Like several other countrires, Ireland returns to Junior Eurovision 2021 after a forced one year break resulting from the ongoing pandemic. And, as has been the case since its 2015 debut, Ireland is sending an Irish-language song “Saor (Disappear)”. The number will be performed by 14-year-old Maiú Levi Lawlor.
Scroll down for “Saor (Disappear)” lyrics
What do the “Saor (Disappear)” lyrics mean?
Unlike the main contest, Ireland’s Junior Eurovision efforts are managed by TG4 – a small Irish-language channel. Hence, the country’s entries have all been “as Gaeilge” (in Irish). A few phrases from other languages have slipped in over the years, most notably Latin in 2015 and English in 2016. This year Maiú will also add a little French to the mix.
He was chosen through the well-established Junior Eurovision Éire format. As in 2019, the show just determined the singer for Paris. The song was internally selected at a later stage. Maiú is no stranger to TV. His biggest gig to date was on the 2017 edition of The Late Late Toy Show — traditionally the most watched show on Irish TV every year. He performed the evergreen show tune “Don’t Rain On My Parade”.
Listeners may also recognise the etheral vocals of Anna Kearney on the track. She represented Ireland with “Banshee” in 2019.
Ireland in Junior Eurovision 2021: Maiú Levi Lawlor “Saor (Disappear)”
In both 2020 and 2021, several of the Junior Eurovision referred to the isolation and disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing lockdowns. However, few have been as on the nose as “Saor (Disappear)”.
The song title is slightly misleading in that the word “saor” typically translates to free. The inclusion of “disappear” in brackets appears to be an attempt to reinforce the number’s English refrain “you won’t make us disappear”.
Freedom is the main theme. Maiú, like just about everyone else in the world, craves a return to the freedoms we had pre-COVID. He sings of how his life has become so small. For more than a year, he’s been stuck at home, isolated from friends. He’s fed up of Zoom calls with teachers and adapting to all the new rules.
Nonetheless, he remains defiant. He won’t let his spirit be broken. There might not be anywhere to go, but he’ll dance on the table and imagine he’s wooing a girl in Paris. The words “you won’t make us disappear” act as a call to arms for his generation. He and his peers might be missing out on the usual rites of passage, but they haven’t lost their youth. And if the only way to channel that right now is to jump about on the furniture, so be it.
“Saor (Disappear)” lyrics — Maiú Levi Lawlor (Ireland JESC 2021)
Written and composed by: Niall Mooney, Lauren White Murphy, Anna Banks, Brendan McCarthy, Cyprian Cassar and Lesley Ann Halvey
Irish text |
English translation |
| Stop na lámha ar an gclog D’eirigh mo shaol Mo shaol an-bheag Éist leis an gclog Le breis agus bliain Sheas an t-am go docht Gan chairde nó scoil Aon áit le dhul Aon áit le dhul Seasaigí Cuma faoi Rialachaí C’est la vie Níl muid inár suí Na múinteoirí Zoom TV Anseo anseo damhsa ar an mbord Is cuma liom céard a cheapann tu fúm anois Cloisim mo chara Ag briseadh ón nós arís Anseo, ‘sé fíor Inár gcroíthe tá muid saor Éistigí liom agus Seas le na déagóirí Fanaigí liom don oíche Lán le spraoi arís Anseo, ‘fós saor You can’t make us disappear You can’t make us disappear ‘nois táim anseo Comme si comme ca Ag teacht i dtír Cloisim – Oo la la Cloisim – Oo la la An tú mo ghrá? Mo chailín deas Is me i bParii an dtiocfaidh tú ar ais? an dtiocfaidh tú ar ais? Seasaigí Cuma faoi Rialachaí C’est la vie Níl muid inár suí Na múinteoirí Zoom TV Anseo anseo damhsa ar an mbord Is cuma liom céard a cheapann tu fúm anois Cloisim mo chara Ag briseadh ón nós arís Anseo, ‘sé fíor Inár gcroíthe tá muid saor Éistigí liom agus Seas le na déagóirí Fanaigí liom don oíche Lán le spraoi arís Anseo, ‘fós saor You can’t make us disappear You can’t make us disappear Saor a chroí Agus éistigí Bígi Saor a chroí Seasaigí Cuma faoi Rialachaí C’est la vie Níl muid inár suí Na múinteoirí Zoom TV Anseo anseo damhsa ar an mbord Is cuma liom céard a cheapann tu fúm anois Cloisim mo chara Ag briseadh ón nós arís Anseo, ‘fós saor You can’t make us disappear Éistigí liom agus Seas le na déagóirí Fanaigí liom don oíche Lán le spraoi arís Anseo, ‘fós saor Inár gcroíthe tá muid saor Inár gcroíthe tá muid saor |
Stop the hands on the clock My life, my life got very small Listen to the clock For more than a year Time stood still Without friends or school Or anywhere to go – anywhere to go Stand with me Don’t care about rules C’est la via We’re not sitting down The teachers Zoom TV Here, here Dancing on the table I don’t care What you think about me now I hear my friend Breaking out of the norm again Here, it’s true In our hearts we are free Listen to me and Stand with the young people Stay with me for the night Full of fun again Here, still free, You can’t make us disappear You can’t make us disappear Now I’m here Comme si Comme sa Arriving on the land here I hear ooh la la I hear ooh la la Are you my love? My lovely girl With me in Paris Will you come back? Will you come back? Stand with me Don’t care about Rules C’est la via We’re not sitting down The teachers Zoom TV Here, here Dancing on the table I don’t care What you think about me now I hear my friend Breaking out of the norm again Here, it’s true In our hearts we are free Listen to me and Stand with the young people Stay with me for the night Full of fun again Here, still free, You can’t make us disappear You can’t make us disappear Free, my dear and listen Be free my dears Stand with me Don’t care about rules C’est la via We’re not sitting down The teachers Zoom TV Here, here Dancing on the table I don’t care What you think about me now I hear my friend Breaking out of the norm again Here, it’s true You can’t make us disappear Listen to me and Stand with the young people Stay with me for the night Full of fun again Here, still free, In our hearts we are free In our hearts we are free |
What do you think of “Saor (Disappear)”? How will it do in Paris? Let us know below.
I didn’t like it at first, but this song slowly grew on me. It’s actually really good and very underrated. I’m not sure whether this would end up in the top 10, but no matter where it ends up, I will make sure I won’t forget this song! And Anna’s vocals in there surprised me! Ireland, you have given a solid comeback!
love him he has so much personality. song is brilliant.
From an Irish speakers point of view this is a car crash, they can’t even get the title correct. It looks as if the writers picked a load of random phrases in English and then got someone with a very poor grasp of Irish to translate using Google, thumbs down from me.
Not too keen on the song but fair play to Ireland for bothering to participate. Let’s address the elephant in the room. The UK is the only big five member from the adult contest not to enter. What’s more no Nordic countries either. This really devalues the contest. Come to the party. The more countries the better.
I like the song
It’s fun, it’s catchy and Maiú is, in the words of Louis Walsh, a ready made pop star. Expect to hear more of him in the years to come.
JESC wise though, I’m sorry but I can’t see this placing any higher than 10th. Armenia has it on the bag.
But, JESC is a great first step forward and these are all kids, so as long as he has fun and enjoys the experience, then it’s a win. Singing in Irish is also no easy feat.
Best of luck
I like this. It’s probably not gonna do well, but it’s a solid song with a unique singer
An underrated entry. Hoping for a high-energy performance in Paris to get Ireland a strong result at last!