Uploaded May 2024 | Updated September 2026, 3 weeks ago
A little bit of the Ulster traditional song “Bábóg na Bealtaine.” I created the English-language verse to match with the traditional lyrics. This song is about presenting a May branch- and in some interpretations, a May dolly- to the neighbors in one’s community. May branches were often rowan, hawthorn, holly or simply other blooming branches thought to bring good luck to the household.
Lyrics:
This dolly of Beltaine, this maiden of summer
Up every hillside and down every glen
We beautiful young girls, we brilliant, bright women
With our dear maiden, our summer begins
Samhradh buí ó luí na gréine,
Thugamar féin an Samhradh linn
Ó bhaile go baile ‘s ’na baile ’na dhiaidh sin
Thugamar féin an Samhradh linn
Translation of chorus:
Yellow summer of the sunset
We bring the summer with us
From town to town, and town after that
We bring the summer with us
A little bit of the Ulster traditional song “Bábóg na Bealtaine.” I created the English-language verse to match with the traditional lyrics. This song is about presenting a May branch- and in some interpretations, a May dolly- to the neighbors in one’s community. May branches were often rowan, hawthorn, holly or simply other blooming branches thought to bring good luck to the household.
Lyrics:
This dolly of Beltaine, this maiden of summer
Up every hillside and down every glen
We beautiful young girls, we brilliant, bright women
With our dear maiden, our summer begins
Samhradh buí ó luí na gréine,
Thugamar féin an Samhradh linn
Ó bhaile go baile ‘s ’na baile ’na dhiaidh sin
Thugamar féin an Samhradh linn
Translation of chorus:
Yellow summer of the sunset
We bring the summer with us
From town to town, and town after that
We bring the summer with us
