We’ve updated our Terms of Use to reflect our new entity name and address. You can review the changes here.
We’ve updated our Terms of Use. You can review the changes here.

Tra Va Ruggit Creest

from Nutmeg & Ginger by IONA

/

about

Tra Va Ruggit Creest(When Christ was Born)/Little Red Bird (Ushag Veg Ruy) (Manx) 5:41

Tra Va Ruggit Creest, an ancient carol, traditionally had unending verses and was sung on Christmas Eve. We play it as a short instrumental, seguéing seamlessly into the best known of Manx lullabies. Bernard unearthed this version in the Vaughan Williams Memorial Library in London. The words here are a combination of versions culled from many variants. Sing along on those choruses!

lyrics

Little Red Bird (Ushag Veg Ruy)

Little red bird on the lonely moor,
Lonely moor, lonely moor
Little red bird on the lonely moor,
Where did you sleep in the night?
Out in the gorse bush dark and wide,
Dark and wide, dark and wide,
Swift rain was falling on every side,
Hard was my sleep in the night.
Little red bird..

Did I not sleep on the swaying briar,
swaying briar , swaying briar,
Tossing about as the wind grew higher,
How little I slept in the night.
Little red bird..

Did I not sleep on the cold wave’s crest,
Cold wave’s crest, cold wave’s crest,
Where many a young man has taken his rest,
Light was my sleep in the night.
Little red bird..

Wrapped in two leaves I lay at ease,
Lay at ease, lay at ease,
As sleeps the young babe on his mother’s knees,
Sweet was my sleep in the night.
© 1996 Barnaby Productions Inc.

credits

from Nutmeg & Ginger, released October 1, 1996
Bernard - C whistle, flute; Diana - Cittern, cello; Barbara - Vocals, guitar lyrics

license

all rights reserved

tags

about

IONA image

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

contact / help

Contact IONA

Streaming and
Download help

Redeem code

Report this track or account

If you like IONA, you may also like:

Bandcamp Daily  your guide to the world of Bandcamp

On Bandcamp Radio

Saxophonist Isaiah Collier chats about his new LP and the influence of Pharoah Sanders.
listen now