Transcript

Hóró, damhas is damhas,
Is hóró, damhas go haerach,
Hóró, damhas is damhas,
Is damhas is damhas, a lao dhil.

Imbasa[1], ná rinc, ná rinc,
Imbasa, ná rinc sí inniubh,
Imbasa, ná rinc, ná rinc,
Ní raibh éinne sheinnfeadh port duit.

Is hóró, damhas is damhas
Is hóró, damhas go haerach,
Hóró, damhas is damhas,
Is damhas is damhas, a lao dhil.

Translation

Oh-ro, dance and dance,
And oh-ro, dance gaily,
Oh-ro, dance and dance,
And dance and dance, dear darling.

Indeed, she danced, she danced,
Indeed, she danced today,
Indeed, she danced, she danced,
There was no one who would play a tune for you.

Oh-ro, dance and dance,
And oh-ro, dance gaily,
Oh-ro, dance and dance,
And dance and dance, dear darling.

Footnotes

Commentary

Fionán Mac Coluim first published this song in a collection of children's songs entitled Cosa buidhe árda do’n aos óg (Dublin, 1916), 8. It was also included in an enlarged pamphlet by Fionán Mac Coluim and Pádraig Pléimionn entitled Cosa buidhe árda: cuid a haon (Dublin, 1922), 20-1. Mac Coluim can be heard on the present recording singing the chorus, the first verse and then chorus once more. The printed version in Cosa buidhe árda do’n aos óg (Dublin, 1916) provides seven verses and the chorus, with tonic solfa notation. The later publication provides five verses and the chorus. The song was arranged for piano and voice by Carl Hardebeck for inclusion in a collection of nursery rhymes entitled Amhráiníní do’n aos óg gléasta i gcóir piano (Cork, 1930), 1. Hardebeck acknowledged Mac Coluim as the source for all eleven songs in the book.