Lyr Add: Roisin Dubh / Dark Rosaleen

Subject: Lyr Add: RÓISÍN DUBH / DARK ROSALEEN
From: Conrad Bladey (Peasant- Inactive)
Date: 11 May 00 - 11:40 PM

RÓISÍN DUBH
(Traditional)

A Róisín, ná bíodh brón ort ná chás anois
tá do phárdún ó'n Róimh agus ó'n bPápa agat
tá na bráithre ag teacht thar
sáile agus ag tríall thar muir
'S ni ceilfear fíon Spáinneach ar mo Róisín Dubh

Tá grá agam i mo lár dhuit le blíain anois
grá cráite, grá cásmhar, grá ciapaithe
grá a d'fhág mé gan sláinte, gan rían, gan ruith
is go bráth, bráth, gan aon fháil a
leagadh ar mo Róisín Dubh

Beidh an Éirne ina tuilte dearga 's an spéir 'na fuil
beidh an saol ina choghadh craorach
is réadfar chnoic
beidh gach gleann sléibhe ar fuid Éireann
agus móinte ar crith, la eigin
sula n-eagfaidh mo Róisín Dubh

DARK ROSALEEN aka ROSIN DUBH

O MY Dark Rosaleen,
Do not sigh, do not weep!
The priests are on the ocean green,
They march along the deep.
There 's wine from the royal Pope,
Upon the ocean green;
And Spanish ale shall give you hope,
My Dark Rosaleen!
My own Rosaleen!
Shall glad your heart, shall give you hope,
Shall give you health, and help, and hope,
My Dark Rosaleen!

Over hills, and thro' dales,
Have I roam'd for your sake;
All yesterday I sail'd with sails
On river and on lake.
The Erne, at its highest flood,
I dash'd across unseen,
For there was lightning in my blood,
My Dark Rosaleen!
My own Rosaleen!
O, there was lightning in my blood,
Red lightning lighten'd thro' my blood.
My Dark Rosaleen!

All day long, in unrest,
To and fro, do I move.
The very soul within my breast
Is wasted for you, love!
The heart in my bosom faints
To think of you, my Queen,
My life of life, my saint of saints,
My Dark Rosaleen!
My own Rosaleen!
To hear your sweet and sad complaints,
My life, my love, my saint of saints,
My Dark Rosaleen!

Woe and pain, pain and woe,
Are my lot, night and noon,
To see your bright face clouded so,
Like to the mournful moon.
But yet will I rear your throne
Again in golden sheen;
'Tis you shall reign, shall reign alone,
My Dark Rosaleen!

My own Rosaleen!
'Tis you shall have the golden throne,
'Tis you shall reign, and reign alone,
My Dark Rosaleen!
Over dews, over sands,
Will I fly, for your weal:
Your holy delicate white hands
Shall girdle me with steel.
At home, in your emerald bowers,
From morning's dawn till e'en,
You'll pray for me, my flower of flowers,
My Dark Rosaleen!

HTML line breaks added in place of paragraph marks. --JoeClone, 2-Jul-02.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rosin Dubh Dark Rosaleen GaelicEngli
From: Irish sergeant
Date: 12 May 00 - 06:25 PM

Conrad: What a greeat song! all I need to do now is find chords or tablature for it. Reguards, Neil

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rosin Dubh Dark Rosaleen GaelicEngli
From: Áine
Date: 12 May 00 - 09:10 PM

Dear Conrad,

I'd be interested in knowing where you got the English translation for this song.

-- Áine

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rosin Dubh Dark Rosaleen GaelicEngli
From:
Date: 12 May 00 - 11:41 PM

Conrar, Re = Roisin Dubh. The song "ROISIN DUBH" or Dark Rosaleen was translated from the Gaelic by James Clarence Mangan. It is a truly beautiful song. There are 2 Other verses, I hope you don't mind if I submit them.

I could scale the blue air

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rosin Dubh Dark Rosaleen GaelicEngli
From:
Date: 12 May 00 - 11:43 PM

Dear Conrad,

In response to Aine query here are the two verses.

