Eluveitie was one of the bands I mentioned in my post on folk metal and again when I talked about the hurdy gurdy. They are a Swiss folk metal band whose songs are in the now-extinct language of Gaulish, since they trace their roots to the pre-Roman-conquest Gauls. Their name is derived from (h)elvetios, referring to a member of the Helvetii tribe of the Swiss plateau at the time of the Romans. Even now, the personification of the Swiss nation is Helvetia (see above) and the country is referred to as the Confœderatio Helvetica when using all four official languages is undesired or too cumbersome.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lCvQWe3kZ7A
Lyrics in Gaulish
Catoues caletoi
urit namantas anrimius
ro- te isarnilin -urextont,
Au glannabi rhenus
Ad ardus alpon,
Tou’ magisa matua
Tou’ brigas iuerilonasBudinas bardon
Clouos canenti
Anuanon anmaruon,
Cauaron colliton,
Adio- biuotutas -robirtont
Uolin cridili
Are rilotuten atrilasA ulati, mon atron,
A brogi’m cumbrogon!
Exs tou’ uradiu uorrobirt
Cenetlon clouision
Cauaron caletonA blatu blande bitos biuon!
A m’ atriia, a ma helvetia!Tou’ mnas et genetas,
Tigernias, tecas,
Tou’ uiroi uertamoi
In sose cantle cingeton
In- gutoues -beronti.
Cante cladibu in lame
Exsrextos canumi
Rough English translation:
Grim battles
Against countless foes
Have steeled you
From the shores of the Rhine
To the top of the Alps,
Your fair meadows,
Your rank heathlandsThe choirs of bards
Sing the glory
Of the undying names
Of fallen heroes,
That gave their lives,
Their blood
For the freedom of their fatherland.Oh Sovereignty of my fathers
Oh land of my countrymen!
From your root sprang
A glorious nation
Of dure heroes.Oh dulcet blossom of the living world!
Oh my fatherland, oh my Helvetia!Your woman and maids
Noble and fair,
Your highest men
To this bravesong
They join in
The sword in my hand
Stand up and sing
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