Dilín ó deamhas
A Children's Song and Lap Game
This is a song to sing with a little kid in your lap. The chorus seems to be nonsense and most people don't even try to translate it. You can find a rough translation in the notes below.
Dilín ó deamhas
Forever Oh
Lap Rhyme
Lap Rhyme
(Irish Gaelic)
(English)
(Curfá)
Dilín ó deamhas ó deamhas
Dilín ó deamhas ó dí
Dilín ó deamhas ó deamhas ó deamhas ó
Dilín ó deamhas ó dí
Chuiread* mo rún chun suain,
Chuiread mo rún 'na luí,
Chuiread mo rún chun suain go ciúin,
Le dilín ó deamhas ó dí.
(Curfá)
Is buachaill aniar aniar,
Is buachaill aniar an fear,
Is buachaill aniar aniar aniar,
'S is cailín ón sliabh a bhean.
(Curfá)
Caithimis suas is suas é,
Caithimis suas an páiste,
Caithimis suas is suas is suas é,
'S tiocfaidh sé 'nuas amárach.
(Curfá)
(Chorus)
Dilín ó deamhas ó deamhas
Dilín ó deamhas ó dí
Dilín ó deamhas ó deamhas ó deamhas ó
Dilín ó deamhas ó dí.
I lulled my darling to sleep
I put my darling to bed
I lulled my darling to sleep to sleep,
With dilín o deamhas o dí.
(Chorus)
The boy is from the West, the West,
The boy is from the West, a man,
The boy is from the West, West, West,
And the girl from the mountain his lady.
(Chorus)
Throw him upwards and up,
Throw the child up,
Throw him upwards and up and up,
And he will come down tomorrow.
Notes
About the Chorus
Derek wrote the following:
"My understanding of the word's are Dilin, derived from 2 words, Díl/Dí- meaning "beloved" and Ín, or een (anglicised version)- meaning "young" or "little".
Deamhas means "angel"and Ó just means "oh".
So I have always believed that the translation was:
Little beloved/darling, oh angel oh angel,
little beloved/darling, oh angel, oh darling
little beloved/darling, oh angel oh angel, oh angel
little beloved/darling, oh angel, oh darling.
I hope this makes sense to you.
Yours sincerely,
Derek Heffernan (Darach Ó hÉifearnaín)"
*****
Gerry Hancock wrote:
"You requested a translation of the chorus for Dilín Ó Deamhas. This is my translation as used in the English version learned at school:
A devil from a devil from a demon
A devil from a devil from a drink
A devil from devil from demon
A devil from a devil from a drink.
Regards
Gerry"
*****
It's interesting how Derrick and Gerry's translations above for the chorus have the opposite meanings. In anyone has more info about the meaning of the chorus, please email me. Thanks! -Mama Lisa
Comments
You can listen to this song here.
Thanks!
Thanks!
Thanks and Acknowledgements
Many thanks to Derek Heffernan and Gerry Hancock for writing about the chorus.
