Get all 11 TRÚ releases available on Bandcamp and save 20%.
Includes unlimited streaming via the free Bandcamp app, plus high-quality downloads of Eternity Near, Long Black Veil, Plyve Kacha (The Duckling Swims), No Fixed Abode, The Ballad of Ellie Hanley / An Cailín Bán, Bonny Portmore, Jenny Black's Hill, Sadly, the Blackbird Calls, and 3 more.
1. |
Long Black Veil
03:40
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Long Black Veil
Ten years ago, on a cold dark night
There was someone killed by the town hall light
There were few at the scene, but they all did agree
That the man who ran looked a lot like me
The judge said, "Son, what's your alibi?
If you were some place else, then you don't have to die."
But I said not a word, though it meant my life
For I lay in the arms of my best friend's wife
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but me
The scaffold was high and Eternity Near
She stood in the crowd but she did not shed a tear
And sometimes at night when the cold winds moan
She visits my grave and weeps over my bones
She walks these hills in a long black veil
She visits my grave when the night winds wail
Nobody knows, nobody sees
Nobody knows but me
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2. |
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The Ballad of Billy Jones
[Kearney/Mormecha/Trouton]
When the moon is bright,
I saddle up and I rove out
Going to my boy over hills and overnight
Once we were in love
but it was shame that made him run and hide
Now I'm on the run, three years on
This dawn looks bright
Wake up, Billy Jones, straighten up
Look me right in the eye
I lost them for a while but they'll be here
by morning light
My pockets filled with gold
and a revolver resting on my thumb
I love you, Billy Jones, and I beg - I beg you to come
I knew you at twenty-two
I thought that you knew too
I'd risk it all just kissing you, my Billy Jones
A dream of New Orleans
Sent us speeding in a railroad stack
Southbound on the track
I steal a smile - My Billy is back
The mountainside was home
but we were hunted, driven out by the pack
They said our love was wrong
Well, so long - we ain't coming back
I knew you at twenty-two
I thought that you knew too
I'd risk it all just kissing you,
Left alone at twenty-three
Or should I say that you left me?
You couldn't face the beatings
or the secret of a feeling
Well, sticks and stones won't beat us,
My Billy Jones
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3. |
dTigeas a Damhsa
01:06
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dTigeas a Damhsa
dTigeas a damhsa, dtigeas a damhsa dom?
dTigeas a damhsa damhsa damhsa, dtigeas a damhsa dom?
Goirm i gcónaí gcónaí, goirm i gcónaí dom
Goirm i gcónaí gcónaí gcónaí, maidin De Luain a b'fhearr.
Buachaill aniar aniar, buachaill aniar a b'fhearr
Buachaill aniar aniar aniar, is cailín ó Shliabh na bPeann
Buachaill maith suiste suiste, buachaill maith suiste a b'fhearr
Buachaill maith suiste suiste suiste, is cailín deas tuirne leann
//
Can they come a-dancing,
Can they come a-dancing with me?
Laugh always, always laugh for me
Laugh always, Monday morning is best
A boy from the West, a boy from the West is best
A boy from the West, and a girl from Sliabh na bPeann
A fine lad threshing, a fine lad threshing is best
A fine lad threshing, and a nice girl spinning clothes
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4. |
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Selkie Song (Young O’Kane)
A shadow rose from out the sea
Cradling a newborn, (in search for a lady)
To nurse the babe for seven years,
Til he returns from whence he came
Though this wee boy's heart beat cold
A local girl raised him as her own
Around his neck, he wore a chain of gold
He swam away at seven years old
Young O'Kane feeling the sea's pull strong
Young O'Kane singing the Selkie song
To a gunner then, the girl was wed
Autumn colours seeping in (bleeding red)
October moon, all full of gin
He held his gun against his chin
At Young O'Kane, he took his aim
The golden chain he blew it free
She said, "What have you done? He was my son"
"I hunt the people of the sea."
Young O'Kane, feeling the sea's pull strong
Young O’Kane, (and you know by the name)
singing the selkie song
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5. |
Is Fada Liom Uaim Í
03:04
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Is Fada Liom Uaim Í
Is fada liom uaim í
Ar uaigneas gach baile a mbíonn sí
Is le gach ógánach suairc
a ghluaisfeadh in aice na dí
A Mhalaidh, a chéadsearc,
ná tréig thusa mise go brách
Is go bhfuil in do dhiaidh
gach aon lá fá mhallaigh na n-ard
Is fada liom uaim í
Dá dtigtheása anuas
ar chuairt fá bharra na gcraobh
Le goirm na gcuach
go ngluaisfinn leatsa mar mhnaoi
Is fada liom uaim í
Béilin meala mar na rósaí,
súil mhódhmhar ghorm gan chlaon
Is i gcoillídh ag buain chnónna,
sé mo bhrón gan Malaidh agus mé
//
I miss her in the loneliness of every place she used to be.
