Beinnsín Luachra, An

Play recording: Beinnsín Luachra, An

A chailín bhig na luachra, an trua leat mo bheart ar lár¹
Cén fáth nach dtiocfá ar uaigneas liom faoi bhruach na coille is glaise bláth
Sagart ní bhfaighidh scéala air ná éinne dá bhfuil le fáil
Go dteaga caint don chéirseach is Gréigis don londubh bhreá.

Ní mheallfaidh tú mé, a bhuachaill, le cluanaíocht, ‘s níl maith dhuit ann
‘S is iomadh cailín stuama ag iompair ualaigh is ag gabháil le fán
B’fhearr liom ag baint an luachair ‘s dhá tuaradh go lá an bhrá’²
Ná do leanbh a bheith ar mo ghualainn ‘cur do thuairisc gan tú le fáil.

Ó gheall tú giní is púnt dom ‘s bhí súil agam le cur ‘na ceann
Culaith ó bhonn go huachtar is cóta den síoda bán
Ó sin nó theacht ar cuairt chugam gach tráthnóna is maidin bhreá
Le luach mo bheinnsín luachair le [a] bhfuair mé [de] easonóir.

Translation

Young girl of the rushes, do you feel sorry for my unfulfilled desire?
Why won’t you come alone with me to the edge of the forest, under the green wood canopy?
No priest will ever hear of it, nor any other living soul,
until the thrush learns to talk and the blackbird to speak Greek.

You won’t coax me, boyo, with your flattery, you’re on a hiding to nothing,
with all the sensible young women carrying burdens and going astray;
I’d rather cut rushes and be tying them up forever
than to have your child on my shoulder and yourself nowhere to be found.

You promised me a guinea and a pound, and I wanted to add to it;
a suit of clothes and a coat of white silk;
and to come visiting me every afternoon and fine morning,
with the price of my bunch of rushes and all the dishonour I got.