Lyrics - Irish
(Irish folk song)
Don oíche úd i mBeithil
Beidh tagairt faoi ghrian go brach,
Don oíche úd i mBeithil
Go dtáinig an Briathar slán.
Tá gríosghrua ar spéartha,
‘S an talamh na chlúdach bán.
Féach Íosagán sa chléibhín,
‘S an Mhaighdean á dhiúl le grá.
Ar leacain lom an tsléibhe
Go nglacann na haoiri scáth,
Nuair in oscailt gheal na spéire
Tá teachtaire Dé ar fáil.
“Céad glóir anois don Athair,
I bhFlaitheasa thuas go hard!
Is feasta fós ar talamh,
d’fheara, dea-mhéin, síocháin.”
English Translation – That night in Bethlehem
(Of) That night in (yonder) Bethlehem
Will be mentioned under the sun forever,
(Of) That night in (yonder) Bethlehem
[That] the Word safely came.
[A] glowing light is in [the] sky,
And the earth [under] a white covering.
See baby Jesus in the cradle,
And the virgin suckling* with love.
On the bare mountain side
The shepherds take shelter (lit. ‘take shade’ or ‘take protection’),
When in a bright opening [in] the sky
A messenger of God is there (lit. ‘available’).
“A hundred glories (now) to the Father,
in His kingdom high above!
And henceforth (yet) on earth,
To men, goodwill [and] peace.”
*See comments.
See also
- Country: Ireland
- Subject: Christmas
- Meter: 4
- Scale: hexatonic
- Tones: m,s,l,t,drmslt
YouTube
- PDF of song with chords
- MIDI file
- Listen to the melody
Dear Beth,
Thank you for the notes. My comment is to do with the verb used in the line “‘S an Mhaighdean a dhúil le grá.” A dhúil would be pronounced “ah goo-il” and the nominative “dúil” can mean “desire, fondness, craving.”
As sung by Altan and Celtic Women and by Kevin Conneff on”The Bells of Dublin” CD by the Chieftains etc, the line is “‘S an Mhaighdean á dhiúl le grá” with the pronunciation”aw yoo-il.” This makes more sense and means that she is suckling him. The English version/translation by Seán MacRéamoinn, which is spoken on “The Bells of Dublin,” gives this meaning.
In my search for notes an arrangement by David Monks came up. The words given under the notes include the phrase “á dhiúl le grá” but later when the verses are given on their own “á dhúil le grá” is written, although the pronunciation is still given as “aw yool.”
Maybe someone has also seen this (mis)spelling and gone to translate is as “longing”?
Yours sincerely, Fiona Ní Ógáin
Thank you! I will make that change. – Beth
Oh, that was quick.
I’m no expert and the translation above is so well done but that one word, spelling and meaning versus pronunciation and sense, confused me. But I think the recorded Irish songs and English version are done by experts. One thing though, hope it’s not too pedantic, but if “longing” is changed then “a dhúil” (ah goo-il, “ú” before “i”) ought to be changed to “á dhiúl” (aw yool, “a” with a long stroke and “I” before “ú”). Thank you very much again and Happy New Year, Fiona
Is there is an English translation of this song that is in public domain? I wrote a Handbell Version of “Don Oiche ud i mBeithl” and have included one verse with a singer, but I don’t want to get in copyright trouble for use of an English translation.
Hi David!
I am not aware of one. Have you tried an internet search?
Beth
Hello, Beth / David
An English musician, I lived in Northern Ireland for 52 years; I came across Don oiche ud I mBeithil in the early ‘70s and decided to arrange it for The Portadown Philharmonic Society chorus (SATB). I couldn’t find an English translation, and neither I nor they had enough Irish, so I asked my friend, Bob Leonard, to translate it for me, and versified it to fit the tune. Checking back, I no longer have his translation, and seem to have used only two verses not very literal, but in case it is of interest, they are:
In Bethlehem at midnight the heaven begins to glow;
In Bethlehem at midnight the earth is white with snow.
See Jesus in the manger, and the maiden, his mother dear;
In Bethlehem at midnight look on with love and fear.
In Bethlehem at midnight, shine on, Oh redeeming light!
In Bethlehem at midnight the earth is gleaming white.
See Jesus in the manger, our judge and Saviour dear.
In Bethlehem at midnight look on in love and fear.
I can also vismake the (unpublished) choral arrangement available, should anyone want it: more ‘contemporary’ than ‘Irish’, though. And also available as a recorder quartet..!
Roger Jarvis
Thank you! This is great!
Hi Beth, can I please have your permissione to use your English translation of this piece please for my YouTube video. Thank you. Vi ky from Dublin
Yes, that would be fine with me. 🙂