Altan

Bhi moran daoine uasal ann
Bhi tuatanaigh na h-Alban ann
Bhi 'n maistir scoile 'san ministir ann
Bhi an laoch Mac Amhlaigh ann

Curfa:
Donal, 'se Donal
'Se Donal a rinne an bhainis
Donal agus Morag
A rinne an bhainis ainmeil

Bhi cearcan ann, is bhi geoidh ann
Bhi corr is dosean sgairbh ann
Seo bha iad is bhi car bi ann
'Se cearc na n-ean a b'fhearr dhiubh ann

Curfa

Bhi bradain 's bric on Eirne ann
Is fluirse feoil na bhfia n-ean ann
Feol mart is lao, ba bhlasta bhi
Bhi uanfheol friochta is oisfheoil ann

Curfa

Bhi 'n di go fial 's go fairsing ann
Bhi brannda is fion na Spainne ann
Bhi poitin stil is mead le mil
Bhi beoir is leann na h-Eireann ann

(Curfa 4x)

One evening fair to take the air
Down by Blackwaterside
'Twas a-gazing all around me
That the Irish lad I spied

All through the far part of the night
We did lie in sport and play
When this young man arose and gathered his clothes
Saying, "Fare thee well today"

That's not the promise that you gave to me
When you lay on my breast
You could make me believe with your lying words
That the sun rose in the west

Go home, go home to your father's garden
Go home and weep your fill
And think on your own misfortune
You brought on with your want and will

For there's not a girl in this whole wide world
As easily led as I
And when fishes can fly and the seas run dry
It is then that you'll marry I
It is then that you'll marry I

Ta me 'mo shui
O d'eirigh an ghealach areir
Ag cur teineadh sios gan scith
'S a fadu go gear
Ta bunadh a' ti 'na lui
'S ta mise liom fein
Ta na coiligh ag glaoch
'S ta 'n saol ina gcodladh ach me

Sheacht mh'anam deag do bheal
Do mhalai 's do ghrua
Do shuil ghorm ghle gheal
Fa'r threig me aiteas is suairc
Le cumhaidh i do dhiaidh ni leir dom
An bealach a shiul
Is a charaid mo chleibh
Ta na sleibhte ag gabhail idir me 's tu

Deireann lucht leinn
Gur cloite an galar an gra
Char admhaigh me e no go raibh se
'Ndiaidh mo chroi 'stigh a chra
Aicid ro-ghear, faraor
Nar sheachnaigh me i
Chuir si arraing 's cead go gear
Frid cheartlar mo chroi

Casadh bean si domh thios
Ag Lios Bheal an Ath'
'S d'fhiafraigh me dithe
An scaoilfeadh glais ar bith gra
'Se duirt si os iseal
I mbriathra soineanta samh
Nuair a theann se fan chroi
Cha scaoiltear as e go brach

A moment in time, rosin the bow
Sound the strings of years ago
A sunlit room at Glenties fair
A traveller plays a haunting air

A story told, the laughter peel
The fiddler strikes another reel
The music lifts, the tapping toe
The listeners call for "Sean sa Cheo"

Feel his art lift the heart
Sense the spirits rise and fall
A fiddler plays in Donegal

The story resounds, the tune rings on
The given note, the given song
And now a child lifts the master's bow
A moment in time from years ago

Feel his art lift the heart
Sense the spirits rise and fall
A fiddler plays in Donegal

S a Chiti Ni Eadhra
Nach nair mar a d'imigh tu uaim
'S an chroi ata 'mo lar
Gur fhag tu chomh dubh leis an ghual
Ni iarrfainn aon spas ar an Ard Ri
'Sna Flaitheas anuas
Ach cead troda leis an bhas
Gach la sular imigh tu uaim

'S ta dha cheann an ti
'Na lui 'ta'n lar gan doigh
O d'imigh an bhean chaoin
Faraor, a bhi soineanta coir
Nior fhan si agam ach tri raithe
Amhain bhi ba ghiorra na an uair
Och nach e mo lean gear
Gur fagadh i sinte san uaigh

