Origins: Donal Og (Young Donald)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: GUEST,Judith
Date: 24 May 00 - 12:03 AM

I was so pleased to come across the discussion of this song, though it is quite late in the thread. Nice to finally see the lyrics written out, since I invariably mis-hear something in every set of lyrics.

I don't know if she ever recorded it, but I heard Bonnie Shalgeen (sp?) sing it during an interview with her & Packy Burn twenty or more years ago. She used verses 1,5,7,& 8 of Stewie's originally posted set (using "when first I saw you" rather than "when last I saw you"), plus the extra stanza that Wolfgang sent (inserting this between 5 & 7).

(If anyone knows the proper spelling of her name, I'd appreciate knowing it. And does anyone know if Packy has passed on by now?)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: AoifeO
Date: 07 May 00 - 03:06 PM

There is a lovely version of this song on an album by Georgia Rose and Suzannah Armstrong-Park, daughters of Jenny Armstrong. It is indeed a gorgeous song. This version is particulary heartfelt and moving.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Stewie
Date: 06 May 00 - 10:41 PM

Unfortunately, they remain unavailable in any format. We will have to wait until the cretin who holds the rights to the Leader/Trailer catalogues decides to release them (if ever). So far only a couple of Dransfields tracks and a Dave Burland LP have surfaced.

--Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: GUEST,Fred
Date: 06 May 00 - 05:59 PM

Got your message.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: GUEST,Trevor Webster
Date: 06 May 00 - 05:54 PM

I have Al O'Donnell 2 on vinyl. I have been told in both England and Ireland that both 1 and 2 have been deleted. Does anyone know if they exist on tape or CD as Al O'Donnell is one of my favourite traditional singers and my album is getting worn and scratched.

Subject: tune add: Donal Og (Young Donald) ^^
From: alison
Date: 11 Dec 99 - 08:39 PM

Tune for Donal Og now available at Mudcat MIDIs ^^

slainte

alison

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From:
Date: 10 Dec 99 - 05:23 PM

To my ears, there's a slight difference between the tune published by Kennedy (and sung by Conamara Irish singers such as Máire Áine Ní Dhonnchadha and Seosamh Ó hEanaí) and that sung by Al O'Donnell. Although the Sands and Fisher families sing the Frank O'Connor translation and Al O'Donnell sings the Séamas Ennis translation, they use the same air. I think there is enough difference between the tunes Alison will get from John (for Irish language) and from Wolfgang (for English language) be worth doing midis for both. She can judge that for herself when she examines them. [I wrote this before I saw that John had posted his midi]

Ó Tuama & Kinsella, "An Duanaire: Songs of the Dispossessed" Dublin:Dolmen Press/ Bord na Gaeilge, 1981 has a good long text for Dónal Óg, with Irish verses and their translation by Thomas Kinsella. Other songs which have featured at Mudcat can be found in this book: Eanach Dhúin (Anach Chuain), a Óganaigh Óig, Roisín Dubh, Droimeann Donn Dilis - all in Irish with English translations. Unfortunately music is not included.

Another publication of the Lady Gregory translation is in McDonagh & Robinson, ed. "The Oxford Book of Irish Verse" (Oxford University Press, several editions)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 09 Dec 99 - 08:31 AM

Sorry, should have mentioned that the version I wrote out comes from Kennedy's fine book.

Subject: Tune Add: DONAL OG / YOUNG DONALD
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 09 Dec 99 - 08:27 AM

Here's the toon. My email is playing up, but I'' get it to MUDI as soon as I can. REgards, John

