Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?

Subject: Translation of Jimmy mó mhíle stór?
From: Ann B.
Date: 29 May 99 - 05:53 PM

Is there any English translation of Jimmy mó mhíle stór? If there is, does anyone have the lyrics then?

Another question; is The lonesome Boatman only instrumental, or are there any songversions? I love the tune and would like to sing it.

Ann B

Subject: RE: Translation of Jimmy mó mhíle stór?
From: Cliff A.
Date: 30 May 99 - 04:56 PM

The title translates as "Jimmy My Thousand Treasures", and i'll see if i can find a source for the words. Stay tuned.

"The Lonesome Boatman" is strictly an instrumental tune. But i could be--it will not be for the first time--wrong.

Subject: Lyr Add: JIMMY MO MHÍLE STÓR (from D. Ó Muirithe)
From: Philippa
Date: 03 Jun 99 - 11:05 AM

from D. Ó Muirithe. "an t-Amhrán Macarónach":
JIMMY MO MHÍLE STÓR

Bliain an taca seo d'imigh mo ghrá uaim féin,
Ní thiocfaidh sé abhaile go dtuga sé cúrsa an tsaoil,
Nuair a fheicead mo ghile rithfead le fuinneamh na chóir,
Agus clúdódh le mil é, is é Jimmy mo mhíle stór.

My love he's gone from me, no fairer than him can be found,
He'll never return until he course the wide world around.
When I'll see my love coming I'll crown him with laurel all o'er,
He's the neatest of lovers called Jimmy mo mhíle stór.

Bíonn mo mháthair is m'athair go síoraí ag bruíon liom féin,
Dá rá gur lem' boige do mealladh mé i dtús mo shaoil,
Mise dá fhulaingt go dubhach is ag sileadh na ndeor
Le cumann dom chumann, is é Jimmy mo mhíle stór.

My father and mother they never can give me ease
Since first my true love went from me to the seas,
I bear it with patience, shedding and sighing full sore,
lamenting the fate of Jimmy, mo mhíle stór.

A chailíní deasa, déanaigí brón díbh féin,
Mar go bhfuilimse fuirsithe stracaithe cráite ón saol.
thugas cumann do dhuine ba bhinne is ba bhreátha snó
Do chuaigh ar bord loinge uaim, is é Jimmy mo mhíle stór.

Rachadh go bun coille agus caithfeadh ann deireadh mo shaoil,
an ball ná labharfaidh aoinne eile, ach ceol na n-éan,
Ball ná sileann aon bhile ann, geimhreadh ná fómhar,
Ó chuaigh ar bord loinge uaim Jimmy mo mhíle stór.

I'll got to the greenwood and spend there all of my time,
where no man or mortal can ever disturb my mind,
Beneath the green willow I'll lament and sigh full sore,
And I'll wait on my pillow for Jimmy mo mhíle stór.

á = a/ = á
é = é
í = i/ = í
ó =o/ = ó
ú = u/ = ú

Subject: Lyr Add: JIMMY MO MHÍLE STÓR (from the Chieftains)
From: MudGuard
Date: 27 Oct 99 - 02:38 PM

I have a Chieftains recording of this song. It has three Gaelic verses abd one English verse.
The Gaelic lyric is taken from another recording (where lyrics were provided), and I listened to the song and it could be that the lyrics correspond to the words that are sung.
The English verse I (tried to) transcribe from listening to the song. As usual there are some red spots I am not sure about.
MudGuard

Bliain an taca seo d'imigh uaim rún mo chléibh
Ní thiocfaidh sé abhaile go dtabharfaidh sé cúrsa an tsaoil;
Nuair a chífead é rithfead le fuinneamh ró-ard ina chomhair
'S clúdód le mil é, is é Jimmy mó mhíle stór

Bíonn mo mháthair is m'athair ag bearradh's ag bruíon liom féin
Táim giobaithe piocaithe ciapaithe cráite dem shaol;
Thugas taitneamh don duine úd dob fhinne 's dob áille snó
Is chuaigh sé ar bhord loinge, is é Jimmy mó mhíle stór

