The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #46062   Message #925257
Posted By: Felipa
03-Apr-03 - 10:33 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Req: O Ba, Ba Mo Leanabh (Mary Jane Lemond)
Subject: Lyr Add: O Ba, Ba Mo Leanabh
Versions of Griogal Cridhe also have the lullaby refrain "bà, bà, mo leanabh", but the following is a different lullaby.

1) as recorded by Margo Carruthers -
for URL and background notes see Bardford's postings of 3 April 2002
I've brushed up the spelling a tiny bit - 'ruit' should read 'riut' (though it does sound something like 'ruit')

BÀ, BÀ, MO LEANABH BEAG

Bà, bà, mo leanabh beag, bà, bà, mo leanabh beag;
Bà, bà, mo leanabh beag. Tha eagal orm nach fhàs thu.

Dè, luaidh, a nì mi riut; dè, ghaoil, a nì mì dhut;
Dè, luaidh, a nì mi ruit? Is eagal orm nach fhàs thu.

Ciod, a ghaoil, a nì mi riut, 's gun bhainn' agam a bheir mi dhut?
Tha eagal orm gun gabh thu 'n gliug, le flichead a' bhuntàta

translation;

Hush, hush my little baby, Hush, hush my little baby, hush, hush my little baby, I'm afraid you won't grow up.

What my love can I do with you, what my love can I do for you, what can I do with you, I'm afraid you won't grow up.

What my love will I do with you, without milk to give you? I fear that you will get the croup, from the softness/dampness of the potatoes.

2) Iseabail NicDhòmhnaill & Fearchar MacIllFhinnein, Do Ghinealach Eile. (South Uist): Muran, 1995
- a book of 40 songs from the oral tradition of South Uist, published by the local arts association & Fèis organisers

BÀ, BÀ, MO LEANABH BEAG

Bà, bà, mo leanabh beag
Bà, bà, mo leanabh beag
Bà, bà, mo leanabh beag
'S nach urrainn mi gad thàladh?
Gu dè, ghaoil a ni mi riut?
Gu dè, ghaoil a ni mi riut?
Gu dè, ghaoil a ni mi riut?
'S nach urrainn mi gad thàladh?
Bà, bà, mo leanabh beag
Bà, bà, mo leanabh beag
Bà, bà, mo leanabh beag
'S nach urrainn mi gad thàladh?

Translation:
Hush, hush my little baby,... I'm not able to sooth you.
What, darling, will I do with you? ... I'm not able to sooth you.

- - Tune to follow; it's not the one Mary Jane Lamond sings

I wonder can Aodh add to these lines and information?

--
The wording 'Gu dè' (instead of simply 'Dè?') interests me because some speakers of Ulster Irish would say 'goidé' instead of 'cad é'(the latter is also spelled & pronounced 'caidé').