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Anam Cara / Columbanus

from Baile (Home) by The Crossing

/

about

Anam Cara is the Irish for "soul-friend." A soul-friend is someone with whom you can share your troubles, your triumphs, your doubts; someone who loves you enough to shoot you straight and keep your confidences. Saint Patrick writes that he found his soul-friend in Christ during the years he spent as a slave in Ireland tending sheep. Columbanus was an itinerant Irish monk who lived during the sixth century. The lyrics for the song were adapted from lyrics he's said to have composed while traveling up the Rhine River with his brother monks.

lyrics

COLUMBANUS

With sweat and blood and Blackwood pine
We laid her keel and faired her lines
Heave, lads, and let the echoes ring

With her keel tight-caulked she swims right well
Let torrents fall and wild gusts swell
Heave, lads, and let the echoes ring

The tempests howl, the storms dismay
But manly strength can win the day
Heave, lads, and let the echoes ring

For clouds and squalls will soon pass on
And victory lies with work well done
Heave, lads, and let the echoes ring

Hold fast! Survive! And all is well
You've suffered worse, He'll calm this swell
Heave, lads, and let the echoes ring

Satan acts to tire the brain
And by temptation souls are slain
Think, lads, of Christ and echo Him

With fixed resolve we scorn the foe
With virtues armed we pray and row
Think, lads, of Christ and echo Him

The king of virtues vowed a prize
For him who wins, for him who tries
Think, lads, of Christ and echo Him

credits

from Baile (Home), released September 7, 2010
(Words: Columbanus ("Boat Song"), Tony Krogh, Music: Tony Krogh)

Tony: D whistle, bouzouki, lead vox
Mark: A whistle, flute, background vox
Jen: fiddle, background vox
Hilde: cello, background vox
Eric: guitar, background vox

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tags

about

The Crossing Chicago

The Crossing is a talented group of musicians firmly rooted in the traditional celtic music featuring bagpipes, whistles, fiddle, cello and harp among their many instruments. They blend original songs with traditional Irish and Scottish jigs and reels as well as atmospheric ballads. With their songs they get you thinking while their instrumentals get your feet moving. ... more

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