These twelve men send better my darling has left the shore
He ne'er will come back till he travels the blow balaway
And when he returns with my love I'll ground him all o'er
He's the fondest of lovers, sweet Jimmy mó mhíle stór

Raghadsa chun coille agus caithfead an chuid eile
San áit ná beidh éinne, ag éisteacht le ceol na n-éan
Ag bun an chrainn chaorthainn mar a bhfásann ann féar go leor
Ag tabhairt taitnimh don duine úd, is é Jimmy mó mhíle stór

Subject: Lyr Add: SILENT ANNIE, POEM TO LONESOME BOATMAN
From: Magpie
Date: 27 Oct 99 - 03:49 PM

Ann B
The tune The Lonesome Boatman is a Furey's tune, written in 1968. According to them, it wasn't possible to make words that fit, but they (one of them, I don't know which one) wrote a poem to it that's called

SILENT ANNIE, POEM TO THE LONESOME BOATMAN:

A song which nearly broke my heart
A tramp lay dying in the park.
I knelt beside him to hear him speak
And the words he spoke, they were oh so weak.
He told me a story of long since past,
Of a sailing ship with its long grey mast,
Of his captain's cap with it's shining braid
And the wonderful voyages that he'd made.
"Silent Annie" was his great ship's name.
Like a token of love he spoke her name.
She sailed 'round the Horn, aye, more that once.
She could cut through the waves like a sharpened lance.

"Believe me," he said. His eyes filled with tears
Like a drunk on a corner, trying to remember his years.
He reached out his hand and I took it in mine.
"I believe you," I said, and he gave a sad smile.
"I remember the day when they towed her away.
Her sides they were sore from the sea's angered spray.
They said she's unfit for to sail out once more
(And they towed her more inward from her own sandy shore)?
And as they broke my Silent Annie. I watched with a sigh.
I remembered her beauty when I was a boy.
She was my one love, my life's only dream,
When we sailed out together as captain and queen."

It started to drizzle, and I felt my hand tight
And he squeezed even harder as he ended the fight.
And a crowd they had gathered, and they watched with dismay
As some ambulance men came, and they took him away.
So I got to my feet, and I walked through that park.
The sun it was gone, but it was not yet dark.
My body was wet, and my clothes were not many,
But my mind was aroused by the ship Silent Annie.

(I have transcribed it from a CD, and I cannot guarantee that there are no mistakes in here.)

Magpie

Subject: RE: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: Felipa
Date: 21 May 03 - 10:07 AM

help with the red spots:

These twelve months and better my darling has left the shore
He ne'er will come back till he travels the globe all o'er
And when he returns [he'll bring silver and gold in store;]
He's the fondest of lovers, sweet Jimmy mó mhíle stór

This is a verse published in PW Joyce (1909) as "Jemmy mo veela sthore"; the phrase in brackets would appear to be different from the Chieftains recording (which I don't have a copy of.

Joyce gives the tune which I am familiar with, perhaps best known through the singing of Dolores Keane.

Subject: Lyr Add: JIMMY MO MHILE STÓR
From: Felipa
Date: 21 May 03 - 03:49 PM

JIMMY MO MHILE STÓR

Bliain an taca so d'imigh uaim rún mo chléibh,
Ní thiochfaidh sé abhaile go dtabharfaidh sé cúrsa an tsaoil.
Nuair a chífead é rithfead le fuinneamh ró-ard 'na chomhair,
Agus clúdód le mil é, 's é Jimmy mo mhíle stór.

Bíonn m'athair 's mo mháthair ag bearradh 's ag bruíon liom féin:
Táim giobaithe, piocaithe, ciapaithe, cráite de m' shaol;
Thugas taithneamh don duine úd dob 'fhinne 's dob áille snó
Agus chuaigh sé ar bord loinge, 'sé Jimmy mo mhíle stór.

Raghad-sa chun coille 'gus caithfead ann an chuid eile dem shaol,
San áit ná beidh éinne, ag éisteacht le ceol na n-éan;
Ag bun an chrainn chaorthainn, mar a bhfásann ann féar go leor,
Ag tabhairt taithneamh don duin' úd, 'sé Jimmy mo mhíle stór.

source : Jimmy Crowley's Irish Song Book. Cork: Mercier, 1986.

