According to the notes on "Ailliliú na Gamhna" in the songbook "Cuisle an Ceoil" (An Roinn Oideachais, Dublin 1976), this song has the same story as that of an Ulster song, "Na Gamhna Geala", which Tríona Ní Dhomhnaill has recorded. A woman who has married a rich man is unhappy and remembers the days when she hearded the cattle. In some stories, say the notes in "Cuisle an Ceoil", the rich man is a ship's captain. Previous published sources are the Irish journals Éigse iii,4, p.257 & following, and Béaloideas XX, pp.70-71. A more recent songbook publication is Ó Baoill, "Ceolta Gael".
Aliliú means "yoohoo", or maybe you'd prefer "Alleliujia". Gamnha are heifers - young girl cows in their first milk. The chorus says, roughly: "Hooray for the heifers, the bright white heifers" - and presumably speaks both of the implicit wealth of someone with lots of cattle, and the bright whiteness of sexy young women.
[CURFÁ]
Aililiú na gamhna na gamhna bána
Aililiú na gamhna na gamhna b’iad a b’fhearr liom
Aililiú na gamhna na gamhna geala bána
Na gamhna maidin shamhraidh
ag damhs’ ar na bánta
[1]
‘S inion d’aoire mé fhéinig gan amhras
Do bhiodh ina cónaí cois taobh na Leamhna
Bhí bothan agam féin ann is fuinneog i gceann dé
Fad a bhiodh an bainne ‘g téamh agam
‘se ghlaofainn ar na gamhna
[CURFÁ]
[2]
Faightear dom cana is faightear dom bhuarach
Is faightear dom soitheach ina gcuirfead mo chuid uachtar
Ceolta sí na cruinne bheith a’siorchur i m’chluasa
Ba bhinne liomsa géimneach
na mbó ag teacht chun buaile.
[CURFÁ]
[3]
Rachamid ar an t-aonach ‘s ceannóimid gamhna
Is cuirfimid ar féar iad amach ins na gleannta
Iosfaidh siad an féar is barr an aitinn ghallda
Is tiocfaidh siad abhaile chun an bhainne
i gcóir an tSamhraidh.
[CURFÁ]
[CHORUS]
AL-leh-LyOO na GOW-na, na GOW-na BAW-na
AL-leh-LyOO na GOW-na, na GOW-na BEED a Varr lum
AL-leh-LyOO na GOW-na, na GOW-na BAW-na
Na GOW-na MOD-jeen HOW-ree
egg DOW-sa air na BAHN-tah
[1]
Sin-yeen deera may HAY-nig gan OW-rus
Duh vee-uk inna KOH-nee KUSH tave na lau-na
Vee bo-han agum FANE aun iss fwin-yog ee-GYOWN-deh;
[Fod avee’uk] un BAWN-yag TAVE agum
she-GLANE air na GOWna.
[CHORUS]
[2]
Fye-chur dum KA-na, is Fye-chur dum Boo-ruk,
S’Fye-chur dum see-huk inna geera MO kid OOKtur;
KYOL-ta shee na krin-ya vee-da SHEER-kur ima-klew-sa:
Ba VINN-ya lumsa GAME-nuk
na MOW a chuckt kun BOOL-ya.
[CHORUS]
[3]
ROCK-ameed air-un TAYunuk s’ kyan-o-mweed GOW-na;
S’Keerameed air FAIR ee-id a-MAK ins na GLOUN-ta;
EE-shee sheed an FAIR iss BARR un atchin YALL-da;
S’ Chuckee sheed awal-ya kun a- WAN-ya GOER un TAU-ree.
[CHORUS]
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