Bunan Bui

A Bhuinneán Bhuí is é mo chrá do luí

Is do chnámha sínte ar leaca lom'

Is nach dtearn tú díth no dolaidh sa tír

Is narbh fhearr leat fíon nó uisce poill.

Dá gcuirfeá scéala fá mo dhéin

Go raibh tú i ngéibhinn nó i ndeacair iot'

Ó bhainfinnse béim ar Loch Mhic an Éin

A fhliuchfadh do bhéal is do bhrollach síos.

Ní hiad bhur n-éanlaith atá mé ag éagaoin

An chuach, an traona ná an chorr-bhreac

Ach an Buinneán Buí, a bhí lán de chroí

Is gur cosúil liom féin é i snua is i ndreach.

Bhíodh sé ag síoról na dí

Is deir daoine go mbím ar an nós sin seal

Is níl braon dá bhfuighinn nach ligfinn síos

Ar fhaitíos go bhfuighinn féin bás den tart!

Is é 'd'iarr mo stór orm ligint den ól

Nó nach mbeinnse beo ach seal beag gearr:

Is é dúirt mé léi gur chan sí an bhréag

Nó go mb'fhaide do mo shaol an braon seo a fháil.

Nach bhfeiceann tú éan an phíobáin réidh

Go dteachaidh sí in éag den tart ar ball?

Is a dhaoine cléibh, fliuchaigí bhur mbéal

Nó ní bhfuighidh sibh braon i ndiaidh bhur mbáis!

Oh Yellow Bittern, alas to see you stretched

And your bones there lying on bare flagstones

You did no harm at all in the country

And would just as prefer ditch water to wine

Had you only sent me a message

That you were in a quandry, in need of a drink

I would have broken the ice on the lake

To wet your beak and all the way down to your breast.

I'm not lamenting your ordinary birds

The cuckoo, the corncrake or the dappled heron

But the yellow bittern of the great heart

Who was just like me in many ways

He was always fond of the sup

And people say I'm fond of a drop myself

Whatever drink comes my way, it's down it goes

For fear that I might one day die of thirst!

And my darling asked me to give up the booze

Or I'd only be alive a short while more,

I told her straight out she was telling a lie

And that the drink extended my life's span.

Don't you see that bird with the smooth neck

That only a while ago perished with the thirst?

Ah, my pleasant people, wet your whistles

Because after death ye won't get a drop!