An Mhaighdean Mhara (waltz) on The Session

One setting

X: 1
T: An Mhaighdean Mhara
R: waltz

M: 3/4
L: 1/8
K: Dmaj
A2|d3 e fg|f4 ec|d4 cB|A4 de|
f3 e fg|a4 de|f4 ef|g4 a2|
a3 g fg|f4 ec|d4 cB|A4 FG|
A3 B cd|e3 f (3gfe|f4 e2|d6||

Eight comments

Got this one from Geraldine Cotter’s Tin whistle Tutor Book. I was too lazy to go downstairs and get my Skye Collection book… Sorry =[

Page 96 tune 90!

Cheers and… Pipes… How I long for thee!!!
Armand

Beautiful song

I first heard this song on the movie The Secret of Roan Inish. I tried to find the lyrics to it (which are in Gaeilge) for a long time but never did. I didn’t even know the title until I happen to be listening to The Best of Altan at a music store and found the lyrics in the liner notes.

So now I just need to learn to sing it.

Focail

Is cosúil gur mheath tú nó gur thréig tú an greann
Tá an sneachta go frasach fá bhéal na trá
Do chúl buí daite is do bhéílín sámh
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh

‘A mháithrín mhilis’ duirt Máire bhán
Fá bhruach an chladaigh is fá bhéal na trá
‘Maighdean mhara mo mháithrín ard’
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh

Tá mise tuirseach agus beidh go lá
Mo Mháire bhruinneall is mo Phádraig bán
Ar bharr na dtonnta is fá bhéal na trá
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh

Tá an oíche seo dorcha is tá an ghaoth i ndroch aird
Tá an tseisreach ‘na seasamh is na spéarthaí go hard
Ach ar bharr na dtonnta is fá bhéal na trá
Siúd chugaibh Mary Chinidh is í i ndiaidh an Éirne shnámh

Translation (Reference only, please don’t sing this in English!)

It seems that you have faded away and abandoned the love of life
The snow is spread about at the mouth of the sea
Your yellow flowing hair and little gentle mouth
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne

‘My dear mother,’ said blonde Mary
By the edge of the shore and the mouth of the sea
‘A mermaid is my noble mother’
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne

I am tired and will be forever
My fair Mary and my blond Patrick
On top of the waves and by the mouth of the sea
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne

The night is dark and the wind is high
The Plough can be seen high in the sky
But on top of the waves and by the mouth of the sea
We give you Mary Chinidh to swim forever in the Erne

From Clár Áine Cook’s website

This isn’t the tune I know. There’s a Scottish one as well, which I heard played (by dance bands) and sung (by Mod-type singers) quite a lot a few years ago. But it’s gone pretty vague in my head. Anybody know it?

Re: An Mhaighdean Mhara/Oran Na Maighdeann-Mhara

The late Ishbel MacAskill sings “Oran Na Maighdeann-Mhara” in Scots gaelic on her album “Sioda”. Found the words here: http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/macaskill/oran.htm