An Cailín Gaelach

An Cailín Gaelach

B'aite liom féin a bheith 'r thaobh mala shléibhe
'Gus cailín Gaelach a bheith 'mo chomhair
Bheinn dá bréagadh 's a' teannadh léithe
'Gus dar liom féin 'riú gur dheas ár ndóigh

'G éirí dom féin ar maidín an lae ghil
'S mé gabháil fáin choill chraobhaigh 's mé a' seoladh bó
Tharla dom a' spéirbhean 'na suí ar a' léana
'S a fallaing léithe 's í lán de chnónn'

D'fhiafraigh mé dithe go ciúin 's go céillí
'An nglacfaidh tú póg uaim a stór mo chroí?'
D'oscail sí a beilín 'gus labhair sí Béarla
'S é duirt sí 'Pray sir, and let me be'

Nach maith an airí ar na buaibh bheith á santú
'Gus bheinnse á seoladh amuigh sa lá
Im agus bainne iad 'theacht a' tsamhraidh
'S mar gheall ar bhólacht a phóstar mná

--//--

I would love to be on the mountain side
And to be wed to an Irish girl
I would cajole and hug her
And I think it would always be nice of course

Upon rising at the dawn of a bright day
And going to the thick woods to drive the cows
I met a beautiful girl sitting on the green grass
And her mantle full of nuts

I asked her softly and respectfully
'Will you take a kiss from me, my own true love?'
She opened her little mouth and she spoke English
She said 'Pray sir, and let me be'

Don't the cows deserve to be appreciated
And I could be driving them on through the day
From them comes butter and milk through the summer
And it's because of the cows that maidens marry