Lyrics
Original
Aisling gheal do shlad trí mo néal mé
’S go rabhas-sa tréithlag seal im luí,
’S go rabhas i ngleann cois abhann im aonar,
’S go rabhas ag aeraíocht le grá mo chroí,
Translation
A bright vision passed through my clouded dreams,
And I lay weak and weary in my bed,
And I wandered alone by a river’s stream,
Drifting in thought of the love I had.
Original
Go raibh na camthaí Gall agus Gaelach
Is claimhte géara ag uaisle an tsaoil,
Ag breith barr áidh is á rá le chéile
Go raibh clann an Fhaoitigh anois le fáil gan mhoill.
Translation
There stood the English and Irish warriors,
With noble lords and flashing steel,
Speaking of fate and fortune together,
Saying the White Clan would soon be freed.
Original
Ba ghearr a shamhail dhom gur dhearcas-sa Mary
’Gus gruaig a cinn léi go féar ag fás,
A folt ag teacht mar na réaltainn
Ag titim léise go barr a troighe,
Translation
It was only a moment before I saw Mary,
Her golden hair flowing down like grass,
Falling in waves like a shower of starlight,
Cascading softly to touch her feet.
Original
Ag siúl na drúchta de bharr an fhéir ghlais
’S is lúfar éadrom mar a shiúladh sí,
A dá chíoch chruinne ar a hucht go néata,
A grua mar chaortha, is ba gheal í a píb.
Translation
She walked through the dewdrops over green meadows,
So light and graceful her every step,
Her rounded breasts lay firm and perfect,
Her cheeks like embers, her voice like song.
Original
Do bheannaíos-sa do mo chuid i nGaolainn
Is is modhúil ’s is maorga do fhreagair sí,
‘A phlúr na bhfear, mo shlad ná deinse
Mar is maighdean mé nár tháinig d’aois,
Translation
I greeted her gently in Irish fashion,
And she answered noble, fair, and sweet:
"O flower of men, do not betray me,
For I am a maiden not yet of age.
Original
Dhá dtéadh sa ghreann dúinn clann a dhéanamh
’S go mbeifeá séantach ins an ghníomh,
Gur gearr ón mbás mé, is go bhfágfainn Éire
I mo ghóist im aonar bheinn romhat id shlí.’
Translation
If we should jest and bear a child,
And you then leave me, lost and shamed,
It would be but brief before my death,
And I would leave Ireland, alone in grief."
Original
Do leagas mo láimh uirthi go béasach
Ó bhun a stays go dtí barr a troighe,
Is in aghaidh gach stáir go ndeinfinn léi dhi
Go bpógfainn a béilín tláth arís,
Translation
I laid my hand on her softly, kindly,
From waist to foot and back again,
And at each step I pledged devotion,
And kissed her tender lips once more.
Original
Nuair a fuaireas-sa dhom gur ghéill sí
Mo chroí do léim mar an éan ar chraoibh,
Trí lár mo smaoinimh ach gur dhúisigh néal mé
Is de chumha ina déidh siúd, ní mhairfead mí.
Translation
And when I saw that she surrendered,
My heart leapt high like a bird in flight,
Till all at once the dream had vanished,
And now in sorrow, I shall not last.
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