Lyrics
Façade Lyrics
- Her Name was Alex
- Amen
- Caoineadh na dTrí Mhuire
- Western Highway
- Màiri
- Púirt a Beul
- Be Thou my Vision (Bí Thusa ‘Mo Shúile)
- Veni, Veni Emmanuel
- Home
- Tiocfaidh an Samhradh*
Her Name Was Alex
NOTES
Written by Robbi McMillen. Although Alex does not exist, it is about a friend of mine. Everyone needs a close friend, whom they love and who they can do everyday things with without fear of being persecuted.
LYRICS
She’d stand in my centre my heart.
She’d speak to me when times were dark.
She’d look at me with loving eyes.
My best friend who detered the lies.
Grá mo chroí thú ‘s’a stóirín fán liom,
Cha bhíonn mo am leat in am ar bith olc,
Imeoidh leatsa i ngar is i gcéin,
Mo mhuinín ‘bheadh ionat le teacht maorga an ghréin.
Her name was Alex now it’s much more than that,
It’s friend and soul and number one for a chat.
To me she’s a life, a lifeline a joy.
The frontiers of hatred with a hug she destroys.
Glán mo hanam, mo chroí is mo mheabhair,
Thug tú dom do hór do ábháir,
Chuir tú thar an dorchas mé, is mhothaigh mé an teas,
Le barróg, thug tú dom, do ghrá is go ghrás.
Go dtiocfadh beannadh an lae orainn fós,
Ach go dtí ‘n’lá sin, go mbeidh ár gcairdeas san aon chlós.
Imtheocheoidh soir is siar, a dtáinig ariamh.
Alex a’ saol, is Alex a’ ghrátáispeáiniú.
Amen
NOTES
Written by Robbi McMillen. This is not so much a Christian song, but a song that represents the cry for help in all aspects of our lives and in all ways – sometimes we just can’t cope, and that is something natural.
LYRICS
Amen Amen, Save me from what I must see,
This world has lead me, everything I cannot win,
Hold me near in your heart, Amen, Amen!
Send me to were you belong, Amen!
Hold me, save me, love me, need me,
Want me, hold me, care for me, don’t leave me.
Hold me, save me, love me, need me,
Want me, hold me, care for me, don’t leave me.
Amen, Amen, Amen, Holy Father, Amen, Amen!
Amen, Amen, Amen, Holy Father, Amen, Amen!
Protect me from what I must feel, Amen, Amen,
Sheild me from the blood of the sea, now please,
Hold me at heart in line, you know, i know,
Love me, cherish me, believe me, Amen!
Amen, Amen, Amen, Holy Father, Amen, Amen!
Amen, Amen, Amen, Holy Father, Amen, Amen!
The waters shall, shall fall down,
Shall fall down, from the heavens.
Ghosts shall come, to haunt us all,
As will love from heaven.
Amen, save me, trust me, truth me, intwine me,
Find me, save me, carry me, time, just time, Amen!
Amen, Amen, Believe the sould, and you will find,
What’s behind, what’s inside, don’t dare hide,
I will find you, if you do be found, Amen, Amen!
Hold me beneath your banner kind, Amen.
Tháinig mé ortsa istigh i mo chroí,
Ar bhealach nach raibh a fhios agam ‘riamh,
Ach tháinig tú ar ais, gan dul ar shiúil,
A rún, a Dhia fán i mo shaol, Amen, Amen!
The waters shall, shall fall down,
Shall fall down, from the heavens.
Ghosts shall come, to haunt us all,
As will love from heaven.
Amen.
Caoineadh na dTrí Mhuire
NOTES
Trad. Arr. McMillen. This song depicts the death of Christ on Calvary. The title means ‘Lament of the Three Marys’, as they are the people telling this story.
LYRICS
A Pheadair, a Aspail, a bhfaca tú mo Ghrá geal?
Ochón agus ochón ó!
Do chonaic mé ar ball é i lár a namhad
Ochón agus ochón ó!
Cé hé an fear breá sin ar Chrann na Páise?
Ochón agus ochón ó!
An é nach n-aithnír do Mhac, a Mháthair?
Ochón agus ochón ó!
‘S an é sin an casúr a bhuail Tríot na tairní
Ochón agus ochón ó!
Nó ‘n í sin an tsleá a chuaigh trí Do lár geal
Ochón agus ochón ó!
Western Highway
NOTES
Gerry O’Beirne; Arr. McMillen.
