Lyrics & Knowledge Personal Pages Record Shop Auction Links Radio & Media Kids Membership Help
The Mudcat Cafesj

Post to this Thread - Sort Descending - Printer Friendly - Home


Lyr Req: Casadh an tSugain (Bothy Band)

Related thread:
(origins) Lyr Req: Casadh an tSugain (47)


In Mudcat MIDIs:
ma bhionn tu liom (casadh an tsugain alternative tune)


seancussen 01 Feb 99 - 12:52 PM
01 Feb 99 - 06:02 PM
01 Feb 99 - 08:25 PM
02 Feb 99 - 10:32 AM
Annraoi 02 Feb 99 - 05:21 PM
Annraoi 23 Feb 99 - 08:49 PM
Philippa 14 Apr 99 - 06:40 AM
GUEST,Bermo 26 Jul 02 - 06:28 AM
Declan 26 Jul 02 - 07:13 AM
GUEST,Philippa 26 Jul 02 - 11:28 AM
GUEST,JTT 26 Jul 02 - 07:01 PM
GUEST,Jim Mclean 26 Jul 02 - 07:35 PM
GUEST,Philippa 26 Jul 02 - 07:41 PM
GUEST,robaille@hotmail.com 12 Jan 04 - 03:31 PM
George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca 12 Jan 04 - 05:49 PM
GUEST,ciarili 13 Jan 04 - 12:20 PM
michaelr 13 Jan 04 - 08:46 PM
GUEST 06 Nov 09 - 11:30 PM
GUEST 04 Sep 10 - 06:33 AM
GUEST 04 Sep 10 - 07:51 AM
GUEST,Donal 05 Sep 10 - 02:30 AM
GUEST 19 Sep 10 - 04:14 PM
Jim Carroll 20 Sep 10 - 05:57 AM
Jim Carroll 20 Sep 10 - 06:35 AM
GUEST,catherine Pestano 05 May 11 - 06:51 AM
GUEST,Grace 21 Jan 16 - 04:18 PM
GUEST,Rory 26 Jan 21 - 03:28 PM
GUEST,Rory 20 Jan 22 - 02:45 AM
Share Thread
more
Lyrics & Knowledge Search [Advanced]
DT  Forum Child
Sort (Forum) by:relevance date
DT Lyrics:





Subject: Lyrics of Casadh an tSugain?
From: seancussen
Date: 01 Feb 99 - 12:52 PM

Anyone out ther have the lyrics to a song in Irish called Casadh an tSugain recorded by the Bothy Band and joe heaney. I you have them it would be great to get them. Thanks.


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyrics of Casadh an tSugain
From:
Date: 01 Feb 99 - 06:02 PM

These are the lyrics as they are printed in "Abair Amhr n". the basic story is that a man comes courting but the crafty old woman (his sweetheart's granny?) gets him to help her twist a hay rope until he backs out of the door as the rope gets longer. Brackets indicate alternative wording in chorus

Casadh an tS£g in

A R¡ na bhfeart cad do chas ins a' d£thaigh seo m‚?
'S gur m¢ cail¡n deas a gheobhainn im' dh£thaig¡n beag f‚in;
Gur casadh m‚ isteach mar a raibh searc agus gr  geal mo chl‚ibh,
'S chuir an tseanbhean amach m‚ ag casadh an ts£g in¡n f‚ir.

c£rfa (chorus):
M  bh¡onn t£ li£m [liom], a st¢ir¡n mo chro¡,
M  bh¡onn t£ li£m [liom], b¡ li£m ¢s comhair an tsaoil;
M  bh¡onn t£ li£m [liom], b¡ li£m gach orlach de d'chro¡,
S‚ mo lom go fann nach li£m D‚ Domhnaigh thu mar mhnaoi./
[S‚ mo lom nach f n leat thu D‚ Domhnaigh mar mnaoi]

T  mo cheannsa liath le bliain is n¡ le cr¡onnacht ‚,
N¡ bheata¡d na br‚ithre na br ithre p‚ sa domhan sc‚al ‚;
Is t im i d' dhiaidh le bliain is gan f il agam ort f‚in,
'S gur geall le fia m‚' 'r slaibh go mbeadh g ir con 'na dhiaidh.

