Lyr Req: Thios Cois Na Trá Dom

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Lyr Req: Thios Cois Na Trá Dom

13 Jul 00 - 09:19 PM (#257389)
Subject: Thios Chois Na Tra Domh
From: GUEST,Joerg

Can anybody provide me the lyrics for a song I know from some sampler which only gave the information "Thios Chois Na Tra Domh", performed by Clannad (Trad. arr. Clannad) published by Intersong? I would also very much appreciate a translation and a transliteration (phonetic - it's of great value to somebody not familiar to i.e. not knowing by heart the pronunciation rules of a language). And if there's additional information: I somehow believe that there must be some story with a song (if not told by it) or else one can't call it a 'song'.

Thanks in advance

Joerg

13 Jul 00 - 10:45 PM (#257418)
Subject: Lyr Add: THÍOS COIS NA TRÁ DOMH
From: Áine

Dear Joerg,

Here are the lyrics in Irish. I'll be back later with a translation.

THÍOS COIS NA TRÁ DOMH

Ag siúl cois na trá domh i ndoimhneacht na hoíche,
An saol mór na gcodladh agus mise liom féin,
Na héanacha mara ag scairtigh go léanmhar,
Cosúil le hanamnacha bochta i bpéin.

Thíos fán chladach tá na bádaí ar feistiú,
Ar snámh mar bheadh ealaí ar bharr na dtonn,
An t-uisce ag slioparnaigh thart fána dtaobhann',
'S iad ag bogadh sa chiúnas anall a's anonn.

Iomlán gealaí agus iomlán rabhartá,
Aoibhneas a's ciúnas a's áilleacht sa domhan,
Crónán na farraige 'dul siar i mo chluasa,
A's bogcheol an uisce ag sileadh san abhainn.

Istigh ar na hinseáin tá seanreilig bheannaithe,
An áit ar mhair naoimh insan aimsir fadó,
Tá daoine istigh ann a chaith seal go haerach,
Ach ní shiúlfaidh siad thart fá na cladaigh níos mó.

Bhuail uaigneas m'intinn 's mé ag amharc ar an reilig,
Mé ag meabhrú ar dhaoine a bhí istigh ina luí,
Fir a's mná óga, seandaoine a's páistí,
Muintir mo mhuintir agus cairde mo chroí.

Tá na coiligh ag glaoch 's tá na réalta a' bánú,
Tá an ghealach ina luí agus ní fada go lá,
Slán agat anois a sheanreilig bheannaithe,
Agus ag na daoine a shiúladh liom thart cois na trá.

13 Jul 00 - 11:24 PM (#257434)
Subject: Lyr Add: DOWN BY THE STRAND
From: Áine

Dear Joerg,

Here's my translation for you.

DOWN BY THE STRAND

I was walking down by the strand late at night,
The whole world asleep except for me,
The seabirds calling woefully,
Just like poor souls in pain.

The boats are moored down by the shore,
Floating like swans on top of the waves,
The water slipping about their sides,
Moving in the quiet here and there.

A full moon and a full spring tide,
The world is blissful, quiet and beautiful,
The murmur of the sea going around in my ears,
The water's soft music trickling in the river.

There's an old hallowed graveyard in the water meadows,
And I'm thinking about the people who lie there,
Young men and women, old folks and children,
My own relations and dear friends.

The cocks are crowing and the stars are disappearing,
The moon is sinking and it's not long 'till the day,
Goodbye to you now old hallowed graveyard,
And to the people who used to walk with me down by the strand.

14 Jul 00 - 07:43 AM (#257520)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Chois Na Tra Domh
From: GUEST,Joerg

Aine - that was great, thank you a thousand times. I will try to provide a midi or abc, but this will take me some time. How can I upload a binary (midi)?

Joerg

14 Jul 00 - 06:25 PM (#257839)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Chois Na Tra Domh
From: Áine

Dear Joerg,

Here's a very good site to help you with pronouncing the words in this song:

Beginner's Guide to Irish Gaelic Pronounciation

I suggest that you study this, and then listen to the song a few times while looking at the lyrics -- and practice, practice, practice. I'm sure you'll do a fine job with it!

