Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan

Subject: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: GUEST,Scorchie
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 05:48 PM

Hi there

I'm looking for the lyrics to an (I think) old dé dannan song (possibly on their first album). It's in Irish, and has female vocals. Sorry to be vague, but I'm sure the word "maidin" (morning) appears at the end of the first line of the chorus. I've not heard it in a while though. Any help appreciated - even just a track list for the de dannan; de dannan album might help. Been searching online but no joy.

thanks, Sorchie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 06:15 PM

This album? http://www.answers.com/topic/star-spangled-molly

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: GUEST,Scorchie
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 06:19 PM

no, from their first album called "dé dannan" released in '75. Thing is I'm not even sure it's from that album, but I've found the tracklists to most of the others, so i'm hoping that one will be it!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 06:26 PM

De Danann's first album (or one of their earliest anyway) features Dolores Keane on vocals, so perhaps a search on her might do it? The only Dolores song I remember from that record is in English, "Rambling Irishman". Their next album had Johnny Moynihan, and the following one had two older traditional male singers. If I can recall anything further, I'll post it.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: GUEST
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 06:30 PM

This one from 1976?    http://www.answers.com/topic/de-danann-1976-album-by-de-danann

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: GUEST,Scorchie
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 06:49 PM

yeah, that's the one I was looking for, but no irish-language songs on it :( ... I guess the search continues! thanks for your help

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 06:54 PM

Actually, the discs shown on that page are all later, and only the compilation has some of the tracks from the first album (including Rambling Irishman), but it also contains some Maura O'Connell numbers (Maggie, Molly-O) which came much later. The compilation is not the first DD album as such -

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: Bonnie Shaljean
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 06:58 PM

Woops, sorry, think I clicked on the wrong link (!!!)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: Declan
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 07:31 PM

Of the female vocalists who sang with De Dannan the most likely one to have sung 'as gaeilge' was Dolores Keane. The main song I've heard her sing as Gaeilge would have been Moll Dubh an Ghleanna, but I'm not certain that she sang this on a De Dannan record. If this is the song you thinking of I can probably dig out the lyrics and post them, if you think this is the one you're thinking of.

The Chorus goes something like:

Sí Moll Dubh a' Ghleanna, Sí Moll Dubh an Earraigh,
Sí Moll dubh is deirge ná na Rósa,
Is dá Bfhaighfainnse féin mo romha, de mhná óga an Ghleann,
Sí mo Mholl dubh a' ghleanna a bhfearr liom

Does this sound familiar?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 07:59 PM

For some reason I wonder if you might be thinking of Jimmy Mo Mhíle Stór from Sail Óg Rua. I don't know if it was on any Dé Dannan CD...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 08:07 PM

...or, alternatively, another of Keane's party pieces, Thuas ag Gort an Chornáin - it's on Binn Blasta, but I can't find anywhere with a clip for you and it's late and I'm off to bed. But take a listen.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: Declan
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 08:15 PM

A bit of googling suggests that no songs as Gaeilge were recorded by femaale vocalists with De Danann in the early albums. There are a couple on The Mist Covered Mountain sung by men. JTT's liknk seems the most promising and includes a link to "Moll Dubh" as I mentioned earlier. As far as I know the word Maidin doesn't feature in the opening verse of Jimmy mo Mhíle Stóir

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: GUEST,Scorchie
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 08:17 PM

hey - thanks for the replies.

it's not Moll dhubh - I know that one, nor Jimmy Mo Mhíle Stór, It's a faster tune, not acapella, and with harmonies I think...but it has been years, like I said. I'll check out thuas ag gort as soon as i can.

thanks again guys

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: GUEST,Scorchie
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 08:19 PM

Hi Declan, yeah - I've been googling all night - I'm starting to wonder if it was de dannan at all now...I wish could remember more...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: Declan
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 08:34 PM

two songs that I can think of with maidin in the first line are Sean Ó Duibhir an Ghleanna (Ar m'eirí dhom ar mhaidin) and Siobhán Ní Dhuibhir (the Duibhir is pure coincidence). The latter was an Clannad's first album, fairly upbeat and some harmonies. But Maidin probably comes into hundreds (at least) of other songs.

I'm off to bed also. Hope you find the one you want.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: Peace
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 09:54 PM

They used to use the name De Danann--note the difference in spelling.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: Peace
Date: 21 Jan 07 - 10:01 PM

Sorry. I see you are aware of that by now. Please, do you know anything at all more about the song? Story line, anything else from the chorus?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 02:26 AM

Could it be Clannad?

I notice you mention you think it is De Danann

In which case it could be An Mheaghdean Mhara (The Mermaid), from Clannad 1971

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 02:28 AM

An Mhaighdean Mhara, rather

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: Declan
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 03:40 AM

Another possibility for Clannad is Téir Abhaile Riú - "Pós an Phíobaire i dtús na hoiche, is beidh sé agat ar mhaidin" - not the chorus but definitely an upbeat song and with harmonies.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: Declan
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 01:50 PM

Thinking about this harmonies rule out early De Dannan as they were basically an instrumentral (tunes) band with a solo singer. They did have a line up with multiple vocalists later on, but I can't recall them doing any Irish language songs.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 02:02 PM

... there's no real assumption, neither, that it is from a first album...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: GUEST
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 04:21 PM

Didn't Clannad also do "Níl 'na Lá" (which contains...ná in a mhaidin, or something similar)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: Declan
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 04:29 PM

Níl Sé lá ná baol ar maidin in the Clannad version.

Maidins all over the first Clannad album.

This may well be the one - its the first suggestion that has maidin at the end of the first line of the Chorus.

Fist line is

"Chuaigh me isteach i dteach aréir, is d'iarr me cáirde ar Beann a' Leanna
Sé dúirt sí liom ní bhfaigheadh tú deor, Buail an Bhóthair is gabh abhaile".

Often sung as a very slow song, but the clannad version is very up beat. The live version included long solos on bass and flute and lasted about 10 minutes.

Sound familiar Scorchie?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: Gulliver
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 06:40 PM

Lost my cookie--that last Guest comment about Níl na lá was from me...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 22 Jan 07 - 07:05 PM

Ah yes, Níl sé na Lá sounds like a likely one, doesn't it?

I can never spell the band's name, since the normal spelling of the people is Dé Danaan...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: Declan
Date: 23 Jan 07 - 07:47 PM

So did we get it right Scorchie?

Please let us know.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Irish language tune from Dé dannan
From: clueless don
Date: 24 Jan 07 - 08:32 AM

Dolores Keene sang on at least two DeDanann (or whichever spelling they were using at the various times) albums: the first one, just called "DeDanann" (sp?), and a later one titled "Ballroom". I had a look at the album covers yesterday evening, and there don't appear to be any Irish/Gaelic songs on either album.

Don