Do threabfainn, d'fhuirsinn, chuirfinn s¡ol ins a' chr‚,
'S do dh‚anfainn obair shocair,  lainn, mh¡n, r‚idh,
Do chuirfinn cr£ f‚n each is mire shi£il riamh ar f‚ar,
Is n  h‚alaodh bean le fear n  d‚anfadh san f‚in.


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyrics of Casadh an tSugain
From:
Date: 01 Feb 99 - 08:25 PM

If you've got "Abair Amhr n" you must be home-bred. A great song in (at least) two versions, one slow, the other fast. M¡che l O Domhnaill (ex Bothy Band and Skarae Brae) sang the fast version. The last time I heard this was last Sat night at the CBPPU at 287 Antrim Road, Belfast. Himself and Paddy Glackin enthralled a sell-out audience for at least two hours !!! MEGA. Annraoi


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyrics of Casadh an tSugain
From:
Date: 02 Feb 99 - 10:32 AM

Annraoi - Would you give over about that concert at last?!(I'm just envious, but Lilis O Laoire will be over here in March). The first time I tried to paste in the text, I included more info, like how the Conamara singers draw out and embellish the tune more than • Domhnaill does, etc. But the message didn't transmit and the next time I tried, I was hurried and impatient and omitted my name - okay? Or are you disappointed not to be 'meeting' someone new? Anyway, it's all on the (Nov 98?) IrTrad-L archives //Are any modifications needed in the above text?//

S¡lim go bhfuil an sean-ch‚irn¡n sin le Deirdre N¡ Fhloinn agam sa bhaile i nDoire; thiocfadh liom taifead a dhŠanamh duit ar ball. Bh¡ m‚ ag scr¡obh aiste faoi tithe 'dubha'; t  cuairt ar Mhudcat mar sos dom, ach caithfidh m‚ pilleadh ar an obair anois.

Thanks, everyone, for letting me chat away here.

Se n, et al - hope you enjoy the song


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyrics of Casadh an tSugain
From: Annraoi
Date: 02 Feb 99 - 05:21 PM

I bet that last is from Philippa !! Nice to hear from you again. Busy, busy, busy this end. I'll post a list of the musicioners we hope to have at the CB shortly. Who's Lilis O LAOIRE ? :--))) Sl n go f¢ill, Annraoi


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyrics of Casadh an tSugain
From: Annraoi
Date: 23 Feb 99 - 08:49 PM

O¡che mh¢r eile sa CBPPU, 287 Antrim Road, Belfast."BROC" the latest hot trad property. This is their last gig before a ten-city American tour. Highly recommended by Tansey. Played in the Cutl£rlann last week. IMPRESSIVE or what ?!!! Anyone in Belfast reading this better be at the CB EARLY. Annraoi.


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: Lyr Add: CASADH AN TSÚGÁIN
From: Philippa
Date: 14 Apr 99 - 06:40 AM

CASADH AN TSÚGÁIN

A Rí na bhfeart cad do chas ins a' dúthaigh seo mé?
'S gur mó cailín deas a gheobhainn im' dhúthaigín beag féin;
Gur casadh mé isteach mar a raibh searc agus grá geal mo chléibh,
'S chuir an tseanbhean amach mé‚ ag casadh an tsúgáinín féir.

cúrfa (chorus):
Má bhíonn tú liúm [liom], a stóirín mo chroí,
Ma bhíonn tú liúm [liom], bí liúm ós comhair an tsaoil;
Ma bhíonn tú liúm [liom], bí liúm gach orlach de d'chroí,
'Sé mo lom go fann nach liúm Dé Domhnaigh thu mar mhnaoí
['Sé mo lom nach fán leat thu Dé Domhnaigh mar mnaoi]


Tá mo cheannsa liath le bliain is ní le críonnacht é,
Ní bheataíd na bréithre na bráithre pé sa domhan scéal é;
Is táim i d' dhiaidh le bliain is gan fáil agam ort féin,
'S gur geall le fia mé' 'r slaibh go mbeadh gáir con 'na dhiaidh.