Is a Chiti, mo mhian
Nach aoibhinn duitse bheith ar lar
Ata i bhFlaitheas na Naomh
'Bhfuil na milte anam gan smal
Is chan mar a bimse 'ta gui
'S ag osnai gach trath
No i dTalamh na Naomh
Ata rogha mo charaid thar mhna

I wish my love was a red, red rose growing in yon garden fair
And I to be the gardener, of her I would take care
There's not a month throughout the year, that my love I'd renew
I'd garnish her with flowers fine, sweet William, Thyme and Rue

I wish I was a butterfly, I'd light on my love's breast
And if I was a blue cuckoo, I'd sing my love to rest
And if I was a nightingale, I'd sing the daylight clear
I'd sit and sing for you, Molly, for once I loved you dear

I wish I was in Dublin town and seated on the grass
In my right hand, a jug of punch, and on my knee, a lass
I'd call for liquor freely and I'd pay before I'd go
I'd roll my Molly in my arms, let the wind blow high or low

Suil ghorm, uisce fomhair
Craiceann chailce, sneachta gheimhridh
Folt fonn, corna shamhraidh
Cumha poige, blath an earraigh

Your blue eyes, autumn water
Pure white skin like winter snow
Your fair hair, summer barley
Scented kisses, spring flowers

Ar imeall na mara a ghluais muid le cheile
Is thog muid ar nglorthai go hard leis na speartha

Ceo maidne, seidean gaoithe
Anam saortha, sruth 's taoide
Gealach iomlan, spear na hoiche
Loinnear realta, aoibh an ghaire

Your smile shines through the morning mist
Lifts the soul light as a feather
And the moon glows in the darkest night
Distant stars are yours forever

Ar imeall na mara a ghluais muid le cheile
Is thog muid ar nglorthai go hard leis na speartha

Suil ghorm, uisce fomhair
Craiceann chailce, sneachta gheimhridh
Folt fonn, corna shamhraidh
Cumha poige, blath an earraigh

Time has passed
You have gone
Your tune is played
I must carry on

Darkness falls
You send the light
Love is here
I must carry on

Chorus:
Mo ghra go deo
Ilar mo chroi
Mo ghra go deo
Fhad a bheas me beo

I open to the world
The world will give
No one's alone
I must carry on

In God I love
In love I believe
I believe in you
I must carry on

(Chorus 2x)

Winter is cold
Spring melts the snow
Love is renewed
I must carry on

If you're traveling in the north country fair
Where the wind stands heavy on the borderline
Remember me to one who lives there
For she once was a true love of mine

If you go when the snowflakes storm
When rivers freeze and summer ends
Please see if she has a coat so warm
To keep her from the howling winds

Please see for me if her hair hangs long
If it rolls and flows all down her breast
Please see for me if her hair hangs long
For that's the way I remember her best

I wonder if she remembers me at all
Day and night I've often prayed
In the darkness of my night
And in the brightness of my day

There's naught but care on every hand
In every hour that passes oh
What signifies the life of man
If it were not for the lassies oh

Chorus (after each verse):
Green grow the rushes oh
Green grow the rushes oh
The sweetest hours that ever I spent
Are spent among the lassies oh

The worldly race may riches chase
And riches still may fly them oh
And though at last they catch them fast
Their hearts can ne'er enjoy them oh

Give me a cannie hour at e'en
My arms around my dearie oh
The wisest man the world e'er saw
He dearly loved the lassies oh

Old nature swears the lovely dears
Her noblest work she classes oh
Her apprentice hand she tried on man
Then she made the lassies oh

Green grow the rushes
Green grow the rushes

With a wave of her hand and her sparkling eye
My island girl waved me goodbye
For another country in another time
For another life under another sky

But don't just cut off your heart keep it open and sure
Keep it free from hurt and keep an open door
And let the spirit of love that united our soul
Be a gentle dove and guide you to your goal
And I'll go to that stream and I'll sing my own prayer
That my island girl shall be safe everywhere

Sing away while you can and before very long
The coming tide brings the chosen one
And there is a hope and there is a peace
In that ancient land where my angel sleeps

