This song is Cúirt Bhaile Nua, sung by Treasa Ní Mhiolláin from Inis Mór in the Aran Islands.
Images are from the film 'Man of Aran', 1934, by Robert J. Flaherty
Lyrics:
Lá breá dár éiríos ar maidin,
Ag triall dom ar Chúirt Bhaile Nua,
Cé a d'fheicfinn ach Neilí ag gabháil tharam,
Is ba ró dheas é a leagan 's a snua;
Bhí a grua bán níos gile ná 'n eala,
Ná sneachta mín éadrom an lae,
'Gus a stóirín, nach trua leat mo chás-sa,
Mar is lag lúbach a d'fhága tú mé.
Tá teachín deas gleoite sa ngleann a'm, Agus bím ann go huaigneach liom fhéin,
Is dhá dtiocfadh mo Neilí ar cuairt a'm, thabharfainn póigín deas milis dá béal;
Nach iomaí cailín deas a chroithfeadh láimh liom,
Is a thiocfadh sa teach a'm le mí,
Ach dhá bhfaighinnse leo ór buí 'gus diamonds,
Sí Neilí tá i gceartlár mo chroí.
Cén t-iontas dhá lasfadh an talamh, cén t-iontas dhá mbrisfeadh mo chroí,
Cén t-iontas do mo shúile a bheith leata
Is a liachtaí deoir a shil siad le mí.
Tá mise tinn brónach le fada,
Deir mo mhuintir gur athraigh mo shnua,
Ag dearcadh go géar ar an gcailín,
Atá ina cónaí i gCúirt Bhaile Nua.
[recording starts here]
Ach brón ar an té nach mbíonn críonna, is nach ndéanann gach ní mar is cóir,
Is mise mé fhéin a bhí ciontach
Nach ndeachaigh mé in am faoina comhair
Ó, thabharfainnse cliú agus cáil di,
Ach níl goir agam labhairt léi níos mó.
Is go siúlfainn seacht ríochta na hÉireann
Leis an bpéarla ‘tá i gCúirt Bhaile Nua.
Translation:
A fine day I arose in the morning, journeying to Cúirt Bhaile Nua*,
Who should I see but Nelly going by me,
And her manner and complexion were so nice.
Her white cheek was brighter than the swan,
Or smooth even snow in the day,
And my love, isn't my case pitiable,
Since you left me weak and wandering?
I have a cute little house in the valley,
And I'm often there lonely by myself,
If Nelly were to come and visit me,
I'd her give a sweet little kiss on her mouth.
Many a nice girl has shook hands with me,
And would come into the house for the month,
But though I might get with them yellow gold and diamonds,
It's Nelly who's in the true bottom of my heart.
It's no surprise that the land is lit up,
It's no surprise that my heart is broken,
It's no surprise that my eyes are closed,
With the amount of tears they have shed for a month.
I have been sick and sad for a month,
My family say my complexion has changed,
From looking painfully at that girl,
Who lives in Cúirt Bhaile Nua.
Sadness on the man who isn't wise,
And who doesn't do everything as he should,
For I myself was guilty
Of not pursuing her in time.
I'll bring her fame and renown,
Though it's not right for us to talk anymore,
May I walk the seven kingdoms of Ireland,
With the pearl in Cúirt Bhaile Nua.
* Lit. New Town Court. I seem to remember reading that this was a townland in County Mayo, though I couldn't find it on any map. I've seen older versions have the town called Cúirt Bhaile an Mhúighe, which is pronounced roughly the same, so maybe that's the true name. (Info. provided by lactha)
24 июн 2017