Do threabfainn, d'fhuirsinn, chuirfinn síol ins a' chré,
'S do dhéanfainn obair shocair, álainn, mhín, réidh,
Do chuirfinn crú fén each is mire shiúil riamh ar féar,
Is ná héalaodh bean le fear ná déanfadh san féin.

á = a/ , é = e/ , í = i/ , ó = o/, ú = u/
We'll have to start putting in the HTML commands for the accented letters; I'm still using special keys instead

other versions of this song can be found at mm's Sugán thread


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: Casadh an tSúgáin
From: GUEST,Bermo
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 06:28 AM

Bothy Band - After Hours (live in Palais des Arts, Paris 1978). On this album, Mícheál Ó Domhnaill sings Casadh an tSúgáin (The twisting of the straw-rope) with a first verse which I cannot find the lyrics to anywhere. Sounds like:

"Agus rinne mise cleas.....aréir (and I played a trick.... last night) An darna cleas.....(the second trick... An triú cleas....(the third trick....etc..

the rest of the song follows the standard lyrics as other groups have. I would really appreciate the lyrics to this first verse. Thanks.


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSúgáin
From: Declan
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 07:13 AM

Agus rinne mise cleas ag Tigh Mhic Ui Dhomhnaill aréir
Is an tarna cleas ag teach an Ósta lena thaobh
Is an triú cleas ní bfhearr domh a chur le mo scéal
Is gur mhinicí domh bheith ag caitheamh an dúthracht mhaith léi

I did a trick in O Domhnall's house last night
And a second trick at the holstelry next door
I'd prefer not to add the third trick to my story
And I often spent a good (don't understand dúthracht ) with her

The rest of the song is at this thread


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSúgáin
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 11:28 AM

from Ó Domhnaill's dictionary:
do dhúthracht a chaitheamh le rud: to devote oneself, apply one's zeal to sth., to do one's best with sth.

but please do apply your energies at the older, fuller thread (blue clickable link above)


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSúgáin
From: GUEST,JTT
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 07:01 PM

"doing his duty" is what they say of a cock who's treading a hen, and by extension, of a man with a woman.

Sorry, I didn't see this thread, and have started a new one.


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSúgáin
From: GUEST,Jim Mclean
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 07:35 PM

Apologies for the last two empty additions, I'm afraid the fingers are bit clumsy at this time of night. What I meant to write was that a Galway friend of mine said that the 'Twisting of the Rope' was a way of getting the Landlord out of the house. One would start by asking him to hold the ends of the rope as it was pleated and as the rope grew longer he would have to move backwards until he was out of the house! He said that was the meaning of 'The Twisting the Rope' Jim Mclean

empty messages deleted by joeclone


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSúgáin
From: GUEST,Philippa
Date: 26 Jul 02 - 07:41 PM

JTT, you also didn't see my advice to follow Declan's link to an older thread, which has 20 messages to date. Look there at Julie's message of 14 May 99 for advice on how to reconstruct the desired set of lyrics as sung by Mícheál Ó Domhnaill (was a member of the Bothy Band)using the two sets of lyrics given on the thread. You probably have enough Irish to be able to do that with the recording to hand.
Please continue discussion on the earlier thread - see Declan's blue clickable link above


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyrics of Casadh an tSugain
From: GUEST,robaille@hotmail.com
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 03:31 PM

I have those lyrics if anyone is still interested in them


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyrics of Casadh an tSugain
From: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca
Date: 12 Jan 04 - 05:49 PM

Would you post them here at the Mudcat?

