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Ma Grun War'N Gelynen

from Nutmeg & Ginger by IONA

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‘Ma Grun War 'N Gelynen(The Holly Bears a Berry)/Ton Garol/The Holly & The Ivy (Cornish/Welsh/English) 4:13

'Ma Grun War 'N Gelynen, the Sans Day, or St. Day, Carol was collected at St. Day, Cornwall, by one of the first Cornish bards. A traditional Welsh carol tune provides a melodic transition into the Holly & The Ivy which was first printed as an 18th Century broadside ballad. The words we use in our version date from the 14th Century and reflect the Celtic roots of the song. Rumor has it that the song originated from a dance between lads (holly) and maids (ivy), as they intertwined one with t'other — probably one of those Celtic fertility things! Bernard arranged a choral treatment here as might be heard in a Welsh chapel on Christmas morn.

lyrics

'Ma Grun War ‛N Gelynen(The Holly Bears a Berry)/
Ton Garol/The Holly & The Ivy

‘Ma grün war ’n gelynen, ‘ga lyü-ÿ lëthwyn
Ha Jësus ö maylyes yn dyllas owrlyn
Ha Mam ö an Vaghteth, Marÿa Mam Dew
Ha gwedhen an gwella, an gelynen yü
Kelyn, kelyn
Ha gwedhen an gwella, an gelynen yü

‘Ma grün war ’n gelynen, ‘ga lyü-ÿ gwelswer
Ha Jësus ö croswys, ÿ Vam yn awhër

‘Ma grün war ’n gelynen, ‘ga lyü-ÿ gosruth
Ha Jësus yü ‘gan Sylw’as, y vermans mar drüth

‘Ma grün war ’n gelynen, ‘ga lyü-ÿ glowdhü
Ha Jësus ö marrow, dredho nÿ a vew

[translation:
Now the holly bears a berry as white as any milk
And Mary bore Jesus who was wrapped up in silk.
And Mary bore Jesus Christ, our Saviour for to be
And the first tree of the greenwood, it was the holly
Holly, holly
And the first tree of the greenwood, it was the holly

Now the holly bears a berry as green as the grass
And Mary bore Jesus who died on the cross

Now the holly bears a berry as red as the blood
And Mary bore Jesus who died on the rood

Now the holly bears a berry as black as the coal
And Mary bore Jesus who dies for us all.]

The holly and the ivy
The holly and the ivy,
Are both now well Full grown.
Of all the trees that are in the wood
The holly bears the crown.
O the rising of the sun,
The running of the deer,
The playing of the merry organ,
Sweet singing in the choir.

Green-o growth the holly,
So doth the ivy,
Though winter blasts blow ne’er so high,
Green growth the holly
O the rising etc..

Fast now fall the shed leaves,
Russet and yellow
But nesting buds are snug and safe
Where swing the dead leaves-o
O the rising etc..

Green-o growth the holly,
So doth the ivy,
The God of life can never die.
“Hope!” saith the holly

© 1996 Barnaby Productions Inc.

credits

from Nutmeg & Ginger, released October 1, 1996
Barbara - Lead &, tenor vocals, guitar; Bernard - Bass vocals, flute; Diana - Cittern; Elke Baker - Fiddle

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IONA Washington, D.C.

IONA has been taking its unique brand of traditional Celtic music to festivals, arts centers, schools & house concerts all over North America and Europe since 1986, blending music from the various Celtic traditions with stories and a little humor - Barbara Ryan (vocals, bouzouki, bodhran), Bernard Argent (flute, doumbek), Chuck Lawhorn (bass), Jim Queen (fiddle, banjo) & Kathleen Larrick (dance). ... more

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