Artists
Enya – vocals (Irish/Gaelic), keyboards, synthesizers
Davy Spillane – uilleann pipes
Written by Enya & Roma Ryan, with the Irish adaptation by Enya. Arranged by Enya & Nicky Ryan, produced by Nicky Ryan, co-produced by Enya & Ross Cullum, engineered and mixed by Ross Cullum, with Rob Dickins as executive producer. The eleventh and closing track (about 3:54) on Watermark (WEA, 19 September 1988).
The title translates from Irish as “The Brighter Days of My Youth,” a lament in the vein of traditional Irish music about the happy memories of Enya’s childhood and their loss, with the cry “ochón ‘s ochón ó” at its heart. It is dedicated in Irish to her grandparents. AllMusic singled it out as a fascinating closer, calling Davy Spillane’s uilleann pipe solo gripping and heartbreaking against the otherwise calm, synth-based performance. Enya has said the song would be difficult to sing in any other language because of its particular Gaelic phrasing.
Enya – Na Laetha Geal M’óige Lyrics
Ag amharc trí m’óige
Is mé bhí sámh
Gan eolas marbh
Bhí mé óg san am
Anois, táim buartha
‘S fad ar shiúl an lá
Ochón is ochón ó
Na laetha geal m’óige
Bhí siad lán de dhóchas
An bealach mór a bhí romham anonn
Bhí sé i ndán domh go mbeinn, slán, slán
Anois, táim buartha
‘S fad ar shiúl an lá
Ochón is ochón ó
Na laetha geal m’óige
Bhí siad lán de dhóchas
An bealach mór a bhí romham anonn
Bhí sé i ndán domh go mbeinn, slán, slán
Anois, táim buartha
‘S fad ar shiúl an lá
Ochón is ochón ó
[Translation]
Looking back at my youth
I was happy
Without knowledge of death
I was as a child
Now, I am sorrowful
Long gone the day
Woe is me
The brighter days of my youth
They were full of hope
The great way before me
It was destined for me to be safe, secure
Now, I am sorrowful
Long gone the day
Woe is me
The brighter days of my youth
They were full of hope
The great way before me
It was destined for me to be safe, secure
Now, I am sorrowful
Long gone the day
Woe is me
To listen to other songs from the the Teleskop 24 program click here.