Thanks in advance.


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: Lyr Add: CASADH AN TSÚGÁIN (AN SÚISÍN BÁN)
From: GUEST,ciarili
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 12:20 PM

here are a couple of recorded versions i don't see posted yet, or at least not all together in one place....

CASADH AN TSÚGÁIN (AN SÚISÍN BÁN)

mícheal o'domhnaill's version:
Agus rinne mise cleas ag Tigh Mhic Ui Dhomhnaill aréir
Is an tarna cleas ag teach an Ósta lena thaobh
Is an triú cleas ní bfhearr domh a chur le mo scéal
Is gur mhinicí domh bheith ag caitheamh an dúthracht mhaith léi

A Rí na bhfeart cad do chas ins a' dúiche seo mé?
'S gur mó cailín deas a gheobhainn im' dhúthaigín beag féin;
Gur casadh mé isteach mar a raibh searc agus rún geal mo chléibh,
Is chuir an tseanbhean amach mé ag casadh an tsúgáinín féir.

cúrfá:
Má bhíonn tú liom, a stóirín mo chroí,
Ma bhíonn tú liom, bí liom os comhair an tsaoil;
Ma bhíonn tú liom, bí liom gach orlach de do chroí,
Is é mo liom go fann nach liom Dé Domhnaigh thú mar mhnaoí

Tá mo cheannsa liath le bliain is ní le críonnacht é,
Ní bheathaíonn na briathra na bráithre pé sa domhan scéal é;
Is táim i do dhiaidh le bliain is gan fáil agam ort féin,
Is gur geall le fia mé ar sliabh go mbeadh gáir chon ina dhéidh.

Do threabfainn, d'fhuirsinn, chuirfinn síol ins a' chré,
'S do dhéanfainn obair shocair, álainn, mhín, réidh,
Do chuirfinn crú fén each is mire shiúil riamh ar féar,
Is ná héalaodh bean le fear ná déanfadh san féin.

Lasairfhíona Ní Chonaola's version:
curfá:
Má bhíonn tú liom, bí liom os comhair lán an tí
Má bhíonn tú liom, bí liom de ló geal is oidhche
Má bhíonn tú liom, bí liom gach ordlach de do chroidhe
'Sé mo lean le fonn, nach liom Dé Domhnaigh thú mar mhnaoi

Dhá mbéadh spré ag an gcat nach deas mar a phógfaí a bhéal
Mura mbeadh nach fada ó bhaile a sheolfaí é
Tá iníon na caillighe gioblaighe casta pósta ó aréir
'S tá mo chailín ag baile 's gan duine aici a phógfadh a béal

'S cén cat mara a chas in san áit seo mé?
Nach iomaigh cailín a d'fhága mé i mo dhiaidh
Mar gheall ar throid 's ar bhruíon 's ar rud éicint nárbh fhíor
Muise, óinseach cailligh, 's iníon aici a bhí gan chiall

'S chuirfinn, threabhfainn, 's chraithfinn an síol go domhain sa gcré
'S sheolfainn na beithígh sna páirceanna 's airde a fhásann féar,
Chuirfinn crúidhthe ar an each ba dheise 's ba lúfaire a shiubhail riamh féar,
Ach d'éalochadh bean le fear nach ndéanfadh é sin féin.