As for the midi file, I'm going to ask another Mudcatter (who knows more than I do about sound files) to come into this thread and give you some advice on that. I would really like to hear this song; the words are just so lovely.

Be patient, and we'll get you fixed up real soon! ;-)

-- Áine

14 Jul 00 - 10:29 PM (#257939)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Chois Na Tra Domh
From: alison

Oops not much help from me Aine.... but if you forward a MIDI file(just attach it to an email) and send it to alan of australia he can put it onto his Mudcat MIDIs site.

If you follow that link it'll give you more instructions, or drop alan a line, he'll be able to help you much better than I can.

slainte

alison

15 Jul 00 - 11:55 AM (#258149)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Chois Na Tra Domh
From: GUEST,Joerg

Thank you very much, ladies. As soon as I can find some more time I will post the chords.

Love

Joerg

15 Jul 00 - 11:27 PM (#258435)
Subject: Chords Add: THÍOS COIS NA TRÁ DOMH
From: GUEST,Joerg

OK, here are the chords - at least two of many possibilities. They are in C for convenience. For myself I would finger them in G with a capo on the 2nd fret - i.e. I'd play the song in A.

First the simple version (doesn't sound bad though)

Ag [C]siúl cois na [G7]trá domh i [C]ndoimhneacht na hoíche,
An saol mór na [Am]gcodladh agus [G7]mise liom féin,
Na [C]héanacha mara ag [F]scairtigh go [C]léanmhar,
[Am]Cosúil le [G7]hanamnacha [F]bochta i [C]bpéin.

Those who already are a little faster on the guitar might also want to try the following (but please not for the price of suffering like moonchild)

Ag [C]siúl cois na [G]trá domh[F] i [C]ndoimhneacht[G] na [C]hoíche,
An saol mór na [Am]gcodladh agus [G]mise[F] liom [G]féin,
Na [C]héanacha [(Em)]mara ag [F]scairtigh go [C]léanmhar,
[Am]Cosúil le [F]hana[G]mna[F]cha [G]boch[F]ta[G] i [C]bpéin.

May I encourage everybody to make further suggestions? The harmonies for this song are far from being unambiguous and I'm sure that there are still some very beautiful variations.

Aine - uhm, you know the people from where I'm living are said to be not very fast when counting but I already noticed that in the gaelic lyrics there's many-two verses and the translation has only many-one. Interesting - in the recording I know Clannad omit the second verse (I've not yet found out which one is omitted in the translation - would you tell me?)

Off to practising first ABC and then gaelic...

Joerg

16 Jul 00 - 12:59 PM (#258661)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Chois Na Tra Domh
From: GUEST,Áine (on my husband's PC - mine crashed)

Dear Joerg,

Sorry about that! I accidently left out some lines and put the fourth and fifth verses together. Here they are again, hopefully typed in correctly this time:

Istigh ar na hinseáin tá seanreilig bheannaithe,
An áit ar mhair naoimh insan aimsir fadó,
Tá daoine istigh ann a chaith seal go haerach,
Ach ní shiúlfaidh siad thart fá na cladaigh níos mó.

There's an old hallowed graveyard in the water meadows,
Where long ago lived a saint,
There are people inside who lived a merry life,
But they no longer will walk by shore.

Bhuail uaigneas m'intinn 's mé ag amharc ar an reilig,
Mé ag meabhrú ar dhaoine a bhí istigh ina luí,
Fir a's mná óga, seandaoine a's páistí,
Muintir mo mhuintir agus cairde mo chroí.

I became so lonely looking at the graveyard,
And I'm thinking about the people who lie there,
Young men and women, old folks and children,
My own relations and dear friends.

There you go, that's better. Thanks for pointing that out to me. I do hope that you can get the MIDI file together and send it to Alan for the Mudcat MIDI page. I would love to hear this song. And especially since you've given us the chords and everything.

Best of luck, Áine

17 Jul 00 - 10:00 AM (#259138)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Chois Na Tra Domh
From: Áine

17 Jul 00 - 09:49 PM (#259699)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Chois Na Tra Domh
From: GUEST,Joerg

Áine - let me tell you that I never wanted you to spend so much work, but I really appreciate you doing so. Maybe you'll understand the reasons when I tell you a story.

