The first folk song I ever learned to sing unaccompanied was from a beautiful Scottish version of this song by Isobel Mieras.
In that version, the narrator describes how she keeps watch for the return of her boatman, despite being warned that he is fickle and false; but ultimately realises that (for whatever reason) his promises to her aren't going to be kept.
This Irish version from Rathlin Island take a different view. Here the narrator is frank about how much the boatman's absence is hurting her ('my heart is broken, crushed...'), but argues that her love is real and unchanging, and she will keep waiting for as long as it takes.
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lyrics
Théid mé suas ar an chnoc is airde
Féach an bhfeic mé fear an bháta
An dtig thú anocht, nó an dtig thú amárach?
Nó muna dtig thú, idir is trua atá mé
A fhir an bháta, is na hóró eile
A fhir an bháta, is na hóró eile
A fhir an bháta, is na hóró eile
Mo shoraidh slán leat gach áit a dtéid thú
Tá mo chroíse briste, brúite,
Is tric na deoir a rith bho mo shúilean
An dtig thú inniú nó am bidh mé dúil leat
Nó an druid mé an doras le osna thuirseach?
A fhir an bháta, is na hóró eile
A fhir an bháta, is na hóró eile
A fhir an bháta, is na hóró eile
Mo shoraidh slán leat gach áit a dtéid thú
Thug mé gaol dhuit is chan fhéad mé athrú
Cha gaol bliana, is cha gaol ráithe
Acht gaol ó thoiseacht, nuair bhá mé mo pháiste
’s nach seasc a choíche mé gus chloigh an bás mé
A fhir an bháta, is na hóró eile
A fhir an bháta, is na hóró eile
A fhir an bháta, is na hóró eile
Mo shoraidh slán leat gach áit a dtéid thú
credits
from Norwood Gothic,
released February 1, 2019
Lyrics: Traditional Irish
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