dulaman/two sisters

Subject: dulaman/two sisters
From: Laura Horstkamp
Date: 23 Oct 96 - 08:42 PM

I am looking for the words to Clannad's "Dulaman" from the album of the same name, as well as their version of the "Two Sisters"---HOW DOES IT END??? if you'd like, email me at: [e-mail] Thanks!

Subject: RE: dulaman/two sisters
From:
Date: 19 Nov 96 - 11:33 PM

Hi, Unfortunately, I don't know any Gaelic so I can't help you with the words to "Dulaman." OTOH, I believe "Two Sisters" ends this way. "The miller, he was hanged on the mountainhead Sing aye dum a sing aye day . . . The miller, he was hanged on the mountainhead The eldest sister was boiled and bled I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true to me."

Kind of a gruesome little ending but it's still one of my favorite songs. You might also check out Loreena McKennitt's song "The Bonnie Swans" which tells a slightly different version of the story.

Subject: RE: dulaman/two sisters
From: Susan of DT
Date: 20 Nov 96 - 07:29 PM

If the two sisters you are looking for is the child ballad #10, there are many versions in the DT - look up #10 or twosis* The story often ends before the sister is punished, but merely exposed or the sister is killed.

Subject: RE: dulaman/two sisters
From:
Date: 22 Nov 96 - 05:00 AM

Hi Laura'

For "Two sisters" you can try the following link:

www.simons-rock.edu/~tevis/twasisters.html

I think it's a Clannad's version with some additional verses. I think I've seen that on one of my Loreena McKennitt's CDs. If I find it, I'll put it here (I hope on Monday, November 25).

Regards

Subject: RE: dulaman/two sisters
From:
Date: 25 Nov 96 - 03:10 AM

I found "The Bonny Swans" on an incredible "The Mask and Mirror" album of Loreena McKennitt. The story is somewhat similar to that on "Dulaman". Bye

Subject: RE: dulaman/two sisters
From: Michael Carr
Date: 10 Dec 96 - 12:38 AM

I think I can get the lyrics to Dulaman to you. I think I have them printed out in the liner notes to one of my CD's. I'll dig them out and post them or e-mail them.

Do you have a brother named Carl who lives in Charlottesville, VA? He's a friend of mine who often speaks fondly of his sister who is obsessed with Irish music. Just curious.

Subject: RE: dulaman/two sisters
From: Ian
Date: 27 Dec 96 - 04:44 PM

Laura,

As you can tell, there are quite a few different versions of the 'Two Sisters' story out there. It's a great one!

The one that "ac.graybill" mentions has more of an American/Appalachian feel to it (at least when I've heard it done); but the ending is slightly different. It should be:

"The miller, he was hanged on the mountainhead
The eldest sister was boiled in lead.
I'll be true unto my love, if he'll be true to me."

(This is where the group 'Boiled in Lead' got its name.)

You can find another version of the song/story, called 'Cruel Sister', on the album "Warrior Bard" (by yours truly), by the Minstrels of Mayhem on "A Brisk Walk", or by Pentangle on an album called 'Cruel Sister' (I think). This one has a more mystical flavor to it and has a different ending as well.

Whichever version (or combination) you end up with, I'm sure you'll enjoy the song.

Good Luck! - Ian O'Donnell

Subject: RE: dulaman/two sisters
From: Ian
Date: 21 Jan 97 - 04:41 PM

Laura,

It turns out I made a bit of an error in my last post - "Cruel Sister" is on my 'Bard's Voyage' album, not 'Warrior Bard'. I must have been sleepy or otherwise out of it.

Also, I believe Pentangle recorded it a couple of different times. You can try looking for it on their album, 'A Maid That's Deep in Love' as well.

Happy Hunting! - Ian

Subject: RE: dulaman/two sisters
From: Jennifer Smith
Date: 24 Jan 97 - 09:32 PM

I've also run across several versions of the 'Two Sisters' song, and I've always been curious. Does anyone know what the original source for the story was? Is it based on some Celtic myth or legend, or even a true story?

Subject: RE: dulaman/two sisters
From: Susan of DT
Date: 30 Jan 97 - 04:20 AM

Child has 7 pages of introduction/notes to this song and 21 versions of the song. He mentions a broadside of 1656 and mentions Scadinavian versions.

Subject: RE: dulaman/two sisters
From:
Date: 09 Feb 97 - 08:47 PM

This tale certainly has made the rounds in folk songs! There is a great version on the Old Blind Dogs "Close to the Bone" CD, available from Klub Records, Ltd, 9 Watt Rd, Hillington Ind. Est. Hillington, Glasgow, G52 4RY.

