Lyr Req: Brídín Bhéasach

Subject: Lyr Req: Brídín Bhéasach
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 08:11 PM

Anyone got the words of Brídín Bhéasach, and know where it is on CD as a song, rather than as an air?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brídín Bhéasach
From:
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 11:02 PM

I don't show a listing for it. Where did you come up with the title?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brídín Bhéasach
From: Peace
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 11:12 PM

Mentioned here as a song--but that may just be an expression.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brídín Bhéasach
From: Peace
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 11:16 PM

"Brid Bheasach (traditional)
      Brid Bheasach (BREE-dge VAY-suck) means Ladylike Bridget and recounts her bitter recriminations agains marriage. The song is quite enigmatic and could be construed as the pained reminiscence of an old woman (soon to be 101) whose lover married someone else."

from

http://72.14.253.104/search?q=cache:1vNx9FbLFw4J:www.colcannon.com/music/riley.html+brid+bheasach&hl=en&gl=ca&ct=clnk&cd=3

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brídín Bhéasach
From: Peace
Date: 20 Dec 06 - 11:18 PM

I wonder now if there are two things here:

Bridin Bheasach
Brid Bheasack

I don't know any polite Gaelic, so I have no way of knowing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brídín Bhéasach
From: GUEST,DK
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 12:25 AM

This is from the Gael-Linn 2CD set 'Seoltaí Séidte - Setting Sail,' I assume it's the same as
'Brídín Bhéasach.'



Bríd Bhéasach - Sung by Aine Ni Ghallchobhair.


Mo chrach is mo chrá mór nach fíon an t-uisce,
Nach arán plúir bun na ngiolcach,
Nach coinnle geala barr an bhiolair,
Mar bhíos mo ghrása ag teacht is ag imeacht.

Plóid ar an phósadh, is mairg a níos é,
Is geal ar dtús is is dubh arís é
Is iomaí maighdean deas óg a chloígh sé,
A ceann ar a glúiní is a súile ag síorghol.

Sé dúirt Bríd bhocht is í breá críonna,
"Céad agus bliain mé ag tús na míosa,
Ag siúl fá bhóithre is ar fud na tíre;
Ó, tá mé díomhaoin is beidh a choíche."





GENTLE BRíD

It's my sorrow and my torment that the water is not wine, that the root of the
reeds is not floury bread, that the top ofthe watercress is not bright candles,
in the place where my love comes and goes.

A shame on marriage, it's an affliction for anyone who undergoes it, it's
bright at the beginning but then it darkens. It's many the fine young maiden
that it has struck down, with her head on her knee and her eyes continually
streaming.

Poor Bríd said, when she was good and old, 'I will be a hundred and a year
at the beginning ofthe month, wandering through the woods and all over the
country, oh I am worthless and always will be'.


According to the story told to the singer by Síle Mhici Ui Ghallchobhair, Bríd
was a travelling woman. She knew a young man who was studying for the
priesthood, but who left the course and made a bad marriage. This disturbed
her until the end of her life. The song was probably composed in the 18th or
19th century.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brídín Bhéasach
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 09:25 AM

Thanks, DK. I'd asked various songly friends but as it's a Munster song they disclaimed any knowledge of it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brídín Bhéasach
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 11:45 AM

it's from a poem by the blind poet Rafferty. There is a story by lady Gregory that she was visiting a hospital ward and overheard an argument between two older women about who was a better poet, Rafferty or another gentleman who's name escapes me. The argument was won when an even older women in the ward started singing this song by Rafferty, Bridin Vesey (as it is commonly known) and sang it all the way through many verses, proving that Rafferty's work was better known, regarded and loved by the people.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brídín Bhéasach
From: GUEST,Bill Kennedy
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 11:50 AM

that of course should be Antoine Raftery
Antoine Ó Raifteiri (Anthony Raftery) (1784 - 1835)
from Kiltimagh, Co. Maigh Eo

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Brídín Bhéasach
From: GUEST,DK
Date: 21 Dec 06 - 06:51 PM

Bill, I think that we have two different songs here, I looked at the text of Bridin Vesey
yesterday and, apart from the length, it is written from the point of view of a man who
wants to marry the girl concerned, whereas Brídín Bhéasach is from a woman who obviously
despises marriage.
                DK