep

I cannot help but read these sad dreams in your eyes
So you may return to your country
And take my blessing with this one command
Do not dismount from you fairy steed

But when at last he reached that misty island
So strange a sight did meet his puzzled frown
For Oisin rode as a giant among the people
And nowhere were the Fianna to be found

He learned from a gathering of workers
Together straining with a heavy load
That centuries before his friends had perished
Which painful tidings filled him with despair

As payment for the news that we have told you
Pray help us with this heavy stone to move
For if your strength should match your mighty stature
Scarce more than a touch enough should prove

But the saddle tore as Oisin leaned to help them
And sorely he upon the ground was thrown
He quickly turned into an aged man
And ne'er again set eyes on Tir Na Nog

For a recording, see Pat Kilbride's album, "Rock and more Roses."

HM

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog
From: Stewart
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 04:49 PM

Thanks Zhenya. Here's a soundclip of Pat Kilbride's recording HERE

Cheers, S. in Seattle

Subject: Lyr Add: TÍR NA nÓG (Colm Mac Séalaigh)
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 24 Jul 02 - 06:26 PM

another contemporary song, in Irish Gaelic, about the same subject and bearing the same title
Recorded by Na Fíréin on the Gael-Linn label

TÍR NA nÓG
Colm Mac Séalaigh

Fadó fadó Éirinn, roimh theacht don nua-aois,
Bhí conaí ann ar an bhFiann,
Fionn 's a mhac Oisín
Is iomaí eachtra a bhain leo siúd,
Is iomaí casadh croí,
Ach ní dhéanfar dearmad ar an lá
A bhuail Oisín le Niamh.

Niamh Chinn Ór, as Tír na nÓg,
B'í an bhean ab áille gné a chas ar Oisín Óg
Mheall í é le breathacht,
Mheall sí é le póg,
Mheall sí é gan aon agó
Go Tír na nÓg

Bhí Oisín, lá brea gréine,
Ag siúl le ciumhais na habhann
' Measc blathanna buí, is luachra,
Taibhsíodh dó an tsamhail,
Spéirbhean ghléigeal álainn
A d'fhag croí an laoich sin fann,
Thug cuireadh dó go ír na nÓg
Go síoraí cónaí ann.

Tír álainn, tír na hóige,
Tír dhiamhair aislingí
Trí chéad bliain chaith Oisín ann
I ngrá mór le Niamh
Ach fonn nár fhág é choíche,
Is nach bhféadfadh sé a chloí,
Dul thar n-ais go hÉirinn,
Go bhfeichfeadh sé í arís.

"Ná fág an áit seo," arsa Niamh
"Ná himigh uaim, a chroí"
"Ma fhágann tusa Tír na nÓg,
Nó fhillfidh tú arís."
Ach d'fhill Oisín ar Éirinn,
Mar bhí fiabhras ina chroí
Is fuair sé bás ós comhair an Naoimh
B'shin deireadh lena thriall.

Tír na nÓg, ó Tír na nÓg,
Tír uasal na draíochta a bhí ann fadó,
Féach thiar ansin í
Thiar ar fhíor na spéire
San áit go mba mhaith liom bheith,
Sin Tír na nÓg,

synopsis
Long ago in Ireland lived Fionn and his son Oisín. They had many adventures, but the day Oisín met Niamh will never be forgotten.

Niamh was the most beautiful woman young Oisín had ever met and she easily enticed him to go to Tír na Óg, the Land of Youth.

On a sunny day when Oisín was walking among the flowers and rushes by the river, this angelic creature invited him to live forever in Tír na Óg. Even his heroic heart could not resist.

Oisín spent 300 years in this beautiful land of dreams but he never lost the desire to return to Ireland

Niamh begged him not to leave her and she warned him that if he left he would never return. But Oisín went back to Ireland and died; that was his last journey.

The ancient magical land of Tír na Óg is where I'd like to be.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir na nOg
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 07:21 AM

I'm not going to attempt to transcribe the tune of the second song above, but Colm Mac Séaraigh only wrote the lyrics. The tune comes from the Welsh 'Nia Ben Aur' by Ifan/Harpwood on Sain recordings

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog
From: GUEST,Siog
Date: 25 Jul 02 - 11:20 AM

If you'd like to read a bit more about Oisín in Tír na nÓg, one source is The Supernatural Lapse of Time in Fairyland

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog
From: CapriUni
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 11:27 AM

And then, there is the second half of the story (in some versions): After Oisín got back to Ireland and before he died, he met with Saint Patrick, and the two old men developed a deep respect for each other, even though Oisín refused to convert to Christianity.

In an earlier version of the story, dating from the 12th century, the meeting was between Patrick and Oisín's companion Cailte, and ends with Cailte embracing the new faith...

W. B. Yeats wrote a long poem about the Oisín version of the tale, btw...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog
From: IanC
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 11:34 AM

I think we need to carefully proof these lyrics. There's one or two corrections in the other thread, but I don't think Oisín was a fairy poet either in O'Kelly's original or in the story. I'll look and see if I've got any definitive words (from the original Tir na Nog album sleeve) at the weekend.

:-)
Ian

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog
From: Zhenya
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 02:13 PM

Thanks all, for the other versions, links, and background information.

