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This is a traditional Irish song arranged by Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh, Dermot Byrne, Ciaran Curran, Dáithí Sproule and Mark Kelly. It appears on Altan’s ninth studio album Local Ground, released in March 2005.
Tráth chuaigh mé seal tamailt ar cuairt Gur bhreatnaigh mé uaim an spéir Thart fá na hoileáin ó thuaidh Mar bheadh eilit agus cú 'na diaidh
'Sé deirfeadh gach duine fán chuan Tráth thuirling mé anuas fán ché Aithnim go maith ar do ghruaim Gur fear thú a bhfuil ruaig do dhiaidh
Casadh domh cailín dheas óg Ach má casadh sí a labhair go géar Más fear thú a bhain do mhnaoi óig Cha mholaim rómhór do "thrade"
Chonaic mé fear ar tír mór Is é ag imeacht gan bhróg inné Is dóigh liom gur tusa an fear óg Is go bhfuil ort an tóir do dhiaidh
D'fhreagair mé an ainnir dheas óg Mar ghlac sí go mór mo scéal 'Stad do do mhagadh níos mó Nó ní duine den tseort sin mé
Ach suigh thusa anall i mo chomhair Is bí ag an nós liom féin Nó rachaidh mé os coinne mo shróin Amach ar tír mór le léim
Thit muid i dtuirse 's i mbrón Is d'fhiafraigh an óigbhean díom Cá bhfaighimis gloine le hól A thógfas an brón dar gcroí
Tá teach beag ar leataobh an róid Agus coinníonn sé i gcónaí braon Gabh thusa gus "rappal" ar an bhord Is ní dhíolfaidh do phócaí phingin
Bhí biotáilte fairsing go leor A raibh beagán 'á ól sa tír' 'S dá dtarrnóinnse Galún Uí Dhomhnaill B'fhurast mo scór a dhíol
Once while making a tour in haste To view all the sights so fair By the northern isles I was bound Like a deer being pursued by hounds
Said the people who stood by the bay When I arrived on the pier "It shows from the grief on your face You're a man who is haunted by fear"
A handsome young girl I met Whose sharp words cut me to the core "If you're the one who has harmed a young maid Your actions I do deplore
On the mainland I saw a young man Who was fleeing barefooted in awe I'm thinking that you're the young man That is closely pursued by law"
I answered this pretty young maid As she seemed to take heed of my tale "Stop now from speaking in jest I'm not one of the type you claim
But come and sit closer to me And act just the same as I Or I'll go straight and leave you in grief And reach the mainland with one leap"
Our talk became lonely and sad And this young maiden said to me "Where could a strong glass be had That would rid us of all our woes?"
"There's an alehouse alongside the road Where there's always a glass to spare You go now and rap on the board And it won't cost you the fare"
The drink flowed freely galore Was the popular brew in the land And if I drank O'Donnell's Gallon My store would be taken in hand
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