Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina

Subject: Lyr Req: I am seeking the lyrics of The Swallow,
From: ard mhacha
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 04:03 AM

Known in Spanish as La Golondrina I am seeking the words of the English version, The Swallow, `to far off lands the Swallow now is speeding`.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am seeking the lyrics of The Swallow,
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 05:20 AM

To far off lands the swallow now is speeding
To warmer climes and sundrenched foreign shores
As cooler breezes tell of summer fading
My heart with you into the heavens will soar.
O graceful swallow bear a message of love
For on your journey lies the land of my heart
Glide downward as you see from above
That sunswept isle from which I had to part

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am seeking the lyrics of The Swallow,
From: joseph
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 05:56 AM

Many thanks For the kyrics the swallow I beleive ther is a verse2
can yiou help

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am seeking the lyrics of The Swallow,
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 06:42 AM

If I could I would. Jeez man, there's a thousand translations on Google but NOT this one. It has to be in there somwhere!!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am seeking the lyrics of The Swallo
From: ard mhacha
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 12:35 PM

Refrain, after each verse,
Among those shores are all that I care or live for,

My home my loved ones waiting for my return

As down you sweep shed my blessings upon them

That tell of love

which in my heart still burns.

The missing 2nd verse begins `each winter long`, in my Brendan O`Dowda recording he   repeats the first verse and finishes with the refrain.

Some `catter might oblige with that missing 2nd verse.

Old friend Joe is singing this at a wedding next week and would be obliged to anyone can help.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am seeking the lyrics of The Swallo
From: ard mhacha
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 01:48 PM

The song can be had on, Irish 60`s song book.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am seeking the lyrics of The Swallow,
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 02:15 PM

Thread 37278 provides lyrics in Spanish and a singable translation by Westrup in two verses.
La Golondrina

Not familiar with the translation you are looking for. Any idea 'who done it'?

Subject: ADD: The Swallow (La Golondrina)
From: Joe Offer
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 02:24 PM

Here are the lyrics posted in the Irish 60's Songbook that ard mhacha referred to:

The Swallow (La Golondrina)

(Serradell/Richter)
Recorded by Brendan Bowyer & The Royal Showband
Lyrics submitted by Liam O'Reilly

To far off lands, the swallow now is speeding
For warmer climes and sun-drenched foreign shores
While cooler breezes tell of summer fading
My heart with you, into the heavens will soar.

Oh graceful swallow bear a message of love
For on your journey, lies the land of my heart
As down you sweep, shed my blessings upon them
That tell of love which in my heart still burns

Among those shores are all that I care or live for
My home, my loved ones, waiting for my return
Then glide downwards as you see from above
A sea swept isle from which we had to part

Each winter long console me in my dreaming
And you fond swallow on your gleaming wings
Will speed as I would wish I could go speeding
Straight to their hearts, and with you my love bring

Oh graceful swallow . . .
(repeat last line)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I am seeking the lyrics of The Swallo
From: ard mhacha
Date: 07 Aug 07 - 03:27 PM

That`s the one Joe.

Subject: Lyr Add: LA GOLONDRINA (THE SWALLOW)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 07:33 PM

The following is transcribed from the sheet music at Indiana University Sheet Music Collections:

LA GOLONDRINA (THE SWALLOW)
Words, Walter Hirsch. Music, Narciso Serradell.
New York: Robbins Music Corp., 1923.

1. High in the sky
At break of dawn I see
The swallow fly
Above the world
Among the drifting clouds he flashes by
Beneath the caves his little mate is waiting
Beneath the leaves where all his treasures lie.

2. Ah, would that I were a swallow that flies through the sky,
On the wing, rejoicing, where all care flutters by,
So light and free, above the voice of the throng,
High up in the sky, where all the world's a song!

REPEAT 1.

