Since I’m currently working on this under a stay at home order for Covid-19, I figured what better song to choose than one where someone is instructed to “go home and stay home”.

“Téir abhaile riú” is a traditional Irish song. Mary is being teased and told to stay home as her match with the piper has already been made. Near the end of the song she disagrees and says her match is not made. The version I have chosen is by the group Clannad, but there are many other versions available.

About the Artists

Clannad is a group from Dore in Gweedore, County Donegal, Ireland. Gweedore is a remote parish in the northwest corner of Ireland, and is a Gaeltacht region, where Irish is the main language. They started performing in 1970 as Clann as Dobhar, meaning “the family from Dore”, shortening their name to Clannad in 1973. It was started by siblings Ciarán, Pól and Moya Brennan and their uncles Noel and Pádraig Duggan. From 1980-1982 Enya Brennan (yes, that Enya) was also a part of the group before she started her solo career. Clannad have performed numerous styles over the years, including folk, folk rock, traditional Irish, Celtic and New Age.

After six albums, a successful US tour and the departure of Enya, Clannad was signed to RCA Records in 1982. They gained international attention with the song “Theme from Harry’s Game”, written for the three-part drama Harry’s Game which depicted the Troubles in Northern Ireland. The song was released as a single in October 1982 and was included on the 1983 album Magical Ring. It reached number 2 on the charts in Ireland and number 5 in the UK. It is the only UK hit to be sung entirely in Irish. Magical Ring was certified gold by the British Phonographic Industry.

After their 1997 album Landmarks the group took a break. In 2008 the group toured without Pól, but it wasn’t until 2013 that they released a new studio album, which was their first in 15 years. Pádraig passed away in 2016. The band was scheduled to start their “In A Lifetime” farewell tour in February of 2020, but it was delayed due to Covid-19. So there you go, we’re back to go home and stay home.

Among Clannad’s numerous awards are a Grammy Award, a BAFTA, an Ivor Novello Award and a Billboard Music Award. Eight of their albums have reached the top 10 in the UK. They have recorded in six languages, and are regarded as having brought Irish music and the Irish language to a worldwide audience.

Biographical information from Wikipedia

Cultural References, Idioms and Explanations

‘Téir abhaile riú‘ – Riú is the third person plural form of ‘ré’, an older prepositional pronoun meaning ‘with’ that has been replaced in current usage by ‘le’. ‘Riú’ is the equivalent of ‘leo’. While this literally means ‘Go home with them’, it is understood to simply mean ‘go home’.

‘Abhaile’ vs ‘sa bhaile’ – There are two words for home used in this song. The first is ‘abhaile’, which is used in the command to ‘go home’. ‘Abhaile’ is used when movement toward the house is implied. Once home, Mary is told stay ‘sa bhaile’ meaning ‘at home’. No movement is implied here.

Song Lyrics with Grammatical Breakdown

Mouse over a term for grammatical information. A chart of the terms and grammatical information can be found here.

Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo)

[Chorus]
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo)
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo)
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo), aano translation|vocative part|used before a person's name when addressing them|causes len MhéaraíMhéaraíMary|prop noun|woman's name
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo) ‘sisand|conj|shortened form of agus fanfanto wait, stay|verb|sec pers sing impera sai + anin the|prep|causes len of b, c, f, g, m, and p in Mun and Uls var and eclip in Conn var, changes initial s to ts in fem nouns and, in some var, masc nouns bhailebaile (pl bailte)home|noun|masc sing|len
Marmarbecause, as|conj tábíto be|verb|pres dodoyour|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled déantadéantacompleted, finished|adj||tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled

[Section 1]
Isisto be|verb|copula, pres cumacumaequal, the same|adj cécéwho, whom|interr pron dheindeinto do, make|verb|third pers sing past, len|Mun form of déan ééhe, him, it|pron|third pers sing nónóor|conj nárnárwho … not, that … not|neg part, conj|used with reg forms of the past tense dheindeinto do, make|verb|third pers sing past, len|Mun form of déan
Isisto be|verb|copula, pres cumacumaequal, the same|adj cécéwho, whom|interr pron dheindeinto do, make|verb|third pers sing past, len|Mun form of déan ééhe, him, it|pron|third pers sing, aano translation|vocative part|used before a person's name when addressing them|causes len MhéaraíMhéaraíMary|prop noun|woman's name
Isisto be|verb|copula, pres cumacumaequal, the same|adj cécéwho, whom|interr pron dheindeinto do, make|verb|third pers sing past, len|Mun form of déan ééhe, him, it|pron|third pers sing nónóor|conj nárnárwho … not, that … not|neg part, conj|used with reg forms of the past tense dheindeinto do, make|verb|third pers sing past, Mun form of déan|len marmarbecause, as|conj
Tábíto be|verb|pres dodoyour|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled déantadéantacompleted, finished|adj||tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled

