Lyr Req: Keening Song (from Peter Kennedy)

Subject: Lyr Req: Keening Song recorded by Peter Kennedy
From:
Date: 27 Jun 04 - 11:17 AM

I,m searching for the lyrics of the "Keening Song", sung by Kitty Gallagher, collected by Peter Kennedy (1952) and published 1995 (Saydisc Records)on the CD "Traditional Songs of Ireland".
Please, if you know the lyrics or the way I can find them write on my e-mail directly.
Thanks in advanced
Zasmina

Subject: Lyr Add: THE KEENING SONG (as sung by Aine Minogue
From: Joe Offer
Date: 28 Jun 04 - 03:14 AM

Hi, Zasmina - it isn't in Kennedy's book, Folksongs of Britain and Ireland. On this page (click), Aine Minogue has lyrics derived from the Kennedy/Gallagher recording, but I don't know how close it is to what Gallagher sang. Here's what Minogue has:

The Keening Song
(as sung by Aine Minogue)

S'airiu,
Agus a leanbh,
Cad a Dheanfaidh me,
Ta tu ar shiul uaim,
Agus airiu,
Agus anuiridh, nil duin ar bith agam,
'S airiu,
Agus me lion fein,
Da mbeithea go moch agam,
Agus och, och, airiu, gan thu, gan thu.

'Sairu, my child, what will I do, you're gone from me, and airiu, I've been left alone after a year, there is no one, and och, och airiu, without you, without you


Och and airiu - words of lamentation (the words were not important, merely the use of the singing voice as an emotional release in the face of sorrow)

Hope that helps.
-Joe Offer (e-mail sent)-

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Keening Song recorded by Peter Kennedy
From: Big Tim
Date: 28 Jun 04 - 05:01 AM

I'd say "och" is short for "ochone" - meaning something like "alas".