Lyr Add: An Diran Than Soulder (Gordon Bok)

Subject: Lyr Add: AN DIRAN THAN SOULDER (Gordon Bok)
From: Susan-Marie
Date: 12 Jan 99 - 07:59 AM

This is from Seal Djiril's Hymn, Gordon Bok and Ann Mayo Muir. The words aren't attributed to anyone in particular so I'm guesing either Gordon wrote them or they're from the same source as the rest of Seal Djiril's Hymn.

Can anyone translate the title and tell me what language it is?

AN DIRAN THAN SOULDER

CHORUS: An diran than soulder
An diran than soulder
The tide at thy head and feet
The wind about thy shoulder

Though the song should know thy fame
Though the wind bring back thy name
They'll not bring thee home again
That walked the seas in sorrow

CHORUS

Far from me is singing gone
Far from me is laughter gone
They can never bring me home
That walked the seas in sorrow

CHORUS

Now the deep a home for thee
Now the seal thy keeper be
Now the sea-bird hear thy cry
That walked the seas in sorrow

CHORUS

Call the wild and stepping sea
Call the wave to comfort thee
May she bear thee peacefully
The windy world over

CHORUS

(from the liner notes: "They say the seals come up, you know, and they do: come out of the water and become a man, the grey seals....one came back to the sea, and he died there. This is a lament, a crying for him.")

copyright 1972 Folk Legacy Records, Inc.

Subject: Lyr Add: AN DIRAN THAN SOULDER (Gordon Bok)
From: maeve
Date: 25 Oct 09 - 03:42 PM

A few musician friends were singing "An Diran" on this golden October morning, and Gordon asked that I correct a few details on the lyrics posted back in 1999.

Below are the lyrics as sung by Gordon and Anne Mayo Muir on the album. We used the same today, though of course he may change it from one singing to another.

The language about which the OP asked is from a dream; as is the case with "Seal Djiril's Hymn" in its entirety. "Another Land Made of Water" also sprang from a dream.
***********************************************************
An Diran Than Soulder (From "Seal Djiril's Hymn) by Gordon Bok

CHORUS:        
        An diran than soulder
       An diran than soulder
       The tide at thy head and feet
       The wind about thy shoulder

Though the song should know thy fame
Though the wind bring back thy name
They'll not bring thee home again
That walked the seas in sorrow

Far from me is singing gone
Far from me is laughter gone
They will never bring thee home
That walked the seas in sorrow

Now the deep a home for thee
Now the seal thy keeper be
Now the sea-bird hear my cry
The windy world over

Call the wild and stepping sea
Call the wave to comfort thee
May she bear thee peacefully
The windy world over

http://www.gordonbok.com/

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: An Diran Than Soulder (Gordon Bok)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 23 - 09:04 AM

So if I am to understand from the October 2009 thread above,the words, 'an diran than soulder', come from a dream. Presumably one from Master Bok's bountiful unconscious. I would like that. I did poke about, and found nothing in Gaelic and Celtic ... wondered about maybe an Anglicized Inuit dialect, but ... Google translation tried to be helpful, giving me 'Kurdish' as its authoritative answer -- you know,, all of those inland Kurdish desert seals and such....
So then, a dream. That sounds very fine to me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: An Diran Than Soulder (Gordon Bok)
From: maeve
Date: 06 Oct 23 - 12:32 PM

Yes, Guest at 06 Oct 23 - 09:04 AM, one of Gordon's dream-sourced songs- all achingly beautiful to hear and to sing.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: An Diran Than Soulder (Gordon Bok)
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Oct 23 - 09:04 AM

So if I am to understand from the October 2009 thread above,the words, 'an diran than soulder', come from a dream. Presumably one from Master Bok's bountiful unconscious. I would like that. I did poke about, and found nothing in Gaelic and Celtic ... wondered about maybe an Anglicized Inuit dialect, but ... Google translation tried to be helpful, giving me 'Kurdish' as its authoritative answer -- you know,, all of those inland Kurdish desert seals and such....
So then, a dream. That sounds very fine to me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: An Diran Than Soulder (Gordon Bok)
From: maeve
Date: 06 Oct 23 - 12:32 PM

Yes, Guest at 06 Oct 23 - 09:04 AM, one of Gordon's dream-sourced songs- all achingly beautiful to hear and to sing.