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Ultreya song lyrics in English

Alhimself

New Member
Time of past OR future Camino
September 2018 - planning
Before I started my Camino I found this thread:
https://www.caminodesantiago.me/community/threads/words-to-ultreya-song.3375/

And this link on youtube:
Ultreya is an old Latin greeting from the Codex Calixtinus. It means "Go beyond"! Or "Onwards!" essentially. Et suseia is "Upwards" "Heavenwards"

On the route I've been singing it to myself in French because it's a great walking song. Then a couple of days ago I was in a church in Hornillos, and the (brilliant) priest at mass had a laminated English translation and got us to sing it. The translation was literal and neither rymed or scanned.

Today on the long walk from Carrión de los Condes to Calzadilla de la Cueza I started to improvise a version in English. I hope that these lyrics - translated with a healthy balance between literal and artistic licence - bring joy to future pilgrims:

Ultreya song - translated from the French of Jean-Claude Benazet

Every day we take the path
Every day we go so far
Day by Day Saint Iago tells us
In the voice of Compostela:

“Ultreya, Ultreya
Et suseia
God walks with us”

Way of earth and way of faith
Ancient European path
Milky way of Charlemagne
It's the way of we who wander

Ultreya, Ultreya
Et suseia
God walks with us

And away at the continent’s end
James awaits with open hand
Since forever smiling there
To the sunset at Finisterre

Ultreya, Ultreya
Et suseia
God walks with us

Every step makes us brothers and sisters
Patron James with love assists us
Way of faith and a way of light
It's the ancient pilgrim rite

Ultreya, Ultreya
Et suseia
God walks with us

Mister Saint James hear our call
From Pyrenees to Compostel’
Guide us from the altar we love
To the heavenly skies above.

Ultreya, Ultreya
Et suseia
God walks with us

Translation by Al Barclay

(Alternative "God stays with us" somehow i preferred walk despite the assonance. It feels more personal.)
 
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Excellent. Thank you for this. Buen Camino y Ultreia
 
Thanks . Will try to sing it to myseIf as I finish the Camino Verde. I need the help
 
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Thanks for the translation. And the recording brings back a very special memory of one of priests at Sahagun's Santa Cruz monastery singing this for us after the pilgrim blessing. Very moving.
 
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So grateful for your post!!
I love this song and sing in my horrible French what words I DO know and hum the rest as I walk. In walking the CP in September, I did not hear it but once (not nearly as many French pilgrims) and sang along as they passed me by, bringing giant smiles to their faces!
Now I can learn it in English and I'm sure will be seen (and heard!) all over Spain with my walking song.
Thanks again, and ULTREIA!!
elle
 
Glad to have brought something. I have been knocking back the kilometres with that at my side.
 
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Finished the Camino verde. Happy as a clam!! Blisters and all. Even after five, count em, five sock changes!! Grrr. So a day in Sobrado. Knitting in my lap. Cafe con leche at hand. Such a tragic life .
 
Thank you!
 
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