Concert 5th July
Bernard Gilmore Five Folk Songs for Soprano and Band
Here is the translation for each song
1. Mrs. McGrath (Irish)
"Oh, Mrs. McGrath," the sargeant said, "Would you like to make a soldier out of your son, Ted with a scarlet coat and a big cocked hat,
Oh, Mrs. McGrath, wouldn't you like that?"
Wid yer too-ri-ah, fol-a-diddle-ah,
too-ri-oo-ri-oo-ri-ah,
wid yer too-ri-ah,
fol-a-diddle-ah,
too-ri-oo-ri-oo-ri-ah.
Now, Mrs. McGrath lived on the shore
for the space of seven long years or more.
Till she saw a ship sailing into the bay
"Here's my son Ted would ya clear the way?"
"Oh captain dear,
where have you been have you been sailing on the Mediter-e-an.
Oh have you any tidings of my son Ted,
is the poor boy living or is he dead?"
Then up came Ted without any legs and in their place,
he has two wooden pegs.
She kiss'd him a thousand times or more, saying
"Mother of God-it isn't you."
Oh were ye drunk or were ye blind
that ye left your two fine legs behind.
Or was it walking upon the sea wore your fine legs from the knees away?"
Oh I wasn't drunk and I wasn't blind
but I left my two fine legs behind.
For a cannon ball on the fifth of May
took my two legs from the knees away."
All foreign wars I do proclaim
between Don John and the King of Spain.
For I'd rather my Ted as he used to be
than the King of France and his whole navee."
2. All the Pretty Little Horses (American)
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry,
go to sleepy little baby.
When you wake you shall have cake and all the pretty little horses.
Black and bays, dapples and greys, coach and six o' little horses.
Blacks and bays, dapples and greys, all the pretty little horses.
Hush-a-bye, don't you cry, go to sleepy little baby.
Your pa's away, gone astray, gone and left you little lambie
Daddy's eye is runnin' dry, he can't cry for you like mammy.
Daddy's eye is runnin' dry, gone and left you little lambie.
3. Yerakina (Greek)
Kinise
E Yerakina
Ya nero Krio na feri
Droom-a-droom-a droom droom droom
Ta vra chio lia tis vro droom
Ta vra chio lia tis vro droom
Droom-a-droom-a droom droom droom
Kiepese
Mesto pigadi,
Kievgale Foni megali Droom-a-droom-a droom …
Yerakina
Tha sevgalo
Ke yineka
Tha se paro Droom-a-droom-a droom …
Yerakina went to the well
To fetch some cold water
Droum, droum, droum, Droum, droum,
Her bracelets jingled.
And she fell into the well And gave a loud cry.
Yerakina, I will rescue you And take you for my wife.
4. El Burro (Spanish)
Ya se murio el burro que accareaba la vinagre
Ya le llevo Dios de esta vida miserable
Que tururururu…
El era valiente el era mohino
El era el alivio de todo vilarino
Que tururururu…
Estiró la pata arrugó el hocico
Con el rabo tieso decia adios Perico
Que tururururu…
Todas las vecinas fueron al entierro
Y la tia Maria tocaba el cencero
Que tururururu…
Ya se murio el burro que accareaba la vinagre
Ya le llevo Dios de esta vida miserable
Que tururururu…
The donkey that carried the vinegar has just died
God has taken him from this miserable life
He was brave, he was sullen,
He was the relief of every villager
He stretched out his paw, wrinkled his snout,
With his tail stiff he said goodbye Perico
All the neighbors went to the funeral And Aunt Maria played the cowbell
All the neighbors went to the funeral And Aunt Maria played the cowbell
5. A Fidler (Yiddish)
S'hot der tate fun yaridl
Mir gebracht a naye fidl,
Do re mi fa sol la si
Shpil ich tidl di di di
Ch'halt dos kepl ongeboygn
Un farglots di beyde oygn
Do re mi…
Rechtn fus faroys a bisl
Klap dem takt tsu mitn fisl,
Do re mi…
Kvelt un vundert zich di mame
Jascha Heifitz
vakstmi stamme,
Do re mi…
My father brought me a new fiddle from the fair;
do, re, mi, fa, sol, la, si
I now play didl, di, di, di
Hold your little head down,
both eyes in a dream; do, re, mi …
Right foot in front a bit, tap the time with the feet do, re, mi …
Mama smiles proudly; this is probably the next Jascha Heifetz!
do, re, mi …
NEWS
Upcoming concert
Saturday 5th July
More info on our events page
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