[The same collection also has a piano-only arrangement published in 1897, which you also can view online; and another vocal version, with words by Jerry Castillo, published in 1935. The latter version cannot be viewed online because it is still under copyright, but it begins: "In rapid flight, perhaps towards Granada, a little swallow…."]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 09 Aug 07 - 07:42 PM

Originally published in 1862, Westrup English lyrics of 1883, linked above in my previous post.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: joseph
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 05:22 AM

Many thanks ardmacha for the words of the swallow.
Isnt apity the old County team fell a harp this year.
Is it true that Peter Mc Donell has already been appointed
although nothing official announced yet.I still have my contacts

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST,machree01
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 08:48 AM

I uploaded Brendan O'Dowda singing 'The Swollow', {La Golondrina}, onto youtube a couple of days ago if you want to listen to it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NuA3eepfQo4

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: ard mhacha
Date: 14 Aug 07 - 09:54 AM

Jim the version Joe Offer gave is the one we were after, thanks, and Joe we will be back next year refreshed and ready to go, thanks Machree.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST,gazoopa
Date: 25 Sep 08 - 11:51 PM

The lyrics to La Golondrina sung in the village departure

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST,Don
Date: 02 Oct 09 - 01:33 PM

This is the few words I can remember from many years ago.
To distant climbe the swallow now is fleeting,
for sharps the breath that warns of summer flown,
on dauntless wing, she soars and with her passing,
my musing heart recalls fond seans long known.

O swalow build me a nest in my loved ones arbour,
deny me not this boon I pray thee,

Sorry can't remember any more, would love to find the rest of these lyrics. By the way you can here me playing this on Utube(2473922)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Ep' Eric
Date: 02 Oct 09 - 03:12 PM

I remember this great tune as a pop song from many years ago.It was called "When your in love" then. I never knew it had folk origins and have never heard the real version before. Many thanks Machree01
for your Utube info. I really enjoyed the O'Dowda version and look forward to hearing the other versions on Utube.

I doubt wether any other catters would like the pop version but if they do I will pass the words on if anyone is interested.I think I could remember them if I put my mind to it.
It starts with. "When you'r in love the whole world seeme a melody."
I believe it was sung by Frederick Ferrarri or Ronnie Ronald.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Oct 09 - 03:14 PM

Guest Don, there are several English lyrics to the song. The Westrup lyrics are often sung (thread 37278 linked in a post above) and also the version given above by Joe Offer (the Spanish to this also in thread 37278), but they differ from yours. It would help if you could post the source or author of the lyrics.

The Spanish song is popular in Mexico-New Mexico, but not listed with the songs of the Californios.

Subject: Lyr Add: LA GOLONDRINA
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 05 Oct 09 - 05:40 PM

Spanish lyrics and a piano arrangement for LA GOLONDRINA can be found in Canciones Populares by Allena Luce (Boston, etc.: Silver, Burdett y Compañía, 1921), page 62:

Adonde irá veloz y fatigada
La golondrina que de aquí se va,
O si en el viento se hallará extraviada
Buscando abrigo y no lo encontrará.
Junto a mi lecho le pondré su nido
En donde pueda la estación pasar;
También yo estoy en la región perdido
¡Oh cielo santo! y sin poder volar.

Dejé también mi patria idolatrada,
Esa mansión que me miró nacer,
Mi vida es hoy errante y angustiada
I ya no puedo a mi mansión volver.
Ave querida, amada peregrina,
Mi corazón al tuyo estrecharé,
Oiré tu canto, tierna golondrina,
Recordaré mi patria y lloraré.


This English translation (in addition to a musical arrangement and Spanish lyrics) is found in Roy and Ray in Mexico by Mary Wright Plummer (New York: Henry Holt and Company, 1912), page 397:

Where will it go, the swift and weary swallow
That from this place is winging forth its way?
What if a straying wind it blindly follow,
Seeking where none exists a sheltering stay!
Near to my bedside shall it make its homing,
While the long season slowly passes by,
For also I in this strange land am roaming,
And I, O blessed heaven, cannot fly!

I too my cherished country have deserted,
The little house where first I saw the light—
My life has wretched been since I departed,
Nor toward that home can I again wing flight.
Beloved swallow, pilgrim dear and slender,
My heart with thine companionship shall keep,
Hearing thy voice in song, O swallow tender,
I shall recall my land and softly weep.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 05 Oct 09 - 06:04 PM

The simplified version in Luce, Canciones populares was posted in thread 37278 (link at top of thread).

