Clár Cinn le hÁine Cooke

Peata Beag

This is a 'dandling' or children's song, sung by a mother while bouncing her babe on her knee.  Brendan Breathnach in his book 'Folk Music and Dances in Ireland' says that this type of song was brought to Ireland by the Normans in the 12 century. This type of 'carol'  was sung as a 'round dance', with the leader singing the first three lines and everyone else joining in on the last line.

Is trua gan peata’n mhaoir agam,
Is trua gan peata’n mhaoir agam,
Is trua gan peata’n mhaoir agam,
Is na caoirigh beaga bána.

Curfá:
Is ó gairm, gairm thú,
Is grá mo chroí gan chealg thú,
Is ó gairm, gairm thú,
Is tú peata beag do mháthair.

Is trua gan maoinín bhán agam,
Is trua gan maoinín bhán agam,
Is trua gan maoinín bhán agam,
Is fáilte ó mo ghrá geal.

Curfá

Is trua gan bólacht bainne agam,
Is trua gan bólacht bainne agam,
Is trua gan bólacht bainne agam,
Is caitín ó mo mháthair.

Curfá

Is trua gan gabhairín bhuí agam,
Is trua gan gabhairín bhuí agam,
Is trua gan gabhairín bhuí agam,
Is thabharfainn do mo stór í.

Curfá

Little Pet

‘Tis a pity I haven’t the Steward’s pet,
‘Tis a pity I haven’t the Steward’s pet,
‘Tis a pity I haven’t the Steward’s pet,
And the little white sheep.

Chorus:
And oh I call, I call you,
You are my heart’s love without deceit,
And oh I call, I call you,
You are your mother’s little pet.

‘Tis a pity I haven’t a little white calf,
‘Tis a pity I haven’t a little white calf,
‘Tis a pity I haven’t a little white calf,
And the little white sheep.

Chorus

‘Tis a pity I haven’t a milking herd,
‘Tis a pity I haven’t a milking herd,
‘Tis a pity I haven’t a milking herd,
And a kitten from my mother.

Chorus

‘Tis a pity I haven’t a little tan horse,
‘Tis a pity I haven’t a little tan horse,
‘Tis a pity I haven’t a little tan horse,
I would give it to my darling.

Chorus

Siar go Ceol / Back to Ceol (Music)