Transcript

Tá mé i mo shuí ó d'éirigh an ghealach aréir
Ag cur tineadh síos go buan 's dhá fadú go géar,
Tá bunadh[1] an toighe ina luighe is tá mise liom féin,
Tá na coiligh ag glao is an tír 'na gcodladh ach mé.

Casadh bean tsí domh thíos ag Lios Bhéal an Átha,
Agus d'fhiafraigh sí domhsa an scaoilfeadh glas ar bith grá,
Labhair sí gos íseal go síodánta macánta ar mhná,
Nuair a théid sé fán chroí ní scaoiltar as é go bráth.

Molaim an té a níos oíche dhorcha is lá,
Agus molaim an té a níos caora dhubh agus bán,
Molaim an té a níos pearsa fir agus mná,
Ach cé hionadh é nár líonadh muir agus tráigh.

A bhuachaillín bháin ní hábhar magaidh duid mé,
Níl agad le rá liom ach amháin (nó) go bhfuil mé gan spré,
Ní tusa mo ghrá go brách ní miste duid é,
Is má tá mé gan bhólacht (is ál uaim) codladh liom féin.

Buachaill ón Éirne mé agus bhréagfainn cailín deas óg,
Ní iarrfainn bó spré léithe nó tá mé féin saibhir go leor,
Is liom Corcaigh dá bhféadfainn, dhá thaobh an ghleanna is Tír Eoghain,
Is mur n-athraí mé béasaí is liom Éire agus Condae Mhaigh Eo.

Sin a bhfuil ann dó anois.

Translation

I am up since the moon rose last night
Lighting a good fire and kindling it intently
The people of the house are asleep and I am alone by myself,
The roosters are crowing and everyone in the land is asleep but me.

I met a fairy woman down at the ring fort in Béal an Átha,
And she asked me if there was any release from love,
She spoke in a low voice softly (?) and mildly about women,
When it goes into the heart it is never released.

I praise the one who makes dark night and day,
And I praise the one who makes sheep black and white,
I praise the one who makes man and woman,
And what a wonder is the tide at sea and shore (?).

Fair-haired boy I am no laughing matter for you,
All you have to say to me is that I have no dowry,
You'll never be my love, it doesn't matter to you,
And if I am without cattle I (...) to sleep alone.

I'm a boy from the Erne and I would coax a nice young girl,
I wouldn't ask her for cattle for I'm wealthy enough myself,
Cork would be mine if I could, the two sides of the glen and Tyrone,
And if I don't change my ways I'll own Ireland and County Mayo.

That's all there is of it now.

Footnotes

Commentary

The first four verses here are from the popular Donegal love song 'Tá mé i mo shuí ó d'éirigh an ghealach aréir'. The final verse is usually associated with another popular song, 'Buachaill Ón Éirne'. Versions of 'Tá mé i mo shuí' appear in the following: Donal O'Sullivan, The Bunting collection of Irish folk music and songs I (London, 1927), 98; Énrí Ó Muirgheasa, Dhá chéad de cheoltaibh Uladh (Dublin, 1934), 75-6; Padraig Mac Seáin, Ceolta Theilinn (Belfast, 1973), 34-5; Breandán Ó Buachalla, Nua-dhuanaire II (Dublin, 1976), 74, 114; Manus Ó Baoill, Ceolta Gael 2 (Cork, 1986), 92-3; Dónall Ó Baoill, Amach as ucht na sliabh: imleabhar 2 (Gaobh Dobhair, 1996), 96-7. The song was popularised internationally by recordings made by Skara Brae (Skara Brae, Gael-Linn, 1971; reissued on CD 1998) and Clannad (Magical Ring, Tara Records, 1983).