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This beautiful love song originates from the Blasket Islands off the coast of Corca Dhuibhne in southwest Kerry. A great deal of music has come to us from these six small islands during the last century, much of it is believed to be rooted in much older traditions of this close knit community.
Is thiar cois abhainn gan bhréag gan dabht Tá an ainnir chiúin tais mhánla Is gur ghile a cam ná an eala ar an dtonn Ó bhaitheas go bonn a bróige
'Sí an stáidbhean í a chráigh mo chroí Is d'fhág sí i m'intinn brónach Is leigheas le fáil níl agam go brách Ó dhiúltaigh mo ghrá gheal domsa
Ó b'fhearr liom fhéin ná Éire mhóir Ná saibhres Rí na Spáinne Go mbéinnse 'gus tusa i lúb na finne I gcoilltibh i bhfad ón ár gcáirde
Ó mise 'gus tusa bheith pósta a ghrá Le haontoil athar is máthair A mhaighdean óig is milse póg Tú grian na Carraige Báine
'S a stuaire an chinn cailce, más dual dom go mbeir agam Beidh cóir ort a thaithneodh led' cháirde Idir shíoda 'gus hata ó bhonn go bathas 'S gach ní sa chathair dá bhfeabhas
Beidh do bhólacht á gcasadh gach neoin chun baile Is ceol binn ag beacha ar bhánta Beidh ól ar do ghlacadh is cóiste id' tharraingt Go bruach na Carraige Báine
And west by the river, without a doubt or lie There is a quiet gentle beauty And her waist is as bright as any swan on the wave From the crown of her head to the soles of her feet
She is the woman that tormented my heart And left me heartbroken There is nothing that will cure me Since my true love rejected me
I would prefer, than all of Ireland Or the wealth of the king of Spain That you and I could be together in a quiet spot In a wood far from our friends
Oh you and I to be married, my love With the permission of father and mother Oh young maiden of the sweet kisses You're the sun of the White Rocks
Oh beauty of the white hair, if you would be mine You would have everything your friends would like From silk to hats, from head to toe And the best of everything in the city
Your cows would be driven every noon to the town And the bees in the meadow would sing sweetly for you You would have your fill of drink and have coaches to take you All around the edge of the White Rocks
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