I Am Stretched on Your Grave

"I Am Stretched on Your Grave"
Song
Written Unknown
Songwriter(s) Unknown

"I Am Stretched on Your Grave" is a translation of an anonymous 17th-century Irish poem titled "Táim sínte ar do thuama".[1] It was translated into English several times, most notably by Frank O'Connor.[2] It was put to music by musician Philip King in 1979.[3]

It is set to the tune of "Taim Sinte ar do Thuamba", Hymn #47 in Danta De: Idir Sean agus Nuad (the Trinity Sunday hymn "Dia an t-Athair do shealbhaig flaitheas naomhtha"). The hymnal says the tune is from Munster.[4][5]

While the translation and tune had both existed prior to its first recording as a whole, and in various versions of melody and lyric (and all or most likely possessing a strong similarity), the popular and current versions are influenced or rely heavily on the adapted version by King, which was recorded on the group Scullion's first album from 1979 on the Mulligan Records label (called Scullion), and titled "I Am Stretched on Your Grave".

Album recordings

ArtistAlbumNotesRelease Year
ScullionScullion (self-titled)1979
Sinéad O'ConnorI Do Not Want What I Haven't GotCredited King1990
The Voice SquadHolly Wood (TARA 4013),[6]1992
Dead Can DanceToward the Within1993
The Lennon FamilyDúchas Ceoil (CEFCD 167)1995
Kate RusbyHourglassCredited King/O'Connor but altered it melodically1997
EdenFire and Rain1997
Peter Mulvey (with backing vocals by Juliet Turner)Glencree[7]Live album1999
Blood Axis and In Gowan RingWitch-Hunt: The Rites of SamhainLive collaborative album1999
The BringersIt's About Time2000
EdenFire and Rain1997
Iarla Ó LionáirdI Could Read the Sky,[8]Film soundtrack2000
Peta Webb (of the band "Oak") and Ken HallAs Close As Can Be (Fellside Records)Credited P.King/F.O'Connor/Trad2002
Drunk and DisorderlySecond Edition2006
Charlotte MartinReproductions2007
Billy Miller & Misti BernardMoon Pale & Midnight2007
Abney ParkLost Horizons2008
RunaStretched on Your Grave2011
Johnny HollowA Collection of Creatures2014
Craic in the StoneSay Yes to Craic2014
Eithne Ní UallacháinBilingua (Gael Linn CEFCD206)New melody2015
The New Customs All Walls Fall 2017

References

  1. ↑ "Walsh's Irish Popular Songs", 1847, as "A Taim Sinte air do Thuamba"
  2. ↑ O'Connor, Frank (trans). "I am Stretched on Your Grave". Lucy, Seán, (ed). Love Poems of the Irish, Cork: Mercier, 1967
  3. ↑ Sleeve notes to 1979 Album Scullion
  4. ↑ An Lóchrann March, 1918, 2, noted by Fionán Mac Coilm from "Tadhg MacCarthy of Emlagh", Prior, Co. Kerry
  5. ↑ "Danta De: Idir Sean agus Nuad", 1928; tune of hymn #47 credited as "Taim Sinte ar do Thuamba", from Munster
  6. ↑ Sleeve notes to the album Holly Wood, 1992, TARA 4013
  7. ↑
  8. ↑ Real World Records
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