I'm sorry for any errors in the lyrics. I didn't have a printed version; I just took it down listening to Pat Kilbride's album. I'll double check this weekend. (I did check before I posted, but by then I had seen it so many times in such a short time that the errors just didn't jump out at me. )There's definitely a typo in the last line of the 4th verse. (Should be "your fairy steed" not "you fairy steed.") And Ian, your comment is well taken. Since Oisin is mortal, I guess he wouldn't be a fairy poet. I'll give that another listen. Or perhaps you can find the original lyrics. Zhenya

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog
From: Zhenya
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 01:46 PM

Re the third line of the first verse: I listened to this recording again. I can't really make out another word other than fairy. Maybe "fair-haired" or "fair, he"? In terms of singing it, you can actually just leave this word out and the line still scans okay. (Hold the second syllage of "Oisin" out longer, as is done in the third line of the second verse.) Sorry I can't add much here; perhaps someone else will eventually come up with it. Zhenya

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog
From: CapriUni
Date: 29 Jul 02 - 01:53 PM

The word in question might be "fairy" -- 'Cause wasn't Oisín's mother a fairy woman, who fell in love with Finn? (or she was a mortal woman who was changed to a doe by fairies... Something like that, I forget, exactly).

And in any case, as poet to the fairies, Oisín could be called a "fairy poet"...

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog
From: GUEST,Louis
Date: 23 Mar 05 - 06:33 AM

Don't forget too that in this version, when Oisin returns, he rides as a giant amongst the people, his fianna have passed away, so either Tir na nOg has enhanced his stature or men are now shorter and less strong than they used to be and thus less fairy-like than Oisin or the Fianna (a 'decline from a golden age' motif). But I guess Mr O'Kelly knew what he meant when he wrote it.

The medieval version has 140 verses, and include his adventures in Tir na nOg.

I've loved the Pat Kilbride version ever since I got hold of the vinyl 'Rock and Roses' in the eighties.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Oct 08 - 12:24 PM

Oes ynrhywyn gyda'r geiriau'n Gymraeg?

TRANSLATION

Does anyone have these lyrics in Welsh?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog
From: GUEST
Date: 27 Feb 10 - 08:26 AM

Yd wyf yn thinking y mae'r geiriau gyda fi - if that makes sense!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog
From: GUEST,delighted
Date: 05 Mar 10 - 12:38 PM

i go to an irish school and i'm delighted that this song is on the internet. i actually sang it today for rosf.m. it is for seachtain na gaeilge!!!!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog (Leo O'Kelly)
From: GUEST,sean
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 02:34 PM

put it with chords please

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog (Leo O'Kelly)
From: RunrigFan
Date: 15 Mar 11 - 06:25 PM

From Anna Murray from Out Of The Blue

I'm not sure if the translation is right since it's from celtic lyricscorner, one line from translation in last verse


Gàir nan tonn gur trom an nuallan
Seirm am chluais do ghlòir
Dàn nam beann gach allt is fuaran
Siaradh nuas le'd cheol
'S tù gach làtha gun tàmh mo bhuaireadh
D'iargain bhuan gam leòn
'S tù gach oidhche chaoich mo bhruadar
Gu Thìr Nan Òg


Heavy is the crying and murmuring of the waves
Ringing your praises in my ear
The poetry of the mountains is in every spring and burn
Bearing your music down
Every day is, without respite, provoking me
And your eternal loss wounds me
You are my nightly dream forever
The Land of Youth

Bàs neo bròn cha bheo nad loinn fhir
Uir air foill 's air gò
Sair sior òl do dheo 's do chaoimhneis
Aoibhneas snàmh 's na neoil
Reultan airde latha sa dh'oidhche
Boillsgeadh seamh troimh cheò
Teudan tlàtha fàs ad choilltean
Gu Thìr Nan Òg

Neither death nor sorrow can abide within you
Where all treachery and deceit are buried, overcome
Where the excellent ones partake of your sweet breath and benevolence
Joy swims in your firmament
And high stars, day and night
Shine peacefully through a mist
While the gentle sound of strings rise from your woods
The Land of Youth

Cùl nan tonn tha long mo bhruadair
Fuaradh mar bu nòs
Rùn an Dàin a ghnàth ga gluasad
Ciuin le luaths an eoin
Iubraich Bhàin na fàg mi'm thruaghan
Taobh nan cuantan mòr
Doimhne craidh is gràdh gam dhuanadh
Gu Tìr Nan Òg

Behind the waves is the galley of my dreams
___
Fate's design moving her smoothly
With the speed of a bird
Lubhraich Bhain, do not abandon me, like a wretch
This side of the great oceans
Where the depth of my torment, and my love, mold and prepare me
For the Land of Youth

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog (Leo O'Kelly)
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Oct 23 - 05:56 PM

I think you all should listen to Leo Kelly's version with Sonny Condell in the band Tir ne nOg....

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog (Leo O'Kelly)
From: GUEST,Lang Johnnie More
Date: 01 Nov 23 - 05:02 AM

I agree :

https://youtu.be/V0Ri7MqGjRU?feature=shared

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog (Leo O'Kelly)
From: GUEST
Date: 31 Oct 23 - 05:56 PM

I think you all should listen to Leo Kelly's version with Sonny Condell in the band Tir ne nOg....

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Tir Na Nog (Leo O'Kelly)
From: GUEST,Lang Johnnie More
Date: 01 Nov 23 - 05:02 AM

I agree :

https://youtu.be/V0Ri7MqGjRU?feature=shared