I could scale the blue air

Subject: Lyr Add: DARK ROSALEEN
From:
Date: 12 May 00 - 11:55 PM

Sorry about that I will try again

I could scale the blue air,
I could plough the high hills
Oh, I could kneel all night in prayer
To heal your many ills
And one....beamy smile from you
Would float like light between
My toils and me, my own true love,
My Dark Rosaleen
My fond Rosaleen
Would give me life and soul anew
A second life, a soul anew
My Dark Rosaleen

Oh the Erne shall run red
With redundance of blood
The earth shall rock beneath our tread
And flames wrap hill and wood
And gun peal and slogan cry
Wake many a glen between
Ere you shall fade, ere you shall die
My Dark Rosaleen
My Own Rosaleen
v The judgement hour must first be nigh
Ere you can fade, ere you can die
My Dark Rosaleen

This last verse is the english of the last verse in gaelic that you sent.

Hope you all enjoy this song. I used to hear my father sing it when I was aboy. I later found the words in Irish Fireside Songs #3 ( Patriotic Songs) published by Waltons Galleries in Dublin, my copy contains 31 songs, the price printed on the cover is 4d about 10 cents.

Subject: Lyr/Tune Add: RÓISÍN DUBH / DARK ROSALEEN
From: Conrad Bladey (Peasant- Inactive)
Date: 14 May 00 - 07:37 PM

 

                             Róisín Dubh
 

A Róisín, ná bíodh brón ort ná chás anois
tá dophárdún ó'n Róimh agus ó'n bPápa agat
tá na bráithre ag teacht thar
sáile agus ag tríall thar muir
'S niceilfear fíon Spáinneach ar mo Róisín Dubh
Tá grá agam i mo lár dhuit le blíain anois
grá cráite, grá cásmhar, grá ciapaithe
grá a d'fhág mé gan sláinte, gan rían, gan ruith
is go bráth, bráth, gan aon fháil a
leagadh ar mo Róisín Dubh
Beidh an Éirne ina tuilte dearga 's an spéir 'na fuil
beidhan saol ina choghadh craorach
is réadfar chnoic beidh
gach gleann sléibhe ar fuid Éireann
agus móinte ar crith, la eigin
sula n-eagfaidh mo Róisín Dubh
-Traditional

Dark Rosaleen
aka Rosin Dubh
O MY Dark Rosaleen,
Do not sigh, do not weep!
The priests are on the ocean green,
They march along the deep.
There 's wine from the royal Pope,
Upon the ocean green;
And Spanish ale shall give you hope,
My Dark Rosaleen!
My own Rosaleen!
Shall glad your heart, shall give you hope,
Shall give you health, and help, and hope,

My Dark Rosaleen!
Over hills, and thro' dales,
Have I roam'd for your sake;
All yesterday I sail'd with sails
On river and on lake.
The Erne, at its highest flood,
dash'd across unseen,
For there was lightning in my blood,
My Dark Rosaleen!
 

My own Rosaleen!
O, there was lightning in my blood,
Red lightning lighten'd thro' my blood.
My Dark Rosaleen!
All day long, in unrest,
To and fro, do I move.
The very soul within my breast
Is wasted for you, love!
The heart in my bosom faints
To think of you, my Queen,
My life of life, my saint of saints,
My Dark Rosaleen!

My own Rosaleen!
To hear your sweet and sad complaints,
My life, my love, my saint of saints,
My Dark Rosaleen!
Woe and pain, pain and woe,
Are my lot, night and noon,
To see your bright face clouded so,
Like to the mournful moon.
But yet will I rear your throne
Again in golden sheen;
'Tis you shall reign, shall reign alone,
My Dark  Rosaleen!
My own Rosaleen!
'Tis you shall have the golden throne,
'Tis you shall reign, and reign alone,
My Dark Rosaleen!

Over dews, over sands,
Will I fly, for your weal:
Your holy delicate white hands
Shall girdle me with steel.
At home, in your emerald bowers,
From morning's dawn till e'en,
You'll pray for me, my flower of flowers,
My Dark Rosaleen! My fond Rosaleen!
You'll think of me through daylight hours,
My virgin flower, my flower of flowers,
My Dark Rosaleen!