MIDI file: donaldog.mid

Timebase: 96

Text: Donal(d) Og
Tempo: 120 (500000 microsec/crotchet)
TimeSig: 3/2 144 8
Start
0480 1 67 064 0096 0 67 064 0000 1 69 064 0096 0 69 064 0000 1 67 064 0048 0 67 064 0000 1 64 064 0048 0 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0144 0 67 064 0000 1 69 064 0048 0 69 064 0000 1 67 064 0096 0 67 064 0000 1 64 064 0048 0 64 064 0000 1 60 064 0048 0 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0144 0 64 064 0000 1 62 064 0048 0 62 064 0000 1 60 064 0192 0 60 064 0000 1 60 064 0096 0 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0048 0 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0048 0 67 064 0000 1 69 064 0192 0 69 064 0000 1 71 064 0144 0 71 064 0000 1 69 064 0048 0 69 064 0000 1 67 064 0048 0 67 064 0000 1 64 064 0096 0 64 064 0000 1 62 064 0048 0 62 064 0000 1 64 064 0048 0 64 064 0000 1 64 064 0048 0 64 064 0000 1 64 064 0288 0 64 064 0000 1 60 064 0096 0 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0048 0 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0048 0 67 064 0000 1 72 064 0192 0 72 064 0000 1 74 064 0144 0 74 064 0000 1 72 064 0048 0 72 064 0000 1 69 064 0096 0 69 064 0000 1 67 064 0048 0 67 064 0000 1 64 064 0048 0 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0096 0 67 064 0000 1 64 064 0048 0 64 064 0000 1 62 064 0048 0 62 064 0000 1 64 064 0192 0 64 064 0000 1 67 064 0096 0 67 064 0000 1 69 064 0048 0 69 064 0000 1 71 064 0048 0 71 064 0000 1 72 064 0144 0 72 064 0000 1 71 064 0048 0 71 064 0000 1 69 064 0048 0 69 064 0000 1 71 064 0048 0 71 064 0000 1 67 064 0048 0 67 064 0000 1 64 064 0048 0 64 064 0000 1 64 064 0144 0 64 064 0000 1 62 064 0024 0 62 064 0000 1 60 064 0024 0 60 064 0000 1 64 064 0144 0 64 064 0000 1 62 064 0048 0 62 064 0000 1 60 064 0288 0 60 064
End

This program is worth the effort of learning it.

To download the January 15 MIDItext 98 software and get instructions on how to use it click here

ABC format:

X:1
T: Donal(d) Og
M:3/2
Q:1/4=120
K:C
G2|A2GEG3AG2EC|E3DC4C2EG|A4B3AGE2D|EEE6C2EG|
c4d3cA2GE|G2EDE4G2AB|c3BABGEE3D/2C/2|E3DC6||

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 09 Dec 99 - 06:48 AM

Fine, let's both go on, John. Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: John in Brisbane
Date: 09 Dec 99 - 05:06 AM

Wolfgang, I'd better not deny Alison a marvellous gift from you - so please send the tape as planned, but I'll notate the tune in the next few hours. I don't know the song at all, so I'm looking forward to playing it. Regards, John

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 09 Dec 99 - 04:55 AM

Alan, I'll send a tape to Alison within the next two weeks with the Al O'Donnell LP on one side, both for this tune and for 'Lord Abore and Mary Flynn' (and for other beauties).

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Alan of Australia
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 08:37 PM

G'day,
If anyone had a MIDI (or ABC or anything)go to the Mudcat MIDI site and email me a copy. I'll post it on the site.

Cheers,
Alan

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Gerry
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 02:40 PM

Chantan singer, Christine Kydd, has a good version of Donal Og in her CD 'Primary Colours'. The whole CD is very good actually.

Subject: RE: Dónal Óg (Young Donald)
From: Philippa
Date: 03 Dec 99 - 01:29 PM

The Seán Lucy translation is also published in S. Lucy,ed. "Love Poems of the Irish", Cork: Mercier, 1967
And I hear that Patrick Pearse also translated "Dónal Óg"

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Philipp
Date: 26 Nov 99 - 02:39 PM

Thanks, Daniel, for reminding me about Archie Fisher. On the Topic recording, The Fisher family, Joyce Fisher sings "Donal Ogue", accompanied I believe by Archie Fisher on guitar. She sings the Frank O'Connor translation, the same version Ann Sands sings with her family. I gather that O'Connor translated more verses than are sung here, because the Fisher Family album notes say that "a full version of the text can be found in Frank O'Connor's 'Kings, Lords and Commons'

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Liam's Brother
Date: 24 Nov 99 - 06:30 PM

I can add that Ray Fisher sang Donal Ogue on the Topic LP, The Fisher Family (12T137). Donal is Daniel in English.

