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This is a traditional Irish song arranged by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Ciaran Tourish, Dermot Byrne, Ciaran Curran, Mark Kelly and Dáithí Sproule. It appears on Altan’s seventh studio album Another Sky, released in February 2000.
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?’
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?’
Curfá: 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
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 N fir na n'arm faoina lascú óir
'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
Chorus (after each verse): Oh mammy, won't you let me go to the fair Oh dearest love, don't plead with me Oh mammy, won't you let me go to the fair Oh dearest love, don't plead with me
There's a fair tomorrow in County Clare There's a fair tomorrow in County Clare There's a fair tomorrow in 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
You're not ten or eleven years old You're not ten or eleven years old You're not ten or eleven years old When you reach 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
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
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