The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #8906   Message #56128
Posted By: Philippa
28-Jan-99 - 02:53 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: An Maidrin Rua / Red Fox
Subject: Lyr Add: AN MAIDRÍN RUA
There was a request for this bilingual song in the "macarónachas" thread

AN MAIDRÍN RUA

Ar ghabháil aduaidh dom thar Sliabh Luachra
'Gus mise 'cur tuairisc mo ghéanna;
Ar chasadh dom anuas 'sea fuaireas a dtuairisc
Go raibh maidrín rua dá maoireacht

Curfá [chorus]:
Ó Maidrín rua, rua, rua, rua, rua,
An maidrín rua tá dána.
An maidrín rua 'na luí sa luachair,
Is barr a dhá chluas in airde.

"Good-morrow fox," "Good-morrow, Sir."
"Pray what is that you're eating?"
It's a fine fat goose I stole from you,
And will you come and taste it?"

"Oh no indeed, ní háil liom í,
Ní bhlaisfinn pioc di ar aon chor,
But I vow and I swear you'll dearly pay
For my fine fat goose you're eating.

Hark, hark, find her, Lily and Piper
Cruinnigí na gadhair lena chéile;
Hark, hark, Trueman, tá leisce orm cuma,
Is maith an fear cú thú Bateman.

Tallyho lé na bhonn, Tallyho lé na bhonn,
Tallyho lé na bhonn, a choileáinin;
Tallyho lé na bhonn, Tallyho lé na bhonn,
Agus barr a dhá chluais in áirde.

Greadadh croí cráite chugat a Mhaidrín Ghránna
Do rug uaim m'ál breá géanna,
Mo choiligh mhóra bhreátha, mo chearca bhí go hálainn,
Is mo lachain bheaga b'fhearr a bhí in Éirinn.

Translation From: johnm (in Macarónachas, 11 Dec 1998)

Chorus: The little red fox, the little red fox so ugly
The little red fox lying among the rushes
And the top of his two ears sticking up

Verse 1.
As I was walking up over Sliabh Luachra
Seeking information about my geese
I was told, as I turned to come back,
That a little fox had got them

2. (In English) Good morrow fox, good morrow sir
Pray what is it that you're 'ating?"
"A fine fat goose I stole from you,
And will you come and taste it?"
"O no, indeed (Gaelic) I do not want it,
I wouldn't taste a pick of it,
(In English) But I vow and swear you'll dearly pay
For that fine fat goose you're 'ating."

3. Hark, hark Find her, Lily and Piper.
Gather the dogs together.
Hark, hark, Truman, you lazy hound. [or , "I hate to lie" note it's 'orm' - on me, not 'ort', on you]
Bateman, you're a good dog.

4. Tally ho, on the scent, tally ho, on the scent,
Tally ho, on the scent, [or 'on their heels'], little puppies
Tally ho, on the scent, tally ho, on the scent,
And the top of his two ears sticking up.

4. A distressed and sore heart to you, you bad fox
That took from me my lovely flock of geese,
My fine big cock, my beautiful hens,
Any my ducks, the nicest in the whole of Ireland.

Sometimes the last two verses of the chorus are sung in English, "And he lying in the furze/and the top of his two ears were peeping".