Bog Braon don tSeanduine
Amhrán na Seachtaine – Song of the Week
“Bog Braon don tSeanduine”
Why a song for the week? Well, I was refraining from making goals and trying to just ease into the New Year spending some time contemplating what I really wanted to do this year, and by that, I mean what I want to achieve/accomplish this year. I just can’t get away from that goal-oriented mindset, and after almost 40 years in the classroom, laying out curriculum and making schedules and lesson plans, I have it down. I know what I want to do, it’s just finding the time to fit it all in and being disciplined enough to follow through with my plans. For several years now I’ve wanted to get back into singing and learn or relearn a song a week. So no time like the present.
Bog Braon don tSeanduine is a simple Irish lullaby that translates to “a soft drop for the old man”. An sean duine, the old man or old fellow was an affectionate term for the baby. The song tells of giving a soft drop, or a piece of egg or meat to the baby to help get them to sleep. It’s a song in the Sean Nós tradition, which literally means old style, usually unaccompanied and in the Irish language.
Here’s a beautiful version by Irish singer Pauline Scanlon.
If you would like to learn this lovely song, check out these other two well know Irish Sean Nós singers below.
Digital downloads of Amhrán na Seachtaine songs with translations and pronunciation guides are now available here:
Gaeilge go Deo Digital Downloads and Courses
Additionally, there are videos with pronunciation guides for each song on the @GaeilgegoDeo YouTube channel.
Gaeilge go Deo YouTube Channel
Youtube Playlist with versions by various artists:
YouTube Artist Playlist
Bain taitneamh astu! – Enjoy!
Bog Braon don tSeanduine
Bog braon, bog braon,
Bog braon don tseanduine
Bog braon ‘s blais féin,
Bog braon don tseanduine.
Curfá:
Cuir a chodladh, cuir a chodladh,
Cuir a chodladh an seanduine
Cuir a chodladh, nigh a chosa,
Bog braon don tseanduine.
Ubh circe, ubh circe,
Ubh circe don tseanduine
Ubh circe ‘s blúirín ime
‘S é a thabhairt don tseanduine.
Feoil úr, feoil úr,
Feoil úr don tseanduine
Feoil úr, is braon súp
‘S é a thabhairt don tseanduine.
A warm drop, a warm drop,
A warm drop for the old man
A warm drop and taste it yourself,
A warm drop for the old man.
Chorus
Put to sleep, put to sleep,
Put to sleep the old man
Put to sleep, and wash his feet,
A warm drop for the old man.
A hen’s egg, a hen’s egg,
A hen’s egg for the old man
A hen’s egg and a little butter
And give it to the old man.
Fresh meat, fresh meat,
Fresh meat for the old man
Fresh meat and a drop of soup
And give it to the old man.
Nell Ní Chróinín
In the first series of videos Nell Ní Chróinín tells us more about Sean Nós singing, her story, and she then breaks down the song and teaches it over several videos.
Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh
Tá súil agam go mbainfidh sibh taitneamh as. I hope you enjoy it.
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