I could scale the blue air,
I could plough the high hills,
O, I could kneel all night in prayer,
To heal your many ills!
And one beamy smile from you
Would float like light between
My toils and me, my own, my true,
My Dark Rosaleen!
My fond Rosaleen!
Would give me life and soul anew,
A second life, a soul anew,
My Dark Rosaleen!

O, the Erne shall run red,
With redundance of blood,
The earth shall rock beneath our tread,
And flames wrap hill and wood,
And gun-peal and slogan-cry
Wake many a glen serene,
Ere you shall fade, ere you shall die,
My Dark Rosaleen!
My ownRosaleen!
The Judgement Hour must first be nigh,
Ere you can fade, ere you can die,
My Dark Rosaleen!
James Clarence Mangan. 1803–1849
_____________________________________________
Black Róisín, is often described as  a code name used by
the Irish when referring to Ireland.,
This tribute tells Ireland (Black Roisin) not to be sad
as our fellow  Catholic nations of Spain and the Pope in
Rome
were providing support. The narrator is said to be Red
Hugh O'Donnel. The popular patriotic tune was
used by the Irish Composer Sean O' Riada for the main
theme of his musical score for  the epic Irish gaelic
film Misse Erin.

T:Roisin Dubh
M:4/4
L:1/8
Q:45
R:Air
K:D
A3/2{BA}F/2|A2 D2 FA e3/2d/4e/4|f>edB A>F E3/2D/4E/4|F>E
D4 d3/2e/4f/4|
gf/4e/4d/4e/4 f>e dc A3/2F/4A/4|e3/2d/4e/4 f>e d2
d3/2e/4f/4|
g3/2(3f/4e/4d/4 f>e dc A3/2F/4A/4|e3/2d/4e/4 f>e dB
A>F|A2 D2 FA e3/2d/4
e/4|f>e dB A>F E3/2D/4E/4|F>E D4 A3/2 {BA} F/2|A2 D2 FA
e2|
(3f/4a/4f/4 d/4e/4 f>e dB A>FE|A/2F/2D/2E/2 F>E
D4|de/4f/4 g>f e/2d/2B/2
d/2 f>e|dc A>A B/2A/2F/2A/2 e>f|e/2d/2 {e} f>e d2
de/2f/2g|fede f>edc|
A3/2F/2A/2e3/2 f>e d2|A3/2{BA}F/2 A2 D2 FA|e2
f/2e/2d/2e/2 f>edB|
A>FE>A F/2D/2E/2 F>E|{F}D4||
 

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rosin Dubh Dark Rosaleen GaelicEngli
From: Conrad Bladey (Peasant- Inactive)
Date: 14 May 00 - 07:38 PM

hope that helps.... Conrad

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Róisín Dubh Dark Rosaleen GaelicEngli
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 15 May 00 - 02:30 PM

see also the links and midi at an earlierRoisin dubh thread

Subject: Lyr Add: MY ROISIN DUBH
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 12:45 AM

There is a long discussion of the song, and several tunes, in the thread called Celtic Music.

I don't know what to make of the fact that the English version above has 5 verses while the Irish has only 3.

Here's another translation (with 6 verses!) copied from http://www.geocities.com/Nashville/Opry/9441/irishlovepoems.htm
(The site says, "Thanks to Fiona Hyland.")

Roisin, have no sorrow for all that has happened to you
The Friars are out on the brine. They are travelling the sea
Your pardon from the Pope will come, from Rome in the East
And we won't spare the Spanish wine for my Roisin Dubh

Far have we journeyed together, since days gone by.
I've crossed over mountains with her, and sailed the sea
I have cleared the Erne, though in spate, at a single leap
And like music of the strings all about me, my Roisin Dubh

You have driven me mad, fickle girl- may it do you no good!
My soul is in thrall, not just yesterday nor today
You have left me weary and weak in body and mind
O deceive not the one who loves you, my Roisin Dubh

I would walk in the dew beside you, or the bitter desert
In hopes I might have your affection, or part of your love
Fragrant small branch, you have given your word you love me
The choicest flower of Munster, my Roisin Dubh

If I had six horses, I would plough against the hill-
I'd make Roisin Dubh my Gospel in the middle of Mass-
I'd kiss the young girl who would grant me her maidenhead
And do deeds behind the lios with my Roisin Dubh!

