Jon: Here is the version of 'Dulaman' that I have. As you can see from the first verse, this is really a courting song, with the mother telling the daughter that the men are coming and the girl wanting to look like she's good housewife material, i.e., showing them she can spin. In the second verse, the mother and daughter are talking about how unattractive the fellow is (the dulaman gaelach); however, in the third and fourth verse they've decided that he looks like he could afford to spend some money on them, as he can dress himself fairly well. In the fifth verse, the fellow promises the girl a present as an enticement to marriage. However, in the sixth verse the girl's daddy (who is also a 'dulaman gaelach' - the names change in this verse) demands to know the fellow's (the 'dulaman maorach' now) intentions; and, the daddy declares in the last verse that he'll not let the fellow take his daughter away. However, the upstart says that he'll just kidnap her! Phew! Not exactly a simple children's song, is it? Here are the lyrics I sing:

A 'níon mhín ó, sin anall na fir shúirí,
Dear daughter, here come the courtin' men,
A mháthair mhín, ó cuir na roithleán go dtí mé.
Dear mother, oh bring me my spinning wheel.

Curfa:
Dúlamán na Binne Buí, Dúlamán Gaelach,
Seaweed from the yellow cliff, Irish seaweed,
Dúlamán na farraige, 's é b'fhearr a bhí in Éirinn.
Seaweed from the ocean, the best in all of Ireland.

Tá cosa dubha dúbailte ar an dúlamán gaelach
Two black thick feet are on the Irish seaweed,
Tá dhá chluais mhaol ar an dúlamán gaelach
Two narrow ears on are the Irish seaweed.

Curfa

Rachaidh muid go Doire leis an dúlamán gaelach,
We'll go to Derry with the Irish seaweed,
'S ceannóidh muid bróga daora ar an dúlamán gaelach.
And we'll buy expensive shoes on the Irish seaweed.

Curfa

Bróga breaca dubha ar an dúlamán gaelach,
Black spotted shoes on the Irish seaweed,
Tá bearéad agus triúis ar an dúlamán gaelach.
There's a cap and trousers on the Irish seaweed.

Curfa

Ó chuir mé scéala chuici, go gceannóinn cíor dí,
O I told her the news, that a comb would be bought for her,
'S é'n scéal a chuir sí chugam, go raibh a ceann cíortha.
That's the story she told me, that it was a fine one.

Curfa

Cad é a thug na tíre thú? arsa an dúlamán gaelach,
What did you bring from the land? said the Irish seaweed,
Ag súirí le do 'níon, arsa an dúlamán maorach.
Courting with your daughter, said the upstart seaweed.

Curfa

Ó cha bhfaigheann tú mo 'níon, arsa an dúlamán gaelach,
O you're not taking my daughter, said the Irish seaweed,
Bheul, fuadóidh mé liom í, arsa an dúlamán maorach.
Well, I'll take her away with me, said the upstart seaweed.

Curfa

If you have any more questions, please let me know! Le meas, Aine

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-Joe Offer-