Lyr Req: Fear a Bhata (from Niamh Parsons)

Subject: Niamh Parsons: Fear an bhata
From: Sabine
Date: 11 Nov 01 - 10:36 AM

I'm looking for the (irish) gaelic words to fear an bhàta the way Niamh Parsons sings it.

I have found numerous versions of this beautiful song, but all scots gaelic. I know that it is a scottish song but the pronounciation differs from the irish, of course. So, I need the irish one :o)

Can anyone help me?

I also would appreciate a PM

Greetings

Sabine

Subject: Lyr Add: FEAR AN BHÁTA
From: masato sakurai
Date: 11 Nov 01 - 11:16 AM

I'm not sure this is the one you are looking for, but an Irish version anyway.

FEAR AN BHÁTA

(Curfá)
'Fhir an bhàta 's na hóró éile,
'Fhir an bhàta 's na hóró éile,
'Fhir an bhàta 's na hóró éile
Mo shoraidh sián leat gach áit a dtéid thú.

Théid mé suas ar an chnoc is airde
Féach an bhfeic mé fear an bhàta;
An dtig thú anocht nó an dtig thú ám´arach?
Muna dtig thú idir is trua atá mé.

Curfá

Tá mo chroíse briste brúite
Is tric na deora a rith bho mo shúileann.
An dtig thú inniu nó am bídh mí 'dúil leat
Nó an druid mé an doras le osna thuirseach?

Curfá

Thug mé gaol duit is chan fhéad mé 'athrú,
Cha gaol bliana is cha gaol ráithe
Ach gaol ó thoiseacht nuair bha mé 'mo pháiste
Is nach seasc a choíche mé 'gus cloígh' an bás mé.

Curfá

SOURCE: Carmel O Boyle, The Irish Woman's Songbook (Mercier Press, 1986, pp. 19-20)

~Masato

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Niamh Parsons: Fear an bhata
From: masato sakurai
Date: 11 Nov 01 - 11:21 AM

The title should be "Fear an Bháta"; and "amárach".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Niamh Parsons: Fear an bhata
From: Sabine
Date: 11 Nov 01 - 12:09 PM

Thank you Masato,

but alas only the first two verses fit to Niamh's singing. Also the last line of the Refrain differs in the first two or three words.

The version I have has about 5 or 6 verses.

Maybe someone else can complete it.

Again, thank you

Sabine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Niamh Parsons: Fear an bhata
From: Sabine
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 03:24 AM

Just to refresh *g*

:o)

Sabine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Niamh Parsons: Fear an bhata
From: Aodh
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 02:08 PM

Hi, I now you wanted the Irish version but what I've just read is so close to the Scottish, that I thought I might as well post the version I know, Just to keep the Scottish side up !

'S tric mi sealltuinn o'n chnoc a's airde, etc,

Tha mo chridhe-sa briste, bruite, etc,

'S tric mi foighneachd be luchd nam bata
Am fac iad thu, no'm bheil thu sabhailt
Ach 's ann a tha gach aon diubh'g raitinn
gur gorach mise, ma thug mi gradh bhuit.

Gheall mo leannan domh gun de'n t-sioda
gheall e siod agus breacan riomhach
fainn' oir anns am faicinn iomhaigh
Ach's eagal leam gu'n dean e diochuimhn

Thuig mi gaol duit's etc

Bidh mi tuille gu tursach deurach
mar eala bhan 's i an deigh a reubadh
Guileag bais aic' air lochan feurach
'Us cach gu leir an deigh a treigsinn

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Niamh Parsons: Fear an bhata
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 02:51 PM

If I remember correctly, Niamh sings "Céad míle fáilte" in the chorus instead of "mo shoraidh slán leat"

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Niamh Parsons: Fear an bhata
From: Noreen
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 03:19 PM

Yes, she does, Philippa, and I was lucky enough to hear her sing it live last Tuesday, with Graham Dunne. Wonderful concert.

Previous thread: Lyric request: Fear a Bhata (gaelic)

Niamh/Fear a Bhata from Blackbirds and Thrushes mp3

Real Audio version

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Niamh Parsons: Fear an bhata
From: Noreen
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 03:30 PM

But why, when I download that mp3 of the lovely Niamh singing Fear a Bhata into Real Jukebox, does it classify it as blues?