The English version from Plummer seems to be a remake of the Serradell version of 1885 (another version (Serradell-Richter) posted above by Joe Offer. The Serradell original not yet found).

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 05 Oct 09 - 06:19 PM

Narciso Serradell Sevilla, 1843-1910. There are several adaptations of his 1883 lyrics on the net, but I can't find a literal translation.

In 1862, fighting against Maxmillian and the French, he was captured at the battle of Puebla and deported to France. This, his song of farewell, may have been composed as early as 1862 but not published until 1883.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: semi-submersible
Date: 05 Oct 09 - 08:58 PM

The English lyrics transcribed from sheet music above by Jim Dixon may have a typo (c for e):

Beneath the caves his little mate is waiting
Beneath the leaves where all his treasures lie.

I think "caves" is a typo. A nest "beneath the eaves" is at least as likely as "beneath the caves," and "eaves" would rhyme with "leaves."

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Feb 10 - 09:03 AM

my granda frank's song we had dis on de old viynal single record just beauitful

Subject: Lyr Add: LA GOLONDRINA: AN EXILE TO A SWALLOW
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 12:05 AM

I think semi-submersible's correction is probably right, but I can no longer see the copy I transcribed from, so I can't check it.

However, I found another English version in the Levy collection:

LA GOLONDRINA
AN EXILE TO A SWALLOW.

Words by Rev. Thos. M. Westrup.
Chicago: Poole Bros., 1883.
[There is another copy from Galveston, TX: Thos. Goggan & Bro., 1883.]

1. Whither so swiftly flies the timid swallow?
What distant bourne seeks her untiring wing?
To reach it safe, what needle does she follow,
When darkness wraps the poor, wee, storm-tossed thing?
To build her nest near to my couch, I'll call her;
Why go so far bright and warm skies to keep?
Safe would she be: no evil should befall her,
For I'm an exile sad, too sad to weep.

2. My fatherland is dear, but I too left it;
Far am I from the spot where I was born;
Cheerless is life, fierce storms of joy bereft it;
Made me an exile lifelong and forlorn.
Come then to me, sweet feathered pilgrim stranger;
Oh! let me clasp thee to my loving breast,
And list thy warbling low, secured from danger,
Unwonted tears bringing relief and rest.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 12:32 AM

The 1883 Westrup translation was posted in thread 37278, linked by Q above, 07 Aug 07.
The Serradel Sevilla original also is posted in that thread.
Link repeated:

La Golondrina

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 01:58 PM

Aarrgh! One of the pitfalls of having multiple threads about one song. I wish all such threads could be merged, not just cross-referenced. It might save me from embarrassing myself once in a while.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 19 Feb 10 - 04:04 PM

A great old song. Nice to see it again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST, Brek
Date: 30 Mar 10 - 05:50 PM

From tejano to tango: Latin American popular music
By Walter Aaron Clark
Page 155

"The music [for "La golondrina"] was by Veracruz-born composer Narciso Serradell (1843-1910), with words by French poet Niceto de Zamacois and translated into Spanish by Francisco Martínez de la Rosa (Flores Longoria 1994, 28). The precise date of the song is uncertain, but it was most likely written a little before 1870 (Garrido 1981, 18)."

From La Destruccion de Pompeya (The Destruction of Pompeii)
By Niceto de Zamacois
On the biographical page it says (in Spanish): "Niceto de Zamacois was born in Bilbao, Vizcaya, Spain in 1820."

French? Spanish? Which was he?

I guess we can trust the biographical page in the poet's own book (referenced above). The man who wrote the lyrics to La Golondrina must have been Spanish-born, not French-born.

It is goofy that there should be published confusion on this basic point.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Monique
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 07:58 AM

There is a French poet named Zamacois but he was born in 1866.
Zamacois was indeed Spanish. Excerpt in Spanish about him in "México en el mundo hispánico" -see note about "Las golondrinas" at the bottom of the page.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 02:42 PM

A brief biography of Serradel in thread 37278.
In some notes, Sevilla is appended to his name.

Serradel fought against the French imperial troops at the time of Maxmillian, and was deported to France. It was at this time that he wrote the lyrics to the song.

La Golondrina

Combining these threads would have prevented some repetition.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 31 Mar 10 - 02:47 PM

Already linked here in my post of 10 Feb.



