Seoithín Seo-hó
Suantraí is ea an t-amhrán seo agus feictear an mháthair ag iarraidh a páiste a mhealladh chun suain. Tá gné osnádúrtha ag baint leis na suntraithe sa traidisiún Gaelach agus déantar tagairt don lucht sí go minic iontu. Chreid na daoine go bhféadfadh na síóga páiste a fhuadach ón gcliabhán agus iarlais a fhágáil ina áit, agus feictear é seo sa dara véarsa agus an mháthair ag impí ar an bpáiste gan imeacht ‘leo’ – is é sin leis na sióga. Creideadh gur cosaint don pháiste ar an lucht sí a bhí sa tsuantraí.
This song is a lullaby, and tells of a mother lulling her child to sleep. Lullabies have an otherworldly dimension in the Gaelic tradition and the fairies are often mentioned in these songs. People believed that the fairies could steal a child and put a changeling in its place, referred to here in the chorus – ‘you will not go with them’ – ‘them’ being the fairies. People held the superstitious belief that singing a lullaby would protect children from otherworldly beings.
Seoithín Seo-hó
Seoithín, seo-hó, mo stór é, mo leanbh
Mo sheod gan chealg, mo chuid den tsaol mór
Seoithín, seo hó, nach mór é an taitneamh
Mo stóirín ina leaba ina chodladh gan brón.
A leanbh mo chléibh, go n-éirí do chodladh leat
Séan agus sonas gach oíche in do chóir
Tá mise le do thaobh ag guí ort na mbeannacht
Seoithín, a leanbh, ní imeoidh tú leo.
Ar mhullach an tí tá síogaí geala
Fá chaoinré an earraigh ag imirt is ag ól
Seo hiad aniar iad ag glaoch ar mo leanbh
Le mian é a tharraingt isteach sa lios mór.
A leanbh mo chléibh, go n-éirí do chodladh leat
Séan agus sonas gach oíche in do chóir
Tá mise le do thaobh ag guí ort na mbeannacht
Seoithín, a leanbh, ní imeoidh tú leo.
Seoithín Seo-hó
Seoithín, seo-hó, my love, my baby
My jewel without thorns, my life
Seoithín, seo hó, how sweet and pleasant
My darling in his bed, sleeping without sorrow.
Oh child of mine, may sleep be with you
Peace and happiness each night for you
I’m by your side, praying for you
Seoithín, my child, you will not go with them.
Bright fairies light the top of the house here
In spring merriment they play and drink
They come to call my child to them
To bring him to the fairy fort where they reside
Oh dear child of mine, may sleep be with you
Peace and happiness each night for you
I’m by your side, praying for blessings for you
Seoithín, my child, you will not go with them.
Translation: Dairena Ní Chinnéide