Geay Jeh’n Aer (Wind of the Air)

Collected and translated into English by Mona Douglas who gave the following information about it:

“The singer who gave me this song [Mrs. Shimmin, Foxdale, see below] said it was ‘a girl’s good wish for her lover on the sea, and the girls would be singing it when the boats would be away at the fishing’. She knew nothing of the meaning of the three names invoked, but Miss A. G. Gilchrist [Gilchrist 1928, 100] suggests that ‘Shonest’ may be a version of ‘Shony’, a sea deity known in the Hebrides. The names are pronounced ‘Show-ness’, ‘Loudth-ess’ and ‘Ray’ respectively, and the refrain as ‘Ho ro a-ree a-ro’.” (Twelve Manx Folksongs, 1928.)

This video features Marlene Hendy singing in Manx and then the English translation:

 

Gaelg (Manx)		Baarle (English)
Geay jeh’n aer ta my ghraih er y cheayn Ho ro y ree y ro, ho ro y ree y ro! Jean yn earish kiune as meein Ho ro y ree y ro, ho ro y ree y ro! Shonest Leodest as y Raa Cur aigh vie as maynrys da Slaynt as shee as eash dy vea Ho ro y ree y ro, ho ro y ree y ro!		Wind of the air, my love’s on the sea ho ro y ree y ro, ho ro y ree y ro! Make the weather calm and fine ho ro y ree y ro, ho ro y ree y ro! Shonest Leodest and the Raa Give good luck and happiness to him Health and peace and length of life ho ro y ree y ro, ho ro y ree y ro!