(What happened? Repeating that link, I hope- La Golondrina

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST,Tippo,
Date: 28 May 10 - 07:24 PM

I love this piece of music very much
       I think it is correct swallows in
       the cave as this is were the chinese
       collect there nests for bids nest soup.

             Cheer's,

                     Tippo.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST,copicat
Date: 02 Aug 10 - 01:36 PM

My uncle asked me a nice one that no one I know can find. He'd like to have the lyrics for la golondrina song that Slim whitman used his own lyrics to sing with in english.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Lx2YrQ-bis&feature=PlayList&p=9F21D539F746ACB3&playnext=1&index=48
cut'n paste address to youtube to see what I'm looking for...
hopefully I won't look silly and find out they are exactly what is posted up here...
thank you

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Aug 10 - 02:34 PM

Slim Whitman sings the first four lines of the 1883 Westrup translation, and then departs from those lyrics.
Perhaps someone has his lyrics and can make a proper comparison.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: brezhnev
Date: 02 Aug 10 - 02:59 PM

just shows what you can do with a great tune. hadn't heard the slim whitman version before. thanks for posting it. it's fab. so is another set of English words by Felice & Boudleaux Bryant - She wears my ring - sung by Elvis and loads of others, including this reggae version by Cornell Campbell.

and the original song appears in The Wild Bunch. Sob!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 02 Aug 10 - 04:38 PM

La Golondrina has been sung by a great number of soloists and choruses, a variety of interpretations. Each has its partisans.

One may be permited to have several favorites. Three I downloaded are Alfredo Kraus, Nana Mouskouri and- Slim Whitman.

Alfredo Krause had one of the great voices of the 20th C., Mouskouri captures the emotion more quietly, and Whitman's is a personal introspection.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST,Slobodan
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 02:29 AM

It is so beautiful Mexican song!

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST,Slobodan
Date: 01 Sep 10 - 02:36 AM

* Also, who is more interested in versions of "La Golondrina", send me a message, thank you! I have more than 500 audio versions of "La Golondrina", or "Las Golondrinas", or "She Wears My Ring", or..., world-wide /and growing... Sure, I am searching for some versions more according to my want-list. I love this Mexican song of Narciso Serradell Sevilla so much! Regards and thank you in advance, my mail: [e-mail]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST,JNB
Date: 04 May 11 - 11:34 PM

I remember it starting:

'Oh swallow swift,
on wild pinions flying'

and then elsewhere:

'were wilt thy go,
when winter winds forsake you'


I played it on my violin years ago

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST
Date: 07 Jul 11 - 05:23 PM

I haved loved this song for years and kept thinking that the words were written by the Briens. wWen I got the proper words it felt so good. A lot of my mates who hear me play this as an accordion tune love the beat and the folks I play and sing for would like the tune played in a mambo beat at a good tempo (not too fast). I thought of some words of my own:

The first sound at 5 o'clock is birds singing,
The sound of blackbird and sparrow and one that never sings again - That bird is cauld the swallow.
My town of Edinburgh is a town to wake the children up with bird sounds, for what you do for your life.

That is a first verse that I wrote about the swallow and other birds to wake you up for collage work or school. My heart sees if you are a folk singer and a mate of mine try and put new words of your one like my friend Vicky. If it is a song you like why not write words you write can be about a blackbird (bird my friend Lissa likes). When I first knew the song the words had nothing to do with birds it was called 'She wears my Ring'. The first time I heard the first song was in the mudcat, I didn't know that there have been 20 English lyrics from 1907 to now still on the same story line, but difrent words.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 01:34 PM

quote: Slim Whitman sings the first four lines of the 1883 Westrup translation, and then departs from those lyrics.
Perhaps someone has his lyrics and can make a proper comparison.

quote: My uncle asked me a nice one that no one I know can find. He'd like to have the lyrics for la golondrina song that Slim whitman used his own lyrics to sing with in english.

Slim Whitman version on YouTube, compared to Thos. M. Westrup's translation as posted here:

SW: Where now so swiftly flies the timid swallow? What distant region seeks her tireless way?
TW1: Whither so swiftly flies the timid swallow? What distant bourne seeks her untiring wing?
TW2: My fatherland is dear, but I too left it. Far am I from the spot where I was born.