All the best, Dan

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Philippa
Date: 24 Nov 99 - 05:18 PM

The Lady Gregory translation can also be found in Kathleen Hoagland, ed. "1000 Years of Irish Poetry", Old Greenwich, Conn: Devin-Adair (out of print)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dónal Óg (Young Donald)
From: Philippa
Date: 24 Nov 99 - 02:34 PM

A huge omission in my previous message! The book from which I quote some verses in Irish is Seosamh Ó Duibhgeain [spelling?], "Dónall Óg", published in Dublin (Baile Átha Cliath) by an Clóchomhar in 1960

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 24 Nov 99 - 01:39 PM

Philippa, thanks so much for all these informations. Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Philippa
Date: 24 Nov 99 - 01:35 PM

Other translations of this song are by
1) Lady Gregory (a contempory of Yeats) - "Donall Oge", published in Brendan Kennelly, ed, "Between Innocence and Peace: Favourite Poems of Ireland", Cork: Mercier (no date given, but recent publication)
2) Seán Lucy - "Donal Ogue", published in Lucy, Unfinished Sequence", Dublin: Wolfstone, 1979 nad Seán Dunne, ed., "Poets of Munster", London: Anvil and Dingle, Co. Kerry: Brandon , 1985

Both have the verse about milking the cow; here is Lady Gregory's version:

O Donall Oge, it is I would be better for you
Than a high, proud, spendthrift lady:
I would milk the cow, I would bring help to you;
And if you were hard pressed, I would stike a blow for you.

In the chapter of Munster versions in the book, I found this Irish for the above verse::

A Dhomhnall Óig, b'fhearr dhuit mise agat
Ná bean uasal uaibhreach iomarcach
Do chrúdhfainn bó agus do-ghéanainn cuigean duit,
Is, dá mba cruaidh é, do bhuailinn buille leat.

Here is the "If you come at all, come when stars are peeping" verse in Irish, from one of the Munster versions published in

Má thagann tú 'n aon chor tar ist oidhche [ist =ins an t; oidhche=oíche]
Tar sa dorus go mbeidh an tsíon ann
Fiar(fh)óghaidh mo mháithrín cia ro díobh thú,
A's dearfad-sa leithe gur ab síol don gaoith thu.

(Munster is the southern-most province of Ireland.)

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Dónall Óg)
From: Philippa
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 07:28 PM

sorry, I left out the third line of two verses!

Ennis verse 6 ~

Fuair mé póigín is ní ó chladhaire
An dara póigín ag gabháil a luí dhom
An triú póigín ag gabháil a luí dom
Agus murach an phóg sin bheinnse i mo mhaighdean

O'Connor Black (dubh) verse ~

Tá mo chroí-se chomh dubh le hairne
Nó mar ghual dubh a dhóifí i gceárta
Nó le bonn bróige ar hallaí bana
Agus tá lionn dubh mór os cionn mo gháire.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Philippa
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 07:15 PM

Ennis verse 3 ~

Dúirt mo mhaithrín liom gun labhairt leat
Inniú ná amarach nó Dé Domhnaigh
Is olc an tráth a dtug sí rabhadh dhom
Is é dúnadh an dorais é tar éis na foghla

Ennis verse 6 ~

Fuair mé póigín is ní ó chladhaire
An dara póigín ag gabháil a luí dhom
Agus murach an phóg sin bheinnse i mo mhaighdean

I haven't found no.5, but the line, Ma thagann [or 'thig'] tú choíche/ Ná tar [or 'tig'] ach san oíche (if you come at all, come at night) is found in other songs, both in Irish and Scottish Gaelic// The last line of the Ennis verse puts me in mind of "The Whistlin Thief"

another verse in the O' Connor translation is

Oh black as a sloe is the heart that's in me
Black as the coal is the grief that binds me
Black as a footprint in shining hallway
'Twas you that blackened it, forever and always.

