Judith Durham & The Seekers - Eriskay Love Lilt (Stereo, 1964/'66)

"Bheir Me O" is the name of a beautiful Scottish love song.

Does anyone know what the title words actually mean?

 

 Nanohedron » Mon Nov 15, 2004 11:37 am

I *think* that bheir can also mean "embrace". There's a song on a Cran album (Music from the Edge of the World) that has the lyrics: 'S a Sheáin Bhán beir orm.. which translates to "Fair Seán, hold me..."

The H in the first example may be lenition or not. Where's Roger O'Keeffe when you need him? Anyway, going to my little Irish tutorial's glossary, beir is translated as " give birth to, lay (eggs)". Hmmm..."Give birth to me, O".....doesn't work. Now the next.... 

Subject: RE: Help! - o cruidh mo cruit - meaning
From: GUEST,Paolo

Hi guys I found this lyric for this song whole in gaelic any help to translate it?

So sad am I without thee, dear harp of my heart.
When I am lonely, love's light will surely
find the old pathway to thee.
Chorus
Bheir mi òro bhan o, Bheir mi òro bhan i,
Bheir mi òru o ho, 'S mi tha bronach's tu'm dhith.
'S iomadh oidhche fliuch is fuar
Ghabh mi cuairt is mi leam fhin,
Gus an d'rainig mi'n t-àit
Far'n robh gradh geal mo chridh.
Chorus
'Na mo chlàrsaich cha robh ceòl
'Na mo mheoirean cha robh àgh,
Rinn do phògsa mo leon,
Fhuair mi Eolas an dàin.
Chorus

 

Subject: RE: Help! - o cruidh mo cruit - meaning (*oh cruit mo chridh)
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca

OK! Looking for it as Eriskay Love Lilt I find this verse:

Thou'rt the music of my heart,
Harp of joy, oh cruit mo chridh,
Moon of guidance by night,
Strength and light thou'rt to me.

This is found in the second version. It's in the ENGLISH side. They DO show a Gaelic verse with :

Fada siar air aghaidh cuain
'Se mo dhuansa "Cruit Mo Chridh,"
Guth mo luaidh anns gach stuaidh
'Ga mo nuallan gu tir.

 

Now, Cruit Mo Chridh' WOULD be translated as Harp of My Heart

 

Subject: RE: Help! - o cruidh mo cruit - meaning(*oh cruit mo chridh)
From: Felipa

Helen,
Bheir mi ó is probably a meaningless vocable although there is a verb "beir" meaning to carry. "óró" is an expression used in many Irish and Scottish Gaelic songs and doesnt have any particular meaning.

Cruit mo chridhe does mean Harp of my heart but I havent come across that phrase in any of the Gaelic language versions of the song. Eriskay Love Lilt is based on a Gaelic song known as Gràdh Geal Mo Chridh' or Bheir Mí O, but I havent heard anyone sing the phrase cruit mo chridh' in Irish or Scots Gaelic renderings. I did find it in these lyrics however:
Fada siar air aghaidh cuain,
'S e mo dhuansa Cruit mo Chridhe;
Guth mo luaidh anns gach stuaidh,
Ga mo nuallan gu tìr.

 

Subject: RE: Help! - o cruidh mo cruit - meaning(*oh cruit mo chridh)
From: Helen

 

Bheir mí óró, bhean ó
Bheir mí óró, ó bhean í
Bheir mí óró ó hó
Tá mé brónach 's tú i m'dhith

and an English translation:

Chorus:
I've gone away, oh dear one
I've gone away, oh dear one
I've gone away
I'm miserable and missing you

.............................................................

o cruit mo chruidh

mo chridhe  : in my heart 

Cruit Mo Chridh'  Harp of My Heart

 

 "I am sad without you" The last line of the chorus is "'S mi fo bhròn 's tu 'gam dhìth." in Gaelic and "Tá mé brónach 's tú 'mo dhíth." in Irish

 

Jean Redpath sings "Eriskay love lilt"

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdRvP6QR_4w 

 

 

 

Bheir me o, horo van o
Bheir me o, horo van ee
Bheir me o, o hooro ho
Sad am I, without thee

 

I've gone away, oh dear one
I've gone away, oh dear one
I've gone away
I'm miserable and missing you

 

My Darling(Bheir me o), 나는 떠나갑니다.

