History & Politics

Shule Aroon

by Anonymous (Irish Gaelic, later) c. 13th–18th century

Translated by anonymous traditional version (in Hull, The Poem-Book of the Gael, 1913) · From The Poem-Book of the Gael (1913)

History & Politics

I would I were on yonder hill,
'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill,
And every tear would turn a mill,
Is go d-teidh tu, a mhurnin, slan!
Siubhail, siubhail, siubhail, a ruin!
Siubhail go socair, agus siubhail go ciuin,
Siubhail go d-ti an doras agus eulaigh liom,
Is go d-teidh tu, a mhurnin, slan!

I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel,
I'll sell my only spinning-wheel,
To buy for my love a sword of steel,
Is go d-teidh tu, a mhurnin, slan!
Siubhail, siubhail, siubhail a ruin! &c.

I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red,
And round the world I'll beg my bread,
Until my parents shall wish me dead,
Is go d-teidh tu, a mhurnin, slan!
Siubhail, siubhail, siubhail, a ruin! &c.

I wish, I wish, I wish in vain,
I wish I had my heart again,
And vainly think I'd not complain,
Is go d-teidh tu, a mhurnin, slan!
Siubhail, siubhail, siubhail, a ruin! &c.

But now my love has gone to France,
To try his fortune to advance;
If he e'er come back, 'tis but a chance,
Is go d-teidh tu, a mhurnin, slan!
Siubhail, siubhail, siubhail, a ruin!
Siubhail go socair, agus siubhail go ciuin,
Siubhail go d-ti an doras agus culaigh liom,
Is go d-teidh tu, a mhurnin, slan!

MLA

Anonymous (Irish Gaelic, later). “Shule Aroon.” Translated by anonymous traditional version. Poetry Codex, poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-irish-gaelic/4/.

Chicago

Anonymous (Irish Gaelic, later). “Shule Aroon.” Translated by anonymous traditional version. Poetry Codex. https://poetrycodex.com/poem/anonymous-irish-gaelic/4/.

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