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“There’s a Fair Tomorrow”. From joeheaney.org: This song, familiar to schoolchildren and Irish language-learners around the country, would likely have been dismissed as a ‘school song’ by the people in Joe’s community. Even so, it represents a venerable type of song which Seán Ó Tuama termed the débat grá or ‘love debate.’ The subject matter of the song which, as here, takes the form of an argument between a girl and her mother about matters of the heart, has its roots in the troubadour and trouvère traditions of 12th-century France.
The translation here is the one Joe himself developed for his students, a fairly literal rendering that has the added benefit of being singable. He was fond of using this song as a sing-along in his classes, and he often placed it, as he does here, at the end of the evening. Compare the rendition here with the full-speed-ahead version on another recording, when he performs it in a medley with ‘An bhFaca Tú mo Shéamaisín?’
Beidh aonach amárach i gContae an Chláir. Beidh aonach amárach i gContae an Chláir. Beidh aonach amárach i gContae an Chláir. Cé mhaith dom é, ní bheidh mé ann.
Curfá:
'S a mháithrín, an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé? 'S a mháithrín, an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé? 'S a mháithrín, an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé? 'S a mhuirnín ó ná héiligh é.
Níl tú a deich nó a haon déag fós. Níl tú a deich nó a haon déag fós. Níl tú a deich nó a haon déag fós. Nuair a bheidh tú trí déag beidh tú mór.
Curfá
Táim-se i ngrá le gréasaí bróg. Táim-se i ngrá le gréasaí bróg. Táim-se i ngrá le gréasaí bróg. Mur' bhfaigh mé é ní bheidh mé beo.
B'fhearr liom féin mo ghréasaí bróg. B'fhearr liom féin mo ghréasaí bróg. B'fhearr liom féin mo ghréasaí bróg. Ná oifigeach airm faoi lásaí óir.
Is a mháithrín an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé Is a mhuirnín óg ná healaí é Is a mháithrín an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé Is a mhuirnín óg ná healaí é
Beidh aonach amárach in gContae an Chláir Beidh aonach amárach in gContae an Chláir Beidh aonach amárach in gContae an Chláir Cén mhaith domh é ní bheidh mé ann
Tá 'níon bheag agam is tá sí óg Tá 'níon bheag agam is tá sí óg Tá 'níon bheag agam is tá sí óg Is tá sí i ngrá leis an ghreasaí bróg
'S iomaí bean a phós go h-óg 'S iomaí bean a phós go h-óg 'S iomaí bean a phós go h-óg Is a mhair go socair lena greasaí bróg
Níl tú ach deich nó aon deag fós Níl tú ach deich nó aon deag fós Níl tú ach deich nó aon deag fós Nuair a bheas tú trí deag beidh tú mór
B'fhearr liom féin mo ghreasaí bróg B'fhearr liom féin mo ghreasaí bróg B'fhearr liom féin mo ghreasaí bróg Ná fir na n'arm faoina lascú óir
There's a fair tomorrow in the County Clare. There's a fair tomorrow in the County Clare. There's a fair tomorrow in the County Clare. But what's the use I won't be there.
Chorus:
Oh mother, won't you let me go to the fair? Oh mother, won't you let me go to the fair? Oh mother, won't you let me go to the fair? My fondest child, Oh please don't ask.
You're not even ten or eleven years old. You're not even ten or eleven years old. You're not even ten or eleven years old. When you're thirteen I'll let you go.
Chorus
I'm in love with the cobbler man. I'm in love with the cobbler man. I'm in love with the cobbler man. If I don't get him, I can't live on.
The cobbler is the man I like the best. The cobbler is the man I like the best. The cobbler is the man I like the best. I prefer him to an officer with golden braid.
There's a fair tomorrow in the County Clare There's a fair tomorrow in the County Clare There's a fair tomorrow in the County Clare Why should I care, I won't be there
I've a little daughter and she's very young I've a little daughter and she's very young I've a little daughter and she's very young And she's in love with a cobbling man
There is many a maid who married young There is many a maid who married young There is many a maid who married young And lived in peace with her cobbling man
You are not ten or eleven yet You are not ten or eleven yet You are not ten or eleven yet When youre thirteen you'll be more mature.
I'd rather have my cobbling man I'd rather have my cobbling man I'd rather have my cobbling man Than an army officer with his gold bands
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