당신없인 난 슬퍼요

Thou'rt the music of my heart
Harp of joy, o cruit mo chruidh
Moon of guidance by night
Strength and light thou'rt to me

당신은 내 마음의 노래
즐거움의 하프, 내 마음의 하프
밤을 인도하는 달
당신은 나에게 힘이며 빛입니다

 

In the morning, when I go
To the white and shining sea
In the calling of the seals
Thy soft calling to me

아침에 내가 나갈 때
하얗게  반짝이는 바다로

 

물개들 우짖는 소리속에

나를 부르는 당신의 부드러운 목소리~

 

When I'm lonely, dear white heart
Black the night and wild the sea
By love's light, my foot finds
The old pathway to me

나 외로울  때에,  순수한 내 사랑이어
밤은 어둡고 바다는 거칠어요
사랑의 빛으로  내 발길은 찾아갑니다
나를  향해 찾아가는 그 옛날의 길목

 

 

Scottish folk song

My university choir has been learning a Scottish folk song in translation. The original Gaelic lyrics are on our score also, and I'm curious as to how they are pronounced and what they mean (so I can see if they are different than the English version we've been singing).

Gradh Geal mo chridh (Fair Love Of My Heart)

Bheir me ò ro bhan o
Bheir me ò ro bhan i
Bheir me ò ru o ho
'Smi tha brònach's tu'm dhith

'Siomadh oidhche fluich is fuar
Ghabh mi cuairt is mi leam fhin,
Gus an d'rainig mi'n tàit
Far'n robh gradh geal mo chridh.

Fada siar air aghaidh cuain,
'Se mo dhuansa Cruit mochridh,
Guth mo luaidh anns gach stuaidh,
'Ga mo nuallan gu tir.

 

*****

Bheir me ò ro bhan o - mostly nonsensical, I think... (correct me if I'm wrong!)
Bheir me ò ro bhan i
Bheir me ò ru o ho
'Smi tha brònach's tu'm dhith -

'Siomadh oidhche fluich is fuar - many nights wet and cold
Ghabh mi cuairt is mi leam fhin, - I was in my room on my own
Gus an d'rainig mi'n tàit - until my delight arrived
Far'n robh gradh geal mo chridh. - there was a white love in my heart

Fada siar air aghaidh cuain, - distant west facing the ocean
'Se mo dhuansa Cruit mochridh, - is my poem song my heart
Guth mo luaidh anns gach stuaidh,- voice (of) my darling in each wave
'Ga mo nuallan gu tir. - to her my howling landward

 

Bheir Mé Ó
(My Darling)

A sorrowful lament over a lost love.

[Irish-Gaelic]		[Rough Phonetic]
[curfa] Bheir mé óró, bhean ó Bheir mé óró, ó bhean í Bheir mé óró ó hó ‘S mé tá brónach ‘s tú i m’dhith [curfa] ‘S Iomaí oíche fliuch is fuar Thug mé cuairt is mé liom féin Nó go ráinig mé san áit Mar a raibh grá geal mo chroí [curfa] I mo cláirseach ní raibh ceol I mo mheoraibh ní raibh brí Nó gur luaigh tú do rún ‘S fuair mé eolas ar mo dhán [curfa]	| | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | | |	[chorus] Ver may Oh-o ro-van oh Ver may Oh-o ro-van EE Ver may Oh--oh-O-RO-hoe Smay tah bro-nawk stew im-EE [repeat chorus] Some-eh EE-ha fluck iss foo-r Hug meh coo-urch iss may lyum fayn No guh-rah-nig may sahn awtch Mahr uh rev grah-gal muh-krEE [chorus] I muh clar-shach nEE rev ke-ol I muh veo-rah nEE rev brEE No guhr-loo-a too duh roon S-foo-r may oh-lahs air muh gahn [chorus]

 

​The  white heart and White love meaning

 

​The  white heart emoji, with its clean and simple appearance on a white background, signifies pure love and deep affection. This could include love between a parent a child, a romantic love or a deep friendship.

 It has become a symbol of unwavering support and unconditional love, reflecting the positive energy and good feelings shared among friends and  ...

Pure Love. The white heart emoji means pure love for different types of relationships including a parent's love for their child or the love for a romantic partner. Knowing the white heart emoji meaning, it is a simple way for someone to express how special you are to them.

 

 

Judith Durham & The Seekers - Eriskay Love Lilt (Stereo, 1964/'66)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N995tLcb2t4 

 

 

The original stereo sound, recorded in 1964.

 

Eriskay is a small island of only three square miles, off the coast of South Uist in the Outer Hebrides. Prince Charles Edward Stewart first stepped on Scottish soil on Eriskay in 1745. 

