Thugamar Féin An Samhradh Linn
Thugamar Féin An Samhradh Linn is a traditional Irish tune sung on May Day (Lá Bealtaine). Edward Bunting—a 19th century music collector—said this song “is probably extremely ancient” and was sung in the Dublin area around 1633. Even so, Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin says it dates back to 1745, yet Mary Devlin (author of The Lost Music of Ireland) claims it was 1726, so the origin is rather vague.
Phonetics published with permission © Mary T Mc Laughlin Publishing 2001. See Singing in Irish Gaelic by Mary Mc Laughlin, Mel Bay Publishing.
Note: “féin” can be pronounced “hayn” or “fayn”, and “thugamar” can be “hugamar” or “hoogamar” depending on the speaker. Same with “Samhradh”, which can be “Sau-roo” or “Sau-rah”. For example, here’s a rendition by The Wolfe Tones (notice their alternate pronunciations compared to Mary’s below).
Others have recorded this song as well, though under different titles (and with different arrangement or additions of the lyrics——as it goes with trad songs): Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin recorded it as Amhrán na Bealtaine on her album A Stór ‘S A Stóirín, and Eithne Ní Uallacháin & Gerry O’Connor (a.k.a. La Lugh) recorded it as Beltane Song on their album, Brighid’s Kiss. The version in our Bealtaine video is by Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin from the album An Dealg Óir:
| Gaeilge (Irish) Bábóg na Bealtaine, maighdean an tSamhraidh, Suas gach cnoc is síos gach gleann, Cailíní maiseacha bán-gheala gléasta, Thugamar féin an samhradh linn.Samhradh, samhradh, bainne na ngamhna, Thugamar féin an samhradh linn. Samhradh buí na nóinín glégeal, Thugamar féin an samhradh linn.Thugamar linn é ón gcoill chraobhaigh, Thugamar féin an samhradh linn. Samhradh buí ó luí na gréine, Thugamar féin an samhradh linn. Samhradh, samhradh, bainne na ngamhna, Tá an fhuiseog ag seinm ‘sag luascadh sna spéartha, Samhradh, samhradh, bainne na ngamhna, |
Foghraíocht (Phonetics) Baw-bog na Bal-tin-a, my-jin on Tau-ree Soo-us gokh kruk iss she-os gokh glan, Col-yeen-ee my-shokh go gyal-guy-rokh glayas-ta, Hug-a-mar hayn on Sau-roo lin.Sa-u-roo, Sau-roo, bon-ya na nyow-na, Hug-a-mar hayn on Sau-roo lin. Sa-u-roo bwee na no-ih-neen glay-gyal, Hug-a-mar hayn on Sau-roo lin.Hug-a-mar lin ay oo-n gill khreev-ee, Hug-a-mar hayn on Sau-roo lin. Sa-u-roo bwee o lee na grayn-ya, Hug-a-mar hayn on Sau-roo lin. Sa-u-roo, Sau-roo, bon-ya na nyow-na, Taw on ish-yog eg shen-yim seg loos-coo sna spayr-ha, Sa-u-roo, Sau-roo, bon-ya na nyow-na, |
Béarla (English)
Mayday doll, maiden of Summer
Up every hill and down every glen,
Beautiful girls, radiant and shining,
We have brought the Summer in.
Summer, Summer, milk of the calves,
We have brought the Summer in.
Yellow summer of clear bright daisies,
We have brought the Summer in.
We brought it in from the leafy woods,
We have brought the Summer in.
Yellow Summer from the time of the sunset,
We have brought the Summer in.
Summer, Summer, milk of the calves,
We have brought the Summer in.
Yellow summer of clear bright daisies,
We have brought the Summer in.
The lark is singing and swinging around in the skies,
Joy for the dat and the flower on the trees.
The cuckoo and the lark are singing with pleasure,
We have brought the Summer in.
Summer, Summer, milk of the calves,
We have brought the Summer in.
Yellow summer of clear bright daisies,
We have brought the Summer in.