Ellan Vannin (Song)
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The original Poem Ellan Vannin was first put to music in xxxx by J. Townsend. Since then it has been adapted and harmonised by a number of artists. Despite being called as such, Ellan Vannin is not the National Anthem.
Contents |
Original Version
Music and Lyrics
Original Lyrics by Eliza Craven Green (1803-1866)
When the summer day is over,
And its busy cares have flown,
I sit beneath the star-light,
With a weary heart, alone,
There rises like a vision,
Sparkling bright in nature's glee,
My own dear Ellan Vannin,
And its green hills by the sea.
Then I hear the wavelets murmur,
As they kiss the fairy shore,
And beneath the emerald waters
Sings the Mermaid, as of yore.
And the fair isle shines in beauty,
As in youth it dawned on me,
My own dear Ellan Vannin,
And its green hills by the sea!
Then memories sweet and tender
Come like music's plaintive flow,
Of the hearts in Ellan Vannin
That loved me, long ago.
And I give, with tears and blessings,
My fondest thoughts to thee,
My own dear Ellan Vannin,
And thy green hills by the sea.
Bee Gees/Robin Gibb
The Bee Gees recorded a version of Ellan Vannin for the local charity Children in Need following their epic interview with Bernie Quayle for Manx Radio. The tune and words were edited slightly from the traditional version.
Limited numbers of the CD single were pressed and sold to Manx Radio listeners who were prepared to donate at least £5.00 to the charity. The single enjoyed a second limited edition run as part of a Collecter's set of Bee Gee stamps issued by Isle of Man Post.
The song was included in the Bee Gees world-tour as a show of pride in the place of their birth and during the ITV show "An Audience with the Bee Gees".
Robin Gibb has performed the song a number of times during solo performances including the Peel Bay Festival. Following a performance with King William's College choir at the Isle of Man Newspapers Awards for Excellence, held at the Villa Marina it was announced that he and the choir would be making a recording of their version.
Bee Gees Lyrics
- When the summer day is over,
- Its busy cares have flown,
- I will sit beneath the starlight,
- With a weary heart alone.
- Then it rises like a vision
- Sparkling bright it shines for me
- My own dear Ellan Vannin
- With its green hills by the sea
- Let me hear the ocean murmur
- Let me watch your stormy sky
- Then above the emerald waters
- Sings the seagull as she flies
- Then arising like a vision
- Sparkling bright it shines for me
- My own dear Ellan Vannin
- With its green hills by the sea
- And in all my times of sorrow
- And on some lonely shore
- I'll go back to Ellan Vannin
- To my childhood days once more
Videos
Bee Gees
Larry Killip
Freedom to Flourish
See Also
Categories: Music | Culture | Heritage