The Erne will be strong in flood, the hills be torn
The ocean will be all red waves, the sky all blood,
Every mountain and bog in Ireland will shake
One day, before she shall perish, my Roisin Dubh.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rosin Dubh Dark Rosaleen GaelicEngli
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 02:54 AM

Mangan worked from literal translations supplied by others (mostly two Gaelic scholars, O'DOnovan and O'Curry). He had little, if any, Irish himself. He did translations from several other languages on the same basis.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rosin Dubh Dark Rosaleen GaelicEngli
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 02:58 AM

"Dark Rosaleen", in particular, was based on a translation by Samuel Ferguson of a version collected by a man called Hardiman. Ferguson, incidentally, regarded it as a straight love song, rahter than a political allegory.

Regards

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Rosin Dubh Dark Rosaleen GaelicEngli
From: MartinRyan
Date: 03 Jul 02 - 06:35 AM

Jim

As far as I can make out, O'Curry's original had five verses, as had Mangan's "translation". There's no sign of horses in the Irish version in Donal O'Sullivan's Songs of the Irish which I would take to be O'Curry's set.

Regards

p.s. O'Sullivan,incidentally, reckoned that the last verse was a later addition.

Subject: RE: Add: Roisin Dubh Dark Rosaleen GaelicEnglish
From: GUEST
Date: 14 Apr 04 - 07:01 PM

Has anyone found the music to the song "Dark Rosaleen"?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roisin Dubh Dark Rosaleen GaelicEnglish
From: Jim McLean
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 10:59 AM

I have the EP of Mise Éire and it's wonderful. It was issued on gael-linn some time ago. I have had it now for many years, 20 possibly. The sleeve notes are in Irish Gaelic:
Taibh 1 (side 1):
1. Mise Eire 2. Cogadh na mBórach 3. As Asgard aguc Sochraid, Bachelor's Walk 4. Óglaigh na hÉireann.
Taobh 2:
1. Luan Casca 1916 2. Cathair Bhriste 3. Caithréim.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roisin Dubh Dark Rosaleen GaelicEnglish
From: GUEST,traveller
Date: 15 Apr 04 - 12:37 PM

guest 14 Apr, there is an abc in the celtic music thread, link given by Jim Dixon. Just above Jim Dixon, Philippa says there is a midi on mudcat and another thread. There is sheet music in Donal O Sullivan, "Songs of the Irish" if you can get your hands on a copy. I think I remember a nice pipe instrumental on an old Finbar & Eddie Furey album (w/ Paddy Bell, but shes not on that track)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roisin Dubh Dark Rosaleen GaelicEnglish
From: GUEST,Curraghmor
Date: 01 May 05 - 07:12 PM

The tune, which has no lyrics, known as 'Roisin Dubh' was written and used by the Irish people at a time when any use of the gaelic language was suppressed by the English: hence no words. It is still played in Irish Republican circles as an anthem, and personified poor little Ireland under the heel of the British.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roisin Dubh Dark Rosaleen GaelicEngli
From: ard mhacha
Date: 02 May 05 - 02:26 AM

My dark Rosaleen, recorded by John McCormack as long ago as 1907, and can can still be purchased on a CD entitled, "Come back to Erin", CD21215 at Delta Music Ltd, Beckenham Kent England BR3 1QZ.

Search around any music outlet shop for John McCormack CD`s and you may be lucky, othwerwise try the above address.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roisin Dubh / Dark Rosaleen
From: GUEST,Aine
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 12:37 PM

Thank you Armagh

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roisin Dubh / Dark Rosaleen
From: An Pluiméir Ceolmhar
Date: 02 Mar 08 - 01:35 PM

Ah yes, I remember learning the English version in school. I always had a problem with the bit about "They march along the deep".

Even now, it conjures up visions of Franciscan friars wading along the seabed with the help of facemasks and snorkels LOL!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Roisin Dubh / Dark Rosaleen
From: Sandy Paton
Date: 03 Mar 08 - 02:34 AM

Paddy Tunney sings it on his Folk-Legacy CD "The Man of Songs." (CD-7)