Sailing to the Land of Hy-Brasil

Sailing for the Land of Hy-Brasil (Don an fhile is mairnéalach, Danny Sheehy) — C major.

You are sailing towards that star, so bright, so far — The loadstone of the soul knows where you are. You have sailed this way before, Through the dreams and through the lore, The waters, wild and magical and old, The legends of its whereabouts, oft told.

There are no charts to mark your fateful course; Your eye can't see the stars in this gale force,  But you're steering by the heart Out beyond the wildest parts Of an ocean where your dreams are yet unborn; With hope, that calm will come before the dawn.

Chorus — Sail on, sail on, mo chroi! Across nine waves, where you’ll be free; Like a mystic legend on the hidden shore You name will print the sand, add to the lore, Of the sailor’s ancient tales that touch the heart In the magic of that sea, you’ll be a part. Your oar, the measure of the strength that brought The vision of the light your sailing sought.

O look, beyond the mist that wraps your craft, The mist that looms before, and seals your aft. But the peaks that rose before Will greet your ardent stare once more And the cuan will open suddenly and wide And your prow will reach the sands beyond the tide. — Raise your oar and let your beating heart be still  You are near the golden strand of Hy-Brasil.

Chorus Sail on, sail on, mo chroi! They are waiting, can you see? The fairy queen you wove into the tale She has seen you spar and recognised you sail;
In a silence they will stand and wait until You foot has touched the sands of Hy-Brasil, And the mists have closed behind, the draiocht fulfilled. And you are welcomed to the land of Hy-Brasil. Sail on, sail on, mo chroi! — © Frank Callery, June18th, 2017.