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An Bhean Udaí Thall - Leagan a hAon (I)
Traditional
(An Bhean)
Tá mo grábháil í, a shí ógó *)
Greamaithe don dheánaí, a h-óbó
'S mo ghrábháil gheal fán únán tráigh
'S mé 'gabháil i tsáile i mBaile Leóil

'S a bhean udaí thall, a shí ógó
Tá a' siúl na traigh seo a h-óbó
Nach truaigh leat bean ina húire ceoidh
'S í 'gabháil a báthadh i mBaile Leóil

(An Cailín)
Ó níl mo ghaol, a shíogó
Nó mo pháirt, a h-óbó
'S an uair nach bhfuil, san úire ceoidh
'S é bheirim cead snámh duit i mBaile Leóil

(An Bhean)
Tiocfaidh m'athair a shí ógó
Anuas fán tráigh a h-óbó
Is gheobhaidh sé mise 'mo bhradán bhog bháidhte
'Gabháil i tsáile i mBaile Leóil

(An Cailín)
Ní thiocfaidh d'athair a shíogó
Anuas fán tráigh a h-óbó
Ná tiocfaidh mé féin 'na banú an lae
A scaoileadh le céaslaidh i mBaile Leóil

(An Bhean)
Ó tá leanbán agam a shí ógó
I gcionn a chúig raithe a h-óbó
Is béidh leanbán eile 'na húire ceoidh
I gcionn a thrí raithe i mBaile Leóil

(An Cailín)
Ó tá leanbán agat, a shíogó
I gceann a chúig raithe, a h-óbó
'S béidh leanbán agam ó úire ceoidh
A bheas ina mháistir i mBaile Leóil

(An Bhean)
Tabhair mo bheannacht, a shí ógó
Annsoir mo mháthair, a h-óbó
'S é darna beannacht ó úire ceoidh
'S ar 'athair mo chlainne i mBaile Leóil

Nár thabharfá mo bheannacht, a shí ógó
Annsoir mo mháthair, h-óbó
A bhéarfaidh mo mhallacht ó úire ceoidh
'S ón athair mo clainne i mBaile Leóil

Ina méanair do'n mhnaoí óig, a shí ógó
A rachas 'm'áitse, a h-óbó
Béidh beithígh geala ó úire ceoidh
Is fuinneogaí gloinn' aici 'mBaile Leóil

(An Cailín)
Ó mise an bhean óg, a shíogó
A rachas 'd'aitse, a h-óbó
Béidh beithígh geala ó úire ceoidh
Is fuinneogaí gloinn' aici 'mBaile Leóil

*): [a shí ógó / a shíogó] These two terms when spoken or sung sound very much alike. The poet uses a very subtle play on words and increases the irony and emotion of the song with these two terms. The term "Sí óg", used by the Wife in the song in addressing the Girl, can be translated to mean a young fairy, or more applicable to this situation, a young deceiver. "Síog" or "Síogán", the term used by the Girl to insult the dying Wife, is a rope-bound stack of grain, referring to her state of being bound by her hair to the rock.

(Thanks to Áine Cooke for the excellent song information!)

--//--

(The Wife)
This is my grave, a shí ógó
Trapped in the channel, oh no
My white grave beneath the foaming strand
As I'm drowning in Baile Leóil

O woman yonder, a shí ógó
Who is walking on the strand, oh no
Have you no pity for a woman in her watery grave
Who is drowning in Baile Leóil

(The Girl)
You're not my relation, a shíogó
Nor my friend, oh no
The time has come, hasn't it, in the watery grave
That I took you to swim in Baile Leóil

(The Wife)
My father shall come, a shí ógó
Down to the strand, oh no
And find my soft bloated body
Drowning in Baile Leóil

(The Girl)
Your father shan't come, a shíogó
Down to the strand, oh no
Nor shall I come myself 'till break of day
To free you in Baile Leóil

(The Wife)
Oh, I have a babe, a shí ógó
Who is 15 months old, oh no
And another babe will be in his watery grave
Who is three months old in Baile Leóil

(The Girl)
Oh, you have a babe, a shíogó
Who is 15 months old, oh no
And I will have a babe from this watery grave
Who will be the master in Baile Leóil

(The Wife)
Take my blessing, a shí ógó
Back to my mother, oh no
And my second blessing from a watery grave
To the father of my children in Baile Leóil

You would not take my blessing, a shí ógó
Back to my mother, oh no
You shall take my curse from a watery grave
And from the father of my children in Baile Leóil

There's fortune in store for the young woman, a shí ógó
Who will take my place, oh no
And will have pure white cattle from a watery grave
And windows of glass in Baile Leóil

(The Girl)
I am the young woman, a shíogó
Who will take your place, oh no
And will have pure white cattle from a watery grave
And windows of glass in Baile Leóil