In this rather macabre version, the body of the drowned sister is found by two minstrels who make a harp out of her breastbone.

Subject: RE: dulaman/two sisters
From: Susan of DT
Date: 10 Feb 97 - 07:21 PM

Making a harp or a fiddle of her body is not unusual in the ballad - harp of her breastbone, strings of her long yellow hair, pegs if her long fingerbones. The harp then sings alone accusing the murderer or the only tune that the fiddle would play was oh the wind and rain. Look up several of the versions of Child 10.

Subject: RE: Dúlaman
From: Philippa
Date: 19 Jul 99 - 04:16 PM

As for Dúlaman, it's hidden in one of the "An Bhean Udaí Thall" threads! See Aine's posting of 26 March 1998. Coincidentally, the song which is sought on and gives its title to that thread has some similarity to Child 10.

Subject: RE: Dúlaman
From: Philippa
Date: 19 Jul 99 - 05:10 PM

I forgot to mention the Clannad sound sample at Dúlaman [http://www.jtwinc.com/clannad/sdulaman.htm]

Subject: Tune Add: DULAMAN or TWO SISTERS
From: alison
Date: 23 Oct 99 - 09:35 AM

Here's the tune for dulaman, thanks Philippa.... from Colm O/ Baoill's revision of Lorcan O/ Muireadhaigh: Amhra/in Chuige Uladh.

MIDI file: DULAMAN.MID

Timebase: 480

Name: Du/lama/n
TimeSig: 2/4 24 8
Tempo: 100 (600000 microsec/crotchet)
Key: C
Start
0720 1 62 084 0120 1 61 070 0013 0 62 084 0107 1 62 086 0010 0 61 070 0350 1 74 082 0005 0 62 086 0110 0 74 082 0005 1 74 090 0354 0 74 090 0006 1 72 085 0120 1 69 104 0006 0 72 085 0472 0 69 104 0002 1 72 086 0354 0 72 086 0006 1 69 083 0111 0 69 083 0009 1 67 095 0358 0 67 095 0002 1 60 087 0118 0 60 087 0002 1 60 099 0358 0 60 099 0002 1 64 087 0118 0 64 087 0002 1 67 111 0838 0 67 111 0002 1 62 088 0118 0 62 088 0002 1 62 103 0358 0 62 103 0002 1 74 083 0118 0 74 083 0002 1 74 109 0358 0 74 109 0002 1 72 092 0118 0 72 092 0002 1 69 100 0478 0 69 100 0002 1 72 092 0360 1 69 094 0001 0 72 092 0118 0 69 094 0001 1 67 088 0357 0 67 088 0003 1 60 091 0120 1 60 094 0002 0 60 091 0348 0 60 094 0010 1 64 091 0111 0 64 091 0009 1 67 098 0958 0 67 098 0002 1 69 107 0358 0 69 107 0002 1 62 087 0118 0 62 087 0002 1 62 103 0358 0 62 103 0002 1 62 090 0118 0 62 090 0002 1 60 094 0360 1 62 081 0001 0 60 094 0119 1 64 099 0002 0 62 081 0476 0 64 099 0002 1 72 100 0350 0 72 100 0010 1 69 094 0104 0 69 094 0016 1 67 100 0360 1 64 079 0005 0 67 100 0115 1 62 094 0010 0 64 079 0468 0 62 094 0002 1 62 088 0478 0 62 088 0002 1 64 099 0354 0 64 099 0006 1 65 081 0108 0 65 081 0012 1 64 096 0357 0 64 096 0003 1 62 093 0120 1 60 100 0002 0 62 093 0358 1 62 085 0001 0 60 100 0119 1 64 102 0017 0 62 085 0461 0 64 102 0002 1 72 103 0360 1 69 095 0001 0 72 103 0119 1 67 100 0006 0 69 095 0352 0 67 100 0002 1 64 082 0118 0 64 082 0002 1 62 102 0478 0 62 102 0002 1 62 100 0478 0 62 100
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the March 10 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T:Du/lama/n
M:2/4
Q:1/4=100
K:C
D7^C|D3dd3c|A4c3A|G3CC3E|G7D|D3dd3c|A4c3A|
G3CC3E|G8|A3DD3D|C3DE4|c3AG3E|D4D4|E3FE3D|
C3DE4|c3AG3E|D4D4||

If you'd rather hear the tune without the hassle of translating try new MIDI site

slainte

alison