This is a love song by Seaghán Bán Mac Grianna from Ranafast (Rann na Feirste) in Donegal. I learnt it in a sean-nós class with Gearóidín Bhreathnach at Oideas Gael in July 2013.
Is uaigneach mo shaol go gruama faraoir,
'Mo thruaill bhocht gan siamsa 'tá mé,
Is brónach a bhím gan suaimhneas na hoich'
Go buartha lag cloíte cráite.
'Sí 'n stuabhean gheal chaoin a rinne gual de mo chroí
'S níl suairceas a choiche i ndán domh
Ó luadh liom mar mhnaoi go luath 'dtús mo shaoil
Mo chailín na gruaige báine.
'S i bláth bán na gcraobh í, thug barr ar gach scéimh
Le háilleacht le méid 's le breáchta,
'Sí d'fhág mé faoi léan, 'sí chráigh mé gan bhréig
'Gus tá 'fhios ag Mac Dé mo chás-sa.
Dá bhfaighinnse mo rogha, ó b'ansa liom é
Bheith ar láimh leis a' spéirbhean álainn
'S ní náire ar bith liom é nó 's í grá geal mo chléibh
Mo chailín na gruaige báine.
Dá dtigeadh sí arís ar cuairt chun mo thí
Nach mise bheadh aoibhiúil sásta,
'S níl áit ar bith dár mhian léi nach mbainfinnse fúm
Ach cead 'fháil mo shaol a chaitheamh léi.
Nach trua mise 'smaointiú go domhain in mo chroí
Nach bhfeicim arís go brách í,
Taím buartha bocht faoi chian is ní mhairfead beo bliain
Gan cailín na gruaige báine.
My solitary life is cheerless alas
I am a poor wretch without any diversion
I am most sorrowful with no rest at night
Disturbed, weak, exhausted and tormented.
Tis a stately, fair, delicate woman who turned my heart to coal
And I will never be cheerful again
Since I became involved with a woman early in my life
My fair-haired girl.
She's the fairest flower of them all, the most beautiful in form
With the utmost and finest beauty
I left her in sorrow, undoubtedly I tormented her
And the Son of God knows my reason.
If I could have my choice, oh it would be my dearest wish
To be holding the hand of that beautiful young girl
And Im not ashamed at all that she is the love of my life
My fair-haired girl.
If she would come again to my house
Wouldnt I be smiling and happy
And theres nowhere at all that I woudnt settle if she wanted
Just let me spend my life with her.
Aren't I pitiful forever thinking in my heart
That I will never see her again
I am so sorrowful and sad that I will not live a year
Without the fair-haired girl.
Here's a recording of me singing this song:
Another recording of this song
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AsWc8fIf_1o
Lyrics, information about and a recording of this song
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/fhearraigh/cailin.htm
Other songs in Irish | Songs in other languages
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