An old Irish-language lullaby, hummed low between the words, meant to keep a child close and safe until sleep comes. Here you will find a singable English adaptation, the meaning, and chords.
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Verse 1
Am G Am
Seoithín, seothó, mo stór,
Dm Am E7
mo pheata gan cheo.
(Hush, hush, my treasure, my guileless little one.)
Am G Am
Hush now, hush, my treasure dear,
Dm Am E7
no shadow can come near.
Verse 2
Am G Am
Ú ú, mo leanbh, go fóill,
Dm Am E7
codail gan brón.
(Oo, oo, my child, sleep a while — sleep without sorrow.)
Am G Am
Sleep a while, my little one,
Dm Am E7
till the night is done.
Play it
Chords — guitar & piano
Am
Guitar
Piano
G
Guitar
Piano
Dm
Guitar
Piano
Good to know
What this song means
Seoithín Seó (“hush-a-bye, hush”) is one of the oldest lullaby forms in the Irish language, built almost entirely from soft, breathy sounds — “seoithín,” “ú ú,” “seothó” — hummed between the words as much as sung. In old folklore, a lullaby like this was also thought to keep watchful fairies from noticing a sleeping child, so every hush carried a little extra tenderness and care.
Traditional Irish (Gaelic) lullaby. The English lines here are a singable adaptation for this arrangement, offered as a respectful tribute — not a literal translation.
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