If you're with me, be with me in front of all the people in the house
If you're with me, be with me all day and all night
If you're with me, be with me every inch of your heart
I's my great sadness that you aren't mine on Sunday as my wife

If the cat had a dowry, how nicely his mouth would be kissed
And if he didn't, it's a long way from home he'd be driven
The twisted, wretched witch's daughter is married since last night
And my girl's at home with no one to kiss her mouth

And what dead cat (misfortune) that directed me to this place?
There's many a girl in the village that I left behind
Because of a fight and a quarrel and something that wasn't even true
Musha, a silly hag and her daughter that had no sense

I'd plough and plant the seed deep in the soil
And I'd drive the cows to the fields where the tallest grass grows
I'd shoe a horse that was the nicest and fastest ever
And a woman would elope with a man who wouldn't even do that


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyrics of Casadh an tSugain
From: michaelr
Date: 13 Jan 04 - 08:46 PM

Hi ciarili, glad to see you back. Any chance of a translation for the Michael O'Domhnaill words?

Cheers,
Michael


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSugain
From: GUEST
Date: 06 Nov 09 - 11:30 PM

I would love a translation for the Michael O'Domhnaill version also if someone could help with that ! =) thanks for this


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSugain
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 06:33 AM

am a bit late joining this conversation, but would anyone have the words for the version Joe Heaney sings?


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSugain
From: GUEST
Date: 04 Sep 10 - 07:51 AM

or better still Seamus Ennis's version?


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSugain
From: GUEST,Donal
Date: 05 Sep 10 - 02:30 AM

The booklet with Joe Heaney's CD 'Ó mo dhúchas' has this as the first verse after the chorus:

Is thíos i Sligeach chuir mé eolas ar na mná
Is thiar i nGaillimh d'ól mé leo mo sháith
Dar bhrí mo mhaide mar a ligeann siad
dhom feasta seachas mar atá
Ó déanfaidh mise cleas a bhaineas siúl as na mná.

Otherwise it is just about the same as Lasairfhíona's.


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSugain
From: GUEST
Date: 19 Sep 10 - 04:14 PM

Go raibh maith agat, a Dhonal.

Have since fallen for Seamus Ennis's version. Will try to teach it to myself. From the sounds of it his words are similar to Lasairfhíona's.


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSugain
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 05:57 AM

This is the BBC index information on the song.
If I'm not mistaken, there is a version from Michael Doherty of Donegal which comes with the story 'The Girl Too Smart for the Fiddler'
Jim Carroll
CASADH AN TSÚGAIN (Twisting the hayrope)
1.   Singer: Séamus Ennis                                                                3.05   13764.   
Dublin
20.9.49   (R.V.A.G.)
2.   Singer: Maureen O'Sullivan                                                        3.15   13771
Ballylicky, Co. Cork.
21.9.49 (R.V.A.G.)        
The first recording is a version learnt from Colm Keane, of Glinsk, Connemara. The second is a Munster version.
The rope in question was made by twisting strands of hay, and it was put to various uses by the country people: to bind haystacks, to thatch the roofs of cottages and to make rustic chairs.   The story is that a poet gains access to a house at night and makes love to a young girl there.   These attentions are unwelcome to the girl's mother and she decides to get rid of him by making a hayrope with him. She manoeuvers so that his back is to the open door. With the twisting of the rope the distance between them becomes greater, until at length he passes through the doorway into the darkness outside. She then slams the door in his face, whereupon he goes away and makes this sorrowful song.
See Edward Walsh: Irish Popular Songs, p. 39;   A.M. Freeman': collection from Ballyvourney, Co. Cork, in Journal of the Folk Song Society, 1920, pp. 159 et seq.
The tale is imaginatively told by W.B. Yeats in 'The Secret Rose'; and a play on the subject, in Irish, with the same title as the song, was written by Douglas Hyde and performed at the Abbey Theatre in Dublin.
D.J. 0'Sullivan(ed.): The Bunting Collection of Irish Folk Music and Songs, part i, p.65 (Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society). 1927 )


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSugain
From: Jim Carroll
Date: 20 Sep 10 - 06:35 AM