Like every decent fellow who is drawn to the drink
Molly, my true love, never abandon me
I will follow you everyday despite the curses from on high.
If you would descend from above to visit me beneath,
At the cuckoo's call, I would leave with you as if you were a woman
A little honeyed mouth like roses,
Eyes of blue without guile
And in the woods gathering nuts,
Full of sorrow without Molly close to me
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6. |
A Red, Red Rose
03:52
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A Red, Red Rose
My love is like a red, red rose
Newly sprung in June;
My love is like a melody
sweetly played in tune
You're so fair, my lovely lass
So deep in love am I
I will love thee still, my dear,
Until the seas run dry
Fare thee well, my only love!
Fare thee well awhile!
I will come again, my love,
Though it ten thousand miles
You're so fair, my lovely lass
So deep in love am I
I will love thee still, my dear,
Until the seas run dry
And the rocks melt with the sunlight
My love is like a red, red rose
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7. |
Seán Bháin
02:29
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Seán Bháin
A Sheáin Bháin, beir orm
'S a Sheáin Bháin, bréag mé
Nach deas a d'fhás an coiricín?
Nach deas d'fhás an círín?
Nach deas a d'fhás an coiricín
Ar Chaitlín Ní Ghríofa?
A Sheáin Bháin, beir orm
'S a Sheáin Bháin, bréag mé
A Sheáin Bháin, beir orm
Is tabhair sa gcoca féir mé
Shiúil mise Sasana
An Fhrainc uilig trí chéile
Is ní fhaca mé aon siobaire
Ba dheise ná do chírín
A Sheáin Bháin, beir orm
'S a Sheáin Bháin, bréag mé
A Sheáin Bháin, beir orm
Is tabhair sa gcoca féir mé
A Mháire, má tá tú ag scarúint uaim
Mo mhíle slán go deo leat
Nach deas mar chuirfinn fataí dhuit?
Níos fearr ná bhainfinn móin dhuit?
A Sheáin Bháin, beir orm
'S a Sheáin Bháin, bréag mé
A Sheáin Bháin, beir orm
Is tabhair sa gcoca féir mé
Nach olc an t-am a d'imigh tú?
'S an fómhar ann go díreach
Is gan éinne ar an mbaile seo
Ná bean óg le thú chaoineadh
A Sheáin Bháin, beir orm
'S a Sheáin Bháin, bréag mé
A Sheáin Bháin, beir orm
Is tabhair sa gcoca féir mé
Is cuma liom cá rachaidh tú
Is cuma liom cá mbíonn tú
Is cuma liom cá rachaidh tú
Ach thú beith ann san oíche
A Sheáin Bháin, beir orm
'S a Sheáin Bháin, bréag mé
A Sheáin Bháin, beir orm
Is tabhair sa gcoca féir mé
A Sheáin Bháin, beir orm
'S a Sheáin Bháin, bréag mé
A Sheáin Bháin, beir orm
Nár phóg tú aréir mé?
//
Fair Seán, catch me
Fair Seán, lie to me
Isn't it nice how the rooster's crest grows?
Isn't it nice how the hen's crest grows?
Isn't it nice how the rooster's crest grows
For Kathleen Griffin?
I walked to England
and all over France
And I never saw anyone
With a nicer crest
Mary, if you're leaving me
A thousand farewells from me to you
Wouldn't I sow your potatoes well?
And cut your turf even better?
Wasn't it a bad time for you to leave?
On the cusp of autumn
With no one in this town
No young woman to weep for you
I don't care where you go
I don't care where you are
I don't care where you go
As long as you're here by nightfall
Fair Seán, catch me
Fair Seán, lie to me
Fair Seán, catch me
Did you not kiss me last night?
