Lyr Add: Give Me Your Hand/Tabhair Dom Do Lam

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Give Me Your Hand/Tabhair Dom Do Lam
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 28 Feb 04 - 10:06 PM

The Irish Gaelic title seems to be a recent invention (20th century, IIRC); the tune was originally named, and published (in Scotland), as Da Mihi Manum (Latin); and such stories as we have concerning its composition all agree, so far as I can tell, that it was made in Scotland; though it is also generally considered that the Blind Rory is question was the Irish harper rather than the Scottish one. Bruce Olson, I think, had useful things to say on the subject in some of the numerous other discussions here.

As usual, an enthusiastic newcomer has managed to find a very old thread which lacks the better information provided in more recent ones. I gather that O'Kane has occasionally been connected anecdotally with the Londonderry Air, but I'm not aware of any evidence that might support that claim, and would be glad to hear of any such.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Give Me Your Hand/Tabhair Dom Do Lam
From: Big Tim
Date: 28 Feb 04 - 11:04 AM

The book is "Tree of Strings: a history of the harp in Scotland" by Keith Sanger and Alison Kinnaird, 1992. According to this, Rory Dall Morison (one "r") was born in 1656 and died in 1713 or 1714. He came from the Isle of Lewis. The two Rory's are often confused, simply as "Rory Dall", and indeed often thought of as being the same person. O'Kane visited Scotland a lot too, adding to the confusion. However, as we can see, Morison was in fact born after O'Kane had died.

The Dictionary of Ulster Biography credits O'Kane with "Tabhair" and possibly, "The Londonderry Air".

If the Scots must try to steal an Irish tune, then with this one, they have certainly gone for one of the absolutest finest. As the Clancys used to say when introducing "Will Ye Go Lassie Go" - "if you must steal a song, steal the best"!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Give Me Your Hand/Tabhair Dom Do Lam
From: Big Tim
Date: 27 Feb 04 - 02:35 PM

Greg, there a more detailed discussion on this subject a while back. Malcolm Douglas contributed, if memory serves. Me too! I seem to recall that there was also a Scottish harper called Rory Dall Morrison, about 40 after O'Kane, so the two are sometimes confused. It is pretty certain that it's an Irish air and that O'Kane wrote it, or at least was the first to play it.

If Malcom, or some one else, doesn't come back I'll dig out the book on the Scottish harp that I quoted from last time from my local public library tomorrow.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Give Me Your Hand/Tabhair Dom Do Lam
From: greg stephens
Date: 27 Feb 04 - 09:58 AM

I thought this tune was meant to be by a Scottish harper, but maybe I read the wrong book.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Give Me Your Hand/Tabhair Dom Do Lam
From: Big Tim
Date: 27 Feb 04 - 03:24 AM

Authorship can't be absolutely certain but much opinion now sems to be swinging behind Rory Dall O'Cathain (blind Rory O'Kane - c.1590-c.1650).

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Give Me Your Hand/Tabhair Dom Do Lam
From: paddymac
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 08:51 PM

Well, Com, I can't say for sure, but there's a guy, now probably in his sixties, who is a bit of a fixture in the Dublin trad scene during the winter months. He's maybe 5'8", or so, usually with a goodly beard, and plays an old wooden flute. I think he's a bit of a hermit, lives in the woods in Norway somewhere, and comes to Dublin in the wintertime - sort of a warm vacation for him. Doesn't say much - might be a language barrier, but he has a lovely smile, always a twinkle in his eye, and always ready to play or have a pint. I haven't been over in four years now (way too long), but I recall he was a pretty steady player on session nights in O'Donoghue's. I ran into him 5 - 6 years in a row, and always thought it a pleasure to spot him a pint. In my mind, anyway, he's kind of an instrumental "Zozimus."

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Give Me Your Hand/Tabhair Dom Do Lam
From: David Ingerson
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 08:13 PM

That reminds me of a session I contributed a few songs to one afternoon in Doolin--fantastic tunes, fine songs, great crack. We discovered later on in the session that the fiddler was French, the box player German, the flute player an Aussie, I was a Yank (and still am--sorry for our country's current leadership), and so on. There wasn't anyone from Ireland there, but what fine Irish music!

David

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Give Me Your Hand/Tabhair Dom Do Lam
From: Com Seangan
Date: 26 Feb 04 - 06:44 PM

Thanks pal. And I thought it was O'Carolan who composed it - but I accept your word about Rory Dall. O'Carolan was blind too. Maybe that caused the confusion.

But listen. I was going down Grafton Street last Saturday, minding my own business and wafting through the frosty air came the strains of Si Beag Si Mor. Over I go. There was this oul' fella on the big flute accompanied by a younger fell on the guitar. And boy could they play.

I threw a 2 euro into the cap and when a break came in the music, I said to the younger man - "Gee, that guy is too good to be palying at a steet corner". "You can say that again" says he. I asked the oul fella if he knew "Tabhir dom do Lamh (Give me your hand)". - and offhe goes. Honest to God I never heard anything like the feeling the fella put into it. By this time a crowd had gathered and yer man almost in mid-note substituted the tin whistle for the flute and after Festy Conlon of Spiddal - I never in my life hear the beat.

When the lads had finished, I asked the old man what part of the country he was from. "NORWAY" says he. "I only met him today" said the younger man "and we teamed UP". Talk about being gobsmacked.

And me like an eejit went on my way enthralled - without ever finding out his name. Can anyone help. This Mudcafe is a wonderful place. So someone lurking in there somewhere must know the identity of this Norwegian.

Subject: Lyr Add: GIVE ME YOUR HAND / TABHAIR DOM DO LÁMH
From: SingsIrish Songs
Date: 27 Sep 99 - 07:39 PM

Here are the corrections/missing words from the previous posts. -------------

GIVE ME YOUR HAND / TABHAIR DOM DO LÁMH

Melody - Melody - Irish harp tune by Rory Dall Ó Catháin, ~1570-~1650

1. Just give me your hand,
Tabhair dom do lámh.
Just give me your hand
And I'll walk with you,
Through the streets of our land,
Through the mountains so grand.
If you give me your hand.

Just give me your hand,
And come along with me.
Will you give me your hand,
And the world it can see,
That we can be free,
In peace and harmony?
From the north to the south.
From the east to the west.
Every mountain, every valley,
every bush and birds nest!

Chorus:
By day and night,
through all struggle and strife,
And beside you, to guide you,
Forever, my love.
For love's not for one,
But for both of us to share.
For our country so fair,
For our world and what's there.

2. Just give me your hand,
Tabhair dom do lámh.
Just give me your hand,
For the world it is ours.
All the sea and the land,
to destroy or command.
If you give me your hand.

Just give me your hand,
In a gesture of peace.
Will you give me your hand
And all troubles will cease,
For the strong and the weak,
For the rich and the poor?
All peoples and creeds,
Let's meet their needs.
With a passion, we can fashion,
A new world of love!

Chorus:
By day and night,
through all struggle and strife,
And beside you, to guide you,
Forever, my love.
For love's not for one,
But for both of us to share.
For our country so fair,
For our world and what's there.