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Guitar Chords - Ta Na La
O codlas (D)fein, I dthigh a(G)reir
Is tuirseach (D)treith, do bhi mo (A)chuisle
Comhra (D)beil, bhi acu go (G)leir
M’ingean
(D)fein, is a (A)boch ar (D)buhle
Curfá
Ta na (D)la, nil; na (G)la
Ta na (D)la ‘gus in a (A)mhaidin
Nil ‘na (D)la dheara a (G)ghra
Ach
solus (D)ard, at(A)a sa (D)ghealaig
Eir id (D)sui, a fhir a (G)tigh
Cuir do (D)bhriste ’mut goota(A)paigh
Coinnigh (D)suas cuideachta (G)shuairc
Don
chroi mhaith (D)mhor, go (A)dtioch an (D)mhaidin
Curfá
N’eireodh (D)im shui ar fear a (G)tigh
‘Sni cuirfeadh (D)briste’mum na (A)hata
Blas na (D)braon,
dem cuidse (G)dighe
Ni raghaidh na (D)gcrol, go (A)dtioch an (D)mhaidin
Curfá
Ta an (D)barraille thar a (G)ceann
Is ni (D)fheicim ann ach driodar (A)dearg
Ta mo (D)ghini ar an (G)mbord
Is
bim ag (D)ol, go (A)dtioch an (D)mhaidin
Curfá 2x
The text written by Liam Ö Murchü on the Wolfe Tones record Belt of the Celts 1978
He wrote theese words.As printed
on the back cover of the LP. Belt of The Celts
I first met the Wolfe Tones a dozen or so years ago when RTE was doing
a television series called "Ballad Session."It was the morning of balladry then;and there was a great
rip-roaring energy
about those boys, so infectious that one could not listen to it without being swept along.
There was something else:a strong sense of rootedness,so palpable that whether they were singing Davis's "Nation
Once Again" or some more recently-made ballad, one was in no doupt that these
were Irish songs sung by Irishmen- in every
sense of the word, Irish and proud of it!
I am happy to note that the Wolfe Tones have now come to the height of their strength.The present album has some
great songs: the elegant "Si Beag, Si Mör" - the two fairy mounds so beloved of the
blind harper Ö' Carolan; a most attractive
new song , written by Brian Warfield about Private James Daly of the Connaught Rangers, shot for his loyalty to
Ireland in India:and "Bold Robert Emmet"whose
bicentenary we celebrate this year.
There are also other great songs of the past,given new life in this album by the Wolfe Tones exciting arrangements:
" General Munroe", a song about the '98 Rising up North:"The West Awake":the Irish drinking song
"Ta na La"- all of them
songs that people have sung in this island for generations.
No song lasts that long without good reason.
Recent years saw much new thinking in the cultural life of Ireland, some of it questioning the very basis of what
Irishness means.The Wolfe Tones, I am happy to see, were never in any doubt about that.
For this reason, they join in my
mind with the company of other great Irishmen of the past-- Brendan Behan, Francis MacManus,Cathal Bui Mac Giolla Gunna, the
man who wrote about the yellow bittern who died of thirst.Irish indeed and proud of it:not solemnnor sour about it:
no, but not apologetic about it either!
Right now,we can do with a good stiff injection of this kindof national self-confidence.We're a small people perched
on a rock away out in the Atlantic, with mighty noises all around us.
People in situations like that need something to
keep their heart up.That's how they can face the world.The Wolfe Tones face it with verve and style!
Liam Ö Murchü.
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