Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh of Altan sings the Irish song Tá mo Chleamhnas Déanta.
Tá mo chleamhnas ‘a dhéanamh inniu agus inné
‘S ní mó ná go dtaitníonn an bhean udaí liom féin
Ach fuigfidh mé mo dhiaidh í, ‘s rachaidh mé leat féin
Síos fána coillte craobhaigh.
‘Mo chodladh go h-eadarshuth b’aite liom féin
Leabaí luachair a bheith faoi mo thaobh
Buideal brandaí a bheith faoi mo cheann
‘S mo chailín deas óg ‘bheith I mo lámh liom.
Shiúil mise thoir agus shiúil mise thiar
Shiúil mise Corcaigh ‘gus sráideanna Bhaile ‘ Cliath.
Macasamhail mo chailín ní fhaca mise riamh
‘Sí ‘n bhean í a d’fhág mo chroí cráite.
English
A match was a-making here last night
And it isn’t with the girl that I love the best
I’ll leave her behind and I’ll go along with you
Down by the banks of the ocean.
Sleeping to milking-time is my delight
A bed of green rushes underneath my side
A bottle of brandy underneath my head
And a charming young maid in my arms.
I walked east and I walked west
I walked Cork and Dublin’s streets
An equal to my love I didn’t meet
She’s the wee lass that’s left my heart broken.
Altan performs Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna. “Moll Dubh” can also be understood as another name for poteen.
Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna
Tá ba agam ar shliabh s níl duine gam na ndiadh
Ach mé do mo bhuaidhreadh leofa
Bíodh idir mise is Dia más orthu tá mo thriall
Is bhain siad mo chiall go mór uaim
‘Sí Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna í
‘Sí Moll Dubh an Earraigh í
‘Sí Moll Dubh is deirge ná’n rósa
‘S dá bhfaighinnse féin mo roghainn
De mhná óga deasa ‘n domhain
‘Sí Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna ab fhearr liom
Mise bheith gan mhaoi
Feasta choíche ní bhim
Is Moll dubh bheith i dtús a h-óige
Och, is fann guth an éin
A labhras leis féin
Ar thulaigh nó ar thaobh na mónadh
‘Sí Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna í
‘Sí Moll Dubh an Earraigh í
‘Sí Moll Dubh is deirge ná’n rósa
‘S dá bhfaighinnse féin mo roghainn
De mhná óga deasa ‘n domhain
‘Sí Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna ab fhearr liom
Is ag Moll dubh a’ ghleanna
Tá mo chroí-se i dtaiscí
‘S í nach bhfuair guth na náire
Is go céillí, múinte, cneasta
A dúirt sí liom ar maidin
“Ó imigh uaim ‘s nach pill go brách orm”
‘Sí Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna í
‘Sí Moll Dubh an Earraigh í
‘Sí Moll Dubh is deirge ná’n rósa
‘S dá bhfaighinnse féin mo roghainn
De mhná óga deasa ‘n domhain
‘Sí Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna ab fhearr liom
Níl’n óganach geanúil
Ó Bhaile Átha Cliath go Gaillimh
Is timpeall go h-Umhaill Uí Mháinnle
Nach bhfuil a dtriall uilig ‘na ghleanna
Ar eacraidh slime sleamhainne
I ndúil leis an bhean dubh a b ‘áille
‘Sí Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna í
‘Sí Moll Dubh an Earraigh í
‘Sí Moll Dubh is deirge ná’n rósa
‘S dá bhfaighinnse féin mo roghainn
De mhná óga deasa ‘n domhain
‘Sí Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna ab fhearr liom
English translation:
I hear cattle on the hill with no one there to tend them
And for them I am deeply worried
Between myself and God, to them I take the trail
For they have taken my senses from me
She’s Moll Dubh of the valley
She’s Moll Dubh of Spring
She’s Moll Dubh, more ruddy than the red rose
And if I had to choose
From the young maids of the world
Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna would be my fancy
Me without a wife
I won’t be all my life
And Moll Dubh in youth just blooming
Lifeless the song of the bird
That sings alone
On a mound by the edge of the moorland
She’s Moll Dubh of the valley
She’s Moll Dubh of spring
She’s Moll Dubh, more ruddy than the red rose
And if I had to choose
From the young maids of the world
Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna would be my fancy
The Dark Molly of the glen
Has my heart in her keeping
She never had reproach or shame
So mannerly and honestly
She said to me this morning
“Depart from me and do not come again”
She’s Moll Dubh of the valley
She’s Moll Dubh of spring
She’s Moll Dubh, more ruddy than the red rose
And if I had to choose
From the young maids of the world
Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna would be my fancy
There’s not a handsome youth
From Dublin down to Galway
And around by ‘Umhail Uí Mháinnle’
That’s not heading for the glen
On steeds so sleek and slim
Hoping to win the dark maid’s affection
She’s Moll Dubh of the valley
She’s Moll Dubh of spring
She’s Moll Dubh, more ruddy than the red rose
And if I had to choose
From the young maids of the world
Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna would be my fancy
Song of the Isles 