Tuesday, January 11, 2022

Cailleach an Airgid ('Sí do Mhamó í)

This is a fun song.  One of the first I ever learned.  

The version by Pádraigín Ní Uallacháin on A Stór is a Stóirín is great.

'Sí do mhaimeo í, 'sí do mhaimeo í 'Sí do mhaimeo í, 'sí cailleach an airgid 'Sí do mhaimeo í, ó Bhaile Iorrais Mhóir í 'S chuirfeadh sí cóistí ar bhóithre Cois Fharraige Dá bhfeicfeá' an "steam" 'ghabhail siar Tóin Uí Loin' 'S na rothaí 'ghabhail timpeall siar ó na ceathrúnaí Chaithfeadh sí 'n stiúir naoi n-uair' ar a cúl 'S ní choinneodh sí siúl le cailleach an airgid Measann tú, 'bpósfa', measann tú 'bpósfa' Measann tú, 'bpósfa', cailleach an airgid? Tá's a'm nach 'bpósfa', tá's a'm nach 'bpósfa' Mar tá sé ró-óg 'gus d'ólfadh sé'n t-airgead 'S gairid go 'bpósfaidh, 's gairid go 'bpósfaidh 'S gairid go 'bpósfaidh, beirt ar a' mbaile seo 'S gairid go 'bpósfaidh, 's gairid go 'bpósfaidh Séan Shéamais Mhóir is Máire Ní Chathasaigh

Cailleach An Airgid lyrics and chords - Liam Ó Maonlaí - SongsInIrish.com (with translation)

Here are Joe Heaney's lyrics and translation, slightly different (helps to understand):

Cailleach an Airgid – Cartlanna Sheosaimh Uí Éanaí (joeheaney.org), and you can hear him explain it and then sing the sean-nós version.

Here's a very different arrangement by Anúna:

ANÚNA : "'Sí do Mhaimeo Í" arr. Michael McGlynn - YouTube 

Altan did a nice version (with digereedoo...) too:

Sí Do Mhaimeo Í - YouTube

There are lots more out there!

This version has more verses (and a cute cartoon):

Cailleach an Airgid - YouTube


Mo Chailín Bán

(Also called An Cailín Bán). Well, she may be a bitch but at least she speaks some Irish!   An unrequited love song.  Bán (white) is used he...