Thank You for Hearing Me: The Definitive Sinéad O'Connor Discography

“Óró, Sé Do Bheatha 'Bhaile”

Traditional, arranged by Sinéad O'Connor/Dónal Lunny/Alan Branch/A. Maxwell/Carlton "Bubblers" Ogilvie

(Source: Sean-Nós Nua)

6 versions

3:21

Paddy's Lament” promo single
Sean-Nós Nua album
Sean-Nós Nua promo sampler

3:17

live at Vicar Street, Dublin

She Who Dwells in the Secret Place of the Most High Shall Abide Under the Shadow of the Almighty album

4:01 live March 15th, 2003

Nuit Celtique II live DVD

3:21

music video

Goodnight, Thank You, You've Been a Lovely Audience DVD

4:22

documentary

3:13

Music of Ireland: Welcome Home album
Music of Ireland: Welcome Home: The Complete Set album

Lyrics

(Source: Sean-Nós Nua)

Óró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,

Hail! You are welcome home.

Óró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,

Hail! You are welcome home.

Óró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,

Hail! You are welcome home.

Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh.

Summer is now approaching.

Sé do bheatha a bhean ba léanmhar!

Welcome, you woman of misfortune!

B'é ár gcreach túith I ngéibheann,

To our grief you've been imprisoned,

Do dhúiche bhreá i seilbh méirleach,

Your majestic lands are possessed by villains,

'S tú díolta leis na Ghallaibh.

You sold yourself into captivity.

Óró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,

Hail! You are welcome home.

Óró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,

Hail! You are welcome home.

Óró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,

Hail! You are welcome home.

Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh.

Summer is now approaching.

Gráinne Mhaol ag teacht thar sáile,

Grÿinne Mhaol is coming across the ocean

Óglaigh armtha léi mar gharda,

With armed soldiers as protection,

Gaeil iad féin's ní Frainc ná Spánnigh,

Neither French nor Spanish, but Irish,

'S cuirfidh siad ruaig ar Ghallaibh.

And they will scatter the invader.

Óró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,

Hail! You are welcome home.

Óró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,

Hail! You are welcome home.

Óró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,

Hail! You are welcome home.

Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh.

Summer is now approaching.

A bhuí le Rí na bhfeart go bhfeiceam,

My greatest wish would be to see,

Muna mbeam beo 'na dhiaidh ach seachtain,

Even if I died within a week of seeing it,

Gráinne Mhaol agus míle gaiscíoch,

Grÿinne Mhaol and her mighty warriors

Ag fógairt fíin ar Ghallaibh.

Proclaiming banishment to the invader.

Óró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,

Hail! You are welcome home.

Óró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,

Hail! You are welcome home.

Óró, sé do bheatha 'bhaile,

Hail! You are welcome home.

Anois ar theacht an tsamhraidh.

Summer is now approaching.

Notes

Liner notes

This song, for me, celebrates the return of any woman to her power, having lost it to invading forces. It is an honouring of the female warrior spirit and of the right of women to be true to themselves despite what the world dictates they 'should' be. A song celebrating the preciousness of female ferocity, strength and fire. It shows that a suppressed spirit only creates loss and depression and that only by being one's true self can one find joy. This is represented by the coming of summer in the song. It was taught to all young school children in Ireland until recently, but its meaning was never explained. We were taught it was a rowing song. In actuality is is a war song in honour of Grace O'Malley otherwise known as Gráinne Mhaol, a warrior noblewoman of Ireland who lived at the time of Elizabeth I, and whose ships were a formidable force on the Irish west coast.

(Source: Sean-Nós Nua)

Musicians

(Source: Sean-Nós Nua)

Sinéad O'Connor vocals
Abdullah Chhadeh quanun
Nick Coplowe Hammond
Pete Lockett percussion
Cora Venus Lunny violin
Dónal Lunny acoustic guitar , bouzouki , keyboard , bodhrán , bodhrán bass
Skip McDonald electric guitar
Rob Ó Géibheannaigh flute , strings , whistle
Carlton "Bubblers" Ogilvie drums , bass , piano
Bernard O'Neill acoustic bass
Professor Stretch drum programming , bass programming
Sharon Shannon accordion
Steve Wickham fiddle , mandolin , banjo

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