Lyr Req: Deirin De

Subject: Lyr Add: DEIRÍN DÉ
From: GUEST,Felipa
Date: 19 May 03 - 11:53 AM

Much of the following is repetitive, but I went to the trouble of typing it out, so I'll post it!

From O'Sullivan, "Songs of the Irish":

DEIRÍN DÉ

Deirín dé, deirín dé,
Tá'n gabhairín oíche amuigh san bhfraoch,
Deirín dé, deirín dé,
Tá'n bunán donn a' labhairt san bhféith.

Deirín dé, deirín dé,
Geóidh ba siar le héirí an lae,
Deirín dé, deirín dé,
Is raghaidh mo leanbh 'á bhfeighilt ar féar.

Deirín dé, deirín dé,
Eireóidh gealach is raghaidh grian fé,
Deirín dé, deirín dé,
Tiocfaidh ba aniar le deireadh an lae.

Deirín dé, deirín dé,
Leogfad mo leanbh a' pioca sméar,
Deirín dé, deirín dé,
--Ach codail go sámh go fáinne an lae!


I. The nightjar [lit. little goat of the night!] is abroad in the heather, The brown bittern speaks in the reeds.
II. Cows will go west at dawn of day, And my child will go to mind them in the pasture.
III. The moon will rise and the sun will set, Cows will return at close of day.
IV. I shall let my child go picking blackberries – but sleep soundly till daybreak!

Singable translation by Donal O'Sullivan:

Derreen day, derreen day,
The nightjar calls upon the heath.
Derreen day, derreen day,
The bittern booms the reeds beneath.

…Cows will go west at dawn of day, …
My darling will watch them lest they stray.

…The new moon greets the setting sun's ray, …
Homeward the cows will wend their way.

…I'll let my darling go gathering may, …
If he sleeps soundly till dawn of day.


The following verses and tune are in Mícheál Ó hEidhin, Cas Amhrán (first published 1975, still available from Cló Iar-Chonnachta
This book has songs and their airs only, no background info. or translations.

DEIRÍN DÉ, DEIRÍN DÉ

Déirín Dé, Déirín Dé,
Tá'n gabhar donn ag labhairt sa fhraoch,
Déirín Dé, Déirín Dé,
Tá na lachain a' screadach sa fhéith.

Déirín Dé, Déirín Dé,
Gabhfaidh ba siar le héirí an lae
Déirín Dé, Déirín Dé,
Is rachaidh mo leanbh á bhfeighilt ar féar

Éireoidh gealach is rachaidh grian fé ...
'S tusa mo leanbh 's mo chuid den saol...

Ligfead mo leanbh a' piocadh sméar ...
Codladh go sámh go sámh go fáinn' an lae.

(1.The brown goat is 'speaking' in the heather, the ducks are screeching in the reeds 2. The cattle will go west at daybreak, and my child will look after them on the grass 3. The moon will rise and the sun will set, you are my child and my share of the world 4. I will let my child pick blackberries, Sleep soundly until the dawn [literally, ring of the day])

Most of the verses are common to both versions, and I don't see why you can't combine them as you wish, or add lines as appropriate. For instance in May, the cuckoo calls, and the child could truly gather may (hawthorn blossoms), as in O'Sullivan's poetic translation. The grammar should be consistent in any compilation version, however: sa fhraoch & sa(n) fhéith are Ulster equivalents for san bhfraoch & san bhféith.

Subject: Tune Add: DEIRÍN DÉ
From: GUEST,Felipa
Date: 19 May 03 - 07:46 AM

here's the abc copied from Liam Hart's page:

X:1
T:DEIRÍN DÉ
C:TraditionaL
M:4/4
K:Gm
G2G2G2A2|F2FDF3F|G2A2B2D2|B2ABG4|
G2G2G2A2|F2FDF3F|G2A2B2D2|B2ABG4|
G2G2G2A2|F2FDF3F|G2A2B2D2|B2ABG4|
G2G2G2A2|F2FDF3F|G2A2B2D2|B2ABG4||

Some recordings:
Mary O'Hara sang 'Deirín Dé' on her album 'Monday Tuesday' (called after another song, which is also posted at Mudcat). Jill Rogoff includes Deirín Dé in her album of Celtic Lullaby.
It seems to be a popular song among harpists
More info. from the web: Hilary O'Neill 'Peace of Ireland' (mp 3 ) ; see also http://www.folktrax.com/one001.htm
'Navan' has the words and O'Sullivan translation at http://www.navan.org/lyrics/deirin_de.html
The song was also included in the 'Morbegs' Irish language programme for children.

