Aililiu na Gamhna

“Aliliú na Gamhna” is an Irish folk song, simply translated as “Ah, the calves” or “Oh, the cows”. The word “aililiú” is pronounced similarly to “hallelu” or “hallelujah”, with a similar connotation of joy. The lyrics are from the perspective of a young girl (the daughter of a shepherd or farmer) as she reminisces on her childhood spent with her cows. She mentions in the first verse “I am a farmer’s daughter, no doubt.” She recalls caring for the calves, milking them, calling them in at night, and watching them graze and play. Parts of the song briefly mention going to a fair to potentially purchase more calves, and how they will be given the finest pastures to graze, before coming home at the end of summer.[1] A modern traditional take on this song was recorded in 1997 by the band Solas on their album Sunny Spells and Scattered Showers (on Shanachie Records), with vocals by Karan Casey.
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Lyrics:
Is iníon d’aoire mé féinig gan amhras, a bhíodh ina chónaí cois taobh na Leamhna. Bhí bothán agam féin ann is fuinneog i gceann de. Fad a bhíodh an bainne ag téamh agam, se ghlaofainn ar na gamhna. (“I am a farmer’s daughter, no doubt, who once lived by the Elms. I had a hut there, with a window in the side of it, and while the milk was heating, I called the calves.”)

Curfá/Chorus: Aililiú, na gamhna, na gamhna bána. Aililiú, na gamhna; na gamhna, b’iad a b’fhearr liom. Aililiú, na gamhna; na gamhna geala bána; na gamhna maidin shamraidh, ag damhsa ar na bánta. (“Oh, the calves, the white calves. Oh, the calves; the calves I loved the best. Oh, the calves, the fine white calves; dancing on a summer’s morning.”)

Faightear dom canna, agus faightear dom bhúruach; faightear dom soitheach ina gcuirfead mo chuid uachtair. Ceolta si na cruinne bheith á síorchur i m'chluasa; Ba bhinne liomsa géimneach na mbó ag teacht chun buaile. (“Get me a can and get me a bucket; get me a vessel to take all the cream. The music of the world is always in my ears; but, sweeter still, the lowing of the calves coming to me.”)

Rachaimid ar an aonach is ceannóimid gamhna, agus cuirfimid ar féarach iad amach ins na gleannta. Íosfaidh siad an féar is barr an aitinn gallda, is tiocfaidh siad abhaile chun an bhainne i gcomhair an tsamhraidh. (“Let’s go to the fair and buy calves, and we’ll put them up in the valley. They’ll graze on the finest grass and heather-tops and, when summer comes, they’ll come home.”)
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According to an Irish song book, it is related to Na Gamhna Geala, where a woman laments her idyllic youth, tending to her cows, and the “country life”, after moving away and getting married.[2] [3] The song may have come about by the early 17th century.[4][5]

There are likely other traditional songs that could be related to this one—thematically, lyrically and/or melodically—originating in Ireland, as well as further afield in the Celtic nations of the British Isles.

Seoladh na Gamhna tells of a girl or woman trying to find her missing cows, but the exact narrative varies.[6]

There is a Scottish Waulking song called ’S e mo gràdh na gamhna geala, which also has gone by the name Na gamhna geala.[7]The first set of lyrics is apparently missing and some references do not seem clear. [8] [9]In the known lyrics,a group of sea raiders are praised and in part of the passage,it appears to tell which raiders died while on the voyage to Ireland. [10]