Lyr ADD: Is Mise Raifteiri / I'm Raftery the Poet

Subject: Is mise raifteiri an file lyrics by elea
From: GUEST,Guest - Colley Bird
Date: 20 Jan 20 - 06:18 PM

I'm missing some lyrics from
Is Mise Raifteiri (let that be an end to the bitter wind) as sung by Eleanor Shanley. Her diction is so clear but I just can't catch a couple of words and can't find the lyrics anywhere.. Very frustrating!

Subject: RE: Is mise raifteiri - file lyrics by elea
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Jan 20 - 08:27 PM

Is this page helpful?

https://www.irishpage.com/poems/miseraft.html

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Is Mise Raifteirí - I'm Raftery

Raftery was born in Killedan in 1779 or 1784, the son of a weaver. He was blinded by small pox while very young and is said to have worked as a stable boy for the landlord, Frank Taaffe. This Raftery poem is a famous one. In fact it was written on the backside of the Irish 5 Punt note. He was a wandering musician with a fiddle and like so many vagrant musicians of the time (c. 1784 - 1835 ) he was blind. They taught the blind to play an instrument so that they would at least be able to earn some sort of a living despite their handicap. The poem is so full of human kindness and warmth. *

Is Mise Raifteirí an file, Lán dúchais is grádh, Le súile gan solas, Le ciúnas gan crá. Ag dul síar ar m'aistear Le solas mo chroí Fann agus tuirseach Go deireadh mo shlí Féach anois mé Is mo chúl le bhfalla Ag seinm ceoil Do phócaí folamh

I'm Raftery the poet, Full of hope and love, With eyes without sight, My mind without torment. Going west on my journey By the light of my heart. Weary and tired To the end of my road Behold me now With my back to the wall Playing music To empty pockets.

"I think it is delightful. Reminds me of Mozart's 'Eine Kleine Nacht Musik'of which it was said that 'It's so simple a child could play it ... but a master couldn't do it justice. Of course an old blind man would prop himself against a wall for support whilst he was playing It's as nice a word picture as you could ask for. I heard an old fella saying one time, "Ní raibh Rafturaí dall ach bhí se caoch... "(Rafturai wasn't blind but he was poor sighted). He even managed to get married and had a few kids" ... Caoimhghin Ó Brolchain of Devon, England.

Antaine Ó Reachtabhra (Raifteirí) (1784-1835)
* Special thanks to Caoimhghin Ó Brolchain (Kevin Bradley)
of Devon, England for his fine commentary on the poet and the poem.
Courtesy of Jack & Vivian, IrishPage.com August 2005

Eleanor Shanley and John McCartin, Is Mise Raifteirí
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXOFwSfnMWE

Subject: RE: Is mise raifteiri - file lyrics by elea
From: Joe Offer
Date: 20 Jan 20 - 08:35 PM

Eleanor Shanley and John McCartin, Is Mise Raifteirí

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eXOFwSfnMWE
Is this the Eleanor Shanley performance you're talking about? It's nothing like what I copy-pasted above. Guess we have some transcription work to do.
-Joe-

Subject: RE: Is mise raifteiri - file lyrics by elea
From: GUEST,Colley bird
Date: 24 Jan 20 - 06:40 AM

Thank you so much Joe. I love the background to Raifteiri's life. And the poem is truly delightful. I wonder if it has had an air put to it?
But yes, it was Eleanor 'Shanley's song I was referring to, hoping to learn it. I've listened to several performances but still can't make out the second line of the third verse. (Before ' I've been on my travels, I 've made up some more')
Maybe fresh ears are needed!
If you can decipher them and put me out of my misery I'd be mighty chuffed.

Subject: RE: Is mise raifteiri - file lyrics by elea
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 24 Jan 20 - 12:31 PM

'I was there last September, back Annaghdown, when the boat bringing people to Galway went down.'

for Guest, Colley bird.

Subject: RE: Is mise raifteiri - file lyrics by elea
From: GUEST,Peter Laban
Date: 24 Jan 20 - 01:13 PM

A reference to Eanach Dúin or Anach Cuain as the song or air of that name is also called. Which in tunr spawned a rake of jigs based o nthe same melody, The Sheep in the Boat, The Hole in the Boat and the Killaloe Boat among them.

Subject: RE: Is mise raifteiri - file lyrics by elea
From: GUEST,Starship
Date: 26 Jan 20 - 12:44 PM

Refresh one time.

