Annotation:Phelim's Boat
X:1 T:Phelim's Boat M:3/4 L:1/8 R:Air N:From Matt Cranitch, taught at Irish Arts Week, East Durham Z:AK/Fiddler's Companion K:D A4 D2|F3 (G/E/)D2|A2B2c2|d4B2|A4 D2|F3 (G/E/)D2| G2E2E2|E6|A4D2|F3E D2|A2B2c2|d4 B2| d4B2|A2B2G2|F2D2D2|D6||:d4 e2|f4d2| g4e2|f3e d2|1 B4c2|d4B2|A3B G2|F2E2D2:| |2 B3c d2|A2B2G2|F2D2D2|D6||
PHELIM’S BOAT (Báidín Fheidhlimidh). AKA - "Báidín Fheilimí," "Phelim's wee boat." Irish, Air (3/4 time). D Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part (Cranitch): AB (Tubridy, Vallely). Cranitch remarks this is an air to a song learned by many school-aged children in Ireland. He uses it for a waltz for Sliabh Luachra dances, but there are also slide (12/8) versions of the tune (i.e. played at a faster speed) for dancing. The song (with Gaelic lyrics) is from the north west part of the country and tells a tale of Phelim and his little boat. The Irish lyric begins:
Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Gabhla,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Gabhla,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Chorus:
Báidín bídeach, báidín beosach,
Báidín bóidheach, báidín Fheilimí
Báidín díreach, báidín deontach
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Toraí,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Báidín Fheilimí d’imigh go Toraí,
Báidín Fheilimí is Feilimí ann.
Translation:
Phelim's boat went to Gola,
Phelim's boat and Phelim in it,
Phelim's boat went to Gola,
Phelim's boat and Phelim in it.
Chorus:
A tiny boat, a lively boat,
A buoyant boat, Phelim's boat,
A straight boat, a willing boat,
Phelim's boat and Phelim in it.
Phelim's boat went to Tory,
Phelim's boat and Phelim in it,
Phelim's boat went to Tory,
Phelim's boat and Phelim in it.
"Bateau des Iles (Le)" is a related tune.
