From the recording The Vow, An Irish Wedding Celebration
8. Eibhlín A Rún 3:00
(i-lean ah rune)
Hadyn once said that he would have sacrificed all his oratorioes for this melody. Known as the queen of Irish love songs, it is often attributed to the early 17th century poet, Carrol O'Daly. Edward Bunting collected this song from the harper Dennis Hempson in Magilligan in 1792. He felt that the repetition of the fourth tone and the use of all the intervals of the diatonic scale was attributable to an even earlier part of the 16th century, after which time the fourth tone of the scale was intentionally ommitted.
Lyrics
EILEEN AROON - EIBHLÍN A RÚN
I know a valley fair, Eileen aroon
I know a cottage there, Eileen aroon
Far in that valley's shade
I knew a gentle maid
Flower of a hazel glade, Eileen aroon
Who in the song, so sweet, Eileen aroon
Who in the dance so fleet, Eileen aroon
Dear are her charms to me
Dearer her laughter free
Dearest her constancy, Eileen aroon
When, like the early rose, Eileen aroon
Beauty in childhood blows; Eileen aroon
When, like a diadem
Buds blush around the stem
Which is the fairest gem? Eileen aroon
Is is the laughing eye, Eileen aroon
Is it the timid sigh, Eileen aroon
Is it the tender tone
Soft as the string'd harp's moan?
Oh! it is truth alone, Eileen aroon
When like the rising day, Eileen aroon
Love sends his early ray, Eileen aroon
What makes his dawning glow
Changeless through joy or woe?
Only the constant know - Eileen aroon
~
EIBHLÍN A RÚN - EILEEN AROON
Sheolfainn féin gamhna leat,
Eibhlín a rún
Sheolfainn féin gamhna leat,
Eibhlín a rún
Sheolfainn fein gamhna leat,
síos go Tír Amhlai leat
Mar shúil go mbeinn i gcleamhnas leat, Eibhlín a rún
An dtiocfaidh tú nó an bhfanfaidh tú,
Eibhlín a rún?
An dtiocfaidh tú nó an bhfanfaidh tú,
Eibhlín a rún?
Tiocfaidh mé is ní fhanfaidh mé,
tiocfaidh mé is ní fhanfaidh mé
Tiocfaidh mé is ní fhanfaidh mé
is ealóidh mé le me stór.