Lyrics of Cuach Mo Lon Dubh Buí - Altan

Cuach Mo Lon Dubh Buí (original)

Bhí mise’s mo bhean bheag lá gabháil a' bóthar,
'S oró grá mo chroí,
Is cé chásfaidh dúinn ach Gruagach an óir bhuí,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
D’fhiafair sí domhsa an 'níon domh an óigbhean,
'S oró grá mo chroí,
A’s dúirt mé féin gurb í mo bhean phósta í,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
D’Tabharfaidh tú domhsa choíche go deo í?
'S oró grá mo chroí,
Muna ndéanfaidh tú sin liom dhéanfaidh mé 'n cóir leat,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
Gabh thusa 'na mullaí 'gus mise 'na móinte,
S oró grá mo chroí,
S ca bith fear a leanfaidh sí bíodh sí go deo aige,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
Chuaigh seisean 'na mullaí 'gus mise móinte,
'S oró grá mo chroí,
'Gus lean sí an Gruagach, b’aige a bhí 'n óige,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
D’fhill mé 'na bhaile go buartha cráite,
'S oró grá mo chroí,
Gus shuigh mé síos ar mo leabaidh trí ráithe,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
D’fhan sí amuigh aige bliain is trí ráithe,
'S oró grá mo chroí,
Agus tháinig sí, 'na bhaile, mo Mhallaí gan náire,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
A ghiolla adaí istigh caidí mar atá tú?
S oró grá mo chroí,
Mar is olc le mo charaid is maith liom mo námhaid,
Cuach mo lon dubh buí.
Caidé a dhéanfá dá bhfaighinnse bás uait?
'S oró grá mo chroí,
Chuirfinn ort cónair dara na gcúig gclár,
Cuach mon lon dubh buí.
Caidé inniu agus cuach amárach,
S oró grá mo chroí,
'Gus cuach bheag eile achan lá go ceann ráithe,
Cuach mon on dubh buí.

(translation)

My little wife and I were on the road one day,
Oh, the love of my heart,
Who cares for us but the Hair of the yellow gold,
Cuckoo my yellow blackbird.
She asked me the young woman's daughter,
Oh, the love of my heart,
And I said to myself that she is my married wife,
Cuckoo my yellow blackbird.
Will you give it to me forever?
Oh, the love of my heart,
If you do not do that to me I will do you justice,
Cuckoo my yellow blackbird.
You take the peaks and I in the moors,
Oh love of my heart,
And whosoever followeth her shall be with him for ever,
Cuckoo my yellow blackbird.
He went 'to the tops' and I to the moors,
Oh, the love of my heart,
'And she followed the Hairdresser, who was his youth,
Cuckoo my yellow blackbird.
I returned home sadly tormented,
Oh, the love of my heart,
And I sat down on my bed for three quarters,
Cuckoo my yellow blackbird.
She stayed out with him for a year and a quarter,
Oh, the love of my heart,
And she came, 'home, my shameless Walls,
Cuckoo my yellow blackbird.
What do you think?
Oh love of my heart,
As bad as my friend is I like my enemy,
Cuckoo my yellow blackbird.
What would you do if I died for you?
Oh, the love of my heart,
I would give you the second cohort of the five programs,
Cuckoo mon lon black yellow.
What's today and tomorrow's cuckoo,
Oh love of my heart,
'And another little cuckoo every day for a quarter,
Cuckoo mon on black yellow.