Lyr Req: Aon Focal Eile (Richie Kavanagh)

Subject: know focal
From: Philippa
Date: 05 Jul 99 - 08:12 AM

Roger the Zimmer needs new frames - for his glasses too. Since he couldn't read the difference between "h" and "i" in the "...cuartu na bhfocal" thread, Roger reminded me of a humorous song about a man who couldn't learn Irish at school. He couldn't even learn lenition so he said "aon focal, dá focal, trí focal" (instead of "fhocal"); therefore some stations refused to air the song. Can anyone supply the lyrics and maybe also the fully Irish translation of the song- though by its nature the song is better in English (I don't think Annraoi would accept it as being a 'macaronic' song!)

Subject: RE: know focal
From: Philippa
Date: 09 Jul 99 - 07:29 AM

No focail?
I think the song was recorded by Ritchie Kavanagh

Subject: RE: know focal
From: Den
Date: 09 Jul 99 - 08:56 AM

A friend of mine has an album with the song on it. I'll try to get the words for you. Den

Subject: Lyr Add: AON FOCAL EILE
From: frank
Date: 09 Jul 99 - 10:05 AM

Here's a fair copy:

AON FOCAL EILE

When I was just a little lad, I used to go to school.
I'd sit down there in the seat feelin' like a fool.
The teacher taught us everything, everything we know.
She had a great big lump of a stick that was bent into a bow.

She'd go "aon focal, dha focal, tri focal eile"
And I not knowin' no focal at all.
She'd go "aon focal, dha focal, tri focal eile"
And I not knowin' no focal at all.

She taught us how to say all our ABC,
And how to make little men out of plasticine.
She taught us how to say our prayers. She taught us right from wrong.
The only thing about it, we didn't go to school too long.

When I was just a little lad, I used to go to school.
I'd sit down there in the seat feelin' like a fool.
The teacher taught us everything, everything we know.
She had a great big lump of a stick that was bent into a bow.

She'd go "aon focal, dha focal, tri focal eile"
And I not knowin' no focal at all
She'd go "aon focal, dha focal, tri focal eile"
And I not knowin' no focal at all

She taught us all our history, the battle of the Boyne,
And how to play a game with chestnut and a twine.
She said, "open up your catechisms. learn off the information.
If you don't get it into your beefy heads, you won't get your confirmation."

She'd go "aon focal, dha focal, tri focal eile"
And I not knowin' no focal at all.
She'd go "aon focal, dha focal, tri focal eile"
And I not knowin' no focal at all.

"Feceim 'e, feceim tu,"
That's the truth, says I to you.

She'd go "aon focal, dha focal, tri focal eile"
And I not knowin' no focal at all,
And we not knowin' no focal at all.

HTML line breaks added, and changed from all caps. --JoeClone, 9-Aug-02.

Subject: RE: know focal
From: Philippa
Date: 10 Jul 99 - 05:50 PM

Thank youse, Frank and Den
I'm afraid the lyrics are disappointing in print, though the chorus is, uh, catchy when sung. Feicim é(as properly spelled; you got the pronunciation of the first word, anyhow) means "I see it". Now I think I would like to get ahold of the Irish translation. Does anyone at Mudcat even know who translated it and/or recorded it? (The Irish language version may have only been a recording for Raidio na Gaeltachta broadcast rather than for comercial distribution)

Subject: RE: know focal
From: GUEST,porick and lesley conroy
Date: 14 Nov 06 - 09:56 PM

we both love the man and thats the truth