Not a song from Michael Doherty - a tune,
Jim Carroll

GIRL WHO WAS TOO SMART FOR THE FIDDLER, The        (see CASADH AN TSUGAIN - Section 2)
Michael O' Doherty (fiddle)                                                        3.15    16657
Teilionn, Co. Donegal.   24.4.51
2.20 Story: a fiddler was coming home from a dance along a lonely road on which there was only one house kept "by - two girls. They refused him lodging because there was no man in the house.   The fiddler refused to leave and so one of the girls asked him to help her twist ropes. She told him to twist on until he got to the street. When he reached the middle of the street she ran to the door and locked it. The fiddler, seeing he was beaten, played this tune.
1.06 Tune (with interpolations by Sean O' Heochaidh)
(This story forms the theme of a Gaelic folk song - see CASADH AN TSUGAIN - Section 2).


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSugain
From: GUEST,catherine Pestano
Date: 05 May 11 - 06:51 AM

Thanks for all these references, I was searching for this song as my mother of 76 sings it really well but we didn't know what it meant and thought it was a sad song, so it's great to know its a bit brighter than the tune suggests! Lovely tune tho.

many thanks again to all

Catherine


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSugain (Bothy Band)
From: GUEST,Grace
Date: 21 Jan 16 - 04:18 PM

There is this new version by Iarla O Lionard...

https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=Oia3W_A9W8k

I don't recognize the lyrics in this, but I'll try to guess at what it sounds like...

Do Casadh Cailin (a rohn) aoighneas na tra
Air (looiv) na cuile 's (squishe voh gla).

That concludes my attempt haha

I'm guessing the lyrics tie into the film because the trailer does show a happy girl on a beach....lol


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSugain (Bothy Band)
From: GUEST,Rory
Date: 26 Jan 21 - 03:28 PM

"Casadh an tSugain"

The song appears as three verses in
Irish minstrelsy, by James Hardiman, 1831, vol 1, pp. 195-196.


1
Nach é an cat marbh chas ann na h-áitesi mé,
'S a líacht cailín deas do fhágassa mo diaigh;
Thánic me steach 's an teach raib grádh geal mo chléibh,
'S chuir an chailleach amach air chasadh an t'súgáin mé!

2
Má bhidheamn tu liom, bídh liom do ló a's d'oídhche;
Má bhidheamn tu liom, bídh liom ós comhair an t-saoghail;
Má bhidheamn tu liom, bídh liom gach órdlach ann do chroídhe;
'S é má leun nach liom trathnóna thú mar mhnaoi!

3
A's shíos a Sligiach chúir mé eólus air mo ghrádh,
A's shuas a n-Gaillimh d'ól mé léi mo sháith;
Dar brigh mo bhata muna léigfidh dhaihsa mar a táim,
Déanfaidh mé cleas a bhainfeas siubhal ar na mnáibh!


"The Twisting of the Rope"

1
What misfortune drove me to this place,
There's many a girl I've left behind at home;
I came into the house where the bright love of my heart was,
And the old woman turned me out while twisting the rope.

2
If you'll be mine, be mine both day and night;
If you'll be mine, be mine before the whole world;
If you'll be mine, be mine with every inch of your heart;
It is with sadness that you aren't mine this evening as my wife.

3
Down in Sligo I first learnt my love of women,
And up in Galway I drank my fill with them;
But by this hand, if they don’t leave me alone,
I’ll play a trick that will have the women running!


.


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Casadh an tSugain (Bothy Band)
From: GUEST,Rory
Date: 20 Jan 22 - 02:45 AM

A version of the song collected from oral tradition by Irish scholar Patrick Lynch in Mayo in June 1802, for Edward Bunting's Collection.