Long ago in the fif- in the seventies I heard a song on the radio. Its title seemed to be something like "Whiskey in the ?" It took me some considerable effort to get the lyrics to a song called "Gilgarry Mountain" and to record a third song called "Kilgarry Mountain" performed by Colin Wilkie (? again) from the radio. With this I was able to do this song.

Then I was off some time for girls and my job. Meanwhile there was something happening which is now called the "folk revival" or "irish revival" or something like that, at least something the great mass of people didn't ignore completely. And once they found out that I could do this song I was talked into doing it again and again again (et cetera ad nauseam).

But - in the meantime there also were additional versions available on tape and CD, and they were also played again and again (not to forget the really early version by T(h?)in Lizzy which had never been played before but was played now).

All this almost made me unable to do the song at all. I can't count the times when I had to stop in between just to consider what version of the next verse - even of the next line - I should choose. One of the really good experiences though: My audience NEVER seemed to notice that, they were just enjoying THE SONG, AS IS! I learned that doing 'folk music' (I call it 'songs') doesn't mean having to do it perfectly but rather simply doing it. (Are you listening, Mbo?)

Back to what I want to say: It is considerably easier to remember a song when there's only one 'correct' version. And if it's a song in a language you don't know, this also applies to any translation - from several points of view. I think this applies to everything you can't understand at once and therefore must learn by heart. So, again

Thank you, Áine

Joerg

18 Jul 00 - 06:56 PM (#260427)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Chois Na Tra Domh
From: Áine

Dear Joerg,

I do hope that you do well with the song. And don't worry that it was a bother at all. I'm just glad that I could help you. If you'd like, you can send me an email message at doireanne@yahoo.com -- that way, I can put you in touch with someone who could be of more help with the MIDI file information. I would very much like to hear this song!

Great good luck to you, Áine

18 Jul 00 - 10:26 PM (#260511)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Chois Na Tra Domh
From: GUEST,Joerg

Thanks again, Áine, and don't worry about the midi. It's prospering well and I'll send it to you as soon as it's ready.

Joerg

25 Jul 00 - 10:46 PM (#264735)
Subject: Chords Add: THÍOS COIS NA TRÁ DOMH
From: GUEST,Joerg

To everybody who is interested -

As promised I have now mailed a midi to Alan. When I created it I used a set of chords slightly different to what I posted above (might be very interesting to some guitar or piano players):

Verse i:

Verse ii (capo 5th fret, so still in C) fingered:

Ag [G]siúl cois na [D]trá domh i [G]ndoimhneacht na hoíche,
An saol mór na [Em]gcodladh agus [D]mise liom féin,
Na [G]héanacha mara ag [C]scairtigh go [G]léanmhar,
[Em]Cosúil le [C]hanamnacha [D]bochta i [G]bpéin.

Verse iii (as verse ii) fingered:

Ag [G]siúl cois na [D]trá domh[C] i [G]ndoimhneacht[D] na [G]hoíche,
An saol mór na [Em]gcodladh agus [D]mise[C] liom [D]féin,
Na [G]héanacha mara ag [C]scairtigh go [G]léanmhar,
[Bm]Cosúil le [C]hana[D]mna[C]cha [D]boch[C]ta[D] i [G]bpéin.

Transposed to C verse iii would be

Ag [C]siúl cois na [G]trá domh[F] i [C]ndoimhneacht[G] na [C]hoíche,
An saol mór na [Am]gcodladh agus [G]mise[F] liom [G]féin,
Na [C]héanacha mara ag [F]scairtigh go [C]léanmhar,
[Em]Cosúil le [F]hana[G]mna[F]cha [G]boch[F]ta[G] i [C]bpéin.

Áine - may I tell you a big THANK YOU again for some great experience of 'teamwork' (this word may be obsolete in those modern times, but - §$%&!!! - it WORKS).

And Alan - would you please tell me here if for some reason you didn't receive my mail or something else went wrong.

