Lyr Req: Bean Phaiden

Subject: Lyr Req: Bean Phaiden
From: Gudrun Miller
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 05:33 PM

Hello all-- Am looking for the words to the above song--anybody know. Kavin Conneeff of the Chieftains sings it on the Irish In America: Long Journey Home (1998.)
Any help Much appreciated--

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bean Phaiden
From: Peace
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 05:44 PM

"Bean Phaidin"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bean Phaiden
From: Gulliver
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 05:46 PM

Here ya go:

(Cúrfa means refrain)

Cúrfa:
'Sé an trua ghéar nach mise, nach mise
'Sé an trua ghéar nach mise bean Pháidín
'Sé an trua ghéar nach mise, nach mise
'S an bhean atá aige bheith caillte

'S chuaigh mise siar chun an Chlocháin
Is thart timpeall le Béal Átha na Báighe
'Gus bhreathnaigh mé isteach trí na fuinneoga
A' féachaint an bhfeicfinn bean Pháidín

Curfá

Is chuaigh mise siar Tóin an Róisín
Is tháinig mé aniar Barr an tSáilín
Isteach i dtigh Mhaitéis Uí Chathasaigh
A' féachaint an bhfeicfinn bean Pháidín

Curfá

'Gus rachainn go Gaillimh, go Gaillimh
'Gus rachainn go Gaillimh le Páidín
Ó rachainn go Gaillimh, go Gaillimh
Is thiocfainn abhaile sa mbád leis

Curfá

'S go mbristear do chosa do chosa
Go mbristear do chosa, a bhean Pháidín
'S go mbristear do chosa do chosa
Go mbristear do chosa is do chnámha

Curfá

Regards, Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bean Phaiden
From: Gulliver
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 05:52 PM

I've just thought, there may be other versions of it, but the one posted is the one I learned at school.

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bean Phaiden
From: Gudrun Miller
Date: 10 Sep 07 - 10:23 PM

You learned it at school-- I thought they didn't teach the Irish language until recently in schools.
Now, I don't speak the language, do give the translation if you've the time.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bean Phaiden
From: GUEST,Martin Ryan
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 05:58 PM

Irish has been compulsory in Irish schools for many years - for better or worse!

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bean Phaiden
From: Declan
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 07:46 PM

A rough and ready translation:

Cúrfa:
'Sé an trua ghéar nach mise, nach mise
'Sé an trua ghéar nach mise bean Pháidín
'Sé an trua ghéar nach mise, nach mise
'S an bhean atá aige bheith caillte

It's a great pity that I am not, that I am not
It's a great pity that I am not Paidín's wife
It's a great pity that I am not, that I am not
And that the wife he has doesn't get lost.

'S chuaigh mise siar chun an Chlocháin
Is thart timpeall le Béal Átha na Báighe
'Gus bhreathnaigh mé isteach trí na fuinneoga
A' féachaint an bhfeicfinn bean Pháidín

And I went west to Clifden
And back around by Béal Átha na Báithe (placename)
And I looked in through the windows
To see if I could see Páidín's wife.

Curfá

Is chuaigh mise siar Tóin an Róisín
Is tháinig mé aniar Barr an tSáilín
Isteach i dtigh Mhaitéis Uí Chathasaigh
A' féachaint an bhfeicfinn bean Pháidín

And I went west by Tóin an Roisín
And I came back east by Barr an tSáilín
Into Mathias Cassidy's house
To see if I could see Páidín's wife.

Curfá

'Gus rachainn go Gaillimh, go Gaillimh
'Gus rachainn go Gaillimh le Páidín
Ó rachainn go Gaillimh, go Gaillimh
Is thiocfainn abhaile sa mbád leis

And I'd go to Galway, to Galway
And I'd go to Galway with Páidín,
O I'd go to Galway, to Galway,
And I'd come back in the boat with him.

Curfá

'S go mbristear do chosa do chosa
Go mbristear do chosa, a bhean Pháidín
'S go mbristear do chosa do chosa
Go mbristear do chosa is do chnámha

May you break your legs, your legs
May you break your legs, bean Páidín,
May you break your legs and your bones


Curfá

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bean Phaidin (and Irish schools)
From: Gudrun Miller
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 08:14 PM

Oh--That's really terrible! Thought it was a good song till I saw that. But I still think it is--thanks Declan.
Re Irish schools: I had a singing teacher a few years ago who informed the Irish use Solfege (or variant thereof) a fair bit. What I'm really asking is: What are the Irish methods of music education?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bean Phaiden
From: Gulliver
Date: 11 Sep 07 - 09:25 PM

Thanks Declan for the translation. Lyrics like this are to be found in all kinds of traditional songs, no matter what the culture, and are not to be taken seriously (IMHO). As to Gudrun's question "What are the Irish methods of music education?", someone else will have to answer that (assuming they understand the question).

Don

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bean Phaiden
From: MartinRyan
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 07:15 PM

I won't attempt to answer the general question - but tonic solfa has certainly a long history of use in Irish Schools. As soon as I hear it mentioned I get instant recall of large sheets of paper with two parts written out in that fashion for our school choir - one line was red,the other blue! I think I spent my time trying to make sense of the red....

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bean Phaiden
From: Declan
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 08:01 PM

Yes I remember tonic solfa well. We had a number of teachers who were very fond of it.

Of course the lead singers favourite note is always ME.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Bean Phaiden
From:
Date: 12 Sep 07 - 08:13 PM

The words are here at Mudcat Bean Phaidin along with a translation.