This song is sung throughout Ireland as a love song, but in Donegal 'Moll Dubh' takes on another meaning - poteen (a kind of whiskey you distill yourself). Altan's album "The Best of Altan" has their rendition of Moll Dubh recorded on track ten. Moll Dubh a Ghleanna by Emer Kenny is on the album Parting Glass.
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1 Tá ba agam ar shliabh ‘s níl duine ‘gam ‘na ndiadh Ach mé do mo bhuaidhreadh leofa Bíodh idir mise is Dia má’s orthu ‘tá mo thriall Is bhain siad mo chiall go mór uaim Curfá: |
1 I hear cattle on the hill with no one there to tend them And for them I am deeply worried Between myself and God, to them I take the trail For they have taken my senses from me Chorus:
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2 ‘Sí Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna í | ‘Sí Moll Dubh an Earraigh í ‘Sí Moll Dubh is deirge ná ‘n rósa Is dá bhfaighinnse féin mo roghainn de mhná ógá deasa ‘n domhain ‘Sí Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna ab fhearr liom, Curfá:
2 She’s the Moll Dubh of the valley | She’s the Moll Dubh of spring She’s the Moll Dubh more ruddy than the red rose And if I had to choose from the young maids of the world Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna would be my fancy Chorus:
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3 Mise bheith gan mhnaoi feasta choíche ní bhím | Is Moll Dubh bheith i dtús a h-óige Och, is fann guth an éin a labhras leis féin Ar thulaigh nó ar thaobh na monadh , Curfá
3 Me without a wife, I won’t be all my life | And Moll Dubh in youth just blooming Lifeless the song of the bird that sings alone On a mound by the edge of the moorland Chorus:
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4 Is ag Moll Dubh a’ Ghleanna, tá mo chroi-se i dtaiscí | ‘S í nach bhfuair gúth na náire Is go ceillí, múinte, cneasta a dúirt sí liom ar maidin ‘Ó imigh uaim ‘s nach pill go brách orm!’ Curfá
4 Dark Molly of the glen has my heart in her keeping | She never had reproach or shame So mannerly and honestly she said to me this morning ‘Depart from me and do not come again!’ Chorus
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5 Níl ‘n óganach geanúil ó Bhaile Átha Cliath go Gaillimh | Is timpeall go h-Umhaill Uí Mháinnle Nach bhfuil a dtriall uilig ‘na ghleanna ar eacraidh slime sleamhainne I ndúil leis an bhean dubh a b’aille. Curfá
5 There’s not a handsome youth from Dublin to Galway | And around by ‘Umhail Uí Mhainnle’ That’s not heading for the glen on steeds so sleek and slim Hoping to win the dark maid’s affection Chorus
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Courtesy of Vivian & Jack Hennessey, IrishPage.com Replay Background music: Glenside by Frank Lennon This song is a substitution as Moll Dubh cannot be found anywhere. |
Filleadh go clár na nAmhrán
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