The band has recorded many albums of instrumental Irish folk music, as well as multiple collaborations with popular musicians of many genres, including Country music, Galician traditional music, Cape Breton and Newfoundland music, and rock and roll. They have performed with Van Morrison, The Rolling Stones, Sting, Roger Daltrey, Elvis Costello, Tom Jones, Sinéad O'Connor, James Galway, Jackson Browne, Nancy Griffith and numerous Country-western artists. In 1975, the group won praise for their playing of "Women of Ireland" for Stanley Kubrick's movie Barry Lyndon.
They have won six Grammy Awards and have been nominated eighteen times. In 2002 they were given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the UK's BBC Radio 2. The front covers of the first four albums were designed by Edward Delaney.
Paddy Moloney is the band's leader, and composes or arranges most of the band's music. While the band's members changed numerous times in the band's early history, the membership solidified in 1979 when Matt Molloy replaced Michael Tubridy.
From then until 2002, members included:
Paddy Moloney (uilleann pipes, tin whistle, button accordion, bodhrán)
Matt Molloy (flute, tin whistle)
Kevin Conneff (bodhrán, vocals)
Seán Keane (fiddle, tin whistle)
Martin Fay (fiddle, bones) (born 1938; died 14 November 2012)
Derek Bell (Irish harp, keyboard instruments, oboe) (born 21 October 1935; died 17 October 2002)
In 2002, Fay retired from active membership. In the same year, Bell died due to complications following a minor operation. Fay died on 14 November 2012.
Casadh an tSúgáin
The Chieftains Lyrics
Jump to: Overall Meaning ↴ Line by Line Meaning ↴
A Rí na bhfeart cad do chas ins a' dúthaigh seo mé?
'S gur mó cailín deas a gheobhainn im' dhúthaigín beag féin;
Gur casadh mé isteach mar a raibh searc agus grá geal mo chléibh,
'S chuir an tseanbhean amach mé‚ ag casadh an tsúgáinín féir.
Tá mo cheannsa liath le bliain is ní le críonnacht é,
Is táim i d' dhiaidh le bliain is gan fáil agam ort féin,
'S gur geall le fia mé' 'r slaibh go mbeadh gáir con 'na dhiaidh.
Do threabfainn, d'fhuirsinn, chuirfinn síol ins a' chré,
'S do dhéanfainn obair shocair, álainn, mhín, réidh,
Do chuirfinn crú fén each is mire shiúil riamh ar féar,
Is ná héalaodh bean le fear ná déanfadh san féin.
cúrfa (chorus):
Má bhíonn tú liúm [liom], a stóirín mo chroí,
Ma bhíonn tú liúm [liom], bí liúm ós comhair an tsaoil;
Ma bhíonn tú liúm [liom], bí liúm gach orlach de d'chroí,
'Sé mo lom go fann nach liúm Dé Domhnaigh thu mar mhnaoí
The Chieftains' song "Casadh an tSúgáin" tells the story of a man who has wandered from his home and is searching for love. He sings to the King of the land, asking if he knows where he might find a pretty girl to love. He eventually finds himself in a small village where he falls in love with a young woman. A wise old woman notices their affection for each other and begins to play a tune on her súgán (straw rope). This tune is known as "Casadh an tSúgáin" which translates to "Twisting of the Straw Rope". This tune was traditionally played at Irish weddings and is said to have the power to entice couples to the dance floor.
The song also speaks of aging and how the man's hair has turned grey, and he no longer has the wisdom he once had. He speaks of his desire to make a life with the woman he loves and to have a simple, happy life with her. He promises to work hard, plant crops, and take care of animals, but he also warns her that she must not marry a man who would treat her poorly.
The chorus of the song is a declaration of love, with the man asking the woman to be with him always. He promises to love her forever, and despite his old age and lack of wisdom, he will always be devoted to her.
Line by Line Meaning
A Rí na bhfeart cad do chas ins a' dúthaigh seo mé?
Oh King of wonders, who have I met in this land?