And from P W Joyce, "Old Irish Folk Music and Songs" (1909):
"The air of this song -a lovely tender simple melody - was published for the first time by me in my Ancient Irish Music, It is well known all over Munster, wher it is also called Drahaareen O Mochree [Dearthairín-ó Mo Chroí] ....The Irish words of Jemmy mo Veela Sthore may be seen in my Irish Music and Song. The English words given below ... are also a free translation, which I have known all my life, and of which I have also copies on printed ballad-sheets."

I haven't seen Joyce's publication of the Irish-language lyrics, but the words of "Jemmy mo Veela Sthore" are indeed "a free translation" of the Irish language lyrics given above. I don't see the lines about gold and silver, money and flocks in either the Irish language verses, either those from Jimmy Crowley or in the fairly similar macaronic version already posted.

Jemmy mo Veela Sthore Jemmy, My Thousand Treasures

These twelve months and better my darling has left the shore;
He ne'er will come back till he travels the globe all o'er;
And whene'er he returns he'll bring silver and gold in store;
He's the fondest of lovers, my Jemmy mo veela sthore.

My father and mother they never do give me ease,
Since my darling has left me to cross the raging seas,
I once had a sweetheart with money and flocks and more,
But he's gone o'er the ocean, my Jemmy mo veela sthore.

I'll go to the woods and I'll spend ther the rest of my days,
Where no living mortal I'll suffer my soul to tease;
Among the lone rowan-trees with red berries drooping o'er,
Lamenting the absence of Jemmy mo veela sthore.

Subject: More Jimmy from the Rankins
From: GUEST,Dave
Date: 08 Aug 04 - 09:29 PM

On the "Tears of Stone" album, I believe the line translated in this thread as:

And when he returns [he'll bring silver and gold in store;]

Should rather be

And when he returns, with laurels I'll crown him all o'er.

"laurels" is sung quickly, almost one syllable ("laurls"), but makes more sense in this context.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: GUEST,Carol
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 01:59 PM

Just a word of appreciation for all the entries here..I just discovered "Tears of Stone" and was particularily mesmerized by Jimmy Mo Mhile Stor and had to find out the lyrics, their meaning, etc. Thanks for providing such detailed information. What a gorgeous song sung by the Rankins.

Carol

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 26 Aug 04 - 04:42 PM

QUDT - quick and dirty translation:

This time last year, the secret love of my breast went from me,
He won't come home until the course of his life is run.
When I see him, the energy will run high before him,
And I'll cover him with honey, Jimmy my thousand-treasure.

My father and my mother were pressuring me
I'm pecked at, picked at, raked at, tormented out of my life:
I'd take a shine to him who's so fair and beautiful
And he went aborad a boat, Jimmy my thousand-treasure.

I'd go into the woods, and spend a portion of my life,
In the place where there's no one, listening to the music of the birds;
At the foot of the hawthorn tree, where enough grass is growing
Giving liking to that person – that's Jimmy my thousand-treasure.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: GUEST,Jos
Date: 15 Nov 05 - 06:27 AM

it's "these twelve months end bitter", not "these twelve monds and better"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: GUEST,Chile, South America. Pancho
Date: 03 Jun 06 - 04:18 AM

Hi guys

This one of the most beautiful songs i've heard ever
i've been looking for lyrics for all over the net. I knew some verses were in irish gaelic...
thanx to all and greetings from south :-)

(wow...this posts have been from ages & will do evermore...end)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From:
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 12:09 PM

Problem bout this one is the tenses of the verbs. Not possible to make singable rhymes and sing the lines in English without noting that the young girl's love song follows a pattern dictated by a sort of Gaelic Amour Courtois....she's deserted, pregnant and brokenhearted too... 'clúdód le mil é' ...I will cover him with honey'...interpret 'honey' as you will.
Verse, stanza 2. Parents plague daughter. Why? 'I gave pleasure to a person sweetest in countenance...Taithneamh don duine ab fhinn ab áille snó...and off he went on a ship.   What's new then???
Stanza 3. I will go to the woods and spend there all my days.
In the place where there's no one and hear there the song of the birds
Where the trees are my shelter where grows the grasses to hide...this line changes in the various versions but this remains the sense and so continues the last one rehearsing the original love statement.
Contact at above address...happy to translate OIrish gaelic songs etc.
Vale! Emer.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Jun 06 - 08:46 PM