SW: To reach it safe, what needle does she follow when darkness hides the way she's wandering?
TW1: To reach it safe, what needle does she follow, when darkness wraps the poor wee storm-tossed thing?
TW2: Cheerless is life. Fierce storms of joy bereft it, made me an exile lifelong and forlorn.

SW: Ah, come to me. A soft warm nest I offer. Why wilt thou strive so far away to roam?
TW1: To build her nest near to my couch, I'll call her. Why go so far, bright and warm skies to keep?
TW2: Come then to me, sweet feathered pilgrim stranger. Oh! let me clasp thee to my loving breast,

SW: Heed well my warning. No ills shall befall thee. And well I know, 'tis sad apart from home.
TW1: Safe would she be. No evil should befall her; for I'm an exile sad, too sad to weep.
TW2: and list thy warbling low, secured from danger, unwonted tears bringing relief and rest.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST,Connie
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 05:56 PM

Jim Dixon
On Aug 9, 2007 you posted the words to a song called, La Golondrina, or The Swallow. My 91 year old mother has been searching for the lyrics for years and hasn't been able to find that version. The post says the sheet music is found at Indiana University. When I go to that link I can't find the sheet music with the words you posted. Can you give me any advise on how to get that sheet music for her.
Thanks,
Connie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 09:03 PM

The website is now called "In Harmony."

They have two different sets of sheet music.
http://webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu/inharmony/search.do?titleFacet=La+golondrina

1. arr. Northrup, 1897, piano, no lyrics.
2. arr. Boguslawski 1936, sheet music not available (copyright)

The version formerly linked by Jim, words by Walter Hirsch, is not listed.

Jim will have to look, he might be able to find it again.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 09:10 PM

Connie, here's a link to the score Jim was referring to.

It's got lyrics by Hirsch (as Jim posted here on Aug 7) and music by Serradell. So the music might be the same as in the Levy collection's score, which has the Westrup lyrics and is available as a PDF file here.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 09:14 PM

Found it- listed under alternative title, "Swallow." It is under copyright protection (date 1923).
Robbins Music Corp. Presumably it still is in print.
Jim might be able to find a downloadable version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 25 Aug 12 - 09:30 PM

Here's another PDF of the score with Westrup's lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST,connie
Date: 28 Aug 12 - 03:12 PM

Thank you Q and Tony. Mom is in awe that after searching for years that I can ask a question over the internet and have an answer back in a day from someone I don't know. :) Jim, are there only 2 verses to the version you posted? She was thinking there were more but she can't remember.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST
Date: 03 Sep 12 - 09:22 AM

When I was looking at the song The Swallow someone was talking about a song called when your're in love from 1952. i don't know the writer of this song so if it was you who mentioned it could you please tell me the writer's name?. my name is Joe and I knew that rosemary clooney was one who sang this song but if you were the one to first hear this song then please tell me Joe who wrote it!

Thanks

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: GUEST,Tony
Date: 04 Sep 12 - 10:38 AM

Joe:

WHEN YOU'RE IN LOVE
(Desmond O'Connor / Harold Fields / Dominic John)
Josef Locke - 1949
Tony Pastor & His Orch. (vocal: Rosemary Clooney) - 1949
Reggie Goff & His Band - 1949

When you're in love, the whole world sings a melody
When you're in love, who cares if raindrops fall
When you're in love, the angels walk beside you
They seem to say Heaven's not far away

In country lanes, as you hear the church bells ringing
Your heart goes winging, where birds are singing
And in your heart there's no room for tears and sorrow
That sad tomorrow will never come to you

When you're in love, the whole world sings a melody
When you're in love, who cares if raindrops fall
And so I pray that someday I shall find you
That perfect day when you're in love with me

(Orchestral Interlude)

When you're in love, the whole world sings a melody
When you're in love, who cares if raindrops fall
And so I pray that someday I shall find you
That perfect day when you're in love with me

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: The Swallow / La Golondrina
From: Q (Frank Staplin)
Date: 04 Sep 12 - 11:46 AM

Repost to correct thread-