Lyrics: |
English Translation: |
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Nuair a bhí mise óg |
When I was young |
Ó ba dheas is ba dóighiúil |
And good to look at |
A' scafaire stócaigh mé |
I was pleasant |
'Súil' na mban óg |
To the eyes of the young girls |
Bhínn á mealladh 's á bpógadh |
I tricked them and I kissed them |
Is shiúlainn a' rod leo |
And I went with them along the street |
'S bhínn carthanach cóir leo |
I was friendly and good with them |
Gan mhairg gan bhrón |
And nothing disturbed me |
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Bhíodh rosca gach bruinnil' |
The eyes of the girls |
A' lasadh le loinnir |
Shined with pleasure |
'S gach dealramh níos glinne |
They were all enchanted |
Le lúcháire romham |
In my presence |
'S mo ghuthsa gur bhinne leo |
When we got together, my voice |
'Chluinstin sa chruinniú |
Was the most pleasing to them |
Ná'n píobaire 'seinm |
Than the flute that sounded |
Ó mhaidin go neoin |
From the morning until midday |
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Och, och, ar a' lá sin |
Oh, oh that day on which |
Murab é bhain a' bláth domh |
The flower of my life ended |
'S é d'fhág mé mar 'tá mé |
Leaving me behind |
'Mo chréatúr gan dóigh |
A disaster unfit to be seen |
'S é chloígh mé 's é chráigh mé |
All the torments |
Gur chaolaigh mo chnámha |
Have worn away my bones |
'S d'fhág meath mar ar mo shláinte |
And my health has worsened |
Nach leigheastar go deo |
So much that there is no cure |
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'S iomaí bean álainn |
Many beautiful women |
Ó Chorcaigh go Málainn |
From Cork to Malin Head |
A chaith seal ar láimh liom |
Kept me company |
Mo chreach is mo léan |
For good or for bad |
'S mé 'g imeacht gan ábhar |
And I abandoned them |
Arís is á bhfágail |
Without motive |
Go cloíte lag cráite |
Leaving them depressed |
Faoi leatrom leo féin |
And devastated without me |
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Thit mallacht gach duine acu |
All of their curses |
'Bhfiormhullaigh 'n chinn orm |
Fell down upon my head |
D'imigh mo bhláth |
I lost my good appearance |
'S níor fhan ribe ar mo mhaol |
And my hair fell out |
Ach mo sheanbhlagad feannta |
Now my bald head |
Le síon is le haimsir |
Suffers the inclemency of the weather |
'Mo chréatúr a' drandán |
While I complain and grumble |
Fé bhuaireamh a' tsaoil |
About the sorrows of the world |
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Ach anois iarraim pardún |
But now I ask forgiveness |
Go léir ar na staidmhná |
From all these good women |
'Bhí cineálta cairdiúil liom |
Who gave me kindness |
Lá breá den tsaol |
And hospitality in their turn |
Ná táthar a' rá liom |
Well, as they say |
Gur damnaithe 'tá me |
I am surely damned |
'S nach dual domh go brách fáil |
And I won't be able to see |
Go Flaitheas na Naomh |
Heaven or its Saints |
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Ach an n-aidimse 'Dhia |
But I realize, my God |
Go mb'fhearr liom go síoraí |
That I'd prefer to be forever |
'Bheith 'n Ifreann na bPian |
Among the pains of Hell |
I measc cairde mo chléibh |
Alongside my friends |
Ná bheith 'bhFlaithis in airde |
Before being in Heaven |
'Measc túitní cráifeach' |
Among so many pious louts |
Nach dtuigfeadh a' cás |
Incapable of understanding |
A d'fhág mise faoi léan |
What motivated my fall |
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Och, och, ar a' lá sin |
Oh, oh that day on which |
Murab é bhain a' bláth domh |
The flower of my life ended |
'S é d'fhág mé mar 'tá mé |
Leaving me behind |
'Mo chréatúr gan dóigh |
A disaster unfit to be seen |
'S é chloígh mé 's é chráigh mé |
All the torments |
Gur chaolaigh mo chnámha |
Have worn away my bones |
'S d'fhág meath mar ar mo shláinte |
And my health has worsened |
Nach leigheastar go deo |
So much that there is no cure |