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The Seanachai

from Land and Sea (2017) by Bob Leslie

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about

A seanachai was a travelling Celtic teller of tales. He would move around communities telling both the latest news and the oldest stories, entertaining as much as informing. We could use more like him.

lyrics

Ah, the seanachai will tell you o' the world that used tae be
O Tír na nÓg and Ossian an the intrigues o' the Sidhe
An auld romance of battles foucht an luve that widna dee
Or a bawdy yarn tae mak ye laugh till tears come tae yer ee
Frae the magic of the tales he tells, the wily seanachai

When the word was rarely written an the news was ayeways auld
A warm welcome we wid gie him fur the stories that he told
As we gethert roond the firelight 'twas as if we aa could see
The fine folk that fillt the fables of the wily Seanachai

Tales o giants in their anger an the wars o mice and men
Or the magic o' a gowden ring that aye comes back again
Hou tae pass a nicht wi common folk a King wore hodden grey
An wid ayeways leave a siller coin when he went oan his wey

He'd remind ye o the chieftains an the lands they held in trust
An the weepin o the clansmen when their dreams hid turnt tae dust
Then tae cheer ye 'fore ye tak yer lamp an wander aff tae bed
He'd recoont a ribald rant wid mak the eyes pop oot yer head

Sae mony years withoot him an the world his been re-made
But there's still a place, I hope, here for the storyteller's trade
Sae, raise yer gless in memory, an pray that ye may gie
Wance mair a willin welcome tae the wily seanachai
Wance mair a willin welcome tae the wily seanachai

credits

from Land and Sea (2017), released August 1, 2017

license

all rights reserved

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Bob Leslie Glasgow, UK

Bob Leslie's music is now available on a "NAME YOUR OWN PRICE" basis!
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“I can think of no other songwriter who has mined this rich vein
with such lyrical ease and with no mean ear for melody. ”
Alan Reid, Battlefield Band ... more

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