{I typed this for pasting in before I read Stewie's message}
This is similar to the Irish verse:

Tá mo chroí-se chomh dubh le hairne
Nó mar ghual dubh a dhóifí i gceárta
Agus tá lionn dubh mór os cionn mo gháire.

now, can anyone come up with original Irish for Ennis verse 5 and also for O'Connor verse 3 (in the Sands' rendering) which is almost the same as the one Wolfgang gives about milking the cow and nursing the baby?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Stewie
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 07:09 PM

Thanks Philippa. For those who may be interested, the 'black' verse mentioned above is:

Black as the sloe is the heart that's in me
Black as the coal is the grief that rives me
Black as a footprint in a shining hallway
'Twas you that blackened it forever and always

For you took etc

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Dónall Óg ^^
From: Philippa
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 03:17 PM

The Séamas Ennis translation is close enough to the literal meaning, at least for those verses for which I have the Irish, but only two of the 4 verses on the websites (links above) are in his version. The other two verses are ones I've heard Donegal singers do (to a different air than the one used in Conamara)

A Dhónaill Óig, má théir thar fharraige
Beir mé féin leat 's ná deán dom dearmad
Beidh agat féirín lá aonaigh 'gus margaidh
Agus níon Rí Gréige mar chéile leapa 'gat

is equivalent to Ennis verse 1

Gheall tú dom-sa ní nach dearn tú
Fáinne óir a chur ar 'ach méar domh
Seisreach óir fána hanlaí airgid
Agus muileann siúchra ar 'ach sruth in Éirinn

You promised me things you didn't do, to put gold rings on each of my fingers... and sugar mills on each stream in Ireland

B'fhurast dom aithne nach tú bhí i ndán dom
Chuir tú amach mé oíche na báistí
Bhain truisle dom-sa ag giall na bearnadh
Char dhúirt tú Dia liom 's char chraith tú lámh liom.

I easily realised you weren't intended for me; you sent me out on a stormy night, ...you didn't welcome me or shake my hand

Bhain tú soir 'gus bhain tú siar dom
Bhain tú romham is bhain tú mo dhiaidh dom
Bhain tú 'n ghealach is bhain tú an ghrian dom
'S is ró-mhór m'eagla gur bhain tú Dia dom.

is equivalent to the final verse in the Ennis/O'Donnell rendering

Ennis' verse 2 is verse 7 as sung by Máire Áine Ní Dhonnchadha on "Deora Aille" (Claddagh Records):

A Ghile na Finne 's a Ghile na Ruaichte
A Ghile an 's tú d'fhága mé buartha
Nuair a chloisim trácht ar na mná dá luadh leat
Titeann an bun díom agus barr na gruaige.

Ennis verse 4 ~ Ní Dhonnchadha verse 2:

Gheall tú dhomhsa agus rinne tú breag liom
Go mbeifea romhamsa ag cró na gcaorach;
Lig mé fead agus dhá bhlai dhéag ort.
'S ní raibh romham ach na huain agus iad a' méilí

Ennis verse 7 ~ Ní Dhonnchadha verse 3

Siúd é an Domhnach a dtug mé grá dhuit
A' Domhnach díreach roimh Dhomhnach Cásca
Is tú ar do ghlúine a' léamh na Páise
Sea bhí mo dhá shúil a' síor-thabhairt grá dhuit.

"You were on your knees reading the passion, and my two eyes were constantly giving love to you"; it does make more sense that Dónal was reading and she was looking at him!

Ann Sands sings the verse about milking the cows and nursing the baby. The translation is credited to Frank O'Connor.

