Lyr Req: I Am Stretched on Your Grave

Subject: Lyrics needed: 'Stretched on Your Grave'
From: Clove
Date: 16 Jul 99 - 11:26 PM

The Gothic/Irish Traditional band Eden has a song on their album "Fire and Rain" that is listed as being a traditional folk song. In the liner notes they have the lyrics to all their songs but that one, and I really need the lyrics to it! The song is called "Stretched on Your Grave" and I would really appreciate it if anyone who knows all the lyrics could post them! Thank you! In service, Clove

Subject: Lyr Add: I AM STRETCHED ON YOUR GRAVE
From: Barbara
Date: 17 Jul 99 - 12:54 AM

This one? I have it on a Voice Squad CD. It has gorgeous harmonies, but I think the words are a little macabre, necrophiliac even.
Blessings
Barbara

I AM STRETCHED ON YOUR GRAVE

I am stretched on your grave and will lie there forever
If your hands were in mine I'd be sure we'd not sever
My apple tree my brightness, it's time we were together
For I smell of the earth and I'm worn by the weather

When my family thinks that I'm safe in my bed
From night until morning I am stretched at your head
Calling out to the earth with tears hot and wild
My grief for the girl that I loved as a child

Do you remember the night we were lost
In the shade of the blackthorn and the chill of the frost
Oh thanks be to Jesus we did what was right
And your maidenhead still is your pillar of light

The priests and the friars, approach me with dread
Because I still love you, my life and youre dead
I still will be your shelter through rain and through storm
And with you in your cold grave I cannot sleep warm
^^

Subject: RE: Lyrics needed: 'Stretched on Your Grave'
From: PJ Curtis
Date: 17 Jul 99 - 05:29 AM

Sinead O'Connor has also covered the song. The original (an adabtion of an old Irish Love poem) was by the Irish group Scullion on their debut album(which I produced) back in '82/83 and now out of print. pjc

Subject: RE: Lyrics needed: 'Stretched on Your Grave'
From: Barbara
Date: 17 Jul 99 - 11:16 AM

PJ, where did Scullion or whomever get the tune? I love that minor to major shift in the third line, but it doesn't sound traditional. (Or is that just a Voice Squad modification?)
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyrics needed: 'Stretched on Your Grave'
From: PJ Curtis
Date: 18 Jul 99 - 08:24 AM

hello Barbara, The melody was written by Philip King and I did the arrangements (for the Scullion album on Mulligan..now sadly deleted I believe). The Minor /major shift was our own input...though I must listen again to the V. Squad's version....its been 18 years since I did the original. In fact I must get around to playing the Scullion version on my radio prog. 'Reels to Ragas' on Lyric Fm (cheap plug there!)(www.lyricfm.ie) PJ

Subject: RE: Lyrics needed: 'Stretched on Your Grave'
From: Susan Kirsch
Date: 18 Jul 99 - 09:05 AM

I think I have a recording by Dead Can Dance of this. It's great to hear of so many bands covering it.

Subject: RE: Lyrics needed: 'Stretched on Your Grave'
From: Barbara
Date: 18 Jul 99 - 07:29 PM

Talk about full circle, PJ, I just transcribed the Voice Squad version for a friend. Would you like me to ship you my transcription? As a MIDI?
Blessings,
Barbara

Subject: RE: Lyrics needed: 'Stretched on Your Grave'
From:
Date: 18 Jul 99 - 09:54 PM

Kate Rusby sings a version on "Hourglass."

Subject: Lyr Add: TÁIM SÍNTE AR DO THUAMA / I LIE ON YOUR..
From: Philippa
Date: 24 Nov 99 - 05:11 PM

Sinead O'Connor popularised "I am Stretched on Your Grave". That version is in the Digital Tradition database. I think Philip King, who recorded "I am Stretched on Your Grave" with Scullion before Sinead O'Connor did, was responsible for that version of the song.[as earlier messages on this thread confirm] I found the following older lyrics in "Songs of the Irish", compiled by Dónal O'Sullivan and published by Mercier of Cork, Ireland.

Táim Sínte ar do Thuama

Táim sínte ar do thuama,
Is do gheóir ann do íor mé
Dá mbeadh barr do dhá lámh agam
Ní sgarfainn leat choíche.
A úilin is a ansacht,
Is am domh-sa luí leat,
Tá bola fuar na cré orm,
Dath na gréine 's na gaoithe!

