I was originally thinking of posting this on Monday “The Day” itself, but I want a little wider exposure for it than that.
Today’s tunage is sung in Irish gaelic and would be perfectly A-cappella if not for the minimalist organ in the background and a flute in the breaks. It is titled Airdi Cuan and it is one of the saddest songs you don’t know the words to.
The origin of the tune is unknown, but I’ve read multiple accounts of varying versions of it being sung at Christmas time by people fleeing from the Great Famine (known in the US as the Irish Potato Famine) to the US. Cuan is almost directly translated into harbor and Airdi is the base word for places that are welcoming or friendly.
I put the song up because I think every one of us can think of someone serving our great nation who would much rather be home, and while we cannot either bring them home or go to be with them, a bit of tunage that may remind us what they’re feeling would be a good thing, even if just for five minutes and nine seconds.
So, I don’t mean to be a bummer, but you should really give it a listen.
From what CD or source did you dig up all this Irish Christmas music?
Crap, maybe I should’ve suggested the Pogues “Fairytale of New York”. Gotta love any Christmas music that begins with “It was Christmas Eve, babe….in the drunk tank!”
I second the question.
MNTY, let me ask my sis…she’s REALLY into Celtic and might have the CD…I’ll post the info back here if I can get it.