Before you edit: All changes are checked by a moderator before being published to the site and could take a few days.
There are several different version of this song. The first four verses below are from the original poem by Riocard Bairéad (c. 1714-1819).
Riocard Bairéad (Anglicised as Richard Barrett) (b. 1740 – d. 1819 according to his grave. Other sources say born 1739 or 1740 and died either 1818 or the 8th or 18 December 1819) was a poet and United Irishman. Known in his lifetime as the Poet of Erris, Bairéad was notable for his verse and songs in the Irish Gaelic as well as the role he played in the Society of United Irishmen which mounted an uprising, known as The Irish Rebellion of 1798 against British rule. Riocard Bairéad himself, according to local folklore, played an important role in the rebellion.
A French expeditionary force under General Humbert landed in County Mayo to support the United Irishmen. Humbert was to be followed by further French troops but these never materialized. The rebellion ended in failure, despite some early victories over the English forces, most notably when the redcoats took flight before the pike-wielding men from Belmullet and other Erris villages in a battle that became known as “the Races of Castlebar”.
Riocard Bairead was a satirist, influenced by such as Jonathan Swift. He married twice, first to Nancy Tollet then to Maire Ní Mhóráin. With Maire he had two children, Mary and Richard Barrett.
Is iomaí slí sin do bhíos ag daoine Ag cruinniú píosaí is ag déanamh stóir, 'S a laghad a smaoiníos ar ghiorra a’ tsaoil seo, Go mbeidh siad sínte faoi leac go fóill. Más tiarna tíre, diúc no rí thú, Ní cuirfear pingin leat ‘s tú ‘dul faoin bhfód, Mar sin is dá bhrí sin, níl beart níos críonna Ná bheith go síoraí ag cur preab san ól.
Tá dream de dhaoine le ba is le caoirigh, Ag dul chun aonaigh is ‘fáil sochar mór, Á gcur chun cíbe is as sin chun mínligh, Sin pointí críonna feictear dhóibh. Tógaim fianaise ar an mbuíon seo, Go mbeidh siad sínte faoi leac go fóill. Mar sin is dá bhrí sin, níl beart níos críonna, Ná bheith go síoraí ag cur preab san ól.
Is olc an tslí bheith ag ardú cíosa, Ag déanamh daoirse agus tribute mór, Ag cur na ndaoine ó theach ‘s ó dhídean, Ní faraoir atá cinnte dóibh, An té a níos sin, is dó is baolaí, A bheith in íochtar á bhruith is á dhó. Mar sin is dá bhrí sin, níl beart níos críonna, Ná bheith go síoraí ag cur preab san ól.
An long ar sáile níl cuan ná cearda Nach gcaithfeadh cairde ar fud an domhain mhóir, Ó ríocht na Spáinne 'gus suas Gibraltar, 'Gus ins an áit a mbíonn an Grand Signiór, Le gach cargo ag líonadh málaí Ní choinneodh an bás uaidh uair nó dhó, Mar sin, a chairde, níl beart níos fearr dúinn Ná bheith mar táimid, ag cur preab san ól.
An ceannaí craosach nil meon ná slí ar bith Le ór a dhéanamh nach bhfeictear dhó, An ráta is daoire ar an earra is saoire, Is ar luach sé phinge de cuirfeadh coróin; ‘S do réir chaint Chríosta is ní do-dhéanta An camall cíocrach ‘thabhairt tríd an ghró; Mar sin ‘s dá bhrí sin, níl beart níos críonna Ná bheith go síoraí ag cur preab san ól.
Is gearr an saol ‘tá ag an lílí sciamhach Cé gur buí agus gur geal a ghabháil, Is Solamh críonna ina chulaith riúil Nach bhfuil baol air in áille dhó. Níl sa tsaol seo ach mar soinneán gaoithe, Ga a scaoiltear nó slám de cheo: Mar sin ‘s dá bhrí sin, níl beart níos críonna Ná bheith go síoraí ag cur preab san ól.
The many methods of making money Leave little leisure for having fun And think how long you'll be stretched and breathless Alone and lonely beneath a stone; If you're a Lord or a Duke or Princeling You'll take no gold when you go below And therefore think that the greatest wisdom Is making merry with Preab 'san Ol.
There are people with cattle and sheep, who go to the fair and get much reward Dágeur chun cíbe agus as sin go mínligh Wise points are clear to them. But this month it is witnessed that they will cry and shed tears. So then nothing is wiser than to continue forever drinking.
The Gombeenman in his greed for money Will take ten gains for the price of one The cheapest goods will be priced the dearest For what costs sixpence he'll charge a crown But as the camel can thread no needle The Gombeenman if he'd save his soul Must therefore think that the greatest wisdom Is making merry with Preab 'san Ol.
The ship that sails on the pathless ocean No chart no sextant to shoot the sun Will yet in Spain or in Rock Gibraltar Find friends to meet with when day is done; The Grand Seignior in his airy palace May see bags filling and call for more And yet death waits so the greatest wisdom Is making merry with Preab 'san Ol.
The craosach merchant nil and no way attitude To gold not seen him, The most expensive rate on the cheapest item, Value an it phinge of have a crown; 'd Talk Chríosta a not-made The Gusto camel 'through ghró; 'S therefore, there is a more prudent measure Never ever have to kick the drink.
The lovely lily that toils nor spins not Arrayed in beauty that's like the sun But Solomon in his wit and wisdom Could not stand up to comparison; In life there's nothing but puff or bubble An arrow loosed or another bowl So therefore think that the greatest wisdom Is making merry with Preab 'san Ol.
SongsInIrish.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com or amazon.co.uk.