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The New Land
I thought it [over] in my mind and followed it with certainty
That I'd leave my people behind for a new land,
I was imploring the High King above my head [in heaven]
To keep me (safe) from all disaster until I finished my journey
I walked twenty miles without meeting another Christian
horse, cow nor sheep grazing on the grass,
but [only] thick woods, glens and the roaring of wild beasts
men and women without strength, that you could wrap around your finger,
But I happened upon a house when I met with [some] people
They inquired as to my name and what land I was raised in,
I told them in English that I was raised in Ireland,
Besides Loch Eirne in Lios na Roach woods.
There was an old woman in the nook with stockings on her knees [knitting]
She arose joyfully and shook my hand,
"Upon my soul seven times, a man from my [own] country, of all people!
I myself was raised in Ireland in the town of Lios Beal Ainetha"
I had second thoughts and followed them with certainty
That I'd return again to Ireland to the place I'd be buried1
For [there] I would find those who would mourn me and the young folk who are kind and pleasant
who would spend with me the night and a good part of the day.
- 1. lit, laid out on a table, for his wake
Gawd Awlmighty
bidxaa'Gaelic (Irish Gaelic)
Original lyrics
An tOileáin Úir
Click to see the original lyrics (Gaelic (Irish Gaelic))
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Translations of "An tOileáin Úir"
English #1, #2
Comments
MissAtomicLau
Wed, 06/08/2025 - 07:36
Lyrics have been reformatted. Please review and align your translation.
Vasha
Wed, 06/08/2025 - 11:44
Re: the translator's remarks about Line 8. Other translations say the people are "in tatters" or "without a stitch to wear"; perhaps the puzzling word tant will become clearer by comparison with the other two versions on this site, one where the line reads, "Fir is mná gan toint' orthu a chasfinn fá mo mhéar," and the other ditto except that the word in question is tinte.
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About translator
Not my dialect... this is northern Irish but tried my best hope it helps. The title in Irih properly is An t-Oilean Ur (note the t is separated by a hyphen from the word "oilean" sorry I cannot seem to b able to add the sineadh fadas here. The phrase usually means "America" or "the new world" though there isnt anything in the song about crossing the Atlantic. I have the impression the narrator is telling us about a dream or something he imagined.
Note that "impigh" means "plead" whilst "iompigh" means "turn" so he is not turning from God, but praying to Him for protection. And there is a typo or two in the Irish ... coillte dhlutha is gleanntain
I admit the wotd "tant" (daoine gan tant orthu) has me a bit perplexed but think I got it.