1. Bhí mise 's mo bhean bheag lá gabháil a' bóthar, 'S oró grá mo chroí, Is cé chásfaidh dúinn ach Gruagach an óir bhuí, Cuach mo lon dubh buí. 2. D'fhiafair sí domhsa an 'níon domh an óigbhean, 'S oró grá mo chroí, A's dúirt mé féin gurb í mo bhean phósta í, Cuach mo lon dubh buí. 3. 'dTabharfaidh tú domhsa choíche go deo í? 'S oró grá mo chroí, Muna ndéanfaidh tú sin liom dhéanfaidh mé' an cóir leat, Cuach mo lon dubh buí 4. Gabh thusa 'na mullaí 'gus mise 'na móinte, 'S oró grá mo chroí, 'S ca bith fear a leanfaidh sí bíodh sí go deo aige, Cuach mo lon dubh buí. 5. Chuaigh seisean 'na mullaí 'gus mise 'na móinte, 'S oró grá mo chroí, 'Gus lean sí an Gruagach, b'aige a bhí 'n óige, Cuach mo lon dubh buí 6. D'fhill mé 'na bhaile go buartha cráite, 'S oró grá mo chroí, 'Gus shuigh mé síos ar mo leabaidh trí ráithe, Cuach mo lon dubh buí. 7. D'fhan sí amuigh aige bliain is trí ráithe, 'S oró grá mo chroí, Agus tháinig sí 'na bhaile, mo Mhallaí gan náire, Cuach mo lon dubh buí. 8. A ghiolla adaí istigh caidé mar atá tú? 'S oró grá mo chroí, Mar is olc le mo charaid is maith liom mo námhaid, Cuach mo lon dubh buí. 9. Caidé a dhéanfá dá bhfaighinnse bás uait? 'S oró grá mo chroí, Chuirfinn ort cónair dara na gcúig gclár Cuach mo lon dubh buí. 10. Cuach inniu agus cuach amárach, 'S oró grá mo chroí, 'Gus cuach bheag eile ach an lá go ceann ráithe, Cuach mo lon dubh buí.

My wife and myself were walking the highway, Sorrow graw macree, [Oh, the love of my heart] & whom should we meet but the golden haired Groogach, Cooack malone dove wee. [Sing my yellow blackbird] He asked me to say if my wife was my daughter, Sorrow graw macree, I answered him truly she was my life partner, Cooack malone dove wee. Will you give her to me for life and for ever? Sorrow graw macree, And if you refuse me I'm likely to harm you, Cooack malone dove wee. You go the highways and I'll go go the byways, Sorrow graw macree, And whoever she follows can claim her for ever, Cooack malone dove wee. He went the highways and I went the byways, Sorrow graw macree, So she followed the Groogach as he was the younger, Cooack malone dove wee. I returned to my home dejected and broken, Sorrow graw macree, For three seasons I lay down alone and forlorn, Cooack malone dove wee. She stayed with the Groogach for a year and 3/4, Sorrow graw macree, And then she returned, a disgraced and shamed "molly", Cooack malone dove wee. Oh, young man in yonder how well are you feeling? Sorrow graw macree, In spite of my friends I still like my enemies, Cooack malone dove wee. What would you do if in death I should leave you? Sorrow graw macree, With five oaken boards I'd make a coffin to suit you, Cooack malone dove wee. Sing today and sing tomorrow Sorrow graw macree, And every day till the end of the season Cooack malone dove wee.

Explanation:
There appears to be a verse missing between verses 7 and 8 which would explain why there is a discontinuity in the story. This sometimes happens in older poems and songs where a verse can be lost over time.

* Introduction and remarks courtesy of Noireann, member of Gaeilge-B.
The marquee info is by the singing group Altan who have recorded this song on one of their albums.
Courtesy by Jack and Vivian IrishPage.com September 2004
Replay midi background music: Cuach.mid

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