'S gur mó cailín deas a gheobhainn im' dhúthaigín beag féin;
I would find a nice girl in my little homeland;
Gur casadh mé isteach mar a raibh searc agus grá geal mo chléibh;
I was brought in where my heart's love and bright affections were;
'S chuir an tseanbhean amach mé‚ ag casadh an tsúgáinín féir.
The old woman put me out, with straw twisted rope I did steer.
Tá mo cheannsa liath le bliain is ní le críonnacht é,
Gray hairs cover my head from the passing of years;
Ní bheataíd na bréithre na bráithre pé sa domhan scéal é;
Not one of the wise or the learned would know its tales;
Is táim i d' dhiaidh le bliain is gan fáil agam ort féin,
After a year, I still cannot get you, my love;
'S gur geall le fia mé' 'r slaibh go mbeadh gáir con 'na dhiaidh.
I promised a deer on the mountain that there would be hounds chasing behind.
Do threabfainn, d'fhuirsinn, chuirfinn síol ins a' chré,
I would till, I would dig, I would sow in the land;
'S do dhéanfainn obair shocair, álainn, mhín, réidh,
And do fair, neat, and lovely work every day;
Do chuirfinn crú fén each is mire shiúil riamh ar féar,
I would send my own horse, the gentlest ever walked on ground,
Is ná héalaodh bean le fear ná déanfadh san féin.
And no woman would look for a man or do the work herself.
cúrfa (chorus):
Chorus:
Má bhíonn tú liúm [liom], a stóirín mo chroí,
If you are with me, my love, dear of my heart,
Ma bhíonn tú liúm [liom], bí liúm ós comhair an tsaoil;
If you are with me, be with me in front of the world;
Ma bhíonn tú liúm [liom], bí liúm gach orlach de d'chroí,
If you are with me, be with me every moment of your heart,
'Sé mo lom go fann nach liúm Dé Domhnaigh thu mar mhnaoí.
My weakness is so weak that you won't be with me on a Sunday like a wife.
Contributed by Sebastian G. Suggest a correction in the comments below.
@b33rbashj4wnson
A Rí na bhfeart cad do chas ins a' dúthaigh seo mé?
'S gur mó cailín deas a gheobhainn im' dhúthaigín beag féin;
Gur casadh mé isteach mar a raibh searc agus grá geal mo chléibh,
'S chuir an tseanbhean amach mé‚ ag casadh an tsúgáinín féir.
Tá mo cheannsa liath le bliain is ní le críonnacht é,
Ní bheataíd na bréithre na bráithre pé sa domhan scéal é;
Is táim i d' dhiaidh le bliain is gan fáil agam ort féin,
'S gur geall le fia mé' 'r slaibh go mbeadh gáir con 'na dhiaidh.
Do threabfainn, d'fhuirsinn, chuirfinn síol ins a' chré,
'S do dhéanfainn obair shocair, álainn, mhín, réidh,
Do chuirfinn crú fén each is mire shiúil riamh ar féar,
Is ná héalaodh bean le fear ná déanfadh san féin.
cúrfa (chorus):
Má bhíonn tú liúm [liom], a stóirín mo chroí,
Ma bhíonn tú liúm [liom], bí liúm ós comhair an tsaoil;
Ma bhíonn tú liúm [liom], bí liúm gach orlach de d'chroí,
'Sé mo lom go fann nach liúm Dé Domhnaigh thu mar mhnaoí
@NoNameThoughtOfYet
A Rí Na Bhfeart Cad Do Chas Ins A’ Dúthaigh Seo Mé?/Oh God Almighty What Drove Me To This District?