Subject: RE: Is mise raifteiri - file lyrics by elea
From: mayomick
Date: 29 Jan 20 - 06:18 AM

Thanks for the refresh, starship -thanks Joe Offer for the link to
Eleanor Shanley and John McCartin's fine rendition . Who was it translated the words that Eleanor uses, anyone know? I saw some Douglas Hyde translations of Rafteri's poems a few years ago but can't remember where or whether this one was included . I recall Douglas Hyde's translation of Bridin Vesey being very different to the one I've seen on mudcat .
Google links to a Tuam Recorder review from 1904 of :"The Lays of a Western Bard — Sons Ascribed to Raftery — Translated by Dr. Douglas Hyde.Price 3s 6d .There doesn't seems to be any copies or reprints available .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Is Mise Raifteiri / I'm Raftery the Poet
From: GUEST,Colley bird
Date: 06 Feb 20 - 04:16 PM

The source of this song is certainly obscure . But all the related information is really interesting.   So thank you all for that.. And thank you for the line you offered Starship. Nearly there - it was the second line of that verse I was after!
I'll keep sleuthing away.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Is Mise Raifteiri / I'm Raftery the Poet
From: beachcomber
Date: 07 Feb 20 - 08:30 AM

God, I learned that Raifteiri poem in Primary school, that and reams of other poetry as well. Sometimes odd verses float into my mind if I'm alone but that one, and his other great poem "Cill Aodain", (the village where he was from) I've never forgotten, in their entirety.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Is Mise Raifteiri / I'm Raftery the Poet
From: GUEST,Guest SEANG
Date: 19 Feb 20 - 04:04 PM

And now comes the Springtime, (Ive) sung of before
Ive been on my travels , made up some more


The reference to Springtime is of when Raifteiri wrote the song Cill Aodain…which contains the line ..
Anois teacht an Earraigh..(Now comes the Springtime)

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Is Mise Raifteiri / I'm Raftery the Poet
From: GUEST,Colley bird
Date: 05 Mar 20 - 11:36 AM

Many thanks Sean and beachcomber for those missing few words - I knew it had to be something simple! But also to everyone for all the background context. It really gives depth to a song to have the back story.
My first foray into mudcat forum. Great result.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Is Mise Raifteiri / I'm Raftery the Poet
From: GUEST,Jerry A. O'Neill
Date: 31 Jan 21 - 06:09 PM

Mise Raifteirí an file.

Mise Raifteirí an file,
Lán dóchais is grá,
Le súile gan solas,
Le ciúnas gan crá.
Ag dul síar ar m'aistear
Le solas mo chroí
Fann agus tuirseach
Go deireadh mo shlí.
Oh let that be an end to the bitter wind
The end of the Winter.

I go all over Galway through village and town,
I sing my oul songs and make a few pounds.
trudging all winter through the worst of the snow,
When the weather gets better I'll head for Mayo.
Oh let that be an end to the bitter wind,
The end of the Winter.

On the road that I travel, when Springtime comes round,
I can't see a step, but I know by the sound,
They'll be planting potatoes in the hard stoney ground.
And praying that there'll be enough to go round.
Oh let that be an end to the bitter wind,
The end of the Winter.

And now come the springtime,
Same song as before.
I've been on my travels, I know a few more.
I was there in September, back in Annaghdown,
When the boat bringing people to Galway went down.
Oh let that be an end to the bitter wind,
The end of the Winter.

Is Mise Raifteirí an file,
Lán dóchais is grá,
Le súile gan solas,
Le ciúnas gan crá.
Ag dul síar ar m'aistear
Le solas mo chroí
Fann agus tuirseach
Go deireadh mo shlí.
Oh let that be an end to the bitter wind,
The end of the Winter.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Is Mise Raifteiri / I'm Raftery the Poet
From: Thompson
Date: 01 Feb 21 - 05:40 AM

From the Wikipedia entry on Raiftéirí:

"Some time between 1785 and 1788, Anthony Raftery's life took a huge turn. It all started with a cough. Soon two of the children began suffering from headaches. Another child had a high fever. A rash appeared on Anthony's hand. It caused severe itching. Soon the children were covered in that same rash. They had contracted smallpox. Within three weeks, eight of the nine children had died. One of the last things young Anthony saw before going blind was his eight siblings laid out dead on the floor."

Smallpox was wiped out and no longer exists anywhere in the world (except in two laboratories), after the World Health Organization's global vaccination campaign from 1958 to 1977.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Is Mise Raifteiri / I'm Raftery the Poet
From: GUEST,Guest John McGee
Date: 04 Feb 21 - 05:24 AM

I believe Padraig Stevens is the author of the English verses quoted by Jerry A. O'Neill above.