Album version 2:48 Gaelic 2000

Liner notes

This song continues the theme of Tempus Vernum, a reflection on the beauty of mother earth, and how, after we journey through our days with her, we move beyond. And still the earth sings…
notes by Roma Ryan
Only Time: The Collection, 2002

Quotes about the song

Enya: "There are certain lyrics that are more sort of obvious than others. Like the song in Gaelic (Deora ar mo Chroi), when I wrote that melody, it was very much in the frame of a traditional Irish song, very much in the frame of a lament, where the women used to lament the loss of someone or someone emigrating. That’s the feeling I got, that the song was going to have that feel and be sung in Gaelic. "
No Rain, No Gain, BMG Music, 2000
enyabookofdays.com

Enya: "Layer upon layer, it’s like painting a picture — you dab a little bit here and there, and sit back and, in our case, listen. Sometimes in tracks like ‘Deor Ar Mo Chroí,’ or ‘Fallen Embers,’ there were originally a lot more elaborate vocal parts but it was a case of taking them out upon listening back – they weren’t needed. It’s very important not to lose sight of the emotional content of the melody."
Engaging Enya, Irish Echo, 2001
enyabookofdays.com

Gaelic lyrics

Ba dheas an lá go oiche
Na glórtha binne i mo thaobh
‘S aoibhneas i gach áit gan gruaim
Áthas ar mo chroí go deo
He-a-ro
He-a-o-ro

Ma shiúlaim ó na laetha beo
An ghrian ‘s an ghealach ar mo chúl
Nil uaim ach smaointe ó mo shaoil
Deora ar mo chroí go bron
He-a-ro
He-a-ro
He-a-o-ro

Translation

Tears in my heart

How wonderful, from morning to night
the sweet voices at my side,
and happiness everywhere, without sorrow,
joy in my heart forever.
Lament.

If I walk away from life,
the sun, the moon behind me,
I have only the memories of my life,
and sad tears in my heart.
Lament.

Original lyrics

Tears in my heart

How beautiful the day and night;
the earth is singing in the wind,
the voices rise and touch the sky
telling all the earth’s believing,
and in the night sighs fall down,
and from the skies sighs fall down on me.

And when I move away from view
my voice is singing in the wind,
it rises up to touch the sky
telling all that I believe in,
and from the night earth shall sing,
and from the night earth shall sing,
and from the night earth shall sing again.

lyrics by Roma Ryan
EMI Music Publishing Ltd, 2000

The lyrics to the song were originally written in English by Roma Ryan and then adapted to Gaelic by Enya.