Tá cló ar mo croí-se
Tá líonta le grá dhuit,
Lionndubh ar thaobh thíos de
Chomh cíordhubh le h-áirne
Is má bhaineann aon ní dhom
'S go gclaoifeadh an bás mé,
Bead-sa im' shí gaoithe
Romhat thíos ar na bánta!

Nuair is dó le mo mhuintir
Go mbím-se ar mo leaba,
Ar do thuama 'sea bhím sínte
Ó oíche go maidin:
A' cur síos mo chruatan
'S a' crua-ghol go daingean.
Tré mo chailín ciúin stuama
Do luadh liom 'n-a leanbh!


Literal translation by Dónal O'Sullivan:

I lie on your grave,
And you will find me there always;
If I had your two hands in mine
I would part from you never.
My fond one, my dearest,
It is time for me to lie with you,
The cold smell of the earth is on me,
The hue of the sun and of the wind!

There is a mark(graven) on my heart
That is filled with love for you,
While the melancholy beneath it
Is as black as a sloe.
and if anything happens to me
And death were to lay me low,
I shall be as a whirlwind
Before you, down in the meadows!

When my people supppose
That I am in bed,
It is on your grace that I am lying
From night until morning;
Giving vent to my distress
And weeping bitterly
For my gentle, modest maid
That was betrothed to me while yet a child!


Poetic translation by Edmund Walsh:

From the cold sod that's o'er you
I never shall sever;
Were my hands twined in yours, love,
I'd hold them for ever,
My fondest, my fairest,
we may now sleep together,
I've the cold earth's damp odour,
And I'm worn from the weather!

This heart, filled with fondness,
Is wounded and weary,
A dark gulf beneath it
Yawns jet-black and dreary,
When death comes, a victor,
In mercy to greet me,
On the wings of the whirlwind
In the cold wastes you'll meet me!

When the folk of my household
Suppose I am sleeping,
On your cold grave till morning
The lone watch I'm keeping:
My grief to the night wind
For the mild maid to render,
Who was my betrothed
Since infancy tender!

Subject: RE: : 'Stretched on Your Grave'
From: Philippa
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 01:27 PM

The Frank O'Connor translation of "I am Stretched on Your Grave" can be found in Seán Lucy, ed. "Love Poems of the Irish", Cork: Mercier, 1967

Subject: Tune add: Ta/im si/nte ar do thuama
From: alison
Date: 07 Dec 99 - 09:40 PM

Thanks to a Philippa for the dots.... the tune can be heard at Mudcat MIDIs

it is there under Ta/im si/nte ar do thuama, and from the cold sod that's o'er you...

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Táim Sínte ar do Thuama , Cáit Bhán ...
From: Felipa
Date: 14 May 03 - 12:04 PM

Finola Ó Síochrú sings a version of "Táim Sínte ar do Thuama" under the title of Cáit Bhán agus í Marbh" on her album "Searc Mo Chléibh / Love of My Heart". The tune she uses reminds me of "Tá na Paipéir Dá Saighneáil"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Stretched on Your Grave'
From: Felipa
Date: 18 May 03 - 08:36 AM

also recorded by The Lennon Family CEFCD 167 Dúchas Ceoil

Here are the references from Songs of the Irish (see 24 Nov 99 message above) - text and translation: Walsh's Irish Popular Songs", 1847; tune: An Lóchrann March, 1918, 2, noted by Fionán Mac Coilm from Tadhg MacCarthy of Emlagh, Prior, Co. Kerry

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Stretched on Your Grave'
From: GUEST,Jackie
Date: 13 Feb 06 - 03:15 PM

There is another version done here in NZ by an all girl Irish band from Wellington (NZ's capital city) called Glor na mBan (Sound of Women) it is a very nice version and really brings to mind the medieval monks and friars of aincent Ireland.

Here's their website link:

http://www.glornamban.com/

And here is a link to a 30 second snippet of I Am Stetched On Your Grave plus other tracks of their first Album:

http://www.amplifier.co.nz/release/19146/the_sound_of_women.html

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Stretched on Your Grave'
From: GUEST,Dorain
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 04:15 PM

I was listening to Kate Rusby's Hourglass album and noticed that her lyrics vary slightly from Sinead's

I am stretched on your grave
And I'll lie here forever
If your hands were in mine
I'd be sure they would not sever
My apple tree my brightness
It's time we were together
For I smell of the earth
And I'm worn by the weather

When my family thinks
That I'm safely in my bed
O from morn until night
I am stretched out at your head
Calling out unto the earth
With tears hot and wild
for the loss of the girl
That I loved as a child

