Buachaill Ón Éirne Lyrics
The CorrsMusic Video
Buachaill Ón Éirne
Irish Lyrics
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
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
[Ceol Uirlise]
Buachailleacht bó, mo leo
Nár chleacht mise ariamh
Ach ag imirt 's ag 'ol
'S le hógmhná deasa fá shliabh
Má chaill mé mo stór ní móide
Gur chaill mé mo chiall
A's ní mó liom do phóg ná'n bhróg
Atá'r caitheamh le bliain
[Traditional verse omitted by the artist:]
A chuisle 's a stór
Ná pós an seanduine liath
Ach pós a' fear óg, mo leo
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
English Lyrics
I'm a boy from Ireland
And I could charm a nice young girl
I would not ask for her wealth
As I am rich enough myself
I own a good part of Cork
Two sides of the glen in Tir Eoghain
And not to repeat myself
I'm the heir of County Mayo
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 think well done for you
As you watch me from over there
[Instrumental]
A cowherd, my pet
I've never been accustomed to be
Instead of playing and drinking
With the nice young women on the mountainside
If I lost my riches
I probably didn't lose my senses
And your kiss is no more to me
Now than a shoe worn for a year
[Traditional verse omitted by the artist:]
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
And you'd shed sorrowful tears
From morning 'til night
Song Details
Songwriter: Traditional - although this version only includes 3 verses, we have included all 4. The version by Clannad (video), omits the 2nd verse and includes the 4th verse.
Note: While many versions of this song exist, the lyrics provided here are based on the specific arrangement recorded by The Corrs.
Buachaill Ón Éirne (pronounced Bwoo-kill own Air-nya) originates from the Donegal/Fermanagh border, near the River Erne. It belongs to the "rabelaisian" tradition of Irish songs, where the narrator celebrates a life of leisure, drinking, and courting rather than the "proper" life of a farmer.
Translation: 'Buachaill On Eirne' translates to 'Boy from Erne'.
Song Brief:
The singer claims great wealth and would even marry a girl without a dowry. He doesn't work but drinks and plays with women for short periods of time depicted by the phrase... "and your kiss is no more to me now than a shoe worn for a year".
The "boasting" in the song is often interpreted as ironic or tongue-in-cheek. The "boy" is a bit of a charming rogue—he doesn't have a penny, but he’s "rich" in spirit and stories!
The Corrs version doesn't include the 4th verse where the singer warns not to marry an old man, for a young man—even if he lives for one year, can still give her a son or a daughter.
Genre: Irish Folk Song
Covers: Clannad, Reeltime, Celtic Thunder, Phil Coulter And His Concert Orchestra, Anuna, Liam Clancy, Heather Dale, Seamus Kennedy, Ályth, Cahal Dunne, Anam, Eleanor McCain.
Featured Artists: The Corrs
Album: Home
Recorded: 2005
Released: 26 September 2005
Country: Europe
Format: CD
Label: Atlantic
Please Note: Although the album tracks are all performed by The Corrs, links with an asterisk will take you to pages performed by other artists.
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