Deirtear
Níl aon tinteán mar do thinteán féin
Ach b’fhéidir
Nach leat an tinteán sin
Ach gurb as an tinteán sin thú
Bhí an talamh ann romhat
Agus a bheidh ann i do dhiaidh
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
Deirtear
Tír gan teanga, tír gan anam
Ach b’fhéidir
Ba chóir dúinn cur síos a dhéanamh
Ar thábhacht an éisteachta
Teanga amháin, dhá chluas
Éist anois go cúramach
Is tír nach éistíonn a chailleann amach ar
Teanga na hanama
Deirtear
Nach dtiteann an úll fada ón gcrann
Ach b’fhéidir
Nach úlla muid ach síolta
Atá in ann scaipeadh le nós agus notions na gaoithe
Chun fréamhacha a leagaint síos
In áiteanna i bhfad is i gcéin
Le scámhóga mór líonta
Le haer úir na mara
Agus le gainneamh
Fós greamaithe le bun mo stocaí
Fágaim an tír
A choimeadaim faoi ghlas i mo chroí
Le guí
Go mbeirimid beo
Ag an am seo arís
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English Translation
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They say
There’s no place like home
But maybe
That home doesn’t belong to you
But you are from it
This land was here before you
And it will be there when you are gone
Ashes to ashes, dust to dust
They say
A country that has no language, has no soul
But maybe
We should elaborate
On the importance of listening
Listen carefully now
It’s a country that does not listen
That misses out
On the language of the soul
They say
That the apples does not fall far from the tree
But maybe
We are not apples but seeds
Enabled to spread
With the speed and the notion of the wind
To put down roots
In places near and far
With large lungs filled
With the fresh air of the sea
And with sand
Still stuck to the bottom of my socks
I leave the country
I keep locked in my heart
With a prayer
That we may live to meet again
At the same time next year
Kay O' Neill 