Joerg

26 Jul 00 - 05:21 PM (#265248)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Chois Na Tra Domh
From: Áine

Dear Joerg,

You're welcome for the help; but, I have to say that you've put in more than your fair share. Thank YOU so much for the midi files and the chords. I'm looking forward to learning this song, which I probably wouldn't have if it weren't for you.

-- Áine

(P.S. I got your email and I'm sending some info to you this evening.)

26 Jul 00 - 09:20 PM (#265427)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Chois Na Tra Domh
From: GUEST,Joerg

Dear Áine, may I ask you what you knew of this song before I posted the lyrics request? You were that eager to listen to the midi - didn't you know the tune? You know things like these happen - I am owning piles of sheet music yet being unable to figure out what jewels might be hidden somewhere in some songbook(s) I bought for one particular song.

Anyway - I admit that I'm trying to vampire out of you (i.e. the Mudcat) everything I can get. This song had been one of my everlasting secret desires (there are more of them, be warned) even before I knew the translation. The tune and the acoustic beauty of the language are good enough. Along with it's MEANING ... You know I'm dreaming of setting up a version with some long instrumental intro while only giving a short translation/explanation in german (or english, depending from the audience), and while they're still contemplating hitting the song right between their eyes. This is difficult and may remain a beautiful dream, but beautiful dreams are beautiful enough.

What I want to say: I'm only asking for your blood, not for your transfusions. If I could show you something you also like and just didn't know that would be VERY ok. But don't feel obliged to spend as much work as I just because I do. I don't want my very own passions to bother you (BTW they're a little pervert, be warned again ;-) although you always may participate.

Just tell me what you know, and I'll be pleased to tell you what I know. If it takes some learning: well that's always good, but only if you are interested, not 'for me' (this expression is a little ambiguous in english and I don't know that language well enough to exactly figure out what is meant - sorry).

Love

Joerg

12 Jul 18 - 09:17 AM (#3936867)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Chois Na Tra Domh
From: GUEST,Anne Nicholls

This song Thios Cois Na Trá Dom was written by my friend’s grandfather. He was a teacher from Cruit in Co Donegal. His name was Séan Ó Domhnaill and the song is about the beach in Cruit. A beautiful song that his family are very proud of.

12 Jul 18 - 10:29 AM (#3936881)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Cois Na Trá Dom
From: leeneia

You can hear a lovely version of this on YouTube:

thios

I've made a MIDI and will send it in for posting. If nobody's on vacation, it ought to appear here soon. Perhaps somebody can make an ABC of it.

It resembles 'Sweet Betsy from Pike.'

13 Jul 18 - 01:04 AM (#3937011)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Cois Na Trá Dom
From: michaelr

Welll -- I think Aine was wise to leave it at that!

Anne Nicholls, thank you for that information. It's a lovely song. Do you know when Sean O Domhnaill wrote it?

13 Jul 18 - 06:55 AM (#3937083)
Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Thios Cois Na Trá Dom
From: RunrigFan

Clannad's version

Thíos cois na trá domh, in ndoimhneacht na h-oíche
An saol mhor ina gcodhladh, 's mise liom féin
Na h-éanacha mara ag scairtigh go léanmhar
Cosúil le h-anamnacha bochta i bpéin

Ionlán gealaí 's iomlán rabharta
Aoibhneas 's ciúineas, 's áilleacht sa domhain
Crónán na fairrige ag dul siar ar mo chluasa
Bog-cheol an uisce ag sileadh sam abhainn

Istigh ar h-inseáin tá sean-reilig bheannaithe
An áit inar mhaireadh naoimh sam aimsir fadó
Tá daoine istigh ann ag chaith seal do h-aerach
Ní shiúlfaidh siad thar fán chladaigh níos mó

Bhuail uaigneas m'intinn 's mé ag amharc ar an reilig
'S mé ag meadhradh ar dhaoine istigh ann ina luí
Fir a's mná óga, seandaoine 's páistí
Muintir mo mhuintir 's cairde mo chroí

Tá no coiligh ag glaoch 's na réalta ag bánú
Tá an gealach ina luí 's ní fada go lá
Slán agat anois a shean-reilig bheannaithe
'S na daoine a shiúlfadh liom síos cois na trá