Tá mé 'mo shuí (I Am Awake)

This is a traditional Irish love song about a lad how can't sleep because he's missing his lass.

I learned the tune for this song from Clannad's Magical Ring album, and got these words from Ceolta Gael 2 by Mánus Ó Baoill. I learnt two other versions of the song from Gearóidín Bhreathnach at Oideas Gael in July 2007.

Tá mé 'mo shuí

Tá mé 'mo shuí ó d'éirigh an ghealach aréir
Ag cur teineadh síos gan scíth 's á fadú go géar
Tá bunadh a' tí 'na luí 's tá mise liom féin
Tá na coiligh ag glaoch 's tá 'n saol ina gcodladh ach mé

Sheacht mh'anam déag do bhéal, do mhalaí 's do ghrua
Do shúil ghorm ghlé gheal fá'r thréig mé aiteas is suairc
Le cumhaidh i do dhiaidh ní léir dom an bealach a shiúl
Is a charaid mo chléibh tá na sléibhte ag gabháil idir mé 's tú

Deireann lucht léinn gur cloíte an galar an grá
Char admhaigh mé é nó go raibh sé 'ndiaidh mo chroí 'stigh a chrá
Aicíd ró-ghéar, faraor nár sheachnaigh mé í
Chuir sí arraing 's céad go géar fríd cheartlár mo chroí

Casadh bean sí domh thíos ag Lios Bhéal an Áth'
'S d'fhiafraigh mé díthe an scaoilfeadh glais ar bith grá
'Sé dúirt sí os íseal I mbriathra soineanta sámh
Nuair a théann sé fán chroí Cha scaoiltear as é go brách

Translation

I have not slept since the moon lit the heavens last night
Just setting the fire and stroking the ember to light
The household's retired and I am left here to sigh
The roosters are crowing all the world is asleep barring I

My soul is enthralled with your mouth your face and your brow
For your sparkling blue eyes I abandoned contentment and glee
Due to longing for you I'm unable to travel the way
Oh friend of my bosom the hills come between me and you

Wise men proclaim that lovesickness can leave one unwell
I did not believe it until my poor heart came under its spell
A malaise in my craze I failed to ignore
With a hundred and more aching pangs it's pierced my heart to the core

I met a banshee by the Fairyrath near Ballina
I asked her politely if one could be cured of this "grá"
And she answered me kindly in tones so simple and low
"Once it sets in the heart it cannot be freed evermore"

Here's a recording of this song by the sean-nós class at Oideas Gael.

This song can be also heard on the following albums:

Naisc

Leaganacha eile den amhrán seo
http://academic.evergreen.edu/w/williams/songs/ta_me_mo_shui.html
http://www.azlyrics.us/52274
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/altan/tame.htm
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/clannad/tame.htm

Other songs in Irish | Songs in other languages

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