Derek Bell

Peh trouz zou ar en doar
Peh kan a gleuan me
Na kaeret er boehieu e za lein eun ne
Eled, lavaret d’emb eit petra e kannet?
Peneu eted ar ze e zou arriu er bed?

Arnet eue genemb kannet pobl ag en doar?
Ewan de laret d’ho eun ne ueted hemb par
Eur mabig beniget roue a Jerusalem
E zo gannet eit-ho er ger a vethleem

translation:

What noise on earth?
who is singing for me and who I am hearing
how much I like these voices who sing in the skies
and what do they say in their song?
what is new that happened on earth?

we hear the people sing on earth
I come to tell you that in the sky there is something beyond compare
a small child blessed, king of Jerusalem
and who was born for them (the people) in the town of Bethlehem


Translated by Nolwenn Monjarret

Peh trouz zou ar en doar
Peh kan a gleuan me
Na kaeret er boehieu e za lein eun ne
Eled, lavaret d’emb eit petra e kannet?
Peneu eted ar ze e zou arriu er bed?

Arnet eue genemb kannet pobl ag en doar?
Ewan de laret d’ho eun ne ueted hemb par
Eur mabig beniget roue a Jerusalem
E zo gannet eit-ho er ger a vethleem

translation:

What noise on earth?
who is singing for me and who I am hearing
how much I like these voices who sing in the skies
and what do they say in their song?
what is new that happened on earth?

we hear the people sing on earth
I come to tell you that in the sky there is something beyond compare
a small child blessed, king of Jerusalem
and who was born for them (the people) in the town of Bethlehem


Translated by Nolwenn Monjarret

Here we are we've come to call with pipes and flutes and fiddles and all
In case of death we've even brought a keener
So, if you're glum and feeling down just feel like us
And act the clown and soon there'll be a change in your demeanor
(Lilting)
I put me money on a horse today for with the race he'd run away
Or so a friend that's in the know he told me
Twenty lengths ahead at most, he proudly cantered pass the post
But, woe was me, he lost the bloomin' jockey!
(Lilting, followed by verse-long fiddle and whistle break)
Now of all the places I have seen from China to the Caribbean
Are all across the goat compared to Ireland
From Bally Castle to Tralie the Corup to the Liffy
There's no where else on earth but like this island
(Lilting, followed by short piano break)
In Hollywood I long to be, no, not the place across the sea
But in County Wickloe Ireland's lovely garden
Where no pretenders will you find but decent people warm and kind
And flocks of friendly sheep into the bargain
(Lilting, followed by short fiddle and whistle break)
For your ills don't take a pill but take it down the road, the hills
And listen to the larks lovely warbling
In the evening in the company with music in the key of E
You'll be dancing Kerry sets until the morning
(Lilting)
Dancing Kerry sets until the morning

Far away across the ocean. Beneath an Indian star
Lives a little dark eyed maiden On the coast of Malabar

In the harbour where we anchored I could see her shy and sweet
With a blossom on her bosom And the wild waves at her feet

I can see the crowded city. The palm trees green and tall
And the starry night she danced with me Inside those city wall

She gave a little wistful glance. As she looked across the bay
And she whispered if you love me, why do you sail away

I must go my little dark eyes. I must go my Indian star
But I'll come again and love you. On the coast of Malabar

In my dreams I oft-times wander to that far off Indian sea
And the days we spent together. They come back again to me

I can see the crowded city, the palm trees on the shore
But that little dark-eyed maiden, she's there no more no more

Fare thee well my little dark eyes. Fare thee well my Indian star
In my dreams I will live forever on the Coast of Malabar

If it hadn't been for cotton-eye Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from. Where did you go?
Where did you come from cotton-eye Joe?

If it hadn't been for cotton-eye Joe
I'd been married long time ago
Where did you come from. Where did you go?
Where did you come from cotton-eye Joe?

Whooo!

Oh Danny boy, the pipes, the pipes are calling
From glen to glen, and down the mountainside
The summer's gone, and all the flow'rs are falling
'tis you, 'tis you must go, and I must bide

But come ye back when summer's in meadow
Or when the valley's hushed and white with snow
'tis I'll be there in sunshine or in shadow
Oh Danny boy, oh Danny boy, I love you so

And when ye come and all the flow'rs are dying
If I am dead, as dead I will remain
You'll come and find the place where I am lying
And kneel and say an "Ave" for me

And I shall hear, tho' soft you tread above me
And all my grave will warm and sweeter be
If you will bend and tell me that you love me
Then I shall sleep in peace until you come to me

Ding dong merrily on high,
In heav'n the bells are ringing:
Ding dong! verily the sky
Is riv'n with angel singing.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

E'en so here below, below,
Let steeple bells be swungen,
And "Io, io, io!"
By priest and people sungen.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

Pray you, dutifully prime
Your matin chime, ye ringers;
May you beautifully rime
Your evetime song, ye singers.
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!
Gloria, Hosanna in excelsis!

As I went out walking one fine summer morning,
The birds in the bushes did whistle and sing
The lads and the lasses in couples were courtin'
Going back to the factory their work to begin

He spied one among them, she was fairer then many,
Her cheeks like the red rose that blooms in the spring,
Her hair like the lily that grows in yon' valley
She was only a hard-working factory girl

He said soft beside her, more closely to view her
She said "My young man, don't stare me so,
I gold in my pocket, and silver as well,
no more will I answer that factory call..."

God rest ye merry, gentlemen
Let nothing you dismay
Remember, Christ, our Saviour
Was born on Christmas day
To save us all from Satan's power
When we were gone astray
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

From God our Heavenly Father
A blessed Angel came;
And unto certain Shepherds
Brought tidings of the same:
How that in Bethlehem was born
The Son of God by Name.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

Now to the Lord sing praises,
All you within this place,
And with true love and brotherhood
Each other now embrace;
This holy tide of Christmas
All other doth deface.
O tidings of comfort and joy,
Comfort and joy
O tidings of comfort and joy

My own love said to me "My mother won't mind
And my daughters won't slight you for your lack of kind"
He went away from me and this he did say:
"It will not be long, Love, till our wedding day"

He went away from me and he moved through the fair
And slowly I watched him move here and move there
He went his way homeward with one star awake
As this swan in the evening moves over the lake

I dreamed last night that my own love came in
He came in so sweetly his feet made no din
He came close beside me and this he did say:
"It will not be long Love till our wedding day"

It will not be long love, long love, long love, love