I recorded a macaronic song on my first album - "Táim cortha ó bheith im' aonar im' luí". Here are my notes on the track, plus the lyrics: Infinite thanks to Iarla Ó Lionáird for teaching me this song and for patiently coaching me through the Irish pronunciation. Thanks also to Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, the nephew of the great sean-nós singer Elisabeth Cronin (from whom Iarla learned the song) for supplying me with his own transcription of the lyrics, which helped considerably. Dáibhí is working on a collection of Bess Cronin's songs that should be an invaluable reference for traditional singers – I hope it comes out soon! The song is in macaronic form – each verse in Irish is followed by the same verse roughly translated into English. There are a couple of interesting differences – notably, in the Irish version the woman is 29 years old and tired of being left on the shelf, whereas in the English translation she's only 19. Dáibhí points out that a similar song appears in Leslie Shepard's The Broadside Ballad under the name 'Weary of Tumbling Alone', so it's conceivable that the English version came first. lyrics Tráthnóinín déanach 's mé dul a' bhálcaoreacht 'Sea do dhearcas an spéirbhean a' caoi Airiú, d'fhiosraíosa féin di - gur labhair sí a scéal liom Táim cortha ó bheith im' aonar im' luí, im luí Táim cortha ó bheith im' aonar im' luí One evening of late as I carelessly strayed I espied a fair maid in deep mourn I asked her the matter, she quickly made answer I am weary from laying alone, alone I am weary from laying alone A's a mhúirnín donn dílis, suigh anso taobh liom Agus aithris dom scéala ar t'aois A cúig a's a sé a's a' sárú dhá naoi A's táim cortha ó bheith im' aonar im' luí, im luí Táim chomh cortha ó bheith im' aonar im' luí My comely young damsel, sit down here 'longside me And tell me the years that have flown Oh it's seven and one and eleven years long That I'm weary from laying alone, alone That I'm weary from laying alone Dá bhfaighinnse ógánach éigin do thógfadh gan spré mé A's go mbeinnse 'ge féinig mar mhnaoi Ní chéilfinnse ar éinne é 's do neosfainn don saol é Go bhfuilim cortha ó bheith im' aonar im' luí, im luí Go bhfuilim cortha ó bheith im' aonar im' luí If I'd a comely young man would take me without fortune And make me a wife of his own For the truth is I'll say is I'll die in despair If I lie any longer alone, alone If I lie any longer alone Tá róisín breá néata sa gháirdín seo taobh linne Á, baineam a's déanam é fhí Mar is ró-ghearr 'na dhiaidh san go mbeadh sé ró-thraochta Leis a naoi bhíodh ná h-aonar na luí, na luí Leis a naoi bhíodh ná h-aonar na luí There's a neat sweet little flower in this garden 'longside us Take it away, sure 'tis your own For the flower it will fade, and so also will the maid For she's weary from laying alone, alone For she's weary from laying alone credits from When Two Lovers Meet, released 01 February 1997 Trad arr. S. McQuaid Sarah – vocals Sarah McQuaid http://www.sarahmcquaid.com
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