Celtic Lyrics Corner > Artists & Groups > Altan > Island Angel > An Cailín Gaelach

   
Island Angel An Cailín Gaelach
   
Credits: Traditional; arranged by Altan
   
Appears On: Island Angel
   
Language: Gaeilge (Irish Gaelic)
   
Other Versions: "An Cailín Gaelach" on Maighread Ní Dhomhnaill's album No Dowry
   

Lyrics: English Translation:
   
B'áite liom féin 'bheith ar thaobh mhalaí shléibhe I'd love to be on a sloping hillside
'Gus cailín gaelach a bheith 'mo chomhair With an Irish girl by my side
Bheinn a bréagadh 's a teannadh léithe I'd coax and tease her and draw her nearer
'Gus dar liom féin, 'riú, gur dheas ar ndóigh No happier state can I visualize
   
Ag éirí domh féin ar maidin an lae ghil As I rode out when day was dawning
'S mé gabhail fá'n choill chraobhaigh 's mé seoladh bó To herd the kine by the leafy glade
Tharlaigh domh an spéirbhean 'na suí ar an léana I espied a damsel on the pasture seated
'S a fallaing léithe 's í lán de ghnó With hazel nuts in her mantle tied
   
D'fhiafraigh mé díthe go ciúin is go ceillí I gently spoke to this pretty maiden
An nglacfaidh tú póg uaim, a stór mo chroí? And would like to kiss her if she'd agree
D'oscail sí a béilín 'gus labhair sí Bearla She answered softly and spoke in English
'S é dúirt sí, "Pray sir, and let me be" And uttered, "Pray sir, and let me be"
   
Is maith an airí ar na buaibh a shantú The herds deserve to be craved and cared for
'Gus bheinnse 'a seoladh amuigh sa lá And I would herd them the live long day
Im agus bainne iad, ar theacht a' tsamhraidh They give fresh milk and churning through the summer
'S mar gheall ar bhólacht a phóstar mná And for stocks of kine sure, young maidens wed