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T​á​im Cortha ó Bheith im’ Aonar im’ Luí

from When Two Lovers Meet by Sarah McQuaid

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Infinite thanks to Iarla Ó Lionáird for teaching me this song and for patiently coaching me through the Irish pronunciation. Thanks also to Dáibhí Ó Cróinín, the nephew of the great sean-nós singer Elisabeth Cronin (from whom Iarla learned the song) for supplying me with his own transcription of the lyrics, which helped considerably. Dáibhí is working on a collection of Bess Cronin’s songs that should be an invaluable reference for traditional singers – I hope it comes out soon! The song is in macaronic form – each verse in Irish is followed by the same verse roughly translated into English. There are a couple of interesting differences – notably, in the Irish version the woman is 29 years old and tired of being left on the shelf, whereas in the English translation she’s only 19. Dáibhí points out that a similar song appears in Leslie Shepard’s The Broadside Ballad under the name ‘Weary of Tumbling Alone’, so it’s conceivable that the English version came first.

lyrics

Tráthnóinín déanach ’s mé dul a’ bhálcaoreacht
’Sea do dhearcas an spéirbhean a’ caoi
Airiú, d’fhiosraíosa féin di - gur labhair sí a scéal liom
Táim cortha ó bheith im’ aonar im’ luí, im luí
Táim cortha ó bheith im’ aonar im’ luí

One evening of late as I carelessly strayed
I espied a fair maid in deep mourn
I asked her the matter, she quickly made answer
I am weary from laying alone, alone
I am weary from laying alone

A’s a mhúirnín donn dílis, suigh anso taobh liom
Agus aithris dom scéala ar t’aois
A cúig a’s a sé a’s a’ sárú dhá naoi
A’s táim cortha ó bheith im’ aonar im’ luí, im luí
Táim chomh cortha ó bheith im’ aonar im’ luí

My comely young damsel, sit down here ’longside me
And tell me the years that have flown
Oh it’s seven and one and eleven years long
That I’m weary from laying alone, alone
That I’m weary from laying alone

Dá bhfaighinnse ógánach éigin do thógfadh gan spré mé
A’s go mbeinnse ’ge féinig mar mhnaoi
Ní chéilfinnse ar éinne é ’s do neosfainn don saol é
Go bhfuilim cortha ó bheith im’ aonar im’ luí, im luí
Go bhfuilim cortha ó bheith im’ aonar im’ luí

If I’d a comely young man would take me without fortune
And make me a wife of his own
For the truth is I’ll say is I’ll die in despair
If I lie any longer alone, alone
If I lie any longer alone

Tá róisín breá néata sa gháirdín seo taobh linne
Á, baineam a’s déanam é fhí
Mar is ró-ghearr ’na dhiaidh san go mbeadh sé ró-thraochta
Leis a naoi bhíodh ná h-aonar na luí, na luí
Leis a naoi bhíodh ná h-aonar na luí

There’s a neat sweet little flower in this garden ’longside us
Take it away, sure ’tis your own
For the flower it will fade, and so also will the maid
For she’s weary from laying alone, alone
For she’s weary from laying alone

credits

from When Two Lovers Meet, released February 1, 1997
Trad arr. S. McQuaid
Sarah – vocals

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Sarah McQuaid Penzance, UK

“One of the most instantly recognisable voices in current music … Shades of Joni Mitchell in a jam with Karen Carpenter and Lana Del Rey.” —Neil March, Trust The Doc

“Captivating, unorthodox songwriting … layered satin vocals ... enthralling, harrowing arrangements … a gateway into a true innovator’s soul.” —PopMatters

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