Cur An Long Ag Seol
Posted on 15 Jan 2014
During the Summer we did a few days shooting this new music video for Cur an Long Ag Seol with a great Crew shooting between the passing clouds. It was a great experience working with director Wissame Cherfi who has had the great documentary We Are Dublin which I highly recommend.
Gustavo was rock solid as the camera man and Eirini and Niall were awesomely professional as the couple. Wissame and myself discussed what style of video might work for this song and he came up with this simple story as a human angle for the visuals. The lyrics to me, are about taking a journey as a sailor does out to sea or as we do everytime we put a new idea or creation into the world, or everytime we take a chance or face our demons. I think Wissame found a great aspect of that to explore in the video.
The Recording
The recording began with Mossy Nolan on mandolin and myself playing the guitar at the same time to get a nice groove and life into the base track. The double bass was recorded in Rama Block’s where we tried a few different feels over it but this on-the-beat straighter groove worked best in the end. Meanwhile an mp3 was sent to Christophe Capewell who was in England at the time and he recorded the violins and accordion and sent them to me over the internet to mix with the rest of the song. Gary Raymond added some nice shaker-like brushing percussion to round the mix out.
Translations!
Set the Ship A Sail (Translation 1)
Don’t the trees look delightfully thoughtful
As your lips sing sweetly a scale
and all cries turn into laughter
When I set the ship asail
So Set The Ship Asail
Set The Ship Asail
Sail her Sail her out to the broad sea
Come along
Isn’t she a beauty
We’ll eat our fill,
We’ll drink a pail,
Let’s Set The Ship Asail
The Shannon is grand to have fun in,
I’d eat fish before meat anyday
All sadness I’ll leave behind me
When I Set The Ship Asail
So Set The Ship Asail
Set The Ship Asail
Sail her Sail her out to the broad sea
Come along
Isn’t she a beauty
We’ll eat our fill,
We’ll drink a pail,
Let’s Set The Ship Asail
I left old home for the ocean
And I’ll not return to regale
I change from one life to the next life
When I Set The Ship Asail
So Set The Ship Asail
Set The Ship Asail
Sail her Sail her out to the broad sea
Come along
Isn’t she a beauty
We’ll eat our fill,
We’ll drink a pail,
So Let’s Set The Ship Asail
Set The Ship Asail (translation 2)
I’ve thoughts of tall trees in the breeze
Your lips singing sweetly a song
Enjoying the laughter all after
As we’re sailing softly along
Set the ship asail
Let’s set the ship asail
Sail sail upon the wide waters
Come with me
Oh what fine quarters
Fill up with grub
And barrels of ale we set the ship asail
And think of the Shannon with Salmon
Rising up all day long
My gloom is now a bright bloom
As I join in with your song
Set the ship asail
Let’s set the ship asail
Sail sail upon the wide waters
Come with me
Oh what fine quarters
Fill up with grub
And barrels of ale we set the ship asail
My notion’s to take to the oceans
in a bathtub small and oblong
To change from one life to another
And keep sailing softly along.
Set the ship asail
Let’s set the ship asail
Sail sail upon the wide waters
Come with me
Oh what fine quarters
Fill up with grub
And barrels of ale we set the ship asail
An-jab! Is breá liom an t-amhrán ón gcéad lá a chuala mé é agus tá an físeán fíor-fíorálainn. Comhghairdeachas libh ar fad. Déanfaidh mé craobhscaoileadh air. Caomhán
Go raibh míle Caomhán.
Iontach an físean. Ach tá mé ag iarraidh na focail I nGaeilge. seans gur chaill mé iad ón bhliain seo caite. ag súil le tú a fheiceáil I mí Mhárta
Gabh mo leithscéal Caoimhín, Seo hiad na liricí agus táim ag súil le mí na Márta.
Nach deas iad na crainnte is smaointe
Nach glórmhar do bheola le ceol,
Is athraíonn gach gháir go gáire
Nuair a cuirim an long ag seol.
Cur an long ag seol
Cur an Long ag seol
Seol, Seol amach is amach í,
Ó tar liom
Nach álainn an teach í
Neart le nithe
Neart le nól
Chuirimid an long ag seol.
Nach deas í an tSionnan for fun in,
Is fearr liom éisc ná feoil,
Is athraionn gach gruaim le stuaim,
Nuair a cuirim an long ag seol
Cur an long ag seol
Cur an Long ag seol
Seol, Seol amach is amach í,
Ó tar liom
Nach álainn an teach í
Neart le nithe
Neart le nól
Sure chuirimid an long ag seol.
D’fhág mé mo seanteach don Atlantach
Is ní bheidh mé ar ais go deo
Is Athraíom ó shaol go saol
Nuair a chuirim an long ag seol
Cur an long ag seol
Cur an Long ag seol
Seol, Seol amach is amach í,
Ó tar liom
Nach aoibhinn an teach í
Neart le nithe
Neart le nól
Sure Chuirimid an long ag seol.