And when your river runs high
Let it flow, let it flow
It's your time with life to let your garden grow
And when your burden gets rough
Let it go, let it go
Let your strength return on every breeze that blows
Through that ancient land, through eternity
O, my island girl, remember me

For your life has its course and you never can say
Who you'll meet and marry along your way
But be sure from the start that the cities behind
Love the lands living heart and breath eternal time

And when your river runs dry and your halo is torn
Drink the living stream in the calm of the dawn
And may you travel in peace
And may your children be blessed
And your mind released and your soul caressed
In that faraway land where my spirit flies
To my island girl under those ancient skies

And with a wave of her hand and her sparkling eye
My island girl bid me goodbye
For another dream in another time
For another life under another sky

Fare you well, my own true love
Farewell for a while
I am going away but I'll be back
If I go ten thousand miles

Ten thousand miles, my own true love
Ten thousand miles or more
And the rocks may melt and the seas may burn
If I no more return

Oh don't you see yon lonesome dove
Sitting on yon ivy tree
She is weeping for her own true love
As I shall weep for mine

Oh come back, my own true love
And stay a while with me
If I had a friend all on this earth
You have been a friend to me

As I roved out one evening fair
By the verdant braes of Screen
I set my back to a hawthorn tree
To view the sun in the west country
And the dew on the forest green

A lad I spied by Abhann's side
And a maiden by his knee
And he was as dark as the very brown wood
And she all whey and wan to see
All whey and wan was she

"Oh sit you down on the grass," he said
"On the dewy grass so green
For the wee birds all have come and gone
Since I my true love have seen," he said
"Since I my true love have seen"

"Then I'll not sit on the grass," she said
"Nor be a love of thine
For I hear you love a Connaught maid
And your heart's no longer mine," she said
"And your heart's no longer mine"

"And I will climb a high, high tree
And I'll rob a wild bird's nest
And back I'll bring whatever I do find
To the arms that I love best," she said
"To the arms that I love best"

The trees, they grow high, and the leaves, they do grow green
Many is the time my true love I've seen
Many an hour I watched him all alone
He's young but he's daily growing

Father, dear father, you've done me great wrong
You have married me to a boy who is too young
I am twice twelve and he is but fourteen
He's young but he's daily growing

Daughter, dear daughter, I've done you no wrong
I have married you to a great lord's son
And he will be a man for you when I am dead and gone
He's young but he's daily growing

Father, dear father, if you see fit
We'll send him to college for another year yet
I'll tie a blue ribbon all around his head
To let the maidens know that he is married

One day I was looking over my father's castle wall
I spied all the boys playing with a ball
And my own true love, he was the flower of them all
He's young but he's daily growing

And so early in the morning at the dawning of the day
They went into a hayfield for to have some sport and play
And what they did there she never would declare
But she never more complained of his growing

At the age of fourteen he was a married man
At the age of fifteen, the father of my son
At the age of sixteen, his grave, it was green
And death had put an end to his growing

I'll buy my love some flannel, I'll make my love a shroud
And every stitch I put in it, the tears, they'll pour down
Amd every stitch I put in it, how the tears, they will flow
Cruel fate has put an end to his growing

This pretty young maid I seek far and wide
My heartache each morn with her I don't meet
When I go to the bar, the dance hall or fete
But I'd follow her trail in the dead of the night

Chorus:
Now you're the young man that travels afar
Find me a gem I can have as my wife
Never yearn or pine for flocks or for kine
And I'll conjure plan that will charm her life

Have her youthful and fair with no worry or care
Patient and wise in affairs of all kind
Modest and mild, without too much pride
That is my love if she hadn't a dime

(Chorus)

Let no blemish or shame be attached to her name
Honest in heart and gentle in mien
No hatred or vice to be heard in her voice
But cheerful and smiling from morning 'til night

(Chorus)

And I'll charm her life

When first I went a sea-apprentice bound
I sailed the salt seas all 'round and 'round
I scarce had sailed a voyage but one
When I fell in love with my charming Anne

I went to my captain both stout and bold
And unto him my secret told
I love yon lass as I love my life
What would I give if she were my wife?