I seem to remember reading, long ago, that the first word should be d'imigh (gone), not Jimmy.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: Declan
Date: 17 Jun 06 - 08:29 PM

Although the pronuciation of the words D'imigh and Jimmy are quite close, I would imagine that this is a deliberate play on words in the song rather than an anglicisation of d'imigh into Jimmy. I may, of course, be totally wrong in this.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: GUEST,Ann
Date: 02 Aug 06 - 03:24 PM

I'm in no way a Gaelic linguist - but in recently reading an Irish historical novel the phrase "mó mhíle stór" was given the translation of "my thousand times beloved".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 06 - 04:03 PM

It was Finbarr that wrote the poem and since he left the band they cant read the poem with the song, there were never ment to be lyrics with the tune and this i was told by Davie Arther himself.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Oct 06 - 10:31 AM

Thank God,
I would hate to hear the lonesome boatman with lyrics, why fix something that's not broke

Subject: Silent Annie
From: GUEST,Celtic Warrior
Date: 09 Sep 07 - 05:09 PM

The ode to the Lonesome Boatman is a brilliant song. I've heard it sung many times by Eddie Furey with the The Fureys & Davey Arthur. Unfortunately, it's hard to find on an album - though the tune The Lonesome Boatman is. Does anyone know of an album that Silent Annie is on? Let me know please. Go raibh mile mhait agat! Marie

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: Davie_
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 12:55 PM

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: Davie_
Date: 15 Jan 08 - 12:57 PM

http://youtube.com/watch?v=VobIqa3IFF0

Lonesome boatman preceded by poem by Finbar I believe.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: GUEST,terri
Date: 22 Feb 08 - 11:13 AM

the red bits are 'these twelves months and better, my darling has left the shore, he n'er will come back 'till, he's travelled the globe all o'er, and when he returns, with laurels, i'll crown him all o'er he's the fondest of lovers sweet jimmy mo mhile a stor

n'er= never
o'er= over

makes sense if you see it that way.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: GUEST,Ó Súilleabháin
Date: 15 May 08 - 07:08 PM

A chara,

This is what I got from listening to the song. The only difference I heard in the Irish is at the end instead of "is é Jimmy mó mhíle stór" I hear "sé Jimmy mó mhíle stór". Then English part you can see what is different


Bliain an taca seo Jimmy d'imigh uaim rún mo chléibh
Ní thiocfaidh sé abhaile go dtabharfaidh sé cúrsa an tsaoil;
Nuair a chífead é rithfead le fuinneamh ró-ard ina chomhair
'S clúdód le mil é, sé Jimmy mó mhíle stór

Bíonn m'athair is mo mháthair ag bearradh's ag bruíon liom féin
Táim giobaithe piocaithe ciapaithe cráite dem shaol;
Thugas taitneamh don duine úd dob fhinne 's dob áille snó
Is chuaigh sé ar bhord loinge, sé Jimmy mó mhíle stór


These twelve months and better my darling has left the shore
He ne'er will come back till he travels the globe all over
And when he returns with laurels I'll crown him all over
He's the fondest of lovers, sweet Jimmy mó mhíle stór


Raghadsa chun coille agus caithfead an chuid eile
San áit ná beidh éinne, ag éisteacht le ceol na n-éan
Ag bun an chrainn chaorthainn mar a bhfásann ann féar go leor
Ag tabhairt taitnimh don duine úd, sé Jimmy mó mhíle stór

He's the fondest of lovers, sweet Jimmy mó mhíle stór

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: GUEST,lonesome boat man
Date: 30 Mar 09 - 10:57 AM

Hi.
    There is a poem that goes with the tune contact me and i'll send it to you its beautiful.   [e-mail]

Aidan..

