Aoife Ní Fhearraigh - Cailín a' tSléibhe Ruaidh

Aoife and Seoirse Ó Dochartaigh - 'Cailín an tSléibhe Ruaidh'

Aoife Ní Fhearraigh (pronounced /ˈiːfʲə nʲiː ˈaɾˠiː/) is an Irish singer and composer, born in Gweedore, North West County Donegal. She performs Traditional Irish and New Age music, in the style of other musicians native of the Donegal area like Clannad, Moya Brennan, Enya Brennan and Altan.[1][2]

LYRICS:

'gCluin sibh mise bhuachaillí an méid agaibh tá libh féin
Suígí thart fán tinidh anseo go n-insí mé mo scéal
Bhí buachaill ar a bhaile seo bhí súgach aerach suairc
Agus tháinig sé dhéanamh cleamhnais le cailín a tsléibhe ruaidh

A spéirbhean álainn aigeantach, ba deise méin is clú
Bí teacht liom féin le dúscadh n lae go bpóstar mé gus tú
Bí teacht liom féin amárach, s ná bíodh ort brón ná gruaim
Agus cuirfidh mé gúna síoda ort, a chailín a tsléibhe ruaidh

Níorbh fhios don streabhóg ghiodalach cad é ba chóir di rá
Ach a dealramh bhí ina súile den oiche go ndéanfadh lá
A rún mo chroí nois díbir thusa mearadh n ghrá seo uait
Nó is rún liom fanacht díomhain seal ar mhalaí a tsléibhe ruaidh

A mhaighdean mhaiseach mharánta cad é seo tá tú rá
Dearc síos a gleann faoi bhuach na mbeann is breathnaith mo chuid barr
Tá togha na bhfear sna mbeatha agam ag obair ann go cruaidh
Is tá stór is maoin go leor agam do chailín a tsléibhe ruaidh

Má tá stór is maoin go leor agat ní domhsa is fearrde é
Nó deirtear liom go n-ólfá thusa maoin a tsaoil go léir
Do shuí suas dtigh an óstaí do dhrabhlás bhocht gan chéill
Ar feadh na hoich ag ól s a gabháil na bhaile le bánú n lae

Más fear mé tá g ól, a chailín chóir, ní ólaim ach mo chuid féin
Chan tú tá g ioc ar son na dí, níl agat pingin mar spré
Is anois ná síl go bhfuil mo chroí bocht briste de do chumhaidh
Nó fágaim thú mar fuair mé thú ar mhalaí a tsléibhe ruaidh

ENGLISH TRANSLATION:

Listen to me boys, those of you who are by yourselves
Sit here around the fire while I tell my tale
There was a boy from this town who was merry, lively, cheerful
And he came courting the girl from the red mountains

Oh fair beautiful cheerful lady of the finest disposition and reputation
Come with me at daybreak until you and I can marry
Come with me tomorrow and don't be sad or worried
And I will give you a dress of silk, oh girl from the red mountains

The impudent saucy young lady didn't know what to say
But there was a gleam in her eyes that could have made day of night
My dear man now forget about this crazy love
As I intend to stay single for a while on the brae of the red mountains

Oh beautiful gentle maiden what are you saying
Look down the glen to the edge of the cliffs and see my crops
I have the best of men and animals working hard for me
And I plenty of treasures and riches for a girl from the red mountains

If you have treasures and riches it's of no value to me
As I am told that you could drink up all the wealth in the world
Sitting in the public house, a poor senseless drunk
Drinking the whole night through and going home at dawn

If I'm a drinking man, my 'decent' girl, I only drink my own share
You're not paying for the drinks, you with no money for a dowry
And now don't think that my poor heart is broken with sadness for you
So I leave you as I found you on the brae of the red mountains