A Phlúirín na mBan Donn Óg

Oh flower of young brown-haired women
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From joeheaney.org: This is one of those songs that depend on dialogue – and in the case of this well-known Munster so more...

From joeheaney.org: This is one of those songs that depend on dialogue – and in the case of this well-known Munster song, the sense of who is speaking has perhaps got muddled in transmission. Printed versions of the text give ‘a phlúirín na mban donn óg’ – ‘oh flower of young brown-haired women’ – in other words, the singer is addressing the young woman, rather than quoting her. This makes sense, as he is seeking to persuade her to come away with him.

County Leitrim (Irish: Contae Liatroma) is a county in Ireland. It is located in the Border Region and is also part of the province of Connacht. In ancient times Leitrim formed the western half of the Kingdom of Breifne. This region was long influenced by the O’Rourke family of Dromahair, whose heraldic lion occupies the official county shield to this day. Close ties initially existed with East Breifne, now County Cavan, and the O’Reilly clan seated there.

In the YouTube video is singer, Treasa Ní Cheannaigh, from Tuam, Co. Galway. She is a primary school teacher with many years experience as a performer on stage.

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Irish

English

If you'd come with me to County Liatrom,
O brown-haired flower of maidens,
I'd give you honey and mead for food,
O brown-haired flower of maidens.
Bright salmon I'd bring back to you,
Wine and beer to drink after that,
You could sleep sound in a bed of down,
O brown-haired flower of maidens.

Oh, I saw her toward me through the mountains,
Like a star approaching in the mist,
And I was talking and conversing with her
Till we reached the cows' pasture.
We sat down beside the road
And I swore to her in writing,
That nothing she lacked but I'd rove out to find
For the brown-haired flower of maidens.

Ah, I'll not go with you,
and it's no good your asking,
Said the brown-haired flower of maidens,
For your speeches won't keep me alive without food,
Said the brown-haired flower of maidens,
A thousand times better that I were single forever
Than to be walking the dewy glens with you,
And that my heart gave you love and affection,
Said the brown-haired flower of maidens.

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Chords

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