Raifteirí san Underground - Amhráin ar an Nós Nua

The CD for Raifteirí san Underground is currently out of print, but it is available on tape.
Many of the songs from this album are available on the new compilation CD Imíonn an tAm.

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A musical tour through the singer's native County Mayo, past and present, evoking the spirits of the Gaelic poets of the past in an exciting, contemporary style. Pathos and humour are mixed to deliver a potent and original brew of lyrical and musical ideas.

Gaelic and English lyrics interweave in a way that is reminiscent of the 18th century macaronic style of Irish song, with a late 20th century sensibility.

Guest musicians include guitarist Steve Cooney, Máire Breathnach on fiddle and viola, and top Irish singer-songwriter Eleanor McEvoy, who performs an unusual bilingual duet with Tadhg (Bithbhuan/Rolling Home).

Production is by Garvan Gallagher, well known for his work with such artists as Mary Black and Luka Bloom.

Raifteirí san Underground
Tadhg Mac Dhonnagáin,
Cló IarChonnachta CICD 094, CIC 094

Listen to Samples

Find notes and lyrics in the Song List, below nótaí

Song List —

1. Tintreach agus Toirneach
Notes and Lyrics –///\\\ Listen!

2. Dara

3. Marilyn

4. Preab san Ól

5. John and Mary's Photo Album

6. Miotal is Marmar

7. Raifteirí san Underground
Notes and Lyrics ///\\\ Listen!

8. Mo Mháire

9. The Man Who Loves Calendars

10. Tá Mamaí sa Chistin

11. The Holy Virgin's Statue

12. Bithbuan / Rolling Home
Notes and Lyrics ///\\\ Listen!

Léim go Barr //\\ Jump Back to the Top

1. Tintreach agus Toirneach (Thunder and Lightning),
Go back to the list

Tadhg explains: "This song is based on a distant, almost dream-like memory of spending the day under the stairs with my mother and other siblings, reciting the rosary while a thunderstorm raged outside. Since I wrote this song, my mother has confirmed that it did actually happen and the year was indeed 1966."

I 1966 chaith muid lá faoin staighre
I bhfolach ó fhathach na stoirme
Ba scalltáin muid istigh i nead fáinleoige
Ag cóireamh na mílte idir sinn is an bás

Curfá
Tintreach agus toirneach agus sé do bheatha a Mhuire
Tintreach agus toirneach ar feadh an lae
Tintreach agus toirneach agus sé do bheatha a Mhuire
Agus méaracha mo mháthar ag slogadh clocha paidrín

Tá Dia ár nAthair ag tógáil cistine sna Flaithis
Nach gcloiseann sibh é a ghasúir ag carnadh cloch
Agus chonaic mé aghaidh na Maighdine, lán gliondair
Lena naprún gorm is a citeal nua leictreach

Curfá

Bhí ár nAthair ar Neamh ag déanamh an diabhail leis an tintreach
Bhí ár nathair saolta ar an mbóthar i mbaol a bháis
A Dhia sna hAird a chruthaigh an t-úll is an gairdín
Éist linn abhus dod' adhradh faoin staighre

Curfá

In 1966, we spent a day under the stairs
Hiding from the stormy giant
Like nestlings in a swallows nest
Counting the miles between us and our death

Chorus
Thunder and lightning and Hail Mary full of grace
Thunder and lightning all day long
Thunder and lightning and Hail Mary full of grace
And my mother's fingers, gulping back her rosary beads

God our Father is building a back kitchen in Heaven
Listen kids — another cartload of stones
And I saw the Virgin's face, radiant
With her blue apron and her brand new electric kettle

Chorus

Our Father above was playing hell with the lightning
Our earthly father was out there in mortal danger
O God above, who made the apple and the garden
Listen to us down here adoring you, under the stairs

