This week’s Amhrán na Seachtaine is Bríd Óg Ní Mháille, a song in the Sean Nós or old-style tradition that tells the story of unrequited love.
In the first verse, the young lad tells how Bríd, who is so beautiful that hundreds of men have fallen in love with her, has left him brokenhearted. He describes her as being more beautiful than the moon over the ocean or the white blossoms on the blackthorn. He continues on, telling us he wants to get married and asks her to meet him the following Sunday. Unfortunately, he is left heartbroken as she marries another.
I’ve chosen two beautiful versions to share with you, one by Muireann Nic Amhlaoibh, and the second one by the Irish family group The Corrs. Both versions have lyrics you can sing along with.
Digital downloads of Amhrán na Seachtaine songs with translations and pronunciation guides are now available here:
Is a Bhríd Óg Ní Mháille ‘S tú d’fhág mo chroí cráite ‘S chuir tú arraingeacha An bháis fríd cheartlár mo chroí Tá na céadta fear i ngrá Le d’éadan ciúin náireach Is go dtug tú barr breáchtacht’ Ar Thír Oirghiall más fíor
Níl ní ar bith is áille Ná’n ghealach os cionn a’ tsáile Ná bláth bán na n-airne Bíos ag fás ar an draighean Ó siúd mar bíos mo ghrá-sa Níos trilsí le breáchtacht Béilín meala na háilleacht’ Nach ndearna riamh claon
Is buachaill deas óg mé ‘Tá triall chun mo phósta ‘S ní buan i bhfad beo mé Mura bhfaighidh mé mo mhian A chuisle is a stóirín Déan réidh agus bí romhamsa Cionn deireanach den Domhnach Ar Bhóithrín Dhroim Sliabh
Is tuirseach ‘s brónach A chaithimse an Domhnach Mo hata ‘mo dhorn liom ‘S mé ag osnaíl go trom ‘S mé ag amharc ar na bóithre ‘Mbíonn mo ghrá-sa ag gabhail ann ‘S í ag fear eile pósta Is gan í bheith liom
Oh Bríd Óg O’Malley You have left my heart breaking You’ve sent the death pangs to the center of my heart A hundred men are craving For your shamefully quiet face You’re the fairest of maidens In Oriel for sure
Nothing is more beautiful Than moonbeams over the ocean Or the white sloe blossoms That grow on the blackthorn For my love is more beautiful That honey-lipped beauty Who never said wrong
I’m a handsome young fellow Who is thinking of wedlock But my life will be shortened If I don’t get my heart’s desire My love and my darling Prepare now to meet me On next Sunday evening On the road to Drum Slieve
‘Tis sadly and lonely I pass the time on Sunday My hat in my fist And I sighing heavily As I gaze upon the byways That my true love walks over Now she’s wed to another And left me forlorn
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