Subject: RE: Deirin De -- need lyrics!!!
From: Felipa
Date: 18 May 03 - 09:10 AM

yes, the O'Sullivan version, with abc is at Liam Hart's Irish Song Archive

Subject: RE: Deirin De -- need lyrics!!!
From: Felipa
Date: 18 May 03 - 08:59 AM

you can also find lyrics and translation and air in Donal O'Sullivan, Songs of the Irish, Cork: Mercier, 1981 (first published 1960 and overdue for re-publication!). His first verse tells of birds:
Tá'n gabhairín oíche amuh [amuigh] san bhfraoch...Tá'n bunán donn a' labhairt san bhféith.
(the night jar is out in the heather, The bittern speaks in the reeds)

O'Sullivan's sources: tune - Mac Coluim's Cosa Buidhe Árda, II (1924), 22, noted from Seán Ó Cuill, Ballyvourney, Co Cork
Text - Mac Coluim's Cosa Buidhe Árda, II from Amhlaoibh Ó Loingsigh, also of Ballyvourney, collated with version published by P.H. Pearse in the Irish Review 1911. Pearse's version was also a collation, a woman relative from County Meath and from Amhlaoibh Ó Loingsigh.

I haven't looked yet to compare this with what is on Liam Hart's website.

Subject: RE: Deirin De -- need lyrics!!!
From: cleod
Date: 16 Jun 97 - 05:25 AM

To Virginia Blankenhorne:

Yer a lifesaver my darlin'! I knew I could count on you!!!

Slainte! cleod

To everyone and no one in particular: "I love this girl, don't you?"

Subject: Lyr Add: DEIRIN DE
From: Virginia Blankenhorn
Date: 15 Jun 97 - 10:12 PM

Okay, here goes. This is the text as it appears in Rois Ni Ogain's collection "Duanaire Gaedhilge", Vol I, published in the 1920s. The spelling of the Irish is a trifle old-timey.

Deirin de, deirin de!
Ta an gabhar donn ag labhairt 'san bhfraoch!
Deirin de, deirin de!
Taid na lachain ag screadaidh 'san bhfeith.

[The words "deirin de" repeat as above in each verse.]

Gheobhaidh ba siar le heirghe an lae,
As raghaidh mo leanbh d'a bhfeighilt ar fear.

Eireochaidh gealach as raghaidh grian fe
Is tusa mo leanbh as mo chuid de'n tsaoghal

Ta nead smolaighe im choifrin fein
Ta, agus or dom stoirin fein.

Leigfead mo leanbh ag piocadh smear
Ach chodladh go samh go fainne an lae.

TRANSLATION (My own, therefore rough!)

Deirin de, deirin de [According to O Donaill's Irish Dictionary, these are nonsense words used in a child's game played by twirling a glowing stick.]

The brown goat is bleating in the heather
The ducks are calling in the swamp.

Cattle will go westwards at daybreak
And my child will go to mind them as they graze.

The moon will rise and the sun will set
And you are my child and my life's portion.

There is a thrush's nest in my little coffer
Along with gold for my own darling.

I will let my child pick blackberries
and sleep soundly until the break of day.

Thanks for reminding me of this charming text!

Subject: RE: Deirin De -- need lyrics!!!
From: Alison
Date: 15 Jun 97 - 08:52 PM

Hi

HOW DARE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Take 15 years off your suggestion and you'd be a lot closer to the truth.

I apologise for the spelling but maybe as I get that bit older(?!) I'll improve.........I wouldn't put any money on that though....... (I blame the computer myself, I reckon it's dislecksick!) Thanks Joe for giving the correct site.

By the way who's the scaredy-cat who found 2 mistakes but didn't give his/her name?

Slainte

Alison

Subject: RE: Deirin De -- need lyrics!!!
From:
Date: 15 Jun 97 - 01:31 PM

One type is something, but two!

con vs com and geal vs gael...WOW!

Subject: RE: Deirin De -- need lyrics!!!
From: cleod
Date: 15 Jun 97 - 12:02 PM

>giggle!< thanks you guys!

Subject: RE: Deirin De -- need lyrics!!!
From: Alan of Oz
Date: 15 Jun 97 - 12:21 AM

No she isn't, she's a cheeky youngster, but I'll see that she gets some hell for this.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Deirin De -- need lyrics!!!
From: Joe Offer
Date: 15 Jun 97 - 12:11 AM

Once I hit the age of 45, I started transposing letters, so I learned to cut-and-paste. Are you over 45, Alison?

Here's the correct URL:

http://www.webcom.com/~liam/gaelsong/list.html

-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Deirin De -- need lyrics!!!
From: Alison
Date: 14 Jun 97 - 11:14 PM

Hi Found you a great gealic lyrics site

http://www.webcom.con/~liam/gealsong/list.html

It has Deirin De.

If you find any translations please let me know.

Slainte

Alison

Subject: Deirin De -- need lyrics!!!
From: cleod
Date: 14 Jun 97 - 10:16 PM

I was wondering if anyone actually knows the lyrics to this song...I heard it a long time ago (on a friend's tape) and have been looking for it since. For what it's worth, it was sung by the Shannon Castle Singers...

Slainte! cleod ^-^