Bhí mise 's mo bhean bheag lá gabháil a' bóthar,
'S oró grá mo chroí,
Is cé chásfaidh dúinn ach Gruagach an óir bhuí,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
D'fhiafair sí domhsa an 'níon domh an óigbhean,
'S oró grá mo chroí,
A's dúirt mé féin gurb í mo bhean phósta í,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
'dTabharfaidh tú domhsa choíche go deo í?
'S oró grá mo chroí,
Muna ndéanfaidh tú sin liom dhéanfaidh mé' n cóir leat,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí
Gabh thusa 'na mullaí 'gus mise 'na móinte,
'S oró grá mo chroí,
'S ca bith fear a leanfaidh sí bíodh sí go deo aige,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
Chuaigh seisean 'na mullaí 'gus mise 'na móinte,
'S oró grá mo chroí,
'Gus lean sí an Gruagach, b'aige a bhí 'n óige,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí
D'fhill mé 'na bhaile go buartha cráite,
'S oró grá mo chroí,
'Gus shuigh mé síos ar mo leabaidh trí ráithe,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
D'fhan sí amuigh aige bliain is trí ráithe,
'S oró grá mo chroí,
Agus tháinig sí 'na bhaile, mo Mhallaí gan náire,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
A ghiolla adaí istigh caidé mar atá tú?
'S oró grá mo chroí,
Mar is olc le mo charaid is maith liom mo námhaid,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
Caidé a dhéanfá dá bhfaighinnse bás uait?
'S oró grá mo chroí,
Chuirfinn ort cónair dara na gcúig gclár
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
Cuach inniu agus cuach amárach,
'S oró grá mo chroí,
'Gus cuach bheag eile achan lá go ceann ráithe,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
Translation
Myself and my wife were walking the highway,
Is oro gra mo chree,
And whom should we meet but the Golden Haired Groogach,
Cooach mo Lon Du Bui
He asked me to say if my wife was my daughter,
Is oro etc.,
I answered him truly she was my life partner,
Cooach etc.
Will you give her to me for life and for ever?
Is oro etc.,
And if you refuse me I'm likely to harm you,
Cooach etc
You go the highways and I'll go go the byways,
Is oro etc.,
And whoever she follows can claim her for ever,
Cooach etc
He went the highways and I went the byways,
Is oro etc.,
So she followed the Groogach as he was the younger,
Cooach etc
I returned to my home dejected and broken,
Is oro etc.,
For three quarters I lay down alone and forlorn,
Cooach etc
She stayed with the Groogach for a year and three quarters,
Is oro etc.,
And then she returned, a disgraced and shamed "molly",
Cooach etc
Oh, servant in yonder how well are you feeling?
Is oro etc.,
In spite of my friends I still like my enemies,
Cooach etc
What would you do if in death I should leave you?
Is oro etc.,
With five oaken boards I'd make a coffin to suit you,
Cooach etc
Cuach Mo Lon Dubh Bui Lyrics performed by Altan are property and copyright of the authors, artists and labels. You should note that Cuach Mo Lon Dubh Bui Lyrics performed by Altan is only provided for educational purposes only and if you like the song you should buy the CD