We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Daughter of Daire Dá Dos

by Stephen Leigh

supported by
carlq
carlq thumbnail
srubin6759
srubin6759 thumbnail
6rsx3kqc
6rsx3kqc thumbnail
/

about

The bass is heavily featured in this one (as opposed to guitar). After all, for most of my musical life, I’ve been the bass player in the band. The lyrics for “Daughter of Daire Dá Dos” were inspired by the poem “Creide’s Lament For Cael” (1175 CE) from “Early Irish lyrics: 8th to 12th Century” (translated by Gerald Murphy, with a foreword by Tomás Ó Cathasaigh). I liked how the original poem starts out with images from the natural world before shifting into relating those images to Creide's situation and the lament for Cael's death. I tried to emulate that with my own lyrics, though in my case, the unnamed lover/wife of the narrator is only called the "Daughter of Daire Dá Dos."

lyrics

The Daughter of Daire Dá Dos

A heron cries from the marsh
For a two-colored fox has found her eggs
The fox killed her young
As he tore the nest apart
Black ravens scream above a hunter
As a stag bellows in pain.
For his doe is dead
From the arrow that pierced her heart

CHORUS
And I (too) have suffered the loss
Of the love who was most dear to me
The daughter of Daire Dá Dos
Has a cross o’er a grave
Shaded by a rowan tree

Green waves from a storm-lashed sea
Smash upon the rocky shore
Foaming white 'round a great gray stone
Which the sea will one day turn to sand
That stone was like my love
Resisting her own sad fate
Yearning to stay at my side
As her fingers slipped from my hand

REPEAT CHORUS

The daughter of Daire Dá Dos
Knows that I still think of her
My love can feel her heartbeat
In the waves as they expire on sand
She was stolen in our moment of joy
As our child was placed in my arms
Our daughter’s wailing cry
A reminder of her command

FINAL CHORUS
And we have suffered the loss
Of the love who was most dear to me
The granddaughter of Daire Dá Dos
Has seen the cross o’er her mother’s grave
Shaded by a rowan tree

credits

released October 19, 2022
Vocals, guitars, and bass by Stephen Leigh. Drums and percussion by Devon Leigh. Mixed by Brandon Scott Coleman. Photo by Steve: Glendalough, Wicklow Hills, Ireland.

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

Stephen Leigh image

Stephen Leigh Cincinnati, Ohio

I've been playing music since the late 1960's (damn, I'm OLD!) in various groups in and around the Greater Cincinnati area. I'm a vocalist who plays guitar and bass (we'll skip the time I fronted a wedding band as the singer).

Gear: Eastman E10D, Eastman E20D, Eastman E6D-TC Ltd, Roscoe 5-string LG3005 bass, (fretless)

Photo: Guy Allen ... more

contact / help

Contact Stephen Leigh

Streaming and
Download help

Report this track or account

Stephen Leigh recommends:

If you like Stephen Leigh, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Seafood Sam joins the show to discuss his newest album, " Standing On Giant Shoulders".
listen now