Is briste mo chroí, is uaigneach mo shlí,
Is mo stóirín in a luí is mé cráite;
Is é deireadh mo shaoil, mo chailín beag rua, Sínte i gCrucán na bPáiste.
Ní fheicfidh sí arís an drúcht ar an bhféar,
Ná an sneachta i ngleannta Mhám Trasna;
Gan ghrian ar a haghaidh, gan ceol binn na n-éan, Ach an chré fhuar i gCrucán na bPáiste.
Curfá
In ainm an Athar is in ainm an Mhic,
Is a Mháithrín atá lán de ghrásta;
In ainm an Spioraid Naoimh ná fág me beo, Is mo mháinlín i gCrucán na bPáiste.
Is buartha na sléibhte is tá mairg ar an Measc,
Is olc mise gan í bheith sábháilte;
Is an fhad a bhéas mé beo ní sheasfaidh mé ar fhód Na hÉireann ná i gCrucán na bPáiste.
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Crucán na bPáiste
Broken my heart, lonely my life,
My darling lying here and me tormented;
It is the end of my world – my little red-haired girl, Stretched out in Crucán na bPáiste.
She will not see again the dew on the grass, Nor the snow in the glens of Maamtrasna;
No sun on her face, no sweet song of the birds, Only the cold clay of Crucán na bPáiste.
Chorus
In the name of the Father and in the name of the Son, And Mother Mary full of grace;
In the name of the Holy Spirit, don’t leave me alive, With my little darling in Crucán na bPáiste.
There is sadness on the mountains, anger on the Mask, But, much worse am I that did not save her;
And, for the time I am alive never more will I stand, In Ireland or in Crucán na bPáiste.
Fran O’Rourke is emeritus professor of philosophy. With John Feeley he has given recitals of Irish traditional songs
associated with James Joyce from San Diego to Shanghai.
John is Ireland’s leading classical guitarist. He has performed concerts around the world and recorded many CDs, most recently Bach’s Cello Suites 1-3....more