Well, the captain said, "You're a foolish boy
For to court a girl that you'll ne'er enjoy
For she'll have lovers while you're at sea
And she'll be married e're you'll be free"

Well, I don't know but I'll go and try
For she might fancy an apprentice boy
And she might alter her mind for me
And wait on me until I be free

Well, I bought her ribbons, I bought her gloves
These things to prove of a heart that loves
She accepted all and she was not shy
And she vowed to wait for her apprentice boy

When my ship is anchored and my work is over
I'll steer my barque for sweet Erin's shore
In my native country, my love I'll enjoy
And she'll welcome home her apprentice boy

So come all you sea-apprentices where e'er you be
Never slight your true love while you're at sea
Just love her as you love your life
And she'll consent to become your wife

Uncle Rat went out to ride
Kitty alone, Kitty alone
Uncle Rat went out to ride
Kitty alone and I
Uncle Rat went out to ride
Sword and buckle by his side
Ma cax macari duck and a dil
Kitty alone and I

Lady Mouse, will marry me?
Kitty alone, Kitty alone
Lady Mouse, will marry me?
Kitty alone and I
Lady Mouse, will marry me?
Ask my Uncle Rat, says she
Ma cax macari duck and a dil
Kitty alone and I

Uncle Rat, will you marry Lady Mouse?
Kitty alone, Kitty alone
Uncle Rat, will you marry Lady Mouse?
Kitty alone and I
Uncle Rat, will you marry Lady Mouse?
Yes, kind sir, and half my house
Ma cax macari duck and a dil
Kitty alone and I

Lady Mouse, where will the wedding be?
Kitty alone, Kitty alone
Lady Mouse, where will the wedding be?
Kitty alone and I
Lady Mouse, where will the wedding be?
Ask my Uncle Rat, says she
Ma cax macari duck and a dil
Kitty alone and I

Uncle Rat, where will the wedding be?
Kitty alone, Kitty alone
Uncle Rat, where will the wedding be?
Kitty alone and I
Uncle Rat, where will the wedding be?
Up at the top of a holly tree
Ma cax macari duck and a dil
Kitty alone and I

A 'nion mhin o, sin anall na fir shuiri
A mhaithair mhin o, cuir na roithlean go dti me

Curfa: Chorus (after each verse):
Dulaman na binne bui, dulaman Gaelach
Dulaman na farraige, 's e b'fhearr a bhi in Eirinn

Ta cosa dubha dubailte ar an dulaman gaelach
Ta dha chluais mhaol ar an dulaman gaelach

Rachaimid go Doire leis an dulaman gaelach
Is ceannoimid broga daora ar an dulaman gaelach

Broga breaca dubha ar an dulaman gaelach
Ta bearead agus trius ar an dulaman gaelach

O chuir me sceala chuici, go gceannoinn cior di
'S e'n sceal a chuir si chugam, go raibh a ceann ciortha

Goide a thug na tire thu? arsa an dulaman gaelach
Ag suiri le do nion, arsa an dulaman maorach

O cha bhfaigheann tu mo 'nion, arsa an dulaman gaelach
Bheul, fuadoidh me liom i, arsa an dulaman maorach

Being on the twenty-third of June
Oh as I sat weaving all at my loom
Being on the twenty-third of June
Oh as I sat weaving all at my loom
I heard a thrush singing on yon bush
And the song she sang was the jug of punch

What more pleasure can a boy desire
Than sitting down, oh beside the fire
What more pleasure can a boy desire
Than sitting down, oh beside the fire
And in his hand, oh a jug of punch
And on his knee a tidy wench

When I am dead and left in my mold
At my head and feet place a flowing bowl
When I am dead and left in my mold
At my head and feet place a flowing bowl
And every young man that passes by
He can have a drink and remember I

Being on the twenty-third of June
Oh as I sat weaving all at my loom
Being on the twenty-third of June
Oh as I sat weaving all at my loom
I heard a thrush singing on yon bush
And the song she sang was the jug of punch
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