Origins: Delaney

25 Aug 17 - 08:20 AM (#3873559)
Subject: Origins: Delaney
From: GUEST,Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin

Sophia Morrison wrote down the lyrics of a song she collected in Manx Gaelic in the early 20th century. It's called 'Delaney', which immediately brought to mind 'Banks of the Bann'. The structure of this song seems to reflect that, but it clearly isn't that story - the opposite, in fact. In this one, the girl's parents are all in favour of her marrying him, but he's married already to another, three quarters of a year ago, to the daughter of Bill Bailey of County Mayo.

I can't find any song along these lines in English. There's no reason why it shouldn't be a completely original song in Manx, but the Isle of Man was influenced by comings and goings from all sorts of place, as can be seen in Manx versions of other traditional songs. I wondered, therefore, if anyone might be able to suggest anything which follows this gist. I'll give the lyrics in my translation into English:

Delaney

1 Once as I went on walking between towers and the castle
...I met a beautiful young woman coming to meet me on the road.
...If you'd like to believe me, I detained her.
..."O young man," she said to me, "are you in your right mind?"

2 A short while later after this, it so happened
...That we went to walk in those places again;
...That we drew close, taking the hands of the other,
...With kisses so sweet; she was crying and saying -

3 Here's a letter from my Father and a blessing from my Mother,
...As here with it all the great love I have towards you.
...You will get a bargain with beauty, and a thousand pounds of silver/money
...And me being comforted the day we'll be married.

4 "Beautiful fair young woman, I wish to believe you,
...And I wish to live with you the years I would live;
...I'm married to another three quarters (of a year) ago,
...With the daughter of Bill Bailey of County Mayo."

5 How black rose the sun on me when I was in my youth;
...Heavy dew before it lifted from the hay meadows.
...Raise you up fruits that lie in glens;
...My roses have fallen, they'll never rise again.


Lhiuish,

Bobby Bob, Ellan Vannin

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28 Aug 17 - 04:45 AM (#3873994)
Subject: RE: Origins: Delaney
From: Joe Offer

refresh

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