 

Eriskay Love Lilt

Chorus
Bheir me o, horo van o
Bheir me o, horo van ee
Bheir me o, o horo ho
Sad am I, without thee.

 

When I'm lonely, dear white heart,
Black the night and wild the sea,
By love's light, my foot finds
The old pathway to me.

Chorus

 

Thou'rt the music of my heart;
Harp of joy, o cruit mo chruidh;
Moon of guidance by night;
Strength and light thou'rt to me.

Chorus

........................................................................

 

In the morning, when I go
To the white and shining sea,
In the calling of the seals
Thy soft calling to me.

Chorus

 

Eriskay Love Lilt or When I'm Lonely Dear White Heart

 

 

 

Ishbel MacAskill - Gradh Geal Mo Chridh (Fair Love Of My Heart)

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qfDtTHC8BoY 

 

 

Gràdh geal mo chridh’
(Fair Love of My Heart)
Taken from liner notes and a personal transcription of Ishbel MacAskill's performance on the CD - Gaelic Scotland

[Scots-Gaelic]

[Rough Phonetic]

'N àm bhith cromadh ris a'ghleann Thàinig snaidhm air mo chridh' Bho nach d'thug thu dhomh do làmh 'S mi'n dùil nach fhàgadh tu mi [Curfá] Bheir mi ò hu o hò Bheir mi ò hu o hì Bheir mi ò hu o hò 'S mi fo bhròn 's tu gam dhìth Dhèanainn trabhadh dhuit is buan Chumainn suas thu gun dith Bheirinn as a' ghreabhal chruaidh Do mo luaidh teachd an tìr [Curfá] Ged nach eil sinn fhathast pòsd' Tha mi'n dòchas gum bi Fhad' 's a mhaireas mo dhà dhòrn Cha bhith lòn oirnn a dhìth [Curfá] Dh'fhàg thu sìlteach mo shùil Dh'fhàg thu tùrsach mo chridh' Dh'fhàg thu tana-glas mo shnuadh 'S thug thu ghruag bhàrr mo chìnn [Curfá]

Nowm vee crom-Eg rEEsh egg-l-awn Hannig sn-eyem air mo xh'ree Vo nach' doo goo gho doe lawhv Smee-n'ool nawch ahg-ahh too me-e[Chorus] Vair-mEE OH HOO o hoe Vair-mEE OH HOO ~o~ HEE Vair-mEE oh_hoo_o~Hoe Smee-foe vroan stew gahm yEE Yehn-neen(g) traw-egg oot is bu-on xHumin(g) su-ahs-oo gan jEE Verin(g) ass egg-rav-al croo-eye Doe m' loow-eyed tchack 'n tEEr [Chorus] GEdth nawk-hel shin(g) hawst post Ha meen-doh-xhess gem bee Aahd-ze var-as mo ga gorn xHa vee lo-an oarn-in(g) ah yee [Chorus] GHahg oo shil-tachk mo hool GHahg oo toor-sawk mo cree GHahg oo tanah-glass mo noo-a(d) S ug oo groo-ahg var mo xhkeen-in(g) [Chorus] [ * "xh" = raspy 'ch' sound like heard in 'loch' ]

 

1] On turning to the glen, My heart was enthralled Since you did not give your hand I hoped you would not leave me.	¢] Bheir mi o hu o ho Bheir mi o hu o hi Bheir mi o hu o ho I am sad and you're not with me.	2] I would plough for you and reap, I would support you and you would want for nothing, I would take from the hard gravel A living for my love.
3] Although we are not yet married, I hope we will be. As long as there is strength in my two fists, we will want for nothing.	4] You left my eye tearful, you left my heart broken, you left me with a sickly pallor My hair is thinned.	[Beautiful songs always seem to have the saddest words.]

 

 

Gradh Geal Mo Chridh (Fair Love Of My Heart)

What does gradh mo chridhe mean?

the bright love of my heart.

gra geal mo chroi  means  bright love of my heart 

o cruit mo chruidh

mo chridhe  : in my heart 

Cruit Mo Chridh'  Harp of My Heart

 

 "I am sad without you" The last line of the chorus is "'S mi fo bhròn 's tu 'gam dhìth." in Gaelic and "Tá mé brónach 's tú 'mo dhíth." in Irish

 

Ishbel MacAskill 

14 March 1941 – 31 March 2011
Ishbel MacAskill(née MacIver) was one of the leading singers of Gaelic today. She was from the Island of Lewis in the Outer Hebrides and was raised in the tradition of Gaelic song, which is very strong there. Much of her singing was unaccompanied, in the traditional fashion.