Clannad - Of This Land

Clannad with 'An tOileán Ur' from their debut album, 'Clannad'.

This is an unusual immigration song, in that the singer returns to Ireland from 'An t-Oileán Úr' (literally, 'The New Island," but used symbolically in immigration songs to mean North America). This probably was sung with wishful thinking, as the majority of the Irish Diaspora never returned to their native land.

LYRICS:
Rinne mé smaointiú i m'intinn agus lean mé dó go cinnte
Go n-éalóinn ó mo mhuintir anonn chun 'Oileáin Úir
Ó bhí mé ag déanamh impí ar an ArdRí os mo cheannsa
Mo choinneáil ó gach tubaiste go gcríochnóinn mo shiúl

Shiúil mé fiche míle is níor casadh orm Críostaí
Capall, bó nó caora ag déanamh inghilt ar an fhéar
Ach coillte dlútha is gleanntáin agus búirtheach beithigh allta
Fir is mná gan tant orthu a chasfá fá do mhéar

Ach tharla isteach i dteach mé nuair a casadh orm daoine
D'fhiafraigh siad mo ainmse is cén tír inar tógadh mé
Dúirt mé leo i mBéarla gur tógadh mé in Éirinn
Láimh le Loch Éirne i gCoillidh Lios na Raoch

Bhí seanbhean insan chlúdaigh agus stocaí ar a glúiní
D'éirigh sí go lúcháireach agus chraith sí liomsa láimh
"Sheacht mh'anam, fear mo thíre, thar a bhfaca mé ariamh de dhaoine
Tógadh mise in Éirinn i mBaile Lios Béal Áinetha"

Rinne mé an dara smaointiú agus lean mé dó go cinnte
Go bpillfinn ar ais go hÉirinn, an áit a sínfí mé faoin chlár
Mar a bhfaighfinn lucht mo chaointe is an t-aos óg atá lách aoibhinn
A chaithfeadh liomsa an oíche agus páirt mhór den lá

English translation: ('The New Island')

I made a decision and I followed it with certainty
That I could escape my family over in America
Oh, I was turning away from the High King above me
Who kept me from every misfortune which could end my journey

I walked 20 miles and didn't meet a soul
A horse, a cow or a sheep grazing in the field
Only dense woods and glenns and roaring wild beasts
And men and women in tatters

But I happened into a house when I met some people
They asked me my name and what land I was from
I told them in English that I was raised in Ireland
By the side of Loch Éirne in the woods of Lios na Raoch

There was an old women in the corner knitting socks
She joyfully arose and shook my hand
"Bless my soul, my countryman, you are truly one of us
I was raised in Ireland in Baile Lios Béal Áinetha"

I made a second decision and I followed it with certainty
That I would return to Ireland, the place where I would be buried
As I might find gentle folk and young folk who are friendly and delightful
With whom I could spend the night and the day