Amhrán Mhaínse

Play recording: Amhrán Mhaínse

Dá mbeinn trí léig i bhfarraige nó ar thalamh i bhfad ó thír
Gan aon neach beo i mo ghaobhar ach an raithneach geal is fraoch;
An sneachta dá shéideadh ó thuaidh ‘s ó dheas ‘s an ghaoth dá fhuadach díom
Is mé a bheith ag comhrá le mo Teaimín Bán níorbh fhada liom an oíche.

A Mhuire dhílis, céard a dhéanfas mé, tá an geimhreadh anois an-ghann
A Mhuire dhílis, céard a dhéanfas an teach seo ná a bhfuil ann?
A Dhia, cén fáth nár fhág tú mé nó go scalfadh an lá breá,
Go mbeadh an chuach ag gairm is gach duilliúr glas ag fás.

Dhá mba thusa féin a d’imeodh agus mise fanacht beo,
Thógfainnse do chlann duit an dá lá is bheidís beo.
Shiúilfinn féin na Liberties agus páirt de Chontae an Chláir
‘S ní chuimhneoinn an fhad is mhairfinn aon fhear eile a chur in d’áit.

Dhá mbeadh mo chlann sa mbaile agam an oíche a bhfaighinnse bás
Thórróidís go fiúntach mé trí oíche agus trí lá.
Bheadh na píopaí fada cailce ann, is na ceaigeanna is iad lán,
Is bheadh triúr ban óg ó shléibhte le mé a chóiriú os cionn cláir.

A’s bíodh mo chónra déanta ó fhíor-ghealscoth na gclár,
Má tá Seán Ó hEidhin i Maínis, bíodh sí déanta óna láimh;
Bíodh mo ribín is mo chaipín is iad go ródheas faoi mo cheann,
A’s tabharfaidh Páidín Mór go Maínis mé nó is garbh a bheadh an lá.

Ag gabháil anoir ag ínse Ghainimh bíodh an brat againn sa gcrann,
Ná cuiridh i Leitir Calaidh mé mar ní ann atá mo dhream;
Ach cuirigí i Maínis mé, san áit a gcaoinfear mé go breá,
Beidh soilsí ar na dumhachannaí, ní bheidh uaigneas orm ann.

Translation

If I were three leagues out on the ocean, or in a land far from home,
With nobody around me but only bracken and heather,
Snow swirling from north and south and the wind blowing me off my feet,
As long as I was conversing with my fair Tommy, the night wouldn’t seem long to me.

Sweet Mary, what shall I do, the winter is very scarce.
Sweet Mary, what will become of us all in this house?
Oh, God, why didn’t you leave me until the fine weather broke through,
Until the cuckoo would be calling and every green thing growing.

If it were you who was going, and myself remaining alive,
I would raise you children for you, though they would only live two days.
I would walk the Liberties and part of County Clare,
And however long I lived I wouldn’t put any other man in your place.

If my children were at home the night of my death,
They would wake me decently for three days and nights.
There would be the long clay pipes, and full kegs,
And there would be three young women from the hills to lay me out.

Have my coffin made from the best of timber;
And if Seán Hynes is in Mweenish, let him be the one who makes it;
Have my ribbons and my cap nicely round my head;
And Big Páidín will take me to Mweenish unless the day is very rough.

Going west at Inse Ghainimh, let the flag fly from the mast;
Don’t bury me in Leitir Caladh, for my people aren’t there;
But bury me in Mweenish, where I’ll will be keened properly;
There will be lights on the sandbanks, and I won’t be lonely there.