I met Amy England, an excellent Americana artist, when she and I both played for the same benefit concert, for victims of the tsunamis of late 2004. She had written a beautiful, lively lullaby, called “Darlin’,” for her (then) baby daughter. I started translating it in my head to Irish, and asked her for permission to do the whole song that way. She granted it, and this is the final version.
lyrics
Aon, dó, trí, A,B,C, tá tú ag aithrú mé
‘Stóirín, ‘stóirín, ‘stóirín
Bhí mé i m’ aonar, anois tá mé i mo mháthair
Mo stóirín, ‘stóirín, ‘stóirín
Ná caoin, mo ghráín
Cuachfaidh mé le m’ ucht thú féin chun maidin
Tá an oíche anseo, a pheata. Taispeánann na réalta.
‘Stóirín, ‘stóirín, ‘stóirín
Scréachann ulcabhán “Scréach scréach” do ‘chuile amhain.
‘Stóirín, ‘stóirín, ‘stóirín
Ná caoin, mo ghráín
Cuachfaidh mé le m’ ucht thú féin chun maidin
As written by Amy England:
One, two, three, A, B, C, Look how you’re changing me
Darlin’, darlin’, darlin’
Once I was one, than met two, now we’re three
My darlin’, darlin’, darlin’.
Don’t you cry, my sleepy pie.
I will hold you tight as the evening falls.
Night is here, Little Dear. Moon and the stars appear.
Darlin’, darlin’, darlin’
As night falls hoot owl calls hoo hoo to one and all
Darlin’, darlin’, darlin’
Don’t you cry, my sleepy pie.
I will draw you nigh as the morning comes.
Morning sun, Little One, think of the fun to come.
Darlin’, darlin’, darlin’
Darlin’, darlin’, darlin’
One, two, three, A, B, C, Look how you’re changing me.
credits
from Suantraighe, A Collection of Celtic Lullabies,
released November 1, 2006
Original song “Darlin’” by Amy England.
Translation to Irish by Caera, with help, input, or advice from Máire ní Choinceannan, Walter Stock, Rath de Haust, and Kate Chadbourne.
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