about
Written by Ciarán Mac Giolla, in Derry 2011.
Lúb na bóithre or the 'bend in the road' is a song about travel. Many years ago a group of us travelled the west coast of Ireland by bicycle.
The song depicts the beauty of the Irish countryside and the movement of the roads through Oughterard, Maam cross, Clifden, Letterfrack, Leenaun, Louisborough, Westport, Achill and Clare island but to name a few places.
The song remarks upon how the sun shone brilliantly and warmed and embraced us. The chorus says 'Good bye to sorrow good bye my love, it's a long time since I've seen her', a remark of lost love, 'but I'll be back soon in Ireland, the place I was born.
The second verse mentions a day in August when we hit the road, traveling the country with empty pockets but nourished souls due to the beauty of the countryside.
The final verse mentions Mám, Omí and Carna and Cionn Mara places we stayed on our travels. Finally the last line of the final verse talks about Galway where we started and ended our journey.
"Céad slán le brón, céad slán mó chroí" (good bye to sorrow, goodbye my love)
"Is fada an lá ó chonaic mé í" (it's a long time since I've seen her)
"Ach beidh mé ar ais gan mhoill tá fhios agam" (But I will be back again, I know it)
"Go hÉirinn bheag, an áit a rugadh mé" ( To little Ireland, where I was born)
lyrics
D'ímigh mé leithí annon is anall,
Le bogadh na bóithre is a cion go h-árd,
An ghrian ag spalpadh ar lochanna lán,
Is bogadh na bóithre fríd gleanntáin ghlasa
Céad slán le brón, céad slán mó chroí,
Is fada an lá ó chonaic mé í,
Ach beidh mé ar ais gan mhoill tá fhios agam,
Go hÉirinn bheag, an áit ar rugadh mé
Maidin gheal í lár na Lúnasa,
D'ímigh muid linn ag taisteal na tíre,
Lenár bpócaí folamh ach ár n-anam go lán,
Is ailleacht na tíre ár gcoinnéal go slán
Céad slán le brón, céad slán mó chroí,
Is fada an lá ó chonaic mé í,
Ach beidh mé ar ais gan mhoill tá fhios agam,
Go hÉirinn bheag, an áit ar rugadh mé
Thug sí go Mám mé agus go Omí,
I bhfad ón cósta go hoiléan Clara,
Fríd go Carna is go Cionn Mhara,
Is ag deireamh their thall go dtí cathair na Gaillimhe
Céad slán le brón, céad slán mó chroí,
Is fada an lá ó chonaic mé í,
Ach beidh mé ar ais gan mhoill tá fhios agam,
Go hÉirinn bheag, an áit ar rugadh mé
Céad slán le brón, céad slán mó chroí,
Is fada an lá ó chonaic mé í,
Ach beidh mé ar ais gan mhoill tá fhios agam,
Go hÉirinn bheag, an áit ar rugadh mé
credits
from
Dhá Thaobh E.p,
released March 11, 2017
Ciarán Mac Giolla, Stephen Brehony
license
all rights reserved
