Lyr Req: Snow Gull (from Ann Mayo Muir)

Subject: Lyr Req: Snow Gull
From: GUEST,The Irish Girl
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 10:43 AM

I'm looking for the lyrics to a song called Snow Gull. I've heard Ann Muir sing it, but don't know anything about it besides that. Does anyone know the words?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snow Gull
From:
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 05:50 PM

Somebody around here probably can help you. Apparently, the Muir recording is also from Folk-Legacy, but ... According to Folk Music Index - Slo to Soe
Snow Gull

1. Bok, Gordon. Bay of Fundy, Folk Legacy FSI-054, LP (1975), cut#A.03

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snow Gull
From:
Date: 24 Apr 04 - 05:56 PM

If you register, you can send a private message to Sandy Paton so he can see the request specifically. He does all the work dealing with Folk-Legacy, as far as I can tell.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snow Gull
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 06:39 PM

It's also on "The Music of Ann Mayo Muir," Folk Legacy CD 1006, 2000.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snow Gull
From: GUEST,The Irish Girl
Date: 25 Apr 04 - 09:13 PM

I actually have a recording, but it's a little hard to tell exactly what she's singing. Does anyone know the lyrics?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snow Gull (from Ann Mayo Muir)
From: GUEST,999
Date: 16 Sep 12 - 12:42 PM

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J7WA5GeWxJA

Ann Mayo Muir sings it on YouTube

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Snow Gull (from Ann Mayo Muir)
From: maeve
Date: 16 Sep 12 - 03:08 PM

Here's a start. Anne says she learned it from Gordon Bok, and that he learned it from an aunt. Gordon Bok noted on his "Bay of Fundy" LP: "This one changes with the singing. I can't remember where I heard it. It was printed in "Songs of the Hebrides", Volume I, by Margaret Kennedy-Fraser (London, 1909). She described it as 'an old Skye air from Francis Tolmie, with words from Kenneth MacLeod.' In the published version, the accompanying sounds are slightly different, so we decided not to try to write them out..."

In searching for more information, I see that "Francis" is actually "Frances" http://www.apjpublications.co.uk/skye/poetry/collect21.htm . Here also is information on MACLEOD, Kenneth (1871 � 1955).

FAOILEAG TIRE-FO-THUINN (THE SEAGULL OF THE LAND UNDER THE WAVE lists songs included on folktrax 264 - SONGS OF THE HEBRIDES - Collected and arranged by Marjory Kennedy-Fraser and Kenneth Macleod sung by Marion Tudge accompanied by Ines Rempel (piano), identifying it as:

16. FAOILEAG TIRE-FO-THUINN (THE SEAGULL OF THE LAND UNDER THE WAVES) - 3'08" - Old air from Skye from Frances Tolmie with words from KM
****
Here is a link http://books.google.com/books?id=HzwJAQAAMAAJ&pg=PA84&lpg=PA84&dq=FAOILEAG+TIRE-FO-THUINN+%28THE+SEAGULL+OF+THE+LAND+UNDER+THE+W to Google's downloadable SONGS OF THE HEBRIDES Vol I. The "Snow Gull" song is pages 84-87, with Scots Gaelic lyrics, translation, and the sheet music with revised lyrics similar to those as sung by Bok and Muir(digitized images).**

Both sound recording and lyrics with vocables as noted by Anne M. Muir are found here: http://www.studiotrax.net/forums/showthread.php?t=46692, included below:

Snow Gull

Snow white sea gull high ou ai dee
tell to me, where oh where thou rest them
i-iria o-ho
where our Fair young lads are resting

or an arie oh _ou-a-dee
oh air-e-o oh hay or-an arie
I arie-oh ho
Grief within my heart is nesting
or an arie oh

Heart to Heart they lie, Sea foam the Sigh
From their cold lips coming
Sea rack their shrouds
And their harps the cold sea moaning

or an arie oh ou-a-dee
oh air-e-o oh-hay-or-an-arie
i irai oh ho
Grief within my heart is nesting
or an-arie-oh

Snow white sea gull high ou-a-dee,
tell to me where ah where thou rest them
i-iria o-ho
where our fair young lads are resting

or an arie-oh ou-a-dee
oh air-e-o oh-hay-or-an-arie
sea rack their shroud
and their harps the cold sea moaning

or an-arie-oh _ou-a-dee
oh air-e-o oh-hay-or-an-arie
I irai-oh ho
Grief within my heart is nesting
or an arie oh

**I'd be glad to transcribe all three sets of lyrics (Gaelic, accompanying English "translation" or paraphrase, and the English version that's close to the Bok/Muir version... but it won't happen today. If someone more adept than I has it already transcribed, that would be great!