C’raad ta’n Ree? (Where is the King?)

According to Shaping the Shape-Shifter: Cultural Revival, Spirituality & the Manx Manannan by Breesha Maddrell:

‘C’raad ta’n Ree?’, a song which describes who Manannan was, was collected by Mona Douglas from Mrs Shimmin of Foxdale in 1921. Both this song and ‘Manannan beg mac y lir’ are sung frequently by children and adults as part of the living tradition.

The phonetics were transcribed by Treasa Ní Chonchobhair and are based on Ashley Davis’ song Mannanan (from her album, Down by the Sea). Any mistakes belong to Treasa. A version of C’raad ta’n Ree is featured in our video on Paying the Rents to Manannán, performed by the Manx band Skeeal:

 

Gaelg (Manx)	Phonetics	Baarle (English)
C’raad ta’n Ree? T’eh er’n cheet veih Flaunys. Harrish y cheayn dys mullagh Varrool.     [Reesht]	Crehd tan Ree T’ern cheet voll Flau-nish Hair-rish e heen dis mull-achk Vah-rule [Repeat]	Where’s the King? He has come from Flaunys. Over the sea to the top o’ Barrool. [Repeat]
C’red t’eh jannoo? T’eh jeeaghyn my heear. Soie fo chay er mullagh Varrool.     [Reesht]	Crehd teh jan-noo Teh jee-haun my hear Soy fo hay er mull-achk Vah-rule [Repeat]	What’s he doing? He’s looking behind him. Sitting under mist on top o’ Barrool. [Repeat]
Quoi ta’n Ree? Ta’n Ree Mannanan. Ta cashtal echey er mullagh Varrool.     [Reesht]	Koi tan Ree Tan Ree Mawn-ah-naw-nan Tah cashal eh-hey er mull-achk Vah-rule [Repeat]	Who’s the King? The King’s Mannanan. He has a castle on top o’ Barrool. [Repeat]