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S​ú​antraí (Se​ó​th​í​n Se​ó​th​ó​) [Lullaby (Shoheen Shoho​)​]

from Suantraighe, A Collection of Celtic Lullabies by Caera

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about

This is probably the song I put the most work into for this whole album. I first heard a variation of it (“Mullach a’ tSí - Suantraí”) on Pádraigín ní Uallacháin’s excellent CD “A Stór ‘s a Stóirín”. I was singing that around some friends who are sean nos singers in Connemara, and they pointed out that my teacher’s mother, Máirín Concannon (from Spiddle, Connemara), has the original lullaby on her CD, “Bóithrín na Smaointe”. I loved her interpretation too, and wanted to learn more about this song, and see if I could trace it to its source.

I’ve found several other variations and a few more recordings, and then in the book _Amhráin Mhuighe Seola_ by Mrs. Costello, she explained that mothers in Connemara had been singing the tune to their babies for as long as anyone knew, and it was rumored there to be a tune Mary sang to the baby Jesus. A man named Professor T. O’Kelly (“lbh Máine”) wrote three verses to it in Irish in the early 1900’s or late 1800’s, and it was variations of them that I’d heard in other versions of the song. And I now have my own variation.

Meanwhile, the tune is so beautiful and melodious that I didn’t want to cover it over with too much instrumentation, yet I already had one unaccompanied song on this album (Hó abháín), so I took it as a challenge to come up with some kind of accompaniment to match this song. I came up with four different arrangements I wasn’t satisfied with before I took it to my friend Michelle Herrera, who added a simple viola part that inspired my very simple harp accompaniment, and then on the day of recording she decided to add Tibetan and quartz crystal singing bowls. Now this is one of my favorite arrangements of all the songs in my catalog.

lyrics

Seóthín, seóthó, mo stóirín, mo leanbh,
Mo sheoid gan chealg, mo chuid den tsaol mhór.
Seóthín, seóthó, nach mór é a taithneamh,
Mo stóirín ina leaba, ‘na chodladh gan brón.
A leanbh mo chléibh, go n-éiri do chodladh leat,
Séan agus sonas a choice ‘do chomhair.
Seo beannacht Mhic Dé agus téagar a Bhuime leat.
Téir a chodladh gan bíogadh go ló.

Ar mhullach a tSí tá síoga geala,
Fá chaoinré an earraigh ag imirt a spóirt
Seo iad aniar chun glaoch ar mo leanbh
Le mian é a tharraing isteach sa Lios Mór.
Goirm thú, a chroí! Ní bhfaighidh said do mhealladh
Le brí a gcleas, ná le binneas a gceol.
Tá mise led’ thaobh ag guí ort na mbeannacht,
Seóthín, a leanbh, ní imeoidh tú leo.

Os comhair mo lao go míochair ceanúil,
Tá dílroisc aingeal ag faire ina threo,
Le mórghrá dian á’ iarraidh chun bealaigh
Mar b’aoibhne Flaithis dá rachadh sé leo.
A stór mo chroí, luigh siar i do leaba,
Le taobh do mhama is ea fhanfair go fóill.
Ní mór liom ag Día mo shiamsa ‘gus m’aiteas,
Mo ríocht ar talamh i dteannta mo bhróid.

Translation:
Seóthín, seóthó, my treasure, my child,
My jewel with no flaw, my own in the great world.
Seóthín, seóthó, isn’t it a great pleasure,
My little treasure in his bed, asleep without sadness.
Child of my bosom, have a good sleep,
Good fortune and happiness be yours forever.
This is the son of God’s blessing and the comfort of his mother for you.
Go to sleep without stirring ‘til day.

On top of the fairy hill are bright fairies
Under a soft, spring moon playing and sporting.
Here they are from the west to call for my child
Wishing to draw him into the great ringfort.
I call you, my heart! They won’t entice you
With the strength of their tricks or the sweetness of their music.
I am at your side, blessing you,
Seóthín, child, you won’t leave with them.

In front of my calf [child] with loving tenderness
The kind eyes of angels are watching over him
With intense great love wanting him to go their way
Because Heaven would be more delightful if he went with them.
Treasure of my heart, lie back in your bed,
By your mommy’s side you will stay a while yet.
I’m grateful to God for my amusement and my pleasure,
My kingdom on earth with my pride and joy.

credits

from Suantraighe, A Collection of Celtic Lullabies, released November 1, 2006
Traditional Irish Lullaby
Vocals and Harp by Caera
Viola and Tibetan and Quartz Crystal Singing Bowls by Michelle Herrera

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about

Caera Seattle, Washington

From haunting Celtic lullabies, through laments of intense grief and pain, to songs of healing and hope, Caera’s music always contains an authenticity that can be hard to find in today’s music, or even in today’s world in general. Powerful soprano vocals blend with the bell-like tones of her brass-strung Gaelic harp to create music that carries people through life, dreaming or fully awake. ... more

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