Na Laetha Geal M'oige
Enya Lyrics
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Is mé bhí sámh
Gan eolas marbh
Bhí mé óg san am,
[Chorus]
Anois, táim buartha
's fad ar shiúil an lá.
Na laetha geal m'óige
Bhí siad lán de dhóchas
An bealach mór a bhí romham anonn
Bhí sé I ndán domh go mbeinn, slán, slán.
[Chorus]
[Translation]
The bright days of my youth
(In honor of my father and mother)
Looking back over my youth
I see I was contented
Without knowledge of death
I was young then
Now I am worried
During the course of the day.
(Oh sorrow!) (Alas and woe, oh.)
The bright days of my youth
Were full of hope
The big road that was before us then
Was what was destined to be,
Bye bye)
Enya's "Na Laetha Geal M'oige" is a hauntingly beautiful song that explores the nostalgia and longing for the carefree days of youth. The Irish lyrics express a deep sense of longing as the singer reflects back on a time in their life when they were young, innocent, and blissfully unaware of the hardships and sorrows that come with age. The use of the past tense in the lyrics emphasizes the reality that these days are gone forever, and that the singer is left with only memories.
The chorus, with its mournful repetition of "Ochón 's ochón ó" (which roughly translates to "Alas and woe"), adds to the sadness and sense of loss in the song. The line "Anois, táim buartha, 's fad ar shiúil an lá" ("Now I am worried during the course of the day") underscores the weight of responsibility and the burdens of adulthood that the singer must bear. The final lines, "Bhí sé I ndán domh go mbeinn, slán, slán" ("It was destined for me to be well, well"), express a hope for a positive outcome despite the sadness of reminiscence.
Overall, "Na Laetha Geal M'oige" is a poignant tribute to the fleeting nature of youth and the inevitable passage of time. The song's gentle melody and Enya's ethereal vocals add to its dreamlike quality and universal appeal.
Line by Line Meaning
Ag amharc tré m'óige
Looking back over my youth
Is mé bhí sámh
I see I was contented
Gan eolas marbh
Without knowledge of death
Bhí mé óg san am,
I was young then
Anois, táim buartha
Now I am worried
's fad ar shiúil an lá.
During the course of the day.
Ochón 's ochón ó.
(Oh sorrow!) (Alas and woe, oh.)
Na laetha geal m'óige
The bright days of my youth
Bhí siad lán de dhóchas
Were full of hope
An bealach mór a bhí romham anonn
The big road that was before us then
Bhí sé I ndán domh go mbeinn, slán, slán.
Was what was destined to be, Bye bye
Lyrics © Sony/ATV Music Publishing LLC
Written by: EITHNE NI BHRAONAIN, NICKY RYAN, ROMA RYAN
Lyrics Licensed & Provided by LyricFind