O Dheara Sheanduine

from When the Light Gets In by RUNA

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about

We had such great fun with this song!
It’s totally cheeky and we wanted the overall arrangement to feel that way.

The girl in the song has married a much older man for his money, expecting him to not live very long after their wedding. When he remains alive and well, she devises a variety of plans to try and scare him or tire him to death! She is dismayed that none of them work and he is in better health than ever.

There are, several versions/recordings of this song and very similar songs.
We have learned from or performed with the versions of Danú, Moya Brennan, and others.

There is, also, a great Scottish folk song that has a similar story called, “Maids When You’re Young, Never Wed an Old Man”.

lyrics

1. Ó Dheara ‘Sheanduine - trad. Irish Gaelic; Arranged by RUNA

Comhairle a fuaireasa amuigh ar an mbóthar

Ó rógaire sagairt an seanduine a phósadh

Ach ba chuma leis siúd ach go méadóinn a phóca

Is go mbeinn fad a mhairfinn ag brath ar na comharsainn

Curfá:

Ó dheara 'sheanduine, leatsa ní gheobhadsa

Ó dheara 'sheanduine, loscadh is dó ort

Ó dheara 'sheanduine, leatsa ní gheobhadsa

Is dá mbeinnse i mbéal dorais ná beirimse beo ort

Chuasa go Corcaigh ag triall ar ghléas tórraimh

Píopaí tobac agus cláracha comhrann

Ar mo theacht dom abhaile go tinn tuirseach brónach

Cá bhfaighinnse mo 'sheanduine ach ag róstadh muicfheola

Má phósainn tú an seanduine, pósfaidh tú claidhaire

Fágfaidh sé a bhalcaisí romhat ar a staighre

A déanamh ar maidean beidh sé ag cnáimhseáil le claidhreacht

Is siar sa tráthnóna beidh sé ag seinimt go meidhreach

Phósas an seanduine, is orm bhí díchéille

Dheineas an méid sin ar chomhairle mo ghaolta

Chuas abhaile leis faraoir an scéal sin

Is déiríos ar maidin is bfhearr liom an t-éag liom

Ó dheara 'sheanduine, leatsa ní gheobhadsa

Ó dheara 'sheanduine, loscadh is dó ort

Ó dheara 'sheanduine, leatsa ní gheobhadsa

Is cúpla Domhnach a chuirfidh fén bhfód thú



Advice I received out on the road
From a rogue of a priest to marry an old man
But he cared for nothing save that I would increase his wealth
And that I would be for my whole life dependent on the neighbors

Chorus:
O yerra, old man, being with you is not for me
O yerra, old man, may you be scorched and burned
O yerra, old man, being with you is not for me
And if I were at the door I would catch you alive

I went to Cork looking for the wherewithal for a wake
Tobacco pipes and wood for a coffin
On my return home, sick, tired and sad
Where did I find my old man but roasting bacon

If you marry an old man, you will marry a rogue
Who will leave rags before you on the stairs
In the morning he'll be complaining with roguery
And in the evening he'll be merrily playing music

I married an old man, I had no sense
I did that on the advice of my relatives
I went home with him, sad is the story
And I got up in the morning preferring to be dead

credits

from When the Light Gets In, released March 17, 2024
trad. Irish Gaelic; Arranged by RUNA

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about

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RUNA Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Celtic-American Roots music “super group”, RUNA, continues to push the boundaries of Irish folk music into the Americana and roots music formats.

Interweaving the haunting melodies and exuberant tunes of Ireland and Scotland with the lush harmonies and intoxicating rhythms of jazz, bluegrass, flamenco and blues, they offer a thrilling and redefining take on traditional music. ... more

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