Cruiskeen Lawn lyrics

The Clancy Brothers

Oh! Gra-ma-chree ma-cruiskeen,
Slainte geal mavoorneen
Gra-machree ma-cruiskeen lawn, lawn, lawn
Oh! Gra-ma-chree ma-cruiskeen lawn

Let the farmer praise his grounds,
Let the huntsman praise his hounds,
And the shepherd his dewey scented lawn;
Oh but I, more wise than they,
And be happy night and day
With me darlin' little cruiskeen lawn, lawn, lawn
Me smilin' little cruiskeen lawn.

Oh! Gra-ma-chree ma-cruiskeen,
Slainte geal mavoorneen
Gra-machree ma-cruiskeen lawn, lawn, lawn
Oh! Gra-ma-chree ma-cruiskeen lawn

Immortal and divine,
Great Bacchus, god of wine
Create me by adoption your own son.
In the hopes that you'll comply,
That my glass shall ne'er run dry
Oh my smilin' little cruiskeen lawn, lawn, lawn
My smilin' little cruiskeen lawn.

Oh! Gra-ma-chree ma-cruiskeen,
Slainte geal mavoorneen
Gra-machree ma-cruiskeen lawn, lawn, lawn
Oh! Gra-ma-chree ma-cruiskeen lawn

And when grim Death appears,
In a few but happy years,
He'll say "Oh won't you come along with me"
I'll say, "Begone, you knave!"
For great Bacchus gave me leave
To take another cruiskeen lawn, lawn, lawn
To take another cruiskeen lawn

Oh! Gra-ma-chree ma-cruiskeen,
Slainte geal mavoorneen
Gra-machree ma-cruiskeen lawn, lawn, lawn
Oh! Gra-ma-chree ma-cruiskeen lawn

Song Details

Author: Dion Boucicault (1820-1890) - Irish actor and playwright ... song is also titled Cruiscin Lan.

Brief: The story of a man who loves his drink. "Let the farmer praise his grounds, as the hunter does his hounds", but the narrator prefers his full jug of the 'fine stuff'. It makes him happy day and night, and when death comes to take him in a few years, he will have death wait while he has another drink from his little jug.

References:
Cruiskeen Lawn - Irish for "full jug"
Bacchus - god of wine and giver of ecstasy (ancient Greek & Roman mythology)
ne'er - never
Begone - go away!

Chorus Translation:

Oh Gra-ma-chree ma-cruiskeen, 
Slainte geal mavoorneen
Gra-machree ma-cruiskeen lawn, lawn, lawn
Oh! Gra-ma-chree ma-cruiskeen lawn

translates to:

Oh! My heart's love is my little jug,
Bright health to my darling
My heart's love is my little full jug, full, full, full.
Oh! My heart's love is my little jug

Category: Irish Drinking Song

Covers: Abby Green, Tommy Makem, Iron Hill Vagabonds, Kay McCarthy, The Whiskey Bards...

Album: Flowers In The Valley - The Clancy Brothers (1970).

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