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Gardaí ‘n Rí
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Recorded by: Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh
Written by: Trad. Arr., Mairéad Ní Mhaonaigh / Manus Lunny
A local song which I learned from my father at school. I have changed the rhythm slightly.
It tells the story of a heart broken young man whose love is promised to someone else and wishes to kidnap her with the help of the King’s soldiers.
Amhrán a d’fhoghlaim mé ó m’athair ar scoil. Tá’n fear óg croí bhriste cionas go bhfuil a ghrá geal le fear eile a phósadh agus ba mhaith leis í a Thógailt ar shiúil le cuidiú gardaí ‘n rí.
Mairéad – Vocals
Manus – Bouzouki / Guitar / Backing Vocals
Jim Higgins – Percussion
Michael Mc Goldrick – Uilleann Pipes
Graham Henderson - Keyboards
Translated to English by - Tristan Rosenstock
It tells the story of a heart broken young man whose love is promised to someone else and wishes to kidnap her with the help of the King’s soldiers.
Amhrán a d’fhoghlaim mé ó m’athair ar scoil. Tá’n fear óg croí bhriste cionas go bhfuil a ghrá geal le fear eile a phósadh agus ba mhaith leis í a Thógailt ar shiúil le cuidiú gardaí ‘n rí.
Mairéad – Vocals
Manus – Bouzouki / Guitar / Backing Vocals
Jim Higgins – Percussion
Michael Mc Goldrick – Uilleann Pipes
Graham Henderson - Keyboards
Translated to English by - Tristan Rosenstock
Lyrics
Rachaidh mise suas le gardaí an Rí
Agus bhéarfaidh mise anuas ar lámh liom í.
Nach mise a chuirfeadh cluain ar a bánchneas mín
Agus bhéarfaidh mé go Tuaifín í grá chroí.
Curfá:
Tógaigí suas ar ghruaimhín an iomaire í
lasadh ina grua agus bua gach duine léi.
A ghiolla, atá gan ghruaim a chuirfeadh cluain ar an iomataí
nach é mo scéal truaí mar luaíodh mise leat?
Níl mise tinn agus níl mé slán.
Is ró-mhór m'osna is ní fhéadaim a rá,
nuair a smaoiním ar an tráth úd a bhí mé is tú, a ghrá,
guala ar ghualainn agus lámh ar lámh.
Curfá x2
Galar cloíte choíche an grá.
Is mairg ar a mbíonn d'oíche nó lá.
Cé gur crua an rud an snaidhm is nach scaoiltear é go bráth
Ó, is a chomrádaí dílis, go dtéigh tú slá.
Curfá
---
The King’s Guards
I will go up with the King’s Guards/
And I’ll take her by the hand down with me/
It is me who’d seduce her gentle fair skin/
And I’ll take her to Tuaifín, the love of my heart.
Chorus:
Take her up to the edge of the ridge/
Her cheeks flushed and she able to win anyone over/
The lad who is without dejection who seduces too many/
‘Tis my sad tale that I wasn’t promised to you.
I am not ill and I am not hale/
‘Tis too great my sigh I cannot describe/
When I think of the time when you and I were in love/
Shoulder to shoulder and hand in hand
Chorus
A sorry everlasting disease is love/
Woe to him who suffers from it by night or by day/
Though the tie is strong and never is released/
O my dear comrade may you go safely
Agus bhéarfaidh mise anuas ar lámh liom í.
Nach mise a chuirfeadh cluain ar a bánchneas mín
Agus bhéarfaidh mé go Tuaifín í grá chroí.
Curfá:
Tógaigí suas ar ghruaimhín an iomaire í
lasadh ina grua agus bua gach duine léi.
A ghiolla, atá gan ghruaim a chuirfeadh cluain ar an iomataí
nach é mo scéal truaí mar luaíodh mise leat?
Níl mise tinn agus níl mé slán.
Is ró-mhór m'osna is ní fhéadaim a rá,
nuair a smaoiním ar an tráth úd a bhí mé is tú, a ghrá,
guala ar ghualainn agus lámh ar lámh.
Curfá x2
Galar cloíte choíche an grá.
Is mairg ar a mbíonn d'oíche nó lá.
Cé gur crua an rud an snaidhm is nach scaoiltear é go bráth
Ó, is a chomrádaí dílis, go dtéigh tú slá.
Curfá
---
The King’s Guards
I will go up with the King’s Guards/
And I’ll take her by the hand down with me/
It is me who’d seduce her gentle fair skin/
And I’ll take her to Tuaifín, the love of my heart.
Chorus:
Take her up to the edge of the ridge/
Her cheeks flushed and she able to win anyone over/
The lad who is without dejection who seduces too many/
‘Tis my sad tale that I wasn’t promised to you.
I am not ill and I am not hale/
‘Tis too great my sigh I cannot describe/
When I think of the time when you and I were in love/
Shoulder to shoulder and hand in hand
Chorus
A sorry everlasting disease is love/
Woe to him who suffers from it by night or by day/
Though the tie is strong and never is released/
O my dear comrade may you go safely