March 22, 2005
Mo Ghile Mear
I'm posting right now out of sheer self preservation. Do you think that it's possible to go insane from staring at a computer screen, scanning through pdf's of Ph.D.'s addled ramblings, day after day?
My own addled ramblings:
I was sad to find that I couldn't find the website that used to host pictures of my month long camping trip through the center of Australia. I believe that the guy who used to run it is still a University of Melbourne employee but I remember sending him an email a couple years ago and not getting a response so I figure I won't ask him where it went.
The more I listen to Barenaked Ladies the more I like them, I missed them when they were popular years ago but bought a cd of theirs on iTunes the while ago to make the video of Colorado and I just love them. I also heard an instudio interview with them on one of the local radio stations (most likely 101.1 or 104.1) the other day. These guys are hilarious, they're witty, they're funny, they're zany, and they make happy-sing-out-of-tune-at-the-top-of-your-lungs-when-you're-alone-in-your-car music, I think I'm in love.
Mo Ghile Mear (Our Hero) by the Cheiftains in collaboration with Sting came up on my iTunes at work today, and I was reminded of just how much I love that song. It's soulfull and beautiful (of course Sting is singing isn't he?) and it's partially in Gaelic. I was curious as to what the gaelic chorus meant so handy handy google provided a much needed break from dreary 200 page documents on Lupus disease.
First here are the Lyrics:
And here is a translation of the chorus done by someone else, who I'm not sure:
Historical note, that possibly no one really cares about but my dad and I:
Apparently, the original gaelic version was written in the 1700's to incite the Irish to join the Jacobite cause and rally behind Bonnie Prince Charlie. I don't think that it worked that well, however. Also, the Chieftain/Sting translation apparently has nothing to do with the original gaelic version, although I think it's a lot more poetic.
My own addled ramblings:
I was sad to find that I couldn't find the website that used to host pictures of my month long camping trip through the center of Australia. I believe that the guy who used to run it is still a University of Melbourne employee but I remember sending him an email a couple years ago and not getting a response so I figure I won't ask him where it went.
The more I listen to Barenaked Ladies the more I like them, I missed them when they were popular years ago but bought a cd of theirs on iTunes the while ago to make the video of Colorado and I just love them. I also heard an instudio interview with them on one of the local radio stations (most likely 101.1 or 104.1) the other day. These guys are hilarious, they're witty, they're funny, they're zany, and they make happy-sing-out-of-tune-at-the-top-of-your-lungs-when-you're-alone-in-your-car music, I think I'm in love.
Mo Ghile Mear (Our Hero) by the Cheiftains in collaboration with Sting came up on my iTunes at work today, and I was reminded of just how much I love that song. It's soulfull and beautiful (of course Sting is singing isn't he?) and it's partially in Gaelic. I was curious as to what the gaelic chorus meant so handy handy google provided a much needed break from dreary 200 page documents on Lupus disease.
First here are the Lyrics:
MO GHILE MEAR (Our Hero)
Traditional; arr.: Paddy Moloney
English lyric translations by Sean MacReamoinn
'Se/ mo laoch, mo Ghile Mear
'Se/ mo Chaesar Gile Mear
Suan na/ se/an ni/ bhfuaireas fe/in
O/ chuaigh i gce/in mo Ghile Mear
Grief and pain are all I know
My heart is sore
My tears a'flow
We saw him go.
.. No word we know of him, ochon
'Se/ mo laoch, mo Ghile Mear
'Se/ mo Chaesar Gile Mear
Suan na/ se/an ni/ bhfuaireas fe/in
O/ chuaigh i gce/in mo Ghile Mear
A proud and gallant chevalier
A high man's scion of gentle mean
A fiery blade engaged to reap
He'd break the bravest in the field
'Se/ mo laoch, mo Ghile Mear
'Se/ mo Chaesar Gile Mear
Suan na/ se/an ni/ bhfuaireas fe/in
O/ chuaigh i gce/in mo Ghile Mear
Come sing his praise as sweet harps play
And proudly toast his noble frame
With spirit and with mind aflame
So wish him strength and length of day
'Se/ mo laoch, mo Ghile Mear
'Se/ mo Chaesar Gile Mear
Suan na/ se/an ni/ bhfuaireas fe/in
O/ chuaigh i gce/in mo Ghile Mear
And here is a translation of the chorus done by someone else, who I'm not sure:
He is my hero, my dashing darling
He is my Caesar, dashing darling.
I've had no rest from forebodings
Since he went far away my darling.
Historical note, that possibly no one really cares about but my dad and I:
Apparently, the original gaelic version was written in the 1700's to incite the Irish to join the Jacobite cause and rally behind Bonnie Prince Charlie. I don't think that it worked that well, however. Also, the Chieftain/Sting translation apparently has nothing to do with the original gaelic version, although I think it's a lot more poetic.
// posted by Julie @ 3:48 PM 
