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Mairead Nan Cuiread

Wily Margaret

Tha mulad, tha mulad, tha lionn-dubh arm fhéin
Hí rí hoireann o, hi ri hoireann o
Tha de mhingin air m'aire ní nach aidich mo bheul
Hi ri ri ri o ho, roho hi hoireann o

M'an áganach ghasda úr mharcach nan steud
M'an taca seo 'n uiridh bu thoil leat m' fhuran ro cheud
Cha mhó ort mi'n bliadhna na eunlaith nan speur
Chan inns mi dha m' phiuthair meud mo chumh as do dhéidh

Na dha m' mathair a rug mi chuir mi cudthron 'na ceum
Tha sac trom air mo chridhe nach tog fídheal nan teud
Ach a Mhairead nan cuiread 's dán a chuir tha arm breug
Thilg thu arm-sa mar aileis nach b'uilear dhomh 'm bréid
Gu robh leanabh am pasgadh fo asna mo chéibh
Cuim nach innseadh tu'n fhírinn mar a dh'innsinn ort fhéin

Ann an láthair mo thigearn far am bithinn 's tu réidh
Thilg thu arm-sa mar dhearrais gu robh m'athair an éis
Cha b'ionnan dha m'athair 's dha d' athair-sa fhéin
Cha b'ionnan dha'n taighean 'n ám laighe do'n ghréin
'S ann a gheibhte, 'n taigh d' athar-s' cinn is cnamhan an éisg
'S ann a gheibhte 'n taigh m'athar-s' cinn is casan an fhéidh
Sadness, sadness, deep melancholy is mine

there is much despair in me that my mouth cannot confess it

About the fine youth, young rider of steeds
around this time last year you liked my banter above hundreds
This year you like the birds of the air as much
I wouldn't even tell my sister how much I mourn you.

Or the mother who bore me, I made her step heavy
There is a heavy load on my heart that no stringed fiddle will lift
But wily Margaret, boldly you slandered me
You cast up to me in slander that I needed a snood
That there was a child hidden behind my rib cage
Why couldn't you tell the truth as I would about you.


In the presence of my Lord where you and I would be on equal terms
You cast up to me, for spite, that my father was poor
My father was different from your father
And their houses were different of the time at the sun setting
In your father's house heads and bones of fish were to be found
In my father's house heads and feet of deer.

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