Do you remember the night
O the night when we were lost
In the shade of the blackthorn
And the touch of the frost
O and thanks be to Jesus
We did all that was right
And your maiden head still
Is your pillar of light

O the priests and the friars
They approach me in dread
O for I love you still
All my life and you're dead
I still will be your shelter
Through rain and through storm
And with you in your cold grave
I cannot sleep warm

So I am stretched on your grave
And I'll lie here forever
If your hands were in mine
I'd be sure they would not sever
My apple tree my brightness
It's time we were together
For I smell of the earth
And I'm worn by the weather

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Stretched on Your Grave'
From: GUEST,Jack Campin
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 08:41 PM

It's a version of "The Unquiet Grave", innit?

BTW the first tune for that in Mudcat seems to be a variant of "Westron wynde", which might be one of the oldest English tunes known.

I first heard "I Am Stretched on Your Grave" in a rather pub-rockified version by a local singer - it gets around. Made more sense to me when I heard the Dead can Dance version.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Stretched on Your Grave'
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 18 Nov 06 - 08:47 PM

INMHO the best version of this song is by Peta Webb and Ken Hall on "As close as can be" Fellside FECD155. Absolutly electrifying.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: 'Stretched on Your Grave'
From: harpmolly
Date: 19 Nov 06 - 12:42 AM

I also love the Rusby version, although I believe (as usual) she messed with the melody a bit. What I find interesting is that the other version I've heard (from Dead Can Dance's "Toward The Within") seems harmonically compatible with Rusby's version. It'd be interesting to do a harmonic convergence of the two ;).

Molly

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stretched on Your Grave
From: GUEST,Maire Smith
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 04:31 PM

This is a very lovely song. Does anyone know if there are chords for it up anywhere on the web? I've looked, but I can only find lyrics.

(The version I'm familiar with is the Dead Can Dance one, so if there are variations in the melody between versions, please let me know.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stretched on Your Grave
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 23 Jan 08 - 08:02 PM

I sing this with my band, and you can hear it at http://www.myspace.com/pinkfroot
(Sorry, that doesn't help with the chords, I don't think!)

Lovely spooky stuff.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stretched on Your Grave
From: GUEST,Alice
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 07:19 PM

Does anyone know where one can find sheet music for this song? I'm doing it for the All-State Choir Festival.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stretched on Your Grave
From: Suegorgeous
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 09:03 PM

I looked high and low for the sheet music when I first learned it. Can't you learn it by ear?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Stretched on Your Grave
From: Malcolm Douglas
Date: 12 Nov 08 - 09:27 PM

Some choir festivals might frown on such a thing, perhaps. Alice might do well to say which of the tunes used for this song she means, though. As has been mentioned already in this thread, there are several.

Subject: Lyr Add: I AM STRETCHED ON YOUR GRAVE (F O'Connor)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 19 May 09 - 09:35 AM

Both Sinead O'Connor's and Kate Rusby's versions have diverged a bit from the original:


I AM STRETCHED ON YOUR GRAVE
Translated by Frank O'Connor from the Irish

I am stretched on your grave
  And would lie there forever;
If your hands were in mine
  I'd be sure we'd not sever.
My apple tree, my brightness,
  'Tis time we were together
For I smell of the earth
  And am stained by the weather.

When my family thinks
  That I'm safe in my bed
From night until morning
  I am stretched at your head,
Calling out to the air
  With tears hot and wild
My grief for the girl
  That I loved as a child.

Do you remember
  The night we were lost
In the shade of the blackthorn
  And the chill of the frost?
Thanks be to Jesus
  We did what was right,
And your maidenhead still
  Is your pillar of light.

The priests and the friars
  Approach me in dread
Because I still love you
  My love and you dead,
And would still be your shelter
  From rain and from storm,
And with you in the cold grave
  I cannot sleep warm.


[This version appears in
"Kings, Lords & Commons" by Frank O'Connor (1959);
"The Little Monasteries: Poems Translated from the Irish" by Frank O'Connor (1963);
"A Frank O'Connor Reader" edited by Michael A. Steinman (1994);
"The Ireland Anthology" edited by Seán Dunne (1998)]

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: I Am Stretched on Your Grave
From: Jack Blandiver
Date: 20 May 09 - 03:12 AM

First time I heard this it was sung by Kate Green on her 1994 album An Unkindness of Ravens. You can listen to it on her myspace page: http://www.myspace.com/kategreenmusic.