Tá mé 'mo shuí (I Am Awake)

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.

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"