Dulaman english translation
Maggie:
Quote from: Emily in FL on March 26, 2008, 03:52PM
The first time I read the translation for Dúlaman I laughed so hard. I had no idea it was about seaweed and I thought to myself, "What a RANDOM topic for a song!"
It's not as random as you might think.
(Sorry about the length of this post but it offers a couple of explanations of the lyrics, and may clear up the mystery)
Dúlamán (seaweed) became a very important commodity in Ireland.
Certain types of seaweed are edible and very nutritious, (dulaman maorach) and saved many from starvation during the famine, especially if they lived near the sea or a river.
Another type of seaweed was used as a dye for linen....(dulaman gaelach) ..which could explain why green was a popular colour.
The men who made their living from dulaman were called after the particular seaweed they sold. 'Dulaman Maorach' was only one of the many suitors hoping to win the hand of 'Dulaman Gaelach's' beautiful daughter. A conversation between the two men reveals that her father did not want her to wed this man but it seems that Dulaman Maorach took off with her, regardless.
However, many Irish songs are symbolic. There were many songs of rebellion and history lessons hidden in mundane lyrics and love songs. As you know, there were many uprisings and rebellions after William of Orange invaded Ireland from the North, especially after the Irish heard that the Americans had won their independence.
The British became paranoid about Irish people gathering together, they executed the Priests and Monks who were the educators, they eventually banned the Irish language and the wearing of green, which was seen as the colour of Irish unity and rebellion.
There were other less widespread famines before the "Great Famine" of the 1840's.
I have studied these lyrics, and I can see where the suitor who came a-courting might represent England. At first the suitor is seen as ugly........however, they see that he is well dressed and offering gifts for the daughter.
The father, suspicious of his motives, refuses to let his daughter go.
(The father may be Ireland, the daughter could be the Province of Ulster)
The suitor says he intends to run off with the daughter no matter what.
Symbolic or not, the words below are the best translation and explanation I have found.
Quote:
As you can see from the first verse, this is really a courting song, with the mother telling the daughter that the men are coming and the girl wanting to look like she's good housewife material, i.e., showing them she can spin. In the second verse, the mother and daughter are talking about how unattractive the fellow is (the dulaman gaelach); however, in the third and fourth verse they've decided that he looks like he could afford to spend some money on them, as he can dress himself fairly well. In the fifth verse, the fellow promises the girl a present as an enticement to marriage. However, in the sixth verse the girl's daddy (who is also a 'dulaman gaelach' - the names change in this verse) demands to know the fellow's (the 'dulaman maorach' now) intentions; and, the daddy declares in the last verse that he'll not let the fellow take his daughter away. However, the upstart says that he'll just kidnap her!
Here are the lyrics:
(Curfa means chorus)
A 'níon mhín ó, sin anall na fir shúirí,
[Dear daughter, here come the courtin' men,]
A mháthair mhín, ó cuir na roithleán go dtí mé.
[Dear mother, oh bring me my spinning wheel.]
Curfa:
Dúlamán na Binne Buí, Dúlamán Gaelach,
[Seaweed from the yellow cliff, Irish seaweed,]
Dúlamán na farraige, 's é b'fhearr a bhí in Éirinn.
[Seaweed from the ocean, the best in all of Ireland.]
Tá cosa dubha dúbailte ar an dúlamán gaelach
[Two black thick feet are on the Irish seaweed,]
Tá dhá chluais mhaol ar an dúlamán gaelach
[Two narrow ears on are the Irish seaweed.]
Curfa
Rachaidh muid go Doire leis an dúlamán gaelach,
[We'll go to Derry with the Irish seaweed,]
'S ceannóidh muid bróga daora ar an dúlamán gaelach.
[And we'll buy expensive shoes on the Irish seaweed.]]
Curfa
Bróga breaca dubha ar an dúlamán gaelach,
[Black spotted shoes on the Irish seaweed,]
Tá bearéad agus triúis ar an dúlamán gaelach.
[There's a cap and trousers on the Irish seaweed.]
Curfa
Ó chuir mé scéala chuici, go gceannóinn cíor dí,
[O I told her the news, that a comb would be bought for her,]
'S é'n scéal a chuir sí chugam, go raibh a ceann cíortha.
[That's the story she told me, that it was a fine one.]
Curfa
Cad é a thug na tíre thú? arsa an dúlamán gaelach,
[What did you bring from the land? said the Irish seaweed,]
Ag súirí le do 'níon, arsa an dúlamán maorach.
[Courting with your daughter, said the upstart seaweed.]
Curfa
Ó cha bhfaigheann tú mo 'níon, arsa an dúlamán gaelach,
[O you're not taking my daughter, said the Irish seaweed,]
Bheul, fuadóidh mé liom í, arsa an dúlamán maorach.
[Well, I'll take her away with me, said the upstart seaweed.]
Shywolf(Craig):
Thanks Maggie it helps and informative. Meav mention that on CW video :)
Emily!:
Ah, interesting! Thank you for that, Maggie! It does indeed clear up the mystery!
Quote from: Naraku_Diabolos on April 04, 2008, 07:28PM
Heh, you should hear how Anúna's version of Dúlamán is sang it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D6srNv6W0RE
Now THAT isn't human.
I have heard Anúna's and my gosh it is SUPER fast! :o :o :o
I much prefer CW's version, naturally. ;) :D
Naraku_Diabolos:
Wow, thank you, Maggie. That explains a lot, and it seems quite interesting. I knew that Dulaman was about seaweed gatherers, but I did not know that it was a story. Very interesting...
Navigation
[0] Message Index
[*] Previous page