Beidh Aonach Amarach

Whistle
1

Its a great little tune, easy to follow off a cd recording, but i am curious to know if anyone has the dots or abc so i may show others,
I would also love to know if anyone has the english translation,
Yes i know the bastardised translation may not be the same but still, any help is appreciated, :slight_smile:
Regards
David

2

I can easily give you an English translation, if you can tell me which version you’re working from. There are several versions of that song (with different tunes, even) but they all tell the same basic story…the young girl who wants her mom to take her to the marriage fair so she can marry her shoemaker and the mom who insists that, at not yet 10, she’s way too young.

Story of a parent’s life! :laughing:

The version I sing goes:

Beidh aonach amárach i gContae an Chlár
Beidh aonach amárach i gContae an Chlár
Beidh aonach amárach i gContae an Chlár
Cén mhaith dom é, ní bheidh mé ann

“There’s a fair tomorrow in County Clare (x 3)
What good is it to me, I won’t be there”

Iníon bheag agam, is tá sí óg
Iníon bheag agam, is tá sí óg
Iníon bheag agam, is tá sí óg
Is tá sí i ngrá leis an gréasaí bróg

“I’ve a little daughter, and she’s young (x 3)
And she’s in love with the shoemaker”

Níl tú a deich nó a haon déag fós
Níl tú a deich nó a haon déag fós
Níl tú a deich nó a haon déag fós
Nuair a bheidh tú trí déag, beidh tú mór

“You’re not yet ten or eleven years old (x 3)
When you’re thirteen, you’ll be big (used here in the sense of “mature”)”

B’fhearr liom féin mo ghréasaí bróg
B’fhearr liom féin mo ghréasaí bróg
B’fhearr liom féin mo ghréasaí bróg
Ná oifigeach airm faoi lásaí óir

“I’d rather have my shoemaker (x 3)
Than an army officer with gold (shoe) laces”

Chorus:

A mháithairín, an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?
A mháithairín, an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?
A mháithairín, an ligfidh tú chun aonaigh mé?
A mhuirnín ó, ná héiligh é

“Mommy will you let me go to the fair?” (x 3)
“Darling O, don’t demand it.”

That’s about as literal a translation as you’re likely to find.

Redwolf

3

Thanks for the translation Redwolf,
your effort is appreciated,
its not quiet what i expected the song to be about,
but life is full of surprises,
Again ty
David

4

Just out of curiousity…what did you think it was about? I’m just wondering if you’ve encountered a radically different version than the ones I’m familiar with…this is folk music, and that DOES happen. If you want to post the words here, I’ll give it a go.

Redwolf

5

…is this about me…?

6

Not unless you’re a little Irish girl who wants to marry a shoemaker. :smiling_imp:

Redwolf

7

Or a shoemaker.

8

Its interesting when you hear a song with lyrics of a foreign language.
I was drawn to this one…well only because i hadnt heard it before, the tune was simple but quite catchy…it just had the stereo type irish feel to it. Which i love

The words seemed to compliment the tune nicely.
On finding out the meaning of the lyrics of the tune i was admittedly a bit taken back…
In fact it has to a small extent spoilt the song for me…
I guess history is history and a message in a song is a reminder of a time gone by.
I understand in past times a young union was a way of survival, and justifies the sometimes huge families of 10 + kids to some couples.

As a parent myself i know it is sometimes difficult to deal with the emotions of a young individual, and so in a small way maybe the tale still holds relevance.
I guess in my sheltered part of the world i am not used to such topics in a folk song…so i have learnt something new
Tis not good nor bad…just different :really:
Regards David

9

I think it’s more about youngsters wanting to grow up too fast than anything else. You’ll notice that it’s the girl who begs her mom to let her marry the shoemaker…and the mother who keeps telling her to wait, because she’s just not old enough. It’s clear the young lady has a bit of a juvenile crush, and mom’s telling her to simmer down.

I’ve always pictured in the chorus a little girl whining “MOOOOOMMM-eee! I wanna GO!” and mom saying “ah, shurrup, why dontcha? Yer only 8, fer Chrissake!” Kind of like when my six year old wanted a tattoo… :laughing:

Now, if you want a nice song about romantic love (and, rare enough for an Irish love song, a happy one), there’s always “Eibhlín A Rún.” In that one, you also have the theme of the marriage fair, but the young lady (not a little girl) agrees to elope with her suitor.

Redwolf