Talk:Siúil a Rúin

Great to see this here

I love this song. The best version I've ever heard was by Skylark on their 1987 'All of It' album. Len Graham's deep rich voice is unsurpassed. El Gringo 04:48, 31 March 2006 (UTC)

I love Clannad's version, its so pretty. --[[User:Mitternacht90|Mitternacht90]] 02:18, 23 July 2006 (UTC)

Reeltime

The band Reeltime did a version of this with slightly different lyrics. They are as follows:

  I wish I was on yonder hill
  'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill
  Until every tear would turn a mill
  Is go dtí tú mo mhuirnín slán

  I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel
  I'll sell my only spinning wheel
  For to buy my love a sword of steel
  Is go dtí tú mo mhuirnín slán

  (Chorus:)
  Siúil, siúil, siúil a rúin
  Siúil go sochair agus siúil go ciúin
  Siúil go doras agus ealaigh liom
  Is go dtí tú mo mhuirnín slán

  I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red
  And round the world I'll beg my bread
  Until my parents shall wish me dead
  Is go dtí tú mo mhuirnín slán

  (Chorus)

  (Instrumental Interlude)

  And now my love has gone to France
  To try his fortune to advance
  If he e'er comes back 'tis but a chance
  Is go dtí tú mo mhuirnín slán

  (Chorus x2)

Petticoats

Why she will dye them red? What does it mean?

PS. well, is this something everybody knows but me [stupid]? --85.141.89.53 (talk) 22:11, 14 February 2008 (UTC)

In answer to the above:

According to Padraigin Ni Uallachain, singer, writer, folklorist, historian, wife of Len Graham, and native Irish speaker;

"The dyeing of petticoats indicated that the woman indicated herself as betrothed: it was a sign of loyalty to her absent lover".

This is supported with an unusual cross reference to a once-common practice concerning Leap year and marriage proposals:

"Scotland's St. Margaret is generally credited with having originated the custom, about 1288, whereby women were allowed to propose marriage on this day so long as they wore red petticoats. The Scottish Parliament went so far as to pass a law forbidding a man to reject a woman's proposal, even imposing stiff penalties for violations. Eventually it was decided that a man could refuse, as long as he brought his admirer a new pair of gloves for Easter."

This is supported by the book: "Dark Dorset Calendar Customs" by Robert J Newland

In which, he states:

"Leap Day, February 29 will soon be upon us and it's that time again to remind everyone about the age-old rules of Leap Day proposing.

Planning a marriage proposal is an anxious, yet exciting time for anyone thinking about popping the big question, and most will agree that the rules of courtship, namely the very act of proposing should be done in the proper way.

Traditionally, Leap Day is the only one true day when a lady can propose marriage; but according to custom only if she is wearing a red petticoat.

Everyone knows that when a gentleman proposes marriage it is customary for him to go down on one knee, however, in a lady's case the customary and proper procedure is for her to lift up her dress and show her red petticoats.

Red being the colour of lifeblood and has strong symbolism to love, warmth, passion and fertility.

In Roman times brides wore a red veil called a 'flammeum' as a symbolic statement of their sincere love and that they were fertile and therefore ripe for the marriage bed.

No doubt the custom of showing one's red petticoat to propose on Leap Day is a remnant from such ancient marriage customs.

Few young ladies wear petticoats these days and it's therefore hardly surprising that this aspect of Leap Day proposing has been lost.

However, one suspects that a flash of red knickers would do just as well today, and what man could refuse that!

It is worth pointing out that if on Leap Day a gentleman declines the offer of marriage, he has to pay the forfeit to buy the lady a pair of gloves for Easter."

Cadwynn MacDonald —Preceding unsigned comment added by 70.243.13.244 (talk) 18:59, 30 March 2008 (UTC)

Red was the color of the English uniform (Redcoats) beginning in the 17th century—the same time as the Plantation of Ulster. Presumably Johnny went off to join the British Army, and if the girl was Irish Catholic, her parents might well be ashamed if she adopted the colors of their occupier and foe. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 148.74.121.59 (talk) 22:20, 7 April 2020 (UTC)

Lord of the dance

Could use a better reference for that. I hate it when I see something on TV but come up with an independent ref.Dlohcierekim's sock (talk) 01:45, 3 March 2008 (UTC)

This translation of what the reference to red petticoats is quite different from what I have read elsewhere, and the reference I give is in my own words. Back in the day of the "Wild Geese", a soldier's wife or girlfriend, or fiance, as it might be, was not allowed to accompany them to the battlefield. Prostitutes were, however, allowed, and a prostitute wore a red petticoat, signifying that she was, indeed, a prostitute, and sometimes girlfriends, fiances, and wives wore red petticoats so as to be able to accompany their man into battle. It was considered by most people a shameful thing to see a woman in a red petticoat, given what that was intended to signify, and that is why a young woman, accompanying her man into battle, might be wished dead by her parents, along with the fact that she was also reduced to a beggar. Certainly not anything one would have wanted to see one's daughter do. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 68.200.86.157 (talk) 13:11, 13 April 2012 (UTC)

I think there is something to say for both explanations, because the first is about scottish laws and the second is about the protest of irish women who where only able to accompany their spouses to the battlefield if they behaved and clothed themselves as prostitutes. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 19rob56 (talk • contribs) 07:20, 18 June 2014 (UTC)

Ordering of versions

I re-ordered the listing of versions. This is because music evolves, past versions may influence future versions (both "for" and "against"), so seeing the chronology of the recordings seems a good idea. Some versions did not have dates, they were placed at the end in alphabetical order. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Brunswicknic (talk • contribs) 13:42, 14 March 2017 (UTC)

External links modified

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Music section to be removed

It is terribly formatted and has no citations. Wikipedia articles usually don't have the lyrics and chords to a song. I suggest this section be removed.

TheFancyHuman (talk) 11:06, 28 July 2018 (UTC)

The line "I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel"

What is the meaning of "rock" here? If she is selling her "reel" (fishing reel) would she be selling her fishing rod? I've had it suggested that "rock" may be a mis-hearing of "roth" (wheel), but why?1.125.106.74 (talk) 01:29, 27 January 2021 (UTC)

My understanding is that rock here is another word for distaff 2603:7000:8745:3C00:CB65:E30D:AD44:790A (talk) 19:04, 5 March 2023 (UTC)

reasonable point, though I note the mention of a mill in the lines above, "rock" may be referring to millstones or parts of a Quern (as in Mano (stone) and Metate, in archaeology the usual meaning of quern)("well why don't you change Quern", "Madonna, so much to do")

I have also heard the word "rod" used JayBirdtyper (talk) 16:43, 19 July 2022 (UTC)

Spelling of 'Siúil, a Rúin'

I see it is spelled 'a Rún' here, but it's in the vocative case and should be spelled 'a Rúin'. The title being 'Siúil, a Rúin' - 'Go, My Love' or better 'Go, O Love'. It's a common misspelling on the web, but shouldn't be perpetuated here I don't think. Breiz (talk) 17:42, 21 April 2022 (UTC)