Translation: D. Kearney
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8. |
Two Sisters
03:30
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Two Sisters
There were two sisters side by side
Sing aye-dum, sing aye-day
There were two sisters side by side
The boys are bound for me
There were two sisters side by side
The eldest one for Johnny cried
I'll be true unto my love
If he'll be true to me
Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring
Sing aye-dum, sing aye-day
Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring
The boys are bound for me
Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring
He never bought the eldest a single thing
I'll be true unto my love
If he'll be true to me
As they went a-walking by the foamy brim
Sing aye-dum, sing aye-day
As they went a-walking by the foamy brim
The boys are bound for me
As they went a-walking by the foamy brim
The eldest pushed the youngest in
I'll be true unto my love
If he'll be true to me
Sister, oh sister, give me your hand
Sing aye-dum, sing aye-day
Sister, oh sister, give me your hand
The boys are bound for me
Sister, oh sister, give me your hand
You can have my Johnny and all his land
Sister, I'll not give you my hand
But I'll still take Johnny and all his land
I'll be true unto my love
If he'll be true to me
The youngest drifted down to the Miller's dam
Sing aye-dum, sing aye-day
The youngest drifted down to the Miller's dam
The boys are bound for me
The youngest drifted down to the Miller's dam
A harper spied her from the land
I'll be true unto my love
If he'll be true to me
He made a harp out of her breast bone
Sing aye-dum, sing aye-day
He made a harp out of her breast bone
The boys are bound for me
He made a harp out of her breast bone
Its song would melt a heart of stone
I'll be true unto my love
If he'll be true to me
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9. |
Lovely Molly
03:31
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Lovely Molly
I go where I please
Like early autumn leaves
On a sunshine breeze.
Who do I see
Sitting by the stream?
The girl of my dreams
Ah, I wouldn't believe
If I had not seen such beauty
She spoke softly:
"Won't you come with me
To live by the sea?"
She read my mind,
Showed me a life so fine;
Sunsets with wine
My love was blind
Ah, I wouldn't believe
If I had not seen such beauty
Ah, the blue in her eyes
Disguised Molly's lies
Slowly, the sun sets
on me and Lovely Molly
My ship sails high
on the horizon line
It leaves me behind;
I'm at her whim 'cause
I never learned to swim!
Now she's with him
What a sin!
Ah, I wouldn't believe
If I had not seen such beauty
Ah, the blue in her eyes
Disguised Molly's lies
Slowly, the sun sets
on me and Lovely Molly
Behind every queen
shines a guillotine
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10. |
Aphrodite
02:16
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Aphrodite
I want you to stay
but a bird in a cage
always flies away
You asked me to change
while snow on the range
caps the hills in the cold
Just to thaw in summer's glow
How strange
that you asked me to change
Your name was in Greek
Your voice sings the song
of a god when you speak
But I bid you goodbye
A creature with eyes
ripped blind could see why
As you return beneath the tide,
I bid you goodbye
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11. |
Wild Mountain Thyme
03:46
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Wild Mountain Thyme
Oh the summertime is coming
And the trees are sweetly blooming
And the wild mountain thyme
Blows around the blooming heather
Will ye go, Lassie go?
And we'll all go together
To pluck wild mountain thyme
From around the blooming heather
I will build my love a tower
Neath yon' pure crystal fountain
And on it I will leave
All the flowers of the mountain
Will ye go, Lassie go?
And we'll all go together
To pluck wild mountain thyme
From around the blooming heather
Will ye go, Lassie, will ye go?
And if my true love won’t come with me
Then I’m sure to find another
To pluck wild mountain thyme
From around the blooming heather
Will ye go, Lassie go?
And we'll all go together
To pluck wild mountain thyme
From around the blooming heather
Will ye go, Lassie, will ye go?
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12. |
Úirchill an Chreagáin
02:55
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Úirchill an Chreagáin
Ag úirchill a’ Chreagáin sea chodail mé aréir faoi bhrón,
Is le héirí na maidne tháinig ainnir fá mo dhéin le póig,
Bhí gríosghruaidh ghartha aici agus loinnir ina céibh mar ór,
‘S gurbh é íocshláinte an domhain a bheith ag amharc ar a’ ríon óig.
A fhial fhir charthanaigh ná caitear thusa i néaltaibh bróin,
Ach éirigh go tapaigh agus astraigh liom siar sa ród,
Go tír dheas na meala nach bhfuair Gallaibh intí réim go fóill,
Is gheobhair aoibhneas ar hallaí do do mhealladh le siansan ceoil.
The poet:
By the graveyard of Creggan I slept last night in grief;
At daybreak a fair maid came towards me with a kiss;
Her rosy cheeks were glowing and her hair a golden sheen;
A healing balm for everyone to gaze on this young queen.
Fairywoman:
‘Kind nobleman do not languish here in clouds of grief forlorn
But rise up quickly and come with me west along the road,
To the sweet land of honey where the stranger has no hold,
And in the halls you will delight, being enticed by strains of song.
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TRÚ
The trú was a mythological trio of poet-musicians in ancient Ulster. They were revered throughout Ireland, some believing
their songs and stories came to them from the future. Others maintained that the trú were possessed by spirits during performance. As such, they were considered gatekeepers to the Otherworld.
New album 'Eternity Near' out September 8th.
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