An Bhuatais & The Meaning of Life

live performance of the Munster Sean Nós song, An Bhuatais, from the Album An Bhuatais & The Meaning of Life.
Get the album and book here at bandcamp
lorcanmacmathu...
Diarmuid na mBolgaí Ó Sé was an Irish scholar in pre-famine Ireland. The pattern of living for these penal-time scholars was an itinerant life synchronised to agrarian seasonality; where seasonal hedge schools would be established in the growing season and the teacher would hire himself to strong farmers during planting and the harvest.
Congruously enough, Ó Sé’s songs were taken from West Kerry with the spailpín on their seasonal routes, and so became to be sung throughout south Munster.
The great Waterford singer, Nioclás Tóibín, recalled hearing this song in his Gaelic speaking locality of An Rinn in Co. Waterford, well over a century later.
The song itself was written by Ó Sé in criticism of the priest of his parish, who it seems was a constant nemesis. Ó Sé criticised the priest for employing workers on a Holy day, and in an altercation over this matter the workers roughed him up and rudely dumped him outside the property.
Ó Sé didn’t hold back in his criticism. Tóibín remarked that it was the spirit of the version he heard from the itinerant worker that gave it its authenticity. I believe Tóibín invested the same authoritive note of anger into the song as his narrator did.

[@marybateman8127]

Lorcan, I have just discovered you and your voice is amazing. Just about to go and buy your albums!

[@lorcanmacmathuna]

Thanks Mary. V happy you liked it.

[@jamesb264]

Same here Mary. Heard it on a night radio show. Blown away and shivers. Checking his Albums out now. Awesome talent.

[@carolinej3661]

Beautiful, stirring...Your vocal and the instrumental are both wonderful.....

[@crok8349]

Mhm, exceptional music. I listened to whole album twice before finaly buying it today on Bandcamp. I have to admit it - IT BLEW ME AWAY... I don't understand a single word since I'm not irish but your voice, melody and ambient are so good that it feels like it was made just for me. I gotta say that I don't remember last time I actually supported artists by buying their music. I mostly listen to free stuff on youtube but this was something else entirely. Mister Lorcan, God bless you, your family, friends and music you make! Greetings and love from Croatia!

[@lorcanmacmathuna]

Thank you very much Cro. I think you will enjoy the book. I wrote it as a compliment to the music -a thesis on the philosophical nature and themes of the music. I hope that people see the words and music as contemplative things that work together to create an enhanced meditative experience And greetings and love from Ireland. I loved my visit to Croatia a few years back and the little town of visnjan in Istria

[@crok8349]

@@lorcanmacmathuna Thank you for your response. I'm south of Istria in Dalmatia. Sadly I bought digital version of the album only but as soon as I can I'll buy CD with book too cause you truly deserve it man, thank you again for sharing your talent with us trough your music.

[@tommytraction9078]

Fantastic stuff. The music spans generations. Its mystical. I know you have pedigree but this is class. Well done.

[@ferncat1397]

Aililiú, a dhuine, a chruinnigh an t-ualach, Ar mhiste leat gluaiseacht nó an mairfir go brách? Bagún dod' chistin a dh’oirfeadh rómhór dhuit, Má chuirfear san uaigh leat é, codail go sámh, Is dá mhéid iad do dhlíthe, t’ionmhain is t’ualach, Chífir tú an tuama romhat lán des na cnáimhe, Ach de réir mar a thuigim do shentence an uair úd, Ní thabharfairse an bhuatais go Flaithis na nGrást. Is dóigh liom gur chodail tú i gcraiceann mhic tíre, Is an t-ainsprid choimhthíoch ag faire ar do bhráid, Ná déan Dia ded bholg i gcraball(?) na míle, Nó ná feiceann tú Gaeil bhocht’ le heasnamh ag fáil bháis, Dh’aithníos ar do dhochma lá préachta (?) na síol dom Go raibh do chroí istigh ag smaoineamh ar eagla an bháis, Ach an crann a mbíonn an toradh air, ní chloisim go gcríonann, Is go bhfóire go caoin é Mac Mhuire na nGrást

[@danielalexandermclachlanga3781]

Feckin brilliant,as always .... keep posting lads

[@lorcanmacmathuna]

Thank you Daniel

[@drthunder5078]

Locran my dear friend. I know it would be a tremendous effort, but is there a written source for the lyrics that I could study against translation? I will be forever grateful and in your debt.

[@lorcanmacmathuna]

There is. It's in the album booklet which us on band camp lorcanmacmathuna.bandcamp.com/album/an-bhuatais-the-meaning-of-life

[@Muireann07]

What a song! Tremendous

[@seannoslecheile960]

Ar fheabhas

[@OleDupont]

into the bone.. beautiful energy

[@tommytraction9078]

I an still listening. Love it. Cordy the bould

[@lorcanmacmathuna]

Ce tusa?

[@tommytraction9078]

Deaglan o murchu.

[@lorcanmacmathuna]

Hanam a diabhal. An bhfuil tu ar feabhas? No direach caosach

[@nickelrider]

Glad to see you well brother.

[@fightforeire3209]

cool makes me feel like i want to go to war