LYRICS
I am a driver on a western highway
From the mountains to the sea
And there’s a song of the western highway
That’s saying I will be free
The sky is fading to the colour of the valley
Dust of angels and dust of dreams
Your city lights will shine until tomorrow
And I will not be here
But your light is brighter than anything I’ve ever seen
And I hear your voice on every station
Singing out of your dream
Here I am on the road again
The song began and in the end
I was standing by
I was standing by the sea
And by the roadside the trees are shimmering
Black and silver in the cold night air
And under the moon a new song singing
Saying I will meet you there
And your light is brighter than anything I’ve ever seen
And I hear your voice on every station
Singing out of your dream
Here I am on the road again
The song began and in the end
I was standing by
I was standing by the sea
And by the roadside the trees are shimmering
Black and silver in the cold night air
And under the moon a new song singing
Saying I will meet you there
And by the roadside the trees are shimmering
Black and silver in the cold night air
And under the moon a new song singing
Saying I will meet you there
And your light is brighter than anything I’ve ever seen
And I hear your voice on every station
Singing out of your dream
Here I am on the road again
The song began and in the end
I was standing by
I was standing by the sea
I was standing by the sea…
I am a driver on a western highway
From the mountains to the sea
And there’s a song of the western highway
That’s saying I will be free
Saying I will be free…
Màiri
NOTES
Trad. Arr. McMillen. This is a Scottish Gaelic walking song – well, two. I heard them on Karen Matheson’s ‘Downriver’ album.
LYRICS
O Mhàiri ‘s tu mo Mhàiri
I oireann ó ra u
I oireann ó dhiù a
Hi òireann ó ra u
‘S truagh nach robh sinn air an àirigh
Le spréidh de chrodh bainne
Togail àl de laoigh ghasda
Togail àl de laoigh bhoireann
Deanamh ime agus chàis ann
Chunna mi tighinn na féidh
‘S iad a’ tighinn as am bùirean
’S truagh nach robh mi air an cùlaibh
Le m’ ghunna ‘s le m’ adhairc fhùdair
Riobainean riomhach, Nighean an Fhidleir
Còta dimitidh, beatagan caileago
Riobainean riomhach, Nighean an Fhidhleir
Còta siod air Màiri.
Brògan àrda, Cleòca, sgàrlaid
Còta dimitidh, beatagan caileago
Brogan àrda, Cleòca sgàrlaid
Riobainean riomhach Màiri.
Puirt a Beul
NOTES
Trad. Arr. McMillen. A set of Scots Gaelic mouth music. The first I heard on Karan Casey’s ‘Distant Shore’, the second on Julie Fowlis’ ‘Mar a Tha Mo Chridhe’, and the third on Karen Matheson’s ‘Downriver’. I’m not too used to singing Púirt, so these are three of the most well known. I’m working on being one-millionth as skilled as the aforementioned singers!
LYRICS
A Mhorag bheag nighean Dhomhuill duinn
Tha thu cruinn sgiobalta
A Mhorag bheag nighean Dhomhuill duinn
Tha thu cruinn boidheach
Thug mi cion ‘us cion ‘us cion
Thug mi cion an uiridh dhuit,
Thug mi cion ‘us cion ‘us cion
‘S bhuilichinn do phosadh
A Mhorag bheag nighean Dhomhuill ghibich,
Is ioma fear ‘thug ribean duit;
A Mhorag bheag nighean Dhomhuill ghibich,
Is ioma fear tha’n toir ort.
A Mhorag bheag nighean Dhomhuill uidhir
Thug mi cion an uiridh duit;
A Mhorag bheag nighean Dhomhuill uidhir
Bhuilichinn do phosadh
Siud mar chaidh an càl a dholaidh
Laigh’ a’ mhìn air màs a’ choire
Siud mar chaidh an càl a dholaidh
Air na bodaich Ghallda
Siud mar chaidh an càl a dhìth
Seo mar chaidh an càl a dhìth
Siud mar chaidh an càl a dhìth
Air Impire na Frainge
Siud mar chaidh an càl a dhìth
Seo mar chaidh an càl a dhìth
Siud mar chaidh an càl a dhìth
Air Impire na Frainge
S ioma rud a chunna mi,
‘S ioma rud a rinn mi;
‘S ioma rud a chunna mise
A-muigh air feadh na h-oidhche.
Chunna mi na cudaigean
Na cudaigean, na cudaigean;
Chunna mi na cudaigean
A’cluich air allt na muilleadh.
Chunna mi na piseagan,
Na piseagan, na piseagan;
Chunna mi na piseagan,
Air spiris bean an t-saighdeir.
Be Thou My Vision (Bí Thusa ‘mo Shúile)
NOTES
Verses 1-2 by Aodh Ó Dúgáin / Others by Robbi McMillen. This is a song that has been recorded so many times since Máire Ní Bhraonáin (Moya Brennan) recorded it on her 1999 album ‘Whisper to the Wild Water’. The translator of verse one and two is her grandfather. It is a beautiful song, and seems to give me hope.
