FILL FILL A RÚN Ó
"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. . ."
Jul 20, 2017
Jul 20, 2017 at 4:59 PM UTC
FILL FILL A RÚN Ó
"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
Refrain