Probably originals for all the translated verses can be found in Seosamh Ó , "Dónall Óg", published in Dublin (Baile Atha Cliath) by an Clóchomhar in 1960. He even includes Fear a' Bhàta because of one verse common to versions of both songs!

^^

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 09:49 AM

Stewie, no this verse is not in my printed version. My one version is a xerox from a record cover without further information and only few verses, the other version is in Jake Walton, Keltische Folksongs, which seems to be a reliable source, as far as I can tell. The notes say Copyright Seamus Ennis, tune (and Gaelic lyrics): trad. The book gives two further recordings, The Fureys on 'A dream in my hand' and Ray Fisher (no title).
I have no idea, whether additional verses have been added to the translation or whether all versions we have are just subsets of the original translation.
My version from the book has this order of verses: Verse 1 (your version), verse 7, my additional verse, verse 4, verse 5, verse6, verse 8.
None of these verses are identical to the ones you posted, but mostly the differences are minor. The largest difference is in your verse 7, my verse 2, which would make no sense at position 2 with O'D's words. Jake Walton prints:

Well I saw you first on a Sunday evening,
down at the altar as I was kneeling,
about Christ's passion that I was reading,
but my eyes were on you and my poor heart bleeding.

Isn't that a fine variant?
Philippa (above) has given links to Gaelic lyrics (the first link leads to the tune in ABC). I'd love to see here a verbatim translation.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Stewie
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 09:14 AM

Wolfgang, I found the McKenna version, but it's not the one I'm looking for. The McKennas have your extra verse and also the fine verse that contains the great line about 'Black as a footprint in shining hallways' which I now recall also. Isn't that in the printed version that you have? Have extra verses, possibly from the versions in Irish, been added to Ennis' translation?

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Stewie
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 08:53 AM

Thanks, Wolfgang. You are quite right - on listening to it carefully a few more times, he is saying 'you' but, on the surface, it sounds like 'he'. I know that extra stanza that you quote very well and it puzzled me why it wasn't there because I thought O'D sang it. I must have it on some version somewhere in my collection, but I don't know by whom. I had all my stuff on a database until my old computer had a complete meltdown a couple of years ago and I haven't had the inclination to do it all again. Since I have been concentrating on oldtimey over the last few years, my memory of what I have, or where, in Irish and UK material is somewhat deficient. It will probably annoy me now till I find it.

Cheers, Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 05 Nov 99 - 06:27 AM

This is for me one of the best songs ever writting. I relistened last night Al O'Donnell singing it and it was as great as ever.
BTW, Stewie, I hear the "you" in verse 6, which makes more sense and is in both written versions I have. Al O'Donnell has a strong aspiration for that syllable and it sounds more like "hue" but I'm sure he's trying to sing "you".
Seamus Ennis is not just the "source" for this version, he is the author of the (this?) English translation.
I have a printed version (in a German book on 'celtic' music) which has not all of the verses above, but has the following additional verse (before verse 4 above):

Oh and Donal Og you'll not find me lazy,
not like some high born expensive lady,
I'll do your milking and nurse your baby,
and if you're beset on I'll defend you bravely.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: johntm
Date: 04 Nov 99 - 04:16 PM

Joe Heaney has a version in Irish in The Best of Joe Heaney My Tradition Shanachie records

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Wolfgang
Date: 04 Nov 99 - 09:06 AM

There is a version as well (English) on the LP 'The McKenna Brothers life at O'Donoghue's'. Can't be called 'easily available' though. I prefer the Al O'Donnell version by far. Until now, I only had lyrics close to his version. Thanks a lot, Stewie, for changing this.

Wolfgang

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Peter T.
Date: 03 Nov 99 - 12:09 PM

thanks for the prompt responses! I will send you a message, Stewie, if it isn't too much trouble. yours, Peter T.

