A BHEAN UDAÍ THALL (Version One)

These lyrics are taken from the singing of Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, who got the song from the late Neilí Ní Dhomhnaill of Rann na Feirste, Co. Donegal. For more information about this song, please go to:

http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/8998/bean_udai_thall_tagra.html

(An Bhean / The Wife)

Tá mo grábháil í, a shí ógó
This is my grave, a shí ógó
Greannmaigh don dheánaí, a h-óbó
Trapped in the stream, oh no
'S mo ghrábháil gheal fán únán tráigh
My white grave beneath the foaming strand
'S mé 'gabháil i tsáile i mBaile Leóil
As I'm drowning in Baile Leóil

'S a bhean udaí thall, a shí ógó
O woman yonder, a shí ógó
Tá a' siúl na traighse a h-óbó
Who is walking on the strand, oh no
Nach truaigh leat bean ina húire ceoidh
Have you no pity for a woman in her watery grave
'S í 'gabháil a báthadh i mBaile Leóil
Who is drowning in Baile Leóil

(An Cailín / The Girl)

Ó níl mo ghaol, a shíogó
You're not my relation, a shíogó
Nó mo pháirt, a h-óbó
Not my friend, oh no
Is an uair nach bhfuil, fá húire ceoidh
The time has come, hasn't it, beneath the watery grave
'S é bheirim cead snámh duit i mBaile Leóil
That I took you to swim in Baile Leóil

(An Bhean)

Tiocfaidh m'athair a shí ógó
My father shall come, a shí ógó
Anuas fán tráigh a h-óbó
Down to the strand, oh no
Is gheobhaidh sé mise 'mo bhradán bhog bháidhte
And find me soft and bloated
Tí 'gabháil i tsáile i mBaile Leóil
And see me drowning in Baile Leóil

(An Cailín)

Ní thiocfaidh d'athair a shíogó
Your father shan't come, a shíogó
Anuas fán tráigh a h-óbó
Down to the strand, oh no
Ná tiocfaidh mé féin 'na banú an lae
Nor shall I come myself 'till break of day
A scaoileadh le céaslaidh i mBaile Leóil
To free you in Baile Leóil

(An Bhean)

Ó tá leanbán agam a shí ógó
Oh, I have a babe, a shí ógó
I gcionn a mhíghné a h-óbó
Who is dying, oh no
Is béidh leanbán eile 'na húire ceoidh
And another babe will be in his watery grave
I gcionn a ráithe i mBaile Leóil
Who is only three months old

(An Cailín)

Ó tá leanbán agat, a shíogó
Oh, you have a babe, a shíogó
I gceann a mhíghné, a h-óbó
Who is dying, oh no
'S béidh leanbán agam ó úire ceoidh
And I will have a babe from this watery grave
A bheas ina mháistir i mBaile Leóil
Who will be the master in Baile Leóil

(An Bhean)

Tabhair mo bheannacht, a shí ógó
Take my farewell, a shí ógó
Annsoir mo mháthair, a h-óbó
Back to my mother, oh no
'S é darna beannacht ó úire ceoidh
And is my second farewell from a watery grave
'S ar athair mo chlainne i mBaile Leóil
To the father of my children in Baile Leóil

Nár thabharfá mo bheannacht, a shí ógó
You would not take my farewell, a shí ógó
Annsoir mo mháthair, h-óbó
Back to my mother, oh no
A bhéarfaidh mo mhallacht ó úire ceoidh
You shall take my curse from a watery grave
Sáraitheoir do n' clanna i mBaile Leóil
Murderer of children in Baile Leóil

Ina méanair do'n mhnaoí óig, a shí ógó
There's fortune in store for the young woman, a shí ógó
A thiocfas mo áitse, a h-óbó
Who will take my place, oh no
Béidh beithígh geala ó úire ceoidh
And inherit pure white cattle from the watery grave
Is fuinneogaí gloinne i mBaile Leóil
And windows of glass in Baile Leóil

(An Cailín)

Ó mise bhean óg, a shíogó
I am the young woman, a shíogó
A thiocfas do aitse, a h-óbó
Who will take your place, oh no
Béidh beithígh geala ó úire ceoidh
And inherit pure white cattle from a watery grave
Is fuinneogaí gloinne i mBaile Leóil
And windows of glass in Baile Leóil

[a shí ógó / a shíogó] These two terms when spoken or sung sound very much alike. The poet uses a very subtle play on words and increases the irony and emotion of the song with these two terms. The term "Sí óg", used by the Wife in the song in addressing the Girl, can be translated to mean a young fairy, or more applicable to this situation, a young deceiver. "Síog" or "Síogán", the term used by the Girl to insult the dying Wife, is a rope-bound stack of grain.

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 5-May-02.