2. Óen Guth in tSlóig (Ancient Celtic)

[Intro — distant fires beneath the low drone] Tene for cach cnoc. Céo for Bibracte. Táncatar na túatha. Ní suan don chorn. [Verse 1] Tánic torc dar slige. Tánic ech dar mag. Tánic fiach dar fid. Brata fo cheó. Ríg oc dorus. Fir im thenid. Túath fri túath, cen gáire, cen síth. [Pre-Chorus] Atá corn for cloich. Atá claideb for lár. Labraid drúi fon dair: “Óen guth nó bás.” [Chorus] Óen guth in tSlóig, óen tene do chách. Ní cenn do óen túath— cenn don chath. Éirgid, a thuatha, lám fri láim. Brisid in tost. Canaid in corn. [Verse 2] Éirgid fer Arverni. Do-leci claideb for lár. “Cen ríge dam,” ol sé, “acht cath do chách.” Labraid rí fri rí. Labraid túath fri túath. Fásaid óen rún im thenid Bibracte. [Pre-Chorus 2 — spear-shafts begin a slow pulse] Benaid gae fri cloich. Crithid in tech. Gabid in cornaire corn. Seinnid óen nóta. [Chorus 2 — the gathering answers] Óen guth in tSlóig, óen tene do chách. Ní cenn do óen túath— cenn don chath. Éirgid, a thuatha, lám fri láim. Gairid in t-ainm: Vercingetorix. [Bridge — nearly whispered; the pulse continues beneath the voice] At-chíu arbhar fo thenid. At-chíu tech cen díon. At-chíu máthair oc dorus. At-chíu mac for sligid. Is trom in bríathar. Is fada in cath. Cluinim corn i n-aidche: “Co lá. Co lá.” [Instrumental Break — tenor sax carries the single-note summons into a mournful improvisation] [Final Chorus — full gathering, grave rather than triumphant] Óen guth in tSlóig, óen tene do chách. Ní cenn do óen túath— cenn don chath. Éirgid, a thuatha, lám fri láim. Gairid in t-ainm: Vercingetorix. Vercingetorix (Vercingetorix) Tene for cach cnoc (óen tene do chách) Guth dar cach glenn (óen guth in tSlóig) Ní scél i ngaíth. Tosach in chatha. [Outro — solitary horn and fading fire] Céo for Bibracte. Corn i n-aidche. Irar tar abainn. Óen guth in tSlóig. ———————— English Translation ———————— ONE VOICE OF THE HOST [Intro — distant fires beneath the low drone] Fire on every hill. Mist over Bibracte. The tribes have come. The horn will not sleep. [Verse 1] A boar came along the road. A horse came across the plain. A raven came through the forest. Standards beneath the mist. Chiefs stand at the gate. Men gather around the fire. Tribe beside tribe, without laughter, without peace. [Pre-Chorus] A horn rests upon the stone. A sword lies in their midst. A druid speaks beneath the oak: “One voice or death.” [Chorus] One voice of the host, one fire for all. Not a leader for one tribe— a leader for the battle. Rise, O tribes, hand joined to hand. Break the silence. Let the horn sing. [Verse 2] A man of the Arverni rises. He lays his sword upon the ground. “No kingship for me,” he says, “only battle for all.” Chief speaks to chief. Tribe speaks to tribe. A single purpose grows around the fire of Bibracte. [Pre-Chorus 2 — spear-shafts begin a slow pulse] Spear-shafts strike the stone. The hall trembles. The horn player takes up his horn. He sounds a single note. [Chorus 2 — the gathering answers] One voice of the host, one fire for all. Not a leader for one tribe— a leader for the battle. Rise, O tribes, hand joined to hand. They call out the name: Vercingetorix. [Bridge — nearly whispered; the pulse continues beneath the voice] I see grain beneath the fire. I see a house without a roof. I see a mother at the doorway. I see a child upon the road. Heavy is the word. Long will be the war. I hear a horn in the night: “Until dawn. Until dawn.” [Instrumental Break — tenor sax carries the single-note summons into a mournful improvisation] [Final Chorus — full gathering, grave rather than triumphant] One voice of the host, one fire for all. Not a leader for one tribe— a leader for the battle. Rise, O tribes, hand joined to hand. They call out the name: Vercingetorix. Vercingetorix (Vercingetorix) Fire on every hill (one fire for all) A voice across every valley (one voice of the host) No longer tidings on the wind. The battle has begun. [Outro — solitary horn and fading fire] Mist over Bibracte. A horn in the night. Eagles beyond the river. One voice of the host.