‘S Gur Mó Cailín Deas A Gheobhainn Im’ Dhúthaigín Beag Féin/When It’s Many A Fine Girl I’d Find In My Own Townland
Gur Casadh Mé Isteach Mar A Raibh Searc Agus Grá Geal Mo Chléibh/I Called Into The House Of My Own True Love
‘S Chuir An Tseanbhean Amach Mé Ag Casadh An Tsúgáinín Féir/And The Old Woman Put Me Twisting Rope ‘Til I Was Outside The Door
Tá Mo Cheannsa Liath Le Bliain Is Ní Le Críonnacht É/My Head Is Grey And It’s Not From Old Age
Ní Bheataíd Na Bréithre Na Bráithre Pé Sa Domhan Scéal É/Fair Words Butter No Parsnips Anyway (This Makes No Sense But I Can’t Find Any Other Translation)
Is Táim I D’ Dhiaidh Le Bliain Is Gan Fáil Agam Ort Féin/I’m After You Now For A Year And It’s Useless
‘S Gur Geall Le Fia Mé’ ‘R Slaibh Go Mbeadh Gáir Con ‘Na Dhiaidh/And I’m Like A Deer On The Moor And The Hounds Are Yelping After Me
Do Threabfainn D’fhuirsinn Chuirfinn Síol Ins A’ Chré/I’d Plow I’d Toil I’d Sow Seed In The Clay
‘S Do Dhéanfainn Obair Shocair Álainn Mhín Réidh/And I’d Do A Steady Job Beautiful Smooth And Even
Do Chuirfinn Crú Fén Each Is Mire Shiúil Riamh Ar Féar/I’d Shoe The Maddest Horse Ever To Walk On Grass
Is Ná Héalaodh Bean Le Fear Ná Déanfadh San Féin/And The Woman Still Wouldn’t Elope With A Man Who’d Do That
Má Bhíonn Tú Liom A Stóirín Mo Chroí/If You’ll Be Mine Be Mine Oh Treasure Of My Heart
Ma Bhíonn Tú Liom Bí Liúm Ós Comhair An Tsaoil/If You’ll Be Mine Be Mine Before The Whole World
Ma Bhíonn Tú Liom Bí Liúm Gach Orlach De D’chroí/If You’ll Be Mine Be Mine Every Inch Of Your Heart
‘Sé Mo Lom Go Fann Nach Liúm Dé Domhnaigh Thu Mar Mhnaoí/Alas That You’re Not My Wife This Sunday
@Shira.Raba102
This is so beautiful... Irish music speaks to the soul
@geofflovett7313
Amazing music.
@hempenasphalt1587
My favorite version of this song so far.
@marcmcpipe9245
Really? You know this version of "The Bothy Band?" https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hjhE8AJ9g4M
@Ian_Jules
Ah, yes. Can't beat the voice of Micheal O'Domhnaill! It's a real shame he passed way young, a terrible loss to Irish trad music. @@marcmcpipe9245
@marcmcpipe9245
Yes, you're right. He passed away through an accident at home. He fell down the stairs. - - - If you wanna hear his voice with other line-ups, look for "Relativity" and for "Nightnoise" too. Sure you may like it.
@daragildea7434
Mine too.
@b33rbashj4wnson
A Rí na bhfeart cad do chas ins a' dúthaigh seo mé?
'S gur mó cailín deas a gheobhainn im' dhúthaigín beag féin;
Gur casadh mé isteach mar a raibh searc agus grá geal mo chléibh,
'S chuir an tseanbhean amach mé‚ ag casadh an tsúgáinín féir.
Tá mo cheannsa liath le bliain is ní le críonnacht é,
Ní bheataíd na bréithre na bráithre pé sa domhan scéal é;
Is táim i d' dhiaidh le bliain is gan fáil agam ort féin,
'S gur geall le fia mé' 'r slaibh go mbeadh gáir con 'na dhiaidh.
Do threabfainn, d'fhuirsinn, chuirfinn síol ins a' chré,
'S do dhéanfainn obair shocair, álainn, mhín, réidh,
Do chuirfinn crú fén each is mire shiúil riamh ar féar,
Is ná héalaodh bean le fear ná déanfadh san féin.
cúrfa (chorus):
Má bhíonn tú liúm [liom], a stóirín mo chroí,
Ma bhíonn tú liúm [liom], bí liúm ós comhair an tsaoil;
Ma bhíonn tú liúm [liom], bí liúm gach orlach de d'chroí,
'Sé mo lom go fann nach liúm Dé Domhnaigh thu mar mhnaoí
@Eochaidh32
Go raibh maith agat.
@thomaskelly1684
Beautiful.... Wish they could be the the Jackson, MS Celtic Fest.