CAILÍN NA GRUAIGE BÁINE
leis An Fear Bán (by the Fear Bán)

This is one of the lesser-known songs by An Fear Bán, one of the last of the traditional poet-composers of North West Ireland, who also wrote Mheall Sí Lena Glórthaí Mé, Mo Mhadadh Beag and Chumhaidh an Fhile. The fair-haired girl (Cailín na Gruaige Báine) has left the poor fella pineing away for her and claiming that he just can't live without her.

Is uaigneach mo shaol go gruama faraoir
My solitary life is cheerless alas
'Mo thruaill bhocht gan siamsa 'tá mé
I am a poor wretch without any diversion
'S is brónach a bhím gan suaimhneas na hoich'
I am most sorrowful with no rest at night
Go buartha lag cloíte cráite
Disturbed, weak, exhausted and tormented

'Sí 'n stuabhean gheal chaoin a rinne gual de mo chroí
'Tis a stately, fair, delicate woman who turned my heart to coal
'S níl suairceas a choiche i ndán domh
And I will never be cheerful again
Ó luadh liom mar mhnaoi go luath 'dtús mo shaoil
Since I became involved with a woman early in my life
Mo chailín na gruaige báine
My fair-haired girl

'S i bláth bán na gcraobh í, thug barr ar gach scéimh
She's the fairest flower of them all, the most beautiful in form
Le háilleacht le méid 's le breáchta
With the utmost and finest beauty
'Sí d'fhág mé faoi léan, 'sí chráigh mé gan bhréig
I left her in sorrow, undoubtedly I tormented her
'Gus tá 'fhios ag Mac Dé mo chás-sa
And the Son of God knows my reason

Dá bhfaighinnse mo rogha, ó b'ansa liom é
If I could have my choice, oh it would be my dearest wish
Bheith ar láimh leis a' spéirbhean álainn
To be holding the hand of that beautiful young girl
'S ní náire ar bith liom é nó 's í grá geal mo chléibh
And I'm not ashamed at all that she is the love of my life
Mo chailín na gruaige báine
My fair-haired girl

Dá dtigeadh sí arís ar cuairt chun mo thí
If she would come again to my house
Nach mise bheadh aoibhiúil sásta
Wouldn't I be smiling and happy
'S níl áit ar bith dár mhian léi nach mbainfinnse fúm
And there's nowhere at all that I wouldn't settle if she wanted
Ach cead 'fháil mo shaol a chaitheamh léi
Just let me spend my life with her

Nach trua mise 'smaointiú go domhain in mo chroí
Aren't I pitiful forever thinking in my heart
Nach bhfeicim arís go brách í
That I will never see her again
Tá mé buartha bocht faoi chian is ní mhairfead beo bliain
I am so sorrowful and sad that I will not live a year
Gan cailín na gruaige báine
Without the fair-haired girl

If you like this song, you might a cupla others I have on my music page:
http://www.geocities.com/Athens/Parthenon/8998/ceol.html

Slán, Áine