Patrick Lynch Irish Gaelic transcription in:
The Edward Bunting Collection in Special Collections & Archives, Queen's University Belfast
MS 4/26 Manuscript collection of Irish songs in Gaelic and some English prose translations by Patrick Lynch
MS 4_26_25w
page 167, 1802

Patrick Lynch Irish Gaelic transcription: Casadh an tSugain

A cailin deas do leas nár dhéana tú
A crann gan rath is measa méin agus lúth
Nár thig do chuig bó bhaile ag géimnigh na diúl
Nár roibh tú fad ag d'fhear go néaga tú

A cháirde gaoil, caoínim m'ádhbhar féin
Mo cheangal le mnaoi is gan m'intin sásda léi
Mar gheall ar mhaoin bhocht shaoghalta nach bh'feárrde dheith mé
Trí bath, caora agus síothbhra mná gan fhéim

Dá mbeath crodh ag a gcat is deas a bpósaige é
Níl faraor ná aig an té tha chóra dhó é
Tá inghin a caillighe giobóighe a cumhdach sa gcéim
S' a liacht maighdean dheas gan fios cía gabháil le

Chuirfinn, threabhfainn, scapthuinn síol sa gcré
Phoguinn bean 's nár dheas a tslíghe domh é
Chuirfinn crú ar an each is deise shubhladh an féar
Agus d’éalódh bean le fear nach ndéanamh sin féin


chrod = (arch.) cattle, means, riches, treasure
chrod breá = handsome fortune
airnéis = cattle, chattel, stock, furniture, goods
spré (used in later versions) = dowry



Patrick Lynch Irish Gaelic fair copy (neatly re-written) with some minor corrections:
MS 4/10 Manuscript collection of Irish songs in Gaelic by Patrick Lynch
MS 4.10.51
page 51, 1802

Patrick Lynch Irish Gaelic fair copy: Casadh an tSugain


Patrick Lynch translation:
MS 4/26 Manuscript collection of Irish songs in Gaelic and some English prose translations by Patrick Lynch
MS 4_26_25v
page 166, 1802

Patrick Lynch translation: Twisting of the Rope

My pretty girl may you never do what is good for y'self
you are a fruitless tree of the worst quality and of no account
that your milk cows may not come home bellowing to be milked
& that you may not be long with y' (your) husband untill you die

Dear friends I lament my own hard fate
to bound to a woman with whom my mind is displeased
forsake of poor earthly gear of which I am nought the better
three cows, a sheep and a fairy of a useless woman

If a cat had a good portion how prittily it would be married
But alas! they who ought to have it - have it not
See the daughter of the Ragged hagg is provided for and promoted
And so many fair virgins who know not who would take with them

I can plant, I can plow - I can sow seed in the ground
I could kiss a girl and is not that a pritty way for me
I could shoe the finest horse that ever trod on grass
And a woman might run away with a man who could not do that itself


My translation:
Similar to Patrick Lynch's literal translation.

Pretty girl, you do not do what is good for yourself
You are a fruitless tree of the worst disposition and vigour
Your milk cows do not come home bellowing to be milked
And you may not be long with your husband untill you die

Dear friends, I lament my own cause
Bound to a woman with my mind not pleased with her
Because of poor worldly goods I was not better off
Three cows, sheep and a fairy of a useless woman

If a cat had riches how prettily it would be married
Alas! for he whom it is not fair
The daughter of the ragged hagg is provided for and promoted
So many pretty virgins not knowing who would take with them

I would plant, I would plow, I would sow seed in the earth
I would kiss a woman and is that not a pretty way for me
I would shoe the nicest horse that walks the grass
And a woman would run away with a man who would not do that



A similar version of seven stanzas titled "DÁ MBEITH CRODH AIG AN GCAT" (IF A CAT HAD RICHES) is printed in Tomás Ó Máille’s Amhráin Chearbhalláin (1916) pp. 262-263, edited there from two related versions in Royal Irish Acadamy (RIA) ms 23A1 and 23I8, which contain poems written down by “Daniel Malone, a schoolmaster, who travelled through the counties of Leitrim, Roscommon, etc., in the years 1827 and 1828 and collected all these songs from the recital of the people

Amhráin Chearbhalláin
The Poems of Carolan
Editor Ó Máille, Tomás
Composition Date 1738
Publisher(Londain: I.T.S., 1916)
pp.262-263, notes p.334.