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: RunrigFan
Date: 11 Jul 18 - 08:37 PM

Kathleen MacInnes version

Bliadhn' mun àm sa dh'fhalbh
Fada bhuam rùn mo chrìdh'
Gus an cuairtich e an saoghal
Cha bhi dùil ris air ais anns an tìr
Nuair a chì mis' e rithist
Nach mi nì an ogag 's an gaol
Le pòg na blas mil
O Jimmy mo mhìle stòr

Bidh mo mhàthair 's m' athair
A' gearain 's a' trod rium a' strì
Tha mi sgìth 's mi claoidhte
'S mi searbh 's mo bheatha gun sìth
Thug mi gaol dhan fhear fhlathail
Gun iarraidh thug mise dha pòg
'S chaidh esan a sheòladh
O Jimmy mo mhìle stòr

Thig mise dhan choille
'S caithidh mi ann cuid mhath dhem shaogh'l
Gun ghuth ann ri chluinntinn
Ach ceòl binn bho cheileireadh eòin
Aig cas nan craobh chaorainn
Far 'eil fhùraichean fàs ann gu leòr
Thug mi ghaol dhan fhear fhlathail
O Jimmy mo mhìle stòr
(2x)


English

A year ago my heart's love left me
For faraway places
He'll never return
Until he sees the wide world around
When I'll see my love coming
I'll give him all my love
And smother him with honey kisses
Jimmy mo mhíle stór

My father and mother
They never can give me ease
I'm tired and fed up
And tormented with this life
I gave my love to the fairest
Without asking I kissed him
And he went off to sea
Jimmy mo mhíle stór

I'll go to the woods
And spend there all of my time
With no one around
Listening to birdsong
Beaneath the rowan tree
With flowers aplenty there
Giving love to the most heavenly
To Jimmy mo mhíle stór
(2x)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: leeneia
Date: 14 Jul 18 - 01:21 PM

I have a facsimile copy of 'O'Neill's Music of Ireland', which was published in 1903. In the song section, there are two melodies called 'Seamus mo mile stor'. The English translation is 'James My Thousand Treasures'.

It looks like whether you call him Seamus, James or Jimmy, that the lad definitely belongs in the song.

Both are in 6/8 time, and say 'With expression.' One is in F and the other in G, and they are definitely different from each other.

I think I'll work them up and try them on the piano. They would make nice flute or fiddle tunes, too.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Translation of Jimmy mo mhile stor?
From: RunrigFan
Date: 25 Feb 19 - 10:38 PM

Kathleen MacInnes version in Scottish Gaelic

Bliadhn' mun àm sa dh'fhalbh
Fada bhuam rùn mo chrìdh'
Gus an cuairtich e an saoghal
Cha bhi dùil ris air ais anns an tìr
Nuair a chì mis' e rithist
Nach mi nì an ogag 's an gaol
Le pòg na blas mil
O Jimmy mo mhìle stòr

Bidh mo mhàthair 's m' athair
A' gearain 's a' trod rium a' strì
Tha mi sgìth 's mi claoidhte
'S mi searbh 's mo bheatha gun sìth
Thug mi gaol dhan fhear fhlathail
Gun iarraidh thug mise dha pòg
'S chaidh esan a sheòladh
O Jimmy mo mhìle stòr

Thig mise dhan choille
'S caithidh mi ann cuid mhath dhem shaogh'l
Gun ghuth ann ri chluinntinn
Ach ceòl binn bho cheileireadh eòin
Aig cas nan craobh chaorainn
Far 'eil fhùraichean fàs ann gu leòr
Thug mi ghaol dhan fhear fhlathail
O Jimmy mo mhìle stòr
(2x)


A year ago my heart's love left me
For faraway places
He'll never return
Until he sees the wide world around
When I'll see my love coming
I'll give him all my love
And smother him with honey kisses
Jimmy mo mhíle stór

My father and mother
They never can give me ease
I'm tired and fed up
And tormented with this life
I gave my love to the fairest
Without asking I kissed him
And he went off to sea
Jimmy mo mhíle stór

I'll go to the woods
And spend there all of my time
With no one around
Listening to birdsong
Beaneath the rowan tree
With flowers aplenty there
Giving love to the most heavenly
To Jimmy mo mhíle stór
(2x)