From the recording ANIAR
Aililiu na gamhna
Another great song that I know from the Irish Harpist and Soprano Mary O’Hara
It is a pastoral poem that I understand she set to music. It is a poem that describes the pleasure that a young newly married farm girl derives from the beauty of seeing her little calves dancing in the summer meadow.
The harmonica playing on this track by Jan Peters was improvised as we recorded. I don't think he had heard the song until the afternoon we recorded the CD.
Lyrics
Aililiu na Gamhna
Lyrics and English Translation:
Is iníon d'aoire mé I'm a herdsman's daughter
Féinig gan amhras Sure enough
Do bhíodh ina cónaí Who once lived
Cois taobh na Leamhna Down by the banks of the Laune
Bhí bothán agam féin ann I had a cabin there
Is fuinneog i gceann de A window in the gable
Fad a bhíodh an bainne ag téamh agam While I heated the milk
'Sea ghlaofainn ar na gamhna I called in the calves
Curfá: Chorus:
Aililiú na gamhna Aililiú the calves
Na gamhna bána The pretty calves
Aililiú na gamhna Aililiú the calves
Na gamhna b'iad a b'fhearr liom I loved them the best
Aililiú na gamhna Aililiú the calves
Na gamhna geala bána The fine pretty calves
Na gamhna maidin shamhraidh Dancing in the meadow
Ag damhsa ar na bánta On a clear summer's morning
Faightear dom cana Get me a can
Is faightear dom bhuarach And get me a ladle
Is faightear dom soitheach Get me a vessel
Ina gcuirfead mo chuid uachtair To take all the cream
Ceolta sí na cruinne bheith The magic music of the world
Á síorchur i m'chluasa Always around me
Ba bhinne liomsa géimneach na mbó But sweeter still the cattle
Ag teacht chun buaile Lowing to the parlor
(Curfá) (Chorus)
Rachaimid ar an aonach Let us go to the fair
Is ceannóimid gamhna And buy us some calves
Is cuirfimid ar féar iad Put them to grass out
Amach ins na gleannta Above in the valleys
Íosfaidh siad an féar They'll eat all the grass
Is barr an aitinn ghallda And the tufts of the strange gorse
Is tiocfaidh siad abhaile chun And come home for the milk
An bhainne i gcóir an tSamhraidh At the start of the summer
credits