[Chorus]
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo)
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo)
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo), aano translation|vocative part|used before a person's name when addressing them|causes len MhéaraíMhéaraíMary|prop noun|woman's name
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo) ‘sisand|conj|shortened form of agus fanfanto wait, stay|verb|sec pers sing impera sai + anin the|prep|causes len of b, c, f, g, m, and p in Mun and Uls var and eclip in Conn var, changes initial s to ts in fem nouns and, in some var, masc nouns bhailebaile (pl bailte)home|noun|masc sing|len
Marmarbecause, as|conj tábíto be|verb|pres dodoyour|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled déantadéantacompleted, finished|adj||tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled

[Section 1]
Isisto be|verb|copula, pres cumacumaequal, the same|adj cécéwho, whom|interr pron dheindeinto do, make|verb|third pers sing past, len|Mun form of déan ééhe, him, it|pron|third pers sing nónóor|conj nárnárwho … not, that … not|neg part, conj|used with reg forms of the past tense dheindeinto do, make|verb|third pers sing past, len|Mun form of déan
Isisto be|verb|copula, pres cumacumaequal, the same|adj cécéwho, whom|interr pron dheindeinto do, make|verb|third pers sing past, len|Mun form of déan ééhe, him, it|pron|third pers sing, aano translation|vocative part|used before a person's name when addressing them|causes len MhéaraíMhéaraíMary|prop noun|woman's name
Isisto be|verb|copula, pres cumacumaequal, the same|adj cécéwho, whom|interr pron dheindeinto do, make|verb|third pers sing past, len|Mun form of déan ééhe, him, it|pron|third pers sing nónóor|conj nárnárwho … not, that … not|neg part, conj|used with reg forms of the past tense dheindeinto do, make|verb|third pers sing past, Mun form of déan|len marmarbecause, as|conj
Tábíto be|verb|pres dodoyour|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled déantadéantacompleted, finished|adj||tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled

[Chorus]
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo)
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo)
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo), aano translation|vocative part|used before a person's name when addressing them|causes len MhéaraíMhéaraíMary|prop noun|woman's name
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo) ‘sisand|conj|shortened form of agus fanfanto wait, stay|verb|sec pers sing impera sai + anin the|prep|causes len of b, c, f, g, m, and p in Mun and Uls var and eclip in Conn var, changes initial s to ts in fem nouns and, in some var, masc nouns bhailebaile (pl bailte)home|noun|masc sing|len
Marmarbecause, as|conj tábíto be|verb|pres dodoyour|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled déantadéantacompleted, finished|adj||tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled

[Section 2]
Póspósto marry|verb|sec pers impera ananthe|def art|nom/dat/gen sing|causes len in fem nouns píobairepíobaire (pl píobairí)piper|noun|masc sing
Póspósto marry|verb|sec pers impera ananthe|def art|nom/dat/gen sing|causes len in fem nouns píobairepíobaire (pl píobairí)piper|noun|masc sing
Póspósto marry|verb|sec pers impera ananthe|def art|nom/dat/gen sing|causes len in fem nouns píobairepíobaire (pl píobairí)piper|noun|masc sing, aano translation|vocative part|used before a person's name when addressing them|causes len MhéaraíMhéaraíMary|prop noun|woman's name
Póspósto marry|verb|sec pers impera ananthe|def art|nom/dat/gen sing|causes len in fem nouns píobairepíobaire (pl píobairí)piper|noun|masc sing iiin|prep|causes eclip dtústús (pl túis)beginning|noun|masc sing nanathe|def art|nom/dat pl, gen fem sing, gen pl hoícheoíche (pl oícheanta)night|noun|fem sing, gen case
Isisand|conj|shortened form of agus beidhbíto be|verb|future séséhe, it|pron agatag + téat you|prep pron||bí……ag = to have araron|prep|may cause len maidinMaidin (pl maidineacha)morning|noun|fem sing

[Chorus]
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo)
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo)
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo), aano translation|vocative part|used before a person's name when addressing them|causes len MhéaraíMhéaraíMary|prop noun|woman's name
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo) ‘sisand|conj|shortened form of agus fanfanto wait, stay|verb|sec pers sing impera sai + anin the|prep|causes len of b, c, f, g, m, and p in Mun and Uls var and eclip in Conn var, changes initial s to ts in fem nouns and, in some var, masc nouns bhailebaile (pl bailte)home|noun|masc sing|len
Marmarbecause, as|conj tábíto be|verb|pres dodoyour|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled déantadéantacompleted, finished|adj||tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled

