SuidAkrA - Baile's Strand lyrics
[SuidAkrA - Baile's Strand lyrics]
The Red Branch knights are gathered
For Ulster's honour at Baile's strand
Hither from across the waves
A young boy with a merry face
But armed as if for fighting
Came onto the shore
"Thou shall not land on Erin's soil"
Cuinaire cried out
"Until thou hast revealed thy name!"
For all you ask, I can reveal
But, I must conceal my name and lineage
Nor from my course you can make me stray away
For I am under bounds and cannot disobey
In battle, I will not give way
Nor ever will I speak my name
If challenged, I will draw my blade
Here on this strand, I will meet my fate
I'll only answer with my blade
No man can stray me from my way
"Then you shall die, " Cuinaire replied
"For no one unknown may enter our realm"
For Ulster's honour, many warriors were sent
But to none did he give his unhallowed name
To wound them or kill, the spell to fulfil
The geasa forced upon his infinite will
Any attempt to impede him was
Doomed and destined to fail
I'll only answer with my blade
No man can stray me from my way
In battle, I will not give way
Nor ever will I speak my name
Finally Cuchulainn himself was summoned
The King had ordered him to defeat this foe
And towards tragedy he strode
A fierce battle ensued
More than a match for Cuchulainn
The young boy proved
Dealing blow after blow
The lad forced Chuchulainn back
With a strength and speed
The hound of Culan had never met
As the battle continued in the water
Two times Cuchulainn almost drowned
Yet on the third, he remembered the Gae Bolg
And with the strength of the hero's light
He threw it through the waves
With all his might
The Gae Bolg, is it true?
Only one may wield it, is it really you?
To a tragic end the story seems to have come
Together they would have crushed
The gates of Rome
As Cuchulainn bore the boy in
His arms towards the shore
He saw his own ring that
The brave boy had worn
Hence the father realized what
He had just done
Oh Lord, he had slain his only son!
But what he did not know
At that time on that shore
Through Elatan's ring
Conloach's soul now soared
To take his place into myth and memory
Amongst the Riders of the Daoine Sidhe
For Ulster's honour at Baile's strand
Hither from across the waves
A young boy with a merry face
But armed as if for fighting
Came onto the shore
"Thou shall not land on Erin's soil"
Cuinaire cried out
"Until thou hast revealed thy name!"
For all you ask, I can reveal
But, I must conceal my name and lineage
Nor from my course you can make me stray away
For I am under bounds and cannot disobey
In battle, I will not give way
Nor ever will I speak my name
If challenged, I will draw my blade
Here on this strand, I will meet my fate
I'll only answer with my blade
No man can stray me from my way
"Then you shall die, " Cuinaire replied
"For no one unknown may enter our realm"
For Ulster's honour, many warriors were sent
But to none did he give his unhallowed name
To wound them or kill, the spell to fulfil
The geasa forced upon his infinite will
Any attempt to impede him was
Doomed and destined to fail
I'll only answer with my blade
No man can stray me from my way
In battle, I will not give way
Nor ever will I speak my name
Finally Cuchulainn himself was summoned
The King had ordered him to defeat this foe
And towards tragedy he strode
A fierce battle ensued
More than a match for Cuchulainn
The young boy proved
Dealing blow after blow
The lad forced Chuchulainn back
With a strength and speed
The hound of Culan had never met
As the battle continued in the water
Two times Cuchulainn almost drowned
Yet on the third, he remembered the Gae Bolg
And with the strength of the hero's light
He threw it through the waves
With all his might
The Gae Bolg, is it true?
Only one may wield it, is it really you?
To a tragic end the story seems to have come
Together they would have crushed
The gates of Rome
As Cuchulainn bore the boy in
His arms towards the shore
He saw his own ring that
The brave boy had worn
Hence the father realized what
He had just done
Oh Lord, he had slain his only son!
But what he did not know
At that time on that shore
Through Elatan's ring
Conloach's soul now soared
To take his place into myth and memory
Amongst the Riders of the Daoine Sidhe