Chorus

7. Raifteirí san Underground, Go back to the list
Tadhg explains: "Two well known poems were re-worked (or ransacked) to make this song — Cill Aodáin written by Antoine Ó Reachtabhra (c,1784–1832) describing his birthplace in East Mayo and Mise Raifteirí an File (I am Raifteirí the Poet), popularly attributed to Raifteirí, but now generally believed to have been written in the late 19th century, in America, by one Seán Ó Ceallaigh. I grew up a few miles from Raifteirí's birthplace in County Mayo. As a child it always struck me as sad that the poet never managed to make the journey back to the birthplace he had praised so profusely in Cill Aodáin. In the late 80s, when this song was written, emigration from Ireland had reached crisis proportions. Out of the seven kids raised in our house, five were then in London. This song imagines Raifteiri as another Irish emigrant in London busking in the Underground, dreaming of going home, but never getting there."
Ag siúl tríd an Underground Cúig chéad troigh faoi London town Siúd é, a thóin le balla Ag seinnm ceoil do phócaí folmha Féile Bríde caite le ráithe Is tá Raifteirí fós i bhfad ó bhaile Ní aireofá an tEarrach i do thimpeall Thíos anseo san Underground Ní aireofá an lá ag dul chun síneadh Thíos anseo san Underground Súile gan solas taobh thiar de spéaclaí gréine Scilling eile caite isteach sa mbosca Curfá Cill Aodáin Coillte Mach is Clár Chlainne Mhuiris Ceolann Raifteirí a liodán dóchais Cill Aodáin Coillte Mach is Clár Chlainne Mhuiris Ceolann Raifteirí a liodán dóchais Cill Aodáin an baile a bhfásann gach ní ann An neantóg go fairsing is buachallán buí, buachallán buí ann Ag siúl tríd an Underground Cúig chéad troigh faoi London town Siúd é, a thóin le balla Ag seinnm ceoil do phócaí folmha Féile Bhríde caite le blianta Is tá Raifteirí fós i bhfad ó bhaile Curfá	Walk through the Underground 500 feet under London town Over there back to the wall Playing music, empty pockets St. Bridget's day was three months ago And Raifteirí is still far from home. You can't feel spring in the air Down here in the Underground You can't feel the stretch in the day Down here in the Underground Sightless eyes behind sunglasses Another coin thrown in the guitar case Chorus Killeadan, Kiltimagh and Claremorris Raifteirí chants his hopeful litany Killeadan the place where everything grows Nettles and noxious weeds, noxious weeds Walk through the Underground 500 feet under London town St. Bridget's day has gone year after year And Raifteirí is still far from home. Chorus

12. Bithbhuan / Rolling Home, Go back to the list an clár
Tadhg explains: "The language change in the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries in Ireland gave birth to a rich tradition of macaronic or bilingual songwriting, where alternate lines or verses are sung in alternate languages. Around the time I made this album, I had been listening to the music of the French Canadian songwriter Daniel Lanois. He writes macaronic songs in a contemporary style. I decided to have a go. This song attempted to bring the form a step further — it's a duet for two voices and two languages. Singing here with me is Eleanor McEvoy."
Chomh buan le dilliúr an tsamhraidh Chomh buan le cúr na trá Chomh buan le filíocht na hoige A chaoineann bás an dilliúir is an ghrá (As everlasting as summer leaves, as foam on a beach As everlasting as a young man's verse Keening the death of love and of leaves) Chomh buan le scamaill agus spéartha Chomh buan le hoíche agus lá Chomh buan le deamhain agus déithe Chomh buan le cloigeann agus cnámh (As everlasting as clouds and skies, as night and day As everlasting as demons and Gods, as skull and bone) Curfá Bithbhuan, bithbhuan, bithbhuan Bithbhuan d'éadan, d'éadan, do láimh im láimh (Everlasting your face, your hand in mine) Like sunlight spreading across a cornfield Like laughter spreading across your face Like drumbeats rolling across the emptiness Across the bounds of languages and race	Across the thirsty desert now I'm rolling home Across the hungry sea With the simple faith of the swallow flying Across the world to the gable of his memory Chorus I'm rolling home now I'm rolling rolling rolling home I'm rolling ever closer, ever closer now To dance again with the dancer in your eyes Across the world the wind is whispering The stormy seas are bellowing your name Ar an mhuir seo gan fuacht, gan faitíos Tugaimís ár n-aghaidh ar an imigéin Ar an imigéin, ar an imigéin (On this vast ocean, don't be afraid But set our sights on the far away) Curfá / Chorus
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