[Section 3]
Tábíto be|verb|pres dodoyour|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled
Nílní + fhuilis not|verb|neg of bí momomy|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled
Tábíto be|verb|pres dodoyour|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled déantadéantacompleted, finished|adj||tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; you affairs are settled
Nílní + fhuilis not|verb|neg of bí momomy|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled
Tábíto be|verb|pres dodoyour|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled
Nílní + fhuilis not|verb|neg of bí momomy|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled déantadéantacompleted, finished|adj||tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; you affairs are settled
Nílní + fhuilis not|verb|neg of bí momomy|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled
Tábíto be|verb|pres dodoyour|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled
Nílní + fhuilis not|verb|neg of bí momomy|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled déantadéantacompleted, finished|adj||tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; you affairs are settled
Tábíto be|verb|pres dodoyour|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled
Nílní + fhuilis not|verb|neg of bí momomy|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled
Tábíto be|verb|pres dodoyour|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled déantadéantacompleted, finished|adj||tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; you affairs are settled

[Chorus] X 4
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo)
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo)
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo), aano translation|vocative part|used before a person's name when addressing them|causes len MhéaraíMhéaraíMary|prop noun|woman's name
Téirtéighto go|verb|sec pers sing impera abhaileabhailehome, homewards|adv|implies movement of someone going to their home riúré + siadwith them, to them|prep pron|since merged with le (equiv to leo) ‘sisand|conj|shortened form of agus fanfanto wait, stay|verb|sec pers sing impera sai + anin the|prep|causes len of b, c, f, g, m, and p in Mun and Uls var and eclip in Conn var, changes initial s to ts in fem nouns and, in some var, masc nouns bhailebaile (pl bailte)home|noun|masc sing|len
Marmarbecause, as|conj tábíto be|verb|pres dodoyour|poss adj|causes len mhargadhmargadh (pl margaí)market; bargain; agreement|noun|masc sing, len|tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled déantadéantacompleted, finished|adj||tá do mhargadh déanta = your match is made; you've made your deal; your affairs are settled

Lyrics with Translation

Songs in any language often leave room for multiple interpretations. Following is my interpretation of the song lyrics.

Téir abhaile riú
Go home

[Chorus]
Téir abhaile riú
Go home
Téir abhaile riú
Go home
Téir abhaile riú, a Mhéaraí
Go home, Mary
Téir abhaile riú ‘s fan sa bhaile
Go home and stay at home
Mar tá do mhargadh déanta
Because your match is made

[Section 1]
Is cuma cé dhein é nó nár dhein
It doesn’t matter who made it or who didn’t
Is cuma cé dhein é, a Mhéaraí
It doesn’t matter who made it Mary
Is cuma cé dhein é nó nár dhein mar
It doesn’t matter who made it or who didn’t because
Tá do mhargadh déanta.
Your match is made

[Chorus]
Téir abhaile riú
Go home
Téir abhaile riú
Go home
Téir abhaile riú, a Mhéaraí
Go home, Mary
Téir abhaile riú ‘s fan sa bhaile
Go home and stay at home
Mar tá do mhargadh déanta
Because your match is made

[Section 1]
Is cuma cé dhein é nó nár dhein
It doesn’t matter who made it or who didn’t
Is cuma cé dhein é, a Mhéaraí
It doesn’t matter who made it Mary
Is cuma cé dhein é nó nár dhein mar
It doesn’t matter who made it or who didn’t because
Tá do mhargadh déanta.
Your match is made

[Chorus]
Téir abhaile riú
Go home
Téir abhaile riú
Go home
Téir abhaile riú, a Mhéaraí
Go home, Mary
Téir abhaile riú ‘s fan sa bhaile
Go home and stay at home
Mar tá do mhargadh déanta
Because your match is made

[Section 2]
Pós an piobaire
Marry the piper
Pós an piobaire
Marry the piper
Pós an piobaire, a Mhéaraí
Marry the piper, Mary
Pós an piobaire i dtús na hoíche
Marry the piper at the beginning of the night
Is beidh sé agat ar maidin.
And you’ll have him in the morning

[Chorus]
Téir abhaile riú
Go home
Téir abhaile riú
Go home
Téir abhaile riú, a Mhéaraí
Go home, Mary
Téir abhaile riú ‘s fan sa bhaile
Go home and stay at home
Mar tá do mhargadh déanta
Because your match is made

[Section 3]
Tá do mhargadh
Your match is
Níl mo mhargadh
My match is not
Tá do mhargadh déanta
Your match is made
Níl mo mhargadh
My match is not
Tá do mhargadh
Your match is
Níl mo mhargadh déanta
My match is not made
Níl mo mhargadh
My match is not
Tá do mhargadh
Your match is
Níl mo mhargadh déanta
My match is not made
Tá do mhargadh
Your match is
Níl mo mhargadh
My match is not
Tá do mhargadh déanta
Your match is made

[Chorus] X 4
Téir abhaile riú
Go home
Téir abhaile riú
Go home
Téir abhaile riú, a Mhéaraí
Go home, Mary
Téir abhaile riú ‘s fan sa bhaile
Go home and stay at home
Mar tá do mhargadh déanta
Because your match is made