Play recording: Druimín Donn Dílis
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- Teideal (Title): Druimín Donn Dílis.
- Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 850105.
- Uimhir Chnuasach Bhéaloideas Éireann (National Folklore of Ireland Number): none.
- Uimhir Roud (Roud Number): none.
- Uimhir Laws (Laws Number): none.
- Uimhir Child (Child Number): none.
- Cnuasach (Collection): Joe Heaney Collection, University of Washington, Seattle.
- Teanga na Croímhíre (Core-Item Language): Irish.
- Catagóir (Category): song.
- Ainm an té a thug (Name of Informant): Joe Heaney.
- Ainm an té a thóg (Name of Collector): James Cowdery.
- Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): between 1979 and 1981.
- Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): Wesleyan University, Middletown, Connecticut, United States of America.
- Ocáid an taifeadta (Recording Occasion): private.
- Daoine eile a bhí i láthair (Others present): unavailable.
- Stádas chóipcheart an taifeadta (Recording copyright status): unavailable.
‘A dhruimín donn dílis, a shíoda na mbó
Cá ngabhann tú san oíche, nó cá mbíonn tú sa ló?’
‘Ó, bímse ar na coillte, mo bhuachaill ‘mo chóir
Agus d’fhág sé siúd mise ag sileadh na ndeor.’
‘Níl fearainn, níl tíos agam, níl síoda ná sról
Níl fear le mo thaobh-sa, níl fíonta ná ceol
Ach ag síor-ól an uisce go minic sa ló
Agus beathuisce is fíonta ag mo naimhde ar bórd.’
Dhá bhfaighinnse cead aighnis nó radharc ar an gcoróin
Sasanaigh do leidhbfinn mar a leidhbfinn seana-bhróg
Thrí chnoic is thrí ghleannta, is gleannta dubha ceo
Agus siúd mar an bhréagfainn mo dhruimin donn óg.
Translation
‘Oh faithful brown white-backed one, finest of cows,
where do you go at night? Where do you spend the day?’
‘Oh, I am in the forest, with my herd in attendance;
and this has left me shedding tears.’
I have neither lands nor household, neither silk nor satin;
there’s nobody with me, neither wine nor music,
but constantly drinking water many times daily –
while whiskey and fine wines abound on the table of my enemies.
If I had leave to complain, or a glimpse of the crown,
I would batter the English just as I’d kick an old shoe
through hills and dark, foggy glens –
and that’s how I’d win my young brown white-backed cow!
Notes
Joe may have learned this song at school, and may also have heard it sung by Peg Clancy Power, sister of the Clancy Brothers. As he explains to Jim Cowdery, it is generally taken to be a political song, with the brown-backed cow standing as a metaphor for Ireland.
The song appears in print in Donal O’Sullivan, Songs of the Irish (Dublin, 1960), 143-4.