Buachaill ón Éirne -- Boy from the Erne

The Boy from the Erne is one of my favorite songs, especially since the listener can interpret the lyrics in many ways.

"At first glance, it would seem to be a bragart’s song and rather insulting to the poor girl to whom it is sung. However, if you consider all the attributes claimed by the man in the song to actually be the exact opposites of his actual place in life, then you can see how ‘tongue-in-cheek’, flirtatious and teasing the song really is!" ... Áine Cooke.

Traidisiúnta
Buachaill ón Éirne mé 's bhréagfainn féin cailín deas óg.
Ní iarrfainn bó spré léithe tá mé féin saibhir go leor.
'S liom Corcaigh 'a mhéid é, dhá thaobh a' ghleanna 's Tír Eoghain.
'S mura n-athraí mé béasaí 's mé n' t-oidhr' ar Chontae Mhaigh Eo.

Traditional
I'm a boy from the Erne and I could charm a nice young girl.
I would not ask for her wealth as I am rich enough myself.
I own Cork, as big as it is, two sides of the glen, and Tyrone.
And not to repeat myself, I'm the heir of County Mayo.

Rachaidh mé 'márach a dhéanamh leanna fán choill
Gan choite, gan bád, gan gráinnín brach' ar bith liom
Ach duilliúr na gcraobh mar éideadh leapa os mo chionn
'S óró sheacht mh'anam déag thú 's tú 'féachaint orm anall.

I will go tomorrow to make ale in the wood
Without a cot, without a boat, without a pinch of gruel with me
But leaves of the branches as bedclothes over my head
And O! good for you! and you looking across at me.

Buachailleacht bó, mo lao, nár chleacht mise ariamh
Ach ag imirt 's ag 'ol 's le hógmhná deasa fá shliabh
Má chaill mé mo stór ní dóigh* gur chaill mé mo chiall
A's ní mó liom do phóg ná'n bhróg atá'r caitheamh le bliain.

A cowherd, my pet, I've never been accustomed to be
But playing and drinking and (being) with nice young women on the mountain
Even though I lost my wealth it's not as though I lost my senses
And your kiss is no more to me now than a shoe worn for a year.

A chuisle 's a stór ná pós an seanduine liath
Ach pós a' fear óg, mo lao, mur' maire sé ach bliain
Nó beidh tú go fóill gan ó nó mac os do chionn
A shilfeadh a'n deor tráthnóna nó'r maidin go trom.

My darling and my love don't marry the grey old man
But marry a young man, my pet, if he only lives but a year
Or you will be without a descendant to succeed you
Who would shed their tears heavily at eve or at morn. (Her offspring, that is.)

Guitar Chords

[D]Buachaill ón[G] Eirne mé's[D] bhréagfainn féin[G] cailín deas[D] óg Né iarfainn bó[G] spré léithe[D] tá mé saibhir go[A] leor 'S liom[D] Corcaigh a mhéid e , dhá[G] thaobh a [D]ghleanna's[A] Tír Eoghain 'S mur[D] n-athraí mé[G] béasaí 's mé n'[D] t-oibhr ar [G]Chontae Mhaigh[D] Eo

Courtesy of Vivian and Jack, IrishPage.com August 11, 2024
With help from Proinsias Osborne.
Replay midi background music: Buachaill ón Éirne

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Arís go liosta

Traidisiúnta Buachaill ón Éirne mé 's bhréagfainn féin cailín deas óg. Ní iarrfainn bó spré léithe tá mé féin saibhir go leor. 'S liom Corcaigh 'a mhéid é, dhá thaobh a' ghleanna 's Tír Eoghain. 'S mura n-athraí mé béasaí 's mé n' t-oidhr' ar Chontae Mhaigh Eo.		Traditional I'm a boy from the Erne and I could charm a nice young girl. I would not ask for her wealth as I am rich enough myself. I own Cork, as big as it is, two sides of the glen, and Tyrone. And not to repeat myself, I'm the heir of County Mayo.
Rachaidh mé 'márach a dhéanamh leanna fán choill Gan choite, gan bád, gan gráinnín brach' ar bith liom Ach duilliúr na gcraobh mar éideadh leapa os mo chionn 'S óró sheacht mh'anam déag thú 's tú 'féachaint orm anall.		I will go tomorrow to make ale in the wood Without a cot, without a boat, without a pinch of gruel with me But leaves of the branches as bedclothes over my head And O! good for you! and you looking across at me.
Buachailleacht bó, mo lao, nár chleacht mise ariamh Ach ag imirt 's ag 'ol 's le hógmhná deasa fá shliabh Má chaill mé mo stór ní dóigh* gur chaill mé mo chiall A's ní mó liom do phóg ná'n bhróg atá'r caitheamh le bliain.		A cowherd, my pet, I've never been accustomed to be But playing and drinking and (being) with nice young women on the mountain Even though I lost my wealth it's not as though I lost my senses And your kiss is no more to me now than a shoe worn for a year.
A chuisle 's a stór ná pós an seanduine liath Ach pós a' fear óg, mo lao, mur' maire sé ach bliain Nó beidh tú go fóill gan ó nó mac os do chionn A shilfeadh a'n deor tráthnóna nó'r maidin go trom.		My darling and my love don't marry the grey old man But marry a young man, my pet, if he only lives but a year Or you will be without a descendant to succeed you Who would shed their tears heavily at eve or at morn. (Her offspring, that is.)