I'm listening to this lovely song on the new Altan CD and would love to sing along, but I'm only getting about half the words. Does anyone out there know it? I'm guessing it was an English song originally, as Proinseas Ó Maonaigh is indicated as having translated it, but I can't find an English song with a title that would translate as "Seolta Geala" (If I had the English lyrics I could probably work out what I'm missing in the Irish, but I'd rather work with just the Irish). I've tried "Bright Sails," "Fair Sails" and even "White Sails." Of course, it's possible that the English version has a completely unrelated title!

Redwolf

Seolta Geala
My father wrote this song…Seolta Geala, White Sails…about taking to the high seas on a sailing boat with white sails and leaving the woes of the land behind.

Tógfaidh muid seolta chomh hard leis an ghaoth,
Seolta Geala,
Scaoilfidh muid scóid is ní phillfidh muid choích',
Ach ag seoladh thar farraige anonn.

Siar i gcéin, i bhfad i gcéin, gan léan, gan mhairg,
Scaoilfidh muid scóid is ní phillfidh muid choích',
Ach ag seoladh thar farraige anonn.

Fágfaidh muid slán ag ár gcairde is ár ngaol, cairde fíora,
Is slán agus beannacht le buaireamh an tsaoil,
Is muid ag seoladh thar farraige anonn.

Siar i gcéin, i bhfad i gcéin, gan lean gan mhairg,
Is slán agus beannacht le buaireamh an tsaoil,
Is muid ag seoladh thar farraige anonn.

Canfaidh muid rann is sinn ag imeacht le cóir, rann is binne,
Is inseofar scéalta nár insíodh go fóill,
Is muid ag seoladh thar farraige anonn.

Siar i gcéin , i bhfad i gcéin, gan léan gan mhairg,
Is inseofar scéalta nár insíodh go fóill
Is muid ag seoladh thar farraige anonn.

Aoibhinn an saol bheith ag seoladh go síor, saol is aoibhne,
Ár n-aghaidh ar an mhuir is ár gcúl leis an tír,
Is muid ag seoladh thar farraige anonn.

Siar i gcéin, i bhfad i gcéin, gan léan gan mhairg
Ár n-aghaidh ar an mhuir is ár gcúl leis an tír,
Is muid ag seoladh thar farraige anonn.

source - http://www.altan.ie/poison-glen.html

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
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GRMA! Don't know why I was having so much trouble finding it...I resorted to English when I couldn't find anything for "Seolta Geala."

Interesting that the CD cover says he translated it, when apparently he wrote it.

Redwolf

I listened to the preview on iTunes store, then googled the words "Siar i gcéin, i bhfad i gcéin". It was the only result.

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
___________________________________________________________

I'm pleased I got as much as I did. "Siar i gcéin" defeated me (though I clearly heard "i bhfad i gcéin")...my ear kept stubbornly hearing an "-igí" ending and trying to make it an imperative verb! Though that didn't make sense with the rest of the song clearly being first-person plural.

The "Mondegreen" syndrome is even worse when you're hearing something in something other than your native language!

Thanks again!

Redwolf

That's the second word I learnt today. The other was the "Oxford comma".

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It is recommended that you always wait for three to agree on a translation.
I speak Connemara Irish, and my input will often reflect that.
I will do an mp3 file on request for short translations.
___________________________________________________________

"They've slain Lord Randall and Lady Mondegreen."

Our family favorite Mondegreen is from CCR's "Bad Moon Rising." Every time we drive past the exit for Los Banos we sing "Don't go out tonight/it's bound to take your life/THERE'S A BATHROOM ON THE RIGHT'!