P'raps I should send Max a copy?

singing along...

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Niamh Parsons: Fear an bhata
From: Sabine
Date: 12 Nov 01 - 04:51 PM

Great!!!! That's it. I found the verses I needed in the thread Noreen posted. It was exactly the version I have, so I suppose it was cut out from Blackbirds and Trushes.

Isn't it fantastic the bluesy way she is singing it?

You see, people often call me crazy, but I found out that the english words to a song which was originally written in gaelic often doesn't sound very well. The english language has a different melodie as the gaelic and other language. So, to my ear sometimes the expression get's lost.

I only know little gaelic but I can listen very well and together with the few words I know I am able to pronounce it. And - of course - I like to know what I am singing about.

When I was in Ireland this year people were really astonished. Because after I had sung some gaelic songs they wanted to talk to me in gaelic as well. But to their great surprise they had to find out that I was unable to and that I came from Germany :o)

I liked this *ggg*

Folks,

let me thank you again for your help!

A big hug to you all!!!

Sabine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Niamh Parsons: Fear an bhata
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 05:28 AM

I heard Niamh in a house concert this evening, and this is the song I liked best. Her interpretation of the song is extraordinary. It's on here Blackbirds & Thrushes CD.
She'll be in Sebastopol, California, this weekend for a festival, and then to Portland and Seattle, and then to the UK.
If you have a chance to hear her, don't miss it.
-Joe Offer-

Niamh's Website: http://www.niamhparsons.com

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Niamh Parsons: Fear an bhata
From: Sabine
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 05:52 AM

Oh, I would like to hear/see her. But a little bit far away from Germany....


Sabine

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Niamh Parsons: Fear an bhata
From: Murray MacLeod
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 08:02 AM

She may well do an extraordinary version of Fear a bhata, but I can never forgive her for murdering Mickey McConnell's "Tinkerman's Daughter", and in the process infecting a whole generation of floor singers with the wrong melody.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Niamh Parsons: Fear an bhata
From: Joe Offer
Date: 25 Sep 04 - 03:30 PM

Well, I suppose you could question Niamh's "authenticity" on a number of songs, Murray. She's certainly not strict in her interpretations. It's the first time I've ever heard an amplified instrument in a house concert, but I have to say I loved Graham Dunne's electric guitar accompaniment. It was quite understated, a perfect accompaniment to Niam's singing style. Her style follows traditional a cappella singing, but somehow works very well with the guitar.
I wonder about all these nontraditional elements in her performance, but I decided to just sit back and enjoy the performance - and I did, very much.
-Joe Offer-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fear a Bhata (Niamh Parsons)
From: GUEST
Date: 16 Aug 22 - 06:31 PM

As the original poster recognized, this is a Scottish Gaelic song in origin. Commonly heard in the sixties from the Corries, Robin Hall and Jimmy MacGregor, the McCalmans et al, but with English lyrics for the verses, chorus in Gaelic.

https://mainlynorfolk.info/sandy.denny/songs/fhirabhata.html

Ross

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fear a Bhata (from Niamh Parsons)
From: Tony Rees
Date: 16 Aug 22 - 09:56 PM

Also as one of the first solo recordings by Sandy Denny (off a radio broadcast) .

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fear a Bhata (from Niamh Parsons)
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 17 Aug 22 - 08:33 AM

One of the best recordings of this song was by The Corries and Paddy Bell

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fear a Bhata (from Niamh Parsons)
From: leeneia
Date: 17 Aug 22 - 11:56 AM

YouTube has at least three versions of this, one with the lyrics.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fear a Bhata (from Niamh Parsons)
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Aug 22 - 12:55 PM

I first heard this song from the Johnstons:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnCQyHgzpww

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fear a Bhata (from Niamh Parsons)
From: michaelr
Date: 24 Aug 22 - 02:20 AM

All the best ballads are Scottish. And all the best tunes are Irish.

That's just how it is. Don't argue.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Fear a Bhata (from Niamh Parsons)
From: GeoffLawes
Date: 30 Aug 22 - 06:18 PM

Many and various recordings on YouTube https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=%27Fhir+A%27+Bhata