Play recording: Tá na Páipéir dhá Saighneáil
- Teideal (Title): Tá na Páipéir dhá Saighneáil.
- Uimhir Chatalóige Ollscoil Washington (University of Washington Catalogue Number): none.
- 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): none.
- 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): unavailable.
- Dáta an taifeadta (Recording Date): c.1971.
- Suíomh an taifeadta (Recording Location): Peter Hunt Studio.
- Ocáid an taifeadta (Recording Occasion): commercial recording.
- Daoine eile a bhí i láthair (Others present): Gene Martin.
- Stádas chóipcheart an taifeadta (Recording copyright status): Gael Linn.
Tá na páipéir dhá saighneáil ‘s tá na saighdiúir ag gabháil anonn
Tá drumadóirí aoibhinn aerach ag clann Gael ag gabháil go Tír na Long
Dá mbeadh agam is dhuit a bhéarfainn céad is dhá mhíle bó
Ar chúntar thú a bheith i d’fhéirín liom go Contae Mhaigh Eo.
Ar mo luí dhom ar mo leaba déanaim osna bhíos mór
‘S ar m’éirí dhom ar maidin sí mo phaidir mo dheoir
Tá gruaig mo chinn ag titim a’s ag imeacht mar an gceo
A’s le cumha i do dhiaidh a stóirín ní bheidh mé i bhfad beo1.
Nuair a éirím amach go huaigneach is bhreathnaím uaim ar an gcnoc úd thall
Bím ag smaoineamh ar do chúilín dualach d’fhág an arraing thrí mo lár.
Tá mo chroí ina leac ‘s ina ghual dubh – ní le fuath dhuit é, a mhíle grá
Pé ar bith óigfhear a bhéarfas uaim thú, go síntear suas é i gcónra chláir.
Tá mo stocaí uilig stróicthe is tá mo phócaí gan pingin
Tá mo nua-chulaithín phósta ar ndóigh gan aon ní2
Tá giní i dteach an óil orm ach níor ól mé riamh braon
Le cumha ‘do dhiaidh a stóirín ní mhairfead beo mí.
Nach aoibhinn do na héiníní a éiríos go hard
A bhíos ag ceiliúr le chéile ar aon chraoibhín amháin
Ní hé sin dom féin ná mo chéad mhíle gra –
Is fada fánach óna chéile bhíos ár n-éirí gach lá.
Translation
[The papers are being signed, and the soldiers are heading overseas
The drummers of the Gael are going to the Land of Ships
If I had twelve hundred cows, I would give them all to you
If you would only be my keepsake in County Mayo.
As I lie in my bed, I can’t help sighing
When I get up in the morning, my tears are my prayers.
My hair is falling out and disappearing like the mist
And with missing you, my darling, I won’t live long.]1
When I arise alone and look out over the far hill
I’m thinking of your twining tresses that have left a stabbing pain within me.
My heart is like a stone, like black coal, but not from hatred of you, my thousand loves!
Whatever young man takes you from me, may he be stretched in his coffin!
My stockings are all torn, and my pockets are empty;
[The fabric for] my new wedding-costume has yet to be spun2
I owe the public house a guinea, though I never drank a drop
and with lamenting your loss, my darling, I shall not live a month.
Isn’t it lovely for the birds who rise up high
And who sing together on the same branch
Not so for me, or for my thousand loves
Who must arise far from one another each day.
Notes
1. The first two stanzas given here do not appear on Joe’s recording, but would normally be expected in this song.
2. Normally this line would be: Tá mo nua-chulaith pósta, céad faraoir, fós le sníomh (‘My new wedding-costume is, alas, yet to be spun’). As Joe sings it however, the sense of the line is difficult to make out.
Entry updated on 22nd June 2019. The audio recording, previously unavailable here, was added and the recording details and notes were updated.
For additional verses and some discussion, see Micheál and Tomás Ó Máille, Amhráin Chlainne Gael, ed. William Mahon (Indreabhán 1991), 82–3 and notes.
This song was taken from a commercial CD: Seosamh Ó hÉanaí: Ó Mo Dhúchas (Gael Linn CEFCD 191–2; released in 2007 and re-released in 2018). This is a double album. It combines the original vinyl releases Seosamh Ó hÉanaí (Gael Linn CÉF 028; released in 1971) and Ó Mo Dhúchas (Gael Linn CÉF 051; released in 1976).
Glacann muid buíochas le Gael Linn, ⁊ le Antoine Ó Coileáin go háirid, as ucht cead leis an amhrán a chur ar fáil anseo.
The album can be purchased from the Gael Linn web site.