LYRICS
Bí thusa ‘mo shúile a Rí mhór na ndúil
Líon Thusa mo bheatha, mo chéadfaí ’s mo stuaim
Bí Thusa i m’aigne gach oíche ’s gach lá
Im chodladh nó im dhúiseacht líon mé le do grá
Bí Thusa mo threorú i mbriathar is i mbeart
Fan Thusa go deo liom is coinnigh mé ceart
Glac cúram mar Athair is éist le mo ghuí
Is tabhair domhsa áit cónaí istigh i do chroí
Bí thusa ‘mo sciath, mo claíomh don chath,
Bí thusa ‘mo mhaorgacht, tusa mo ghliondar,
‘S’tú dídean mo hanam, tusa mo túr ard,
Tóg suas go neamh mé, a chumhacht mo cumhacht.
Saibhreas cha chí mé, no moladh foladh na bhfear,
Tusa mo oidhreacht, anoise is go brách,
Tusa ‘s tusa ‘mháin, ‘tá buan i mo chroí,
Ard Rí na bhflaitheas, mo thaisce,’s tú é.
Ard Rí na neamh, mo bhua bainte,
Tabhair dom ríméad neamh, Ó grian ard-geal,
Croí mo chroíse, gach rud ‘tá teacht chugam,
Bí thusa ‘mo shúile, a rialóir a’ tsaol.
Veni, Veni Emmanuel
NOTES
Trad. Arr. Robbi McMillen. ‘Draw Nigh, Draw Nigh, Emmanuel’, as originally translated from Latin to English by John M. Neal, now commonly known as ‘O Come, O Come, Emmanuel’. The title comes from Isaiah 7:14: “Behold, a virgin shall concieve, and bear a son, and shall call his name Immanuel”. Immanuel means ‘God With Us’.
LYRICS
Veni, veni Emmanuel!
Captivum solve Filasṭīn!
Qui gemit in exilio,
Privatus Dei Filio.
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Filasṭīn.
Veni, veni o oriens!
Solare nos adveniens,
Noctis depelle nebulas,
Dirasque noctis tenebras.
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Filasṭīn.
Veni, veni Adonai!
Qui populo in Sinai
Legem dedisti vertice,
In Maiestate gloriae.
Gaude, gaude, Emmanuel
Nascetur pro te, Filasṭīn.
Veni, veni Emmanuel!
Nascetur pro te, Filasṭīn.
Home
NOTES
Written by Robbi McMillen. People seem to think this is a sad song, but it’s actually quite a happy one. It’s all about being home – and for me, home is in my partner, as well as in my physical home, Ireland.
LYRICS
Tar liom ‘na bhaile, a rún geal óig,
Bíodh mo dheora ‘gconaí ionam,
Amharch i mo shúile,
Tabhair dom seal beo.
Bring me back back home,
Bring me away.
Make up your mind,
What can I say,
Waht can I say.
Abair na focail sin liomsa,
Tá mé sa bhaile ag damhsa arís,
Ag amharc ar an fharraige sultmhar,
Tá mé ar an aill le bliain arís.
Now i stand right before you,
And you know, I’m so happy,
Go away, come with me,
Don’t run away without me.
On the cliff, on the water,
God my saviour, God my power,
I’m home again. Take me away with you.
Ag coimhéad Ar an áit.
Daoine fiachmhaire, doine deasa,
Daoine crualacha, ann go deo.
Abair na focail sin liomsa,
Tá mé sa bhaile ag damhsa arís,
Ag amharc ar an fharraige sultmhar,
Tá mé ar an aill le bliain arís.
Sa bhaile, i dtaca mo dhaoine uaisle,
Beidh mo chroí lán go deo,
A rún bí dílis ionam,
S’beidh mo Dhia dílis leat.
Sa bhaile arís.
Tiocfaidh an Samhradh*
NOTES
Trad. Arr. McMillen / * Live bonus track. I’ve recorded this song for all of my projects to date, and will continue to do so. There are so many versions of this gorgeous love song; the lyrics just make me melt!
LYRICS
Tiocfaidh an Samhradh agus fásfaidh ‘n féar,
Tiocfaidh an duillear ghlas ar bharr na gcraobh,
Tiocfaidh mo rún-searc le beannú an lae,
Agus buailfaidh sí tiúin suas le chumhaidh ‘mo dhiaidh
Is óg ’s is óg a chuir mé dúil i ngreann,
Dhéanainn súgradh le rún ar faill,
Níl baile cuain ar bith a ngluaisfainn ann,
Nach bhfaigheann maighdeán óg-dheas a thrialladh liom
Splóid ar an fharraige ná is í atá mór
Is í atá a gabhail idir mé is mo mhíle stór
D’fhag sí ar an bhaile seo mé a déanamh bróin
Is gan aon súil lena feiceál arís níos mó
Scairt mé aréir ag a doras thall,
Scairt mé arís ar mo rún go teann,
Sé dúirt a daidí liom nach raibh sí ann,
Ná gur éalaigh sí ‘réir leis an buachaill fionn