translation of Citi Na Gcumann

Subject: translation of Citi Na Gcumann
From:
Date: 26 Jun 98 - 06:38 AM

Can anyone translate into English for me the lyrics of 'Citi Na Gcumann' - or is there anywhere I can find an English version? The song is on the Digital Tradition database in Irish.

Subject: RE: translation of Citi Na Gcumann
From: GUEST,Sean
Date: 03 Oct 11 - 03:58 PM

Is a Citi na gCumann na sean me
Lovable Kitty do no reject me
Siuil feasta is ealaigh liom
Walk away now and escape with me
I nGleanntan Choille no Sleighe
In a wooded glen or mountain
No sealadh faoi bhlath na gcrann
or for a while in the flowering wood
Do phosfainn i nganfhios don tsaoghal thu
I would marry you unknownst to the world
No don tsagart da mgfheidir liom
Or to the priest if I could
Is mura bhfaighfear sinn ceangailte in Eirinn
And if we cannot be bound in Ireland
Rachfam araon anonn.
Let's both go abroad.

Do thangas dhon baile seo areir
I arrived in this town last night
Agus bhi se dhom deanach go leor
And it was quite late for me
Is e ar m'aigne an margadh a dheanamh
Intending to make the match
Is na scarfainn lei fein go deo
And that I would never be parted from her
Nior thainig a Daidi chun reitigh
Her Father did not reach an agreement
Ca misde dhom e ma dhoigh
It was not my fault
Fagaim slan is beannacht lem ghaolta
I bid farewell to my kinsfolk
Ni chasfam araon go deo
We shall never meet again

Nior cuireadh romham cuireadh no failte
I received neither welcome nor hospitality
O thangas an tsraid seo thiar
Since I came to this village
On uair a d'airigh mo ghrasa
Since my love heard
Gur thugas mo laimh do mhnaoi
That I gave my hand to a woman
Is doigh leo go bhfuilimse posta
They think I am a married man
Ac dar ndoigh mas doigh ni fior
But if they do it is not true
Dar an leabhar ata thios im phoca
By the book which is in my pocket
Is ag mealladh ban oig a bhios
I was enticing a young woman.

Subject: RE: translation of Citi Na Gcumann
From: keberoxu
Date: 15 Jul 16 - 01:29 PM

"Blas Meala," the book by Brian O'Rourke, would help here. I will cite the copyright. The prose translation is O'Rourke's (not singable), and would be under copyright.

The Digital Traditions version is better than nothing. There are some arguable spellings. There was a clumsy alternative to fadas. So, here is the original Gaelic from Brian O'Rourke in Blas Meala, with his prose English. I may have to split this into several posts to evade the Submit Message Monster, who is after me, and probably sees me coming. He eats posts when he decides they are too big.

CITÍ NA GCUMANN

[traditional Irish Gaelic]

Ó do thángas don bhaile seo 'réir
is bhí sé 'gam déanach go leor
'S mé ar intinn an margadh a dhéanamh
'S nach scarfainn léi féin go deo
      Oh I came to this town last night
      And I was late enough
      I was intending to make the bargain
      And never to separate from her

Níor tháinig a daidí chun réitigh
cár mhiste dhom é ná dhóibh
Bheirim slán is beannacht ag mo ghaolta
'S ní chasfaidh mé fhéin níos mó
      Her daddy did not reach a settlement
      What harm would it have done me or them
      I bid farewell and send a blessing to my relations
      And I will never return any more

to be continued, from "Blas Meala" © Brian O'Rourke 1985

Subject: RE: translation of Citi Na Gcumann
From: keberoxu
Date: 15 Jul 16 - 01:39 PM

continued, "Cití na gCumann"

Níor cuireadh romham cuireadh ná fáilte
Ó thángas don tsráid seo thíos
Ón uair a d'airigh mo ghrá geal
Gur thugas mo lámh do mhnaoi
      No invitation or welcome was put before me
      Since I came to this street below
      From the time my bright love heard
      That I gave my hand to a woman

Is dóigh leo go bhfuilimse pósta
Is dar ndóigh más dóigh ní fíor
Dar an leabhar seo tá thíos i mo phóca
'S ag mealladh ban ó a bhíos
      They think that I married
      And, of course, if they think that, it's not true
      By this book which is below in my pocket
      I was only coaxing young women

to be continued, from "Blas Meala" © Brian O'Rourke 1985

Subject: RE: translation of Citi Na Gcumann
From: keberoxu
Date: 15 Jul 16 - 01:52 PM

conclusion: "Cití na gCumann"

Is a Chití na gcumann ná séan mé
siúil feasta 'gus éalaigh liom
Go gleanntán coille nó sléigh' amuigh
Nó sealad faoi bhláth na gcrann
      And Kitty my dear don't deny me
      Come now and elope with me
      To a little glen in a wood or on a mountain beyond
      Or a while under the blossoms of the trees

Do phósfainn i gan fhios don tsaol thú
's don tsagart dá mb'fhéidir liom
'S mura bhfaighfear sinn ceangailt' in Éirinn
Ó racham araon anonn
      I would marry you unknown to the world
      And to the priest if I could
      And if we can't manage to be united in Ireland
      Oh let us both go abroad

pp. 86 - 87,
"Blas Meala: A Sip from the Honey-Pot"
publication: Dublin: Irish Academic Press
© Brian O'Rourke 1985