Mo Ghile Mear
(My Gallant Darling)

This song is an Irish homage to the "Great Pretender", Bonnie Prince Charlie, the descendant of Mary Stewart, Queen of Scots who had ambitions to the throne of Britian. His loyal followers of the Jacobite movement fought for him to take possession of the crown and to put an end to religious persecution in Scotland, occupied Ireland, Wales, and England. The rebellion was put down, hundreds of thousands died in battle under unsurmountable odds, and the prince fled to the Continent under secrecy and died in exile. This song was written by Seán Clárach Mac Dhomhnaill (c. 1691-1757). Lyrics, phonetics, and translations were taken from printouts graciously produced by Tim Martin and personal transcription.

[Irish-Gaelic]
[Rough Phonetic]

[1 agus Curfa]
Sé mo laoch mo Ghile Mear
‘Sé mo Chaesar, Ghile Mear,
Suan ná séan ní bhfuaireas féin
Ó chuaigh i gcéin mo Ghile Mear.

[2]
Seal da rabhas im’ mhaighdean shéimh,
‘S anois im’ bhaintreach chaite thréith,
Mo chéile ag treabhadh na dtonn go tréan
De bharr na gcnoc is imigéin.

Curfa

[3]
Bímse buan ar buairt gach ló,
Ag caoi go cruaidh ‘s ag tuar na ndeór
Mar scaoileadh uaim an buachaill beó
‘S ná ríomhtar tuairisc uaidh, mo bhrón.

Curfa

[4]
Ní labhrann cuach go suairc ar nóin
Is níl guth gadhair i gcoillte cnó,
Ná maidin shamhraidh i gcleanntaibh ceoigh
Ó d’imthigh sé uaim an buachaill beó.

Curfa

[5]
Marcach uasal uaibhreach óg,
‘S gan gruaim is suairce snódh,
Glac is luaimneach, luath i ngleo
Ag teascadh an tslua ‘s ag tuargain treon.

Curfa

[6]
Seinntear stair ar chlairsigh cheoil
‘S línontair táinte cárt ar bord
Le hinntinn ard gan cháim, gan cheó
Chun saoghal is sláinte d’fhághail do leómhan.

* Níl curfa anseo...
[7]
Ghile Mear ‘sa seal faoi chumha,
‘S Eire go léir faoi chlócaibh dubha;
Suan ná séan ní bhfuaireas féin
Ó cuaigh i gcéin mo Ghile Mear.

[1 and Chorus]
Shay muh lay moe Gil-ah Mar
Shay moe Hay-suh, Gil-ah Mar,
Soon nawh shayn nee voor-ahs hayn
Oh coo-ig EE-gayne moe Gil-ah Mar.

[2]
Shall dah ross im wy-gem hay-v,
Sa-nEEsh im vahn-trock caw-cha tray,
Moe kayl egg trav-ah nah gun guh train
Deh var nah ng-ic iss im-ee-gayn.

Chorus

[3]
Beem-sha boo-in air boo-urch gawk low,
Egg key guh crew-eh seg toor nah nyoar
Mar squeal-ah oo-im aun boo-cull b-yo
Snah riv-tar toorisk oo-ig, muh v-roan.

Chorus

[4]
Ní labhrann cuach go suairc ar nóin
Is níl guth gadhair i gcoillte cnó,
Ná maidin shamhraidh i gcleanntaibh ceoigh
Ó d’imthigh sé uaim an buachaill beó.

Chorus

[5]
Marcach uasal uaibhreach óg,
‘S gan gruaim is suairce snódh,
Glac is luaimneach, luath i ngleo
Ag teascadh an tslua ‘s ag tuargain treon.

Chorus

[6]
Seinntear stair ar chlairsigh cheoil
‘S línontair táinte cárt ar bord
Le hinntinn ard gan cháim, gan cheó
Chun saoghal is sláinte d’fhághail do leómhan.

* No Chorus Here...
[7]
Ghile Mear ‘sa seal faoi chumha,
‘S Eire go léir faoi chlócaibh dubha;
Suan ná séan ní bhfuaireas féin
Ó cuaigh i gcéin mo Ghile Mear.

Rough translation of the song...
1. and Chorus: He's my champion my Gallant Darling, he's my Caesar, a Gallant Darling,
I've found neither rest nor fortune since my Gallant Darling went far away.
2.
Once i was gentle maiden,
but now I'm a spent, worn-out widow,
my consort strongly plowing the waves,
over the hills and far away.

 3.
Every day I'm constantly enduring grief,
weeping nitterly and shedding tears,
because my lively lad has left me
and no news is told of him - alas.

 4.
The cuckoo doesn't sing cheerfully after noon,
And the sound of hounds isn't heard in the nut-tree woods,
Nor a summer morning in a misty glen
Since my my lively boy went away from me.
5.
Ride proud young gentleman,
Without gloom and with pleasant appearance,
Ready and nimble grasp and waving quick into battle
Felling the army and powerful-strong bombardment pounding.

 6.
Music will be played on a harp
and the fill of many quarts on the table
With high spirits without fault or anything
Mine to leave life and health to the hero.

 7.
Gallant Darling for a while under sorrow,
And Ireland completely under black cloaks;
I have found neither rest nor fortune
Since my Gallant Darling went far away.

The display of these songs on this site is only meant as a means for the Celtic Arts Center Choir to distribute songs to its members. This is not intended for wider publication or larger distribution.

© 2002 TechnoCelt Productions in association with The Celtic Arts Center / An Claidheamh Soluis. All rights reserved.