Amhrán na Bealtaine (May Day Song)
Bealtaine is one of the most prolific festivals in the Irish wheel of the year, with a whole myriad of traditions that have been passed down to us through the ages. Bealtaine (pronounced ‘byal-tin-ah’) is the Irish word for this festival, though many people will know this festival as Beltane, which is the Anglicized version of the word.
There are some beautiful Irish Sean-nós songs associated with Bealtaine that express the beauty of nature at this time of year, such as this one.
Gratitude to my mentor Mary McLaughlin for teaching me this beautiful song from Donegal.
LYRICS // IRISH
Bábóg na Bealtaine, maighdean a’ tSamhraidh,
Suas gach cnoc is síos gach gleann,
Cailíní maiseach go gealgáireach gléasta
Thugamar féin an Samhradh linn.
Samhradh buí ó luí na gréine,
Thugamar féin an Samhradh linn.
Ó bhaile go baile’s ’na baile ’na dhiadh sin
Thugamar féin an Samhradh linn.
Tá nead ag an ghiorria ar imeall na haille
Is nead ag an chorr éisc i ngéagaibh an chrainn
Tá ’chuach’s na héanlaith a’seinm le pléisiúr
Thugamar féin an Samhradh linn.
Tá an fhuiseog a’seinm’s a’luascadh sna spéartha
Beacha is cuileoga is bláth ar na crainn
Tá mil ar an cuiseoga’s coilm a beiceadh
Thugamar féin an Samhradh linn.
LYRICS // ENGLISH
May doll, maiden of Summer,
Up every hill and down every glen,
Beautiful girls, radiant and shining,
We brought the Summer in with us.
Yellow summer of the sunset
We brought the summer in with us
From home to home and the home after that
We brought the Summer in with us.
The hare’s nest is at the edge of the cliff
And the nest of the gray heron in the branch of the tree
The cuckoo and the birds are singing with pleasure
We brought the Summer in with us.
The lark is singing and swinging through the skies
The bees and flies and the flower on the tree
The honey is on the stalks and doves are clamoring
We brought the Summer in with us.