"Fill, fill a rún ó Fill a rún ó is ná himigh uaim. . ."
Her voice flowing over me
like I was a pebble in a stream on a summer's morning
and time an endless second or a mere century.
Her words in the Gaelic and although I didn't know
their meaning
I could grasp the sense of the sound
know without knowing
like listening to water breathing.
The faces of those who had gone before
flew into her face like a startled bird in a church.
Face after face rose up and
became her face.
The words like beads now strung on the string of her song
ending in a lament with no words at all
and I crying not knowing I was crying
as if tears were the only answer.
"Fill orm a chuisle 's a stór Agus chífidh tú 'n ghlóir má fhilleann tú. . ."
Oh I often I have been entranced by this song long before I knew what it meant...it haunted my mind and stained my soul.
This lament. It is supposedly sung by a mother whose son, a priest, has turned to the Protestant faith, and she is calling him back.
Moya Brennan's version is the only version for me.
FILL FILL A RÚN Ó
Curfa Fill fill a rún ó Fill a rún ó is ná h’imigh uaim Fill orm a chuisle ‘s a stóir agus chifidh tú ‘n glór má fhillean tú
Shiuil mise thal is a bhus i mólta ghrainn óige a rugadh mé ‘sni fhaca mé niontas go fóill mar an sagart ó Dónaill ‘na mhinistir
Curfa
Dhiultigh tú Peadar is Pól már gheall ar an ór ‘s as an airgid Dhiultigh tú banrion ná glóir agus d’iompaig tú go cóta an mhinistir
Curfa
English Translation
Refrain Return return o (secret) lover Return o (secret) lover And do not depart from me Return to me o heart and treasure And you will see the glory if you return
I walked hither and yon In Molta Ghrainn I was born And I didn’t see the wonder yet Like Father Ó Donaill as a minister
Refrain
You denied Peter and Paul Because of the gold and silver You denied the queen of glory And you converted to the garb of a minister