DÁ MBEITH CRODH AIG AN GCAT (IF A CAT HAD RICHES)

The song is in Part III, whereby Ó Máille asserts that the poems in Part II and Part III were composed by poets other than Carolan.
He writes: The MS contains several songs, attributed to Carolan, some of which can, with certainty, be attributed to other poets. These are contained in Part III. A considerable number of others are considered doubtful, but the internal evidence is against their having being composed by carolan. These are contained in Part II.

He says of the song, which is well known all over Connacht, is much confused if not identical with An Súisin Bán (The White Blanket) or Casadh an tSúgáin (The Twisting of the Rope). The first stanza is common to both poems.

Donal O'Sullivan (1927) notes that the words of the song "An Súisín Bán" and of "Casadh an tSugain" have become inextricably intertwined...so that it is almost impossible to say, in the case of any particular verse, whether it belongs to one song or the other.
Journal of the Irish Folk Song Society, Vol XXII-XXIII
The Bunting Collection of Irish Folk Music and Songs, edited from the original manuscripts by Donal O'Sullivan, Part I, 1927, No. 19, pp. 65-68.


DÁ MBEITH CRODH AIG AN GCAT
(IF A CAT HAD RICHES)

Dá mbeith crodh aig an gcat is deas a pógfaidhe a bhéal,
Níl, mo chreach! ná aig an té ar chóir dhó-san é.
Tá inghin na caillighe giobaighe pósta ó 'réir,
A's a liachtaí óig-bhean dheas gan fios cía shiubhailfeadh léith.

Chuirfinn, chraithfinn, scapfainn síol insa gcré,
A's sheolfainn na bath fán n-eanaigh is milse air bith féar,
Chuirfinn crú air a n-each is deise do shiubhailfeadh an féar,
Agas d'éolochadh bean le fear nach ndéanfadh sin féin.

A cháirde gaoil, caoínigidh i mbáireach mé,
Fá mo thabhairt don mnaoi a's gan m'intinn sásta léith,
I ngeall air mhaoin bheag shaoghalta nár bh'fearrde mé féin,
Trí bath, caora, a's síofrach mná dona gan chéill.

Shiubhail mé corraigh, bogaigh is móinte fraoígh,
Thart go Baile an Tobair is go Párthas na naomh,
Shiubhail mé an méid sin uile do dhá oidhche agas laé,
Air shúil go bhfuighinn mo thoil uirthí a's sháraigh sí mé.

A's a chailín deas, do leas nár dhéana tú,
A chrann gan rath bu mheasa féachaint air bith súl,
Nuair thig do chuid bath abhaile a' géimnigh un diúil,
Ná raibh tú i bhfad aig d'fhear go n-éaga tú, a shiúr.

A Mháire, a chuisle, a bhean is áille air bith méin,
A's go dtug tú buaidh air mhná do chinte uile go léir,
d'fhága tú mise a' sileadh na súl gach lá do dhíaidh,
A's gurb' í a n-úaigh mo leabaidh nuair a fhágfas tú mé.

B'fhurus aithne dhamh-sa air bhaint na lúachra aréir,
Go dtug mo mhuirnín bodach grúama orm féin,
An ní is éadrom leatsa is trom an t-ualach ormsa é,
A's gur minic bhain duine slat a bhuailfeadh é féin.

.


Post - Top - Home - Printer Friendly - Translate
  Share Thread:
More...

Reply to Thread
Subject:  Help
From:
Preview   Automatic Linebreaks   Make a link ("blue clicky")


Mudcat time: 22 December 6:38 AM EST

[ Home ]

All original material is copyright © 2022 by the Mudcat Café Music Foundation. All photos, music, images, etc. are copyright © by their rightful owners. Every effort is taken to attribute appropriate copyright to images, content, music, etc. We are not a copyright resource.