Inspiration Friday – Siúil a Rúin

In keeping with the Celtic theme of March’s Inspiration Fridays, I’ve decided on one of my favourite Irish folk songs and which is also one of the first Irish songs I learnt. Those who often read these blogs will know by now that I love history as much as folklore and mythology. I also seem to be pulled more towards songs which tell a story and have some history (no, ‘golden oldies’ from the year 2000 do not count…).

“Siúil a Rúin” is a traditional Irish song, sung from the point of view of a woman lamenting a lover who has embarked on a military career, and indicating her willingness to support him. The song has English language verses and an Irish language chorus, a style known as macaronic.” (More information here.)

As with many traditional or folk songs, there are various versions of the song. The one I’m quoting below is the version I know best. But first, two music videos – one of “Siúil a Rúin” and the other “Johnny Has Gone for a Soldier”; an American variant of the song. I’ve also included an Afrikaans translation of the song just for fun.

The English lyrics:

Siúil a Rúin

I wish I was on yonder hill

'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill

And every tear would turn a mill

Is go dté tú mo mhuirnín slán

Chorus

Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin

Siúil go socair agus siúil go ciúin

Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom

Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán

(Walk, walk, walk, O love,
Walk quickly to me, softly move;
Walk to the door, and away we'll flee,
And safe may my darling be)

I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel

I'll sell my only spinning wheel

To buy my love a sword of steel

Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán

I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red

And round the world I'll beg my bread

Until my parents shall wish me dead

Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán

I wish, I wish, I wish in vain

I wish I had my heart again

And vainly think I'd not complain

Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán

The Afrikaans translation of this version:/Die Afrikaanse vertaling van hierdie weergawe:

Gaan, my liefling

Ek wens ek was op daardie heuwel,

Daar sal ek sit en al my trane stort,

En elke traan sal ’n meul laat draai,

Mag jy veilig gaan my liefling.

Refrein:

Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin

Siúil go socair agus siúil go ciúin

Siúil go doras agus éalaigh liom

Is go dté tú mo mhúirnín slán

(Stap, stap, stap my lief,

Stap saggies en stap stil,

Stap na die deur en ontsnap saam met my,

En mag jy veilig gaan my liefling.)[1]

Ek sal my spinstok, my spintol

En my enigste spinwiel verkoop,

Om vir my geliefde ’n swaard van staal te koop,

Mag jy veilig gaan my liefling.

Ek sal my onderrokke kleur, ek sal hulle rooi kleur,

En oor die wêreld heen vir my brood bedel,

Totdat my ouers my sal dood wens,

En mag jy veilig gaan my liefling.

Ek wens, ek wens, ek wens tevergeefs,

Ek wens ek het my hart weer gehad,

En dink vergeefs dan sal ek nie kla,

Mag jy veilig gaan my liefling.

Picture of this beautiful spinning reel found here.

Have a lovely weekend!

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[1] Die refrain ka nook vertaal word as: Kom, kom, kom, o liefling,/ Kom vinnig na my, beweeg saggies;/ Kom na die deur en ons sal wegvlug/ En mag jy, liefling, vir altyd veilig wees! maar ek hou meer van die ‘s’ alliterasie in die ander vertaling saam met die betekenis van die refrein en die oorspronklike klanke van die Ierse woorde.

Musical Inspiration for Dark Days

I’ve had some very dark days these last couple of weeks. So I decided to make this post about some of the music that makes these days a little brighter.

First up, is the first CD I put on today – Third Day’s album“Wherever You Are”.

Serious and inspirational

I picked this CD up at the local CUM Books (it stands for “ChristelikeUitgewersmaatskappy”, and is a Christian publisher in case you just found your jaw hanging on the desk or any Third Day fans wondered what kind of store is this?!) while browsing their music section. I’ll admit part of why I picked it up in the first place was because it’s a CD and DVD on one disc and I hadn’t seen that before. It turned out to be one of the best CDs I’ve ever bought without knowing the band or their music. I’ve had some good cries to this CD and it’s also helped me through some very dark times, including my mother’s passing.

My favourite tracks on this CD are “Cry out to Jesus”, “Mountain of God” and “Rise up”.

Painting your canvas

Second up is a song by a-ha from their CD “Lifelines”. I’ve probably been a fan of them since I was born as some of the first music I can remember listening to in the house was theirs (their first hit was the year before I was born) and is still a firm favourite. This specific song is “White Canvas” and the first verse of the song is:

Stories are painted
In lines on your face
Misunderstandings 
And little mistakes 
A chance to start over
Is all that it takes 
You know if you do
Your life is a canvas 
The colors are you 

Just fun and silly

Sometimes listening or singing along to fun or silly songs also helps. Two of these must include the “Do Virgins Taste Better Medley” and “The Unicorn Song”, written by Shel Silverstein. The first begs the question why dragons specifically prefer to eat virgins; the second gives the reason why we don’t see unicorns anymore – hint: it involves Noah’s ark. Both of these versions are by the Brobdignagian Bards.

As a last thought – I received this picture via email from my sister during the week. Think this is a good one to keep in mind – 

Found here