Subject: Dónal Óg
From: Philippa
Date: 03 Nov 99 - 09:52 AM

Al O'Donnell's recording is good, all the songs on it.
another English translation of Dónal Óg is sung by the Sands Family (Ann Sands sings Dónal Óg) on "You'll Be Well Looked After", EMI Green Label LEAF 7005; Gerry Shannon sings in English on "Shannon Waves" (Cló Iar-Chonnachta); June Tabor, The Peel Sessions, Strange Fruit SFPS 015; Sheila Chandra, Weaving My Ancestors' Voices
Suasan McKeown on Bushes and Briars (Alula Records)(I don't know which language she sings the song in)

in Irish:

Seosaímhín Ní Bheaglaoich on Taobh Na Gréine-Under the Sun
Breandán Ó Beaglaoich (Begley)(a brother of Seosaimhín) on We Won't Come Home 'Til Morning Kells Music
Máire Aine Ní Dhonnchadha on Ceirníní Cladaigh / Claddagh Records
Noirín Ní Ríain on Celtic Soul

The Ulster version is quite different from the better known Conamara version. I think Daithí Sproule may have recorded it. I've heard Lilis Ó Laoire and Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh sing it, but I don't think either of them has recorded this song.
Some of the Irish language verses are at Liam Hart's pages and at this Irish Folksongs site

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Stewie
Date: 03 Nov 99 - 09:19 AM

Peter, I'm not sure. I will look for you, but none springs to mind in my collection because I felt the O'Donnell version was so good - in fact, it probably my all-time favourite folksong. I can make a tape of the O'D version for you, though, if you send me a personal message with an address.

Cheers, Stewie.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Donal Og (Young Donald)
From: Peter T.
Date: 03 Nov 99 - 09:00 AM

Lovely song -- Stewie, do you know any versions of it on record that are easily available?
yours, Peter T.

Subject: Lyr Add: DONAL OG / YOUNG DONALD^^
From: Stewie
Date: 03 Nov 99 - 06:45 AM

'Donal Og' is surely one of the most moving of Irish love songs. A song of betrayal, obsession and grief – a young girl's cry as desolate as the moonscape of the Burren – and Al O'Donnell's stunning performance of it was one of the high points of the folk revival. It is a disgrace that his albums are no longer available.

DONAL OG (Young Donald)

O Donal Og when you cross the ocean
Take me with you when you are going
At fair or market you'll be well looked after
And you shall sleep with the Greek king's daughter

O lad of fairness, O lad of redness
O lad so fair my mind's in sadness
When I think of another in your name calling
The top and the bottom of my hair starts falling

My mother ordered me to shun you
Today, tomorrow and on Sunday
Too late, in vain o'er spilt milk grieving
Closing the door on a bygone thieving

O you said you would meet me, but you were lying
Beside the sheep shed as day was dying
I whistled and called you, twelve times repeating
But all that I heard was the young lambs bleating

If you come at all, come when stars are peeping
Rap the door that makes no squeaking
My mother will ask you to name your people
And I'll say you're a sigh of the night wind weeping

I got the first kiss and from no craven
I got the second atop the stairway
The third kiss came as down he (sic) laid me
But for that one night, be still a maiden

The last time I saw you was a Sunday evening
Beside the altar as I was kneeling
It was of Christ's passion that I was thinking
But my mind was on you and my own heart bleeding

For you took what's before me and what's behind me
Took east and west when you wouldn't mind me
Sun, moon and stars from me you've taken
And God as well if I'm not mistaken

Traditional.

Source: Al O'Donnell 'Al O'Donnell 2' The Leader Tradition LTRA 501. A version in Irish (with translation) may be found in Peter Kennedy (Ed) 'Folksongs of Great Britain and Ireland' Cassell, London 1975. One of the 'big' Gaelic songs, it is also found in Scots tradition. There are myriad versions of the song and, in fact, a book has been devoted entirely to it: 'Donal Og' by Seosamh O Duibhginn Dublin 1960. A number of translations are sung and Al learned this poignantly beautiful version from Seamus Ennis.

I not sure whether the change of person in the third last stanza was deliberate or merely a slip on the singer's part.
^^