Teir Abhaile

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  • Teideal (Title): Teir Abhaile.
  • Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): 781504.
  • 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): Esther Warkov.
  • Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): 06/03/1978.
  • Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): University of Washington, United States of America.
  • Ocáid an taifeadta (Recording Occasion): interview.
  • Daoine eile a bhí i láthair (Others present): unavailable.
  • Stádas chóipcheart an taifeadta (Recording copyright status): unavailable.

This is a song about this little girl… Mary, they called her… and the rest of the children were saying, ‘Mary, you’re alright now, you’ll be leaving school tomorrow, you won’t have to come back any more, you know.

Teir abhaile ra1, teir abhaile ra, teir abhaile’ ra ‘Mhary,
Teir abhaile ‘gus déan do leaba mar tá do mhargadh déanta.

Níl mo mhargadh, tá mo mhargadh, níl mo mhargadh déanta,
Níl mo mhargadh, tá mo mhargadh, ‘s níl mo mhargadh déanta.

Is cuma cé rinne é nó nach ndearna é, ‘s cuma cé rinne é, ‘Mhary,
Is cuma cé rinne é nó nach ndearna é, tá do mhargadh déanta.

Teir abhaile ra, teir abhaile ra, teir abhaile’ ra ‘Mhary,
Teir abhaile ‘gus déan do leaba mar tá do mhargadh déanta.

Translation

Go home, go home, go home Mary,
Go home and make your bed; your bargain has been made.

No, it hasn’t! Yes, it has! No, it hasn’t!
No, it hasn’t! Yes, it has! No, it hasn’t!

It doesn’t matter who made it – or who didn’t; it doesn’t matter who made it, Mary,
It doesn’t matter who made it – or who didn’t; your bargain has been made.

Go home, go home, go home Mary,
Go home and make your bed; your bargain has been struck.’

Notes

1. This syllable has no actual meaning but is simply there to fill-in the tune.

This simple song, sung to a jig-tune, reflects the tough reality of matchmaking, when the girl in question – Mary, in this case – doesn’t seem to have had much of a voice in the decision. This was a society in which children were one’s capital, and the right alliance could make a substantial difference to the economic well-being of the family. It’s interesting that Joe doesn’t mention this custom to the interviewer, but casts the song rather as ‘Happy days! You’re out of school now, Mary!’

The song became a hit for Clannad in 1977.