Hello! I'd appreciate some help with translating "Black is the Colour" by Christy Moore into Irish, I'm going to be singing it soon : ) ! I'll write the english lyrics in Red and then I'll stick my attempt of an Irish translation below them in blue; I'd appreciate any help or suggestions you can give. The translation doesn't have to be strict, I just want it to sound good, so if you see an opportunity for ryhme or aliteration or whatever, then go for it!

black is the colour
by christy moore

black is the colour
of my true loves hair

sé dubh an dath
chuid ghruaige mo ghrá

her lips are like
some roses fair

is cosúil a liopaí
le rósanna éigin fionna

she has the sweetest smile
and the gentlest hands

tá an miongháire is milse aici
's na lámha is maránta

and i love the ground
where on she stands

's gráim an talamh
ar áit a seasann sí

Vérsa a dó:

i love my love
and well she knows
gráim mo ghrá
agus is mó a bhfuil 'fhios aici

i love the ground where on she goes
gráim an talamh ar a dtéann sí

i wish the day, it soon would come
is mian liom an lá, gur gan mhoill go dtiocfadh sé

when she and i
would be as one
nuair a bhéadh sise
agus mise mar chuid amháin

i go to the Clyde
i mourn an weep
téim chuig an gClyde
's goilim 's caoinim

satisfied, i never can be
sásta, ní féidir liom bheith choíche

so i write her a letter,
just a few short lines
's scríobhaim di litir,
ní ach cúpla líne gearra
and suffer death
a thousand times
's fulaingaím bás
faoi mhíle uair

Remember, poetic license and looseness is appreciated!

Go raibh maith agaibh

I'll put them together now. Note that the lack of punctuation is because I tend not to punctuate lyrics -- it complicates things!

This time I've put in the pauses to show the rhyme, etc.

quote:

black is the colour
by Christy Moore

black is the colour [pause] of my true love's hair
her lips are like [pause] some roses fair
she has the sweetest smile [pause] and the gentlest hands
and i love the ground [pause] where on she stands

i love my love [pause] and well she knows
i love the ground [pause] whereon she goes
i wish the day [pause] it soon would come
when she and i [pause] would be as one

i go to the clyde [pause] i mourn and weep
satisfied [pause] i never can be
so i write her a letter [pause] just a few short lines
and suffer death [pause] a thousand times

dubh an dath
le Christy Moore

dubh an dath atá [moill] ar chuid ghruaige mo ghrá
is cosúil a liopaí [moill] le rósanna éigine fionna
Aicise an miongháire is milse [moill] 's na lámha is maránta
's gráim an talamh [moill] a seasann sí air

gráim mo ghrá [moill] 's is mó a bhfuil 'fhios aici
gráim an talamh [moill] ar a dtéann sí
is mian liom an lá [moill] gur gan mhoill go dtiocfadh sé
nuair a bheadh mise [moill] agus sise mar chuid amháin

téim chuig an gclyde [moill] caoinim 's goilim
sásta [moill] ní féidir liom bheith choíche
mar sin scríobhaim di litir [moill] inti ach cúpla líne gearr
agus fulaingím bás [moill] faoi mhíle uair

--

Cabhraigh liom a chairde!

I'll put them together now. Note that the lack of punctuation is because I tend not to punctuate lyrics -- it complicates things!

This time I've put in the pauses to show the rhyme, etc.

quote:

black is the colour
by Christy Moore

black is the colour [pause] of my true love's hair
her lips are like [pause] some roses fair
she has the sweetest smile [pause] and the gentlest hands
and i love the ground [pause] where on she stands

i love my love [pause] and well she knows
i love the ground [pause] whereon she goes
i wish the day [pause] it soon would come
when she and i [pause] would be as one

i go to the clyde [pause] i mourn and weep
satisfied [pause] i never can be
so i write her a letter [pause] just a few short lines
and suffer death [pause] a thousand times

dubh an dath
le Christy Moore

dubh an dath atá [moill] ar chuid ghruaige mo ghrá
is cosúil a liopaí [moill] le rósanna éigine fionna
Aicise an miongháire is milse [moill] 's na lámha is maránta
's gráim an talamh [moill] a seasann sí air

gráim mo ghrá [moill] 's is mó a bhfuil 'fhios aici
gráim an talamh [moill] ar a dtéann sí
is mian liom an lá [moill] gur gan mhoill go dtiocfadh sé
nuair a bheadh mise [moill] agus sise mar chuid amháin

téim chuig an gclyde [moill] caoinim 's goilim
sásta [moill] ní féidir liom bheith choíche
mar sin scríobhaim di litir [moill] inti ach cúpla líne gearr
agus fulaingím bás [moill] faoi mhíle uair

--

Cabhraigh liom a chairde!

black is the colour [pause] of my true love's hair
her lips are like [pause] some roses fair
she has the sweetest smile [pause] and the gentlest hands
and i love the ground [pause] where on she stands

i love my love [pause] and well she knows
i love the ground [pause] whereon she goes
i wish the day [pause] it soon would come
when she and i [pause] would be as one

i go to the clyde [pause] i mourn and weep
satisfied [pause] i never can be
so i write her a letter [pause] just a few short lines
and suffer death [pause] a thousand times



dubh an dath
le Christy Moore

dubh an dath atá [moill] ar chuid gruaige mo ghrá
is cosúil a liopaí [moill] le rósanna bána
Aicise an miongháire is milse [moill] 's na lámha is maránta
's tá grá agam don talamh [moill] a bhfuil sí ina seasamh air

tá grá agam do mo rún [moill] 's is maith atá a fhios aici
tá grá agam don talamh [moill] ar a siúlann sí
is mian liom gur luath [moill] a thiocfadh an lá
A mbeinnse féin [moill] agus ise ceangailte le chéile

téim chun an Chlyde [moill] caoinim 's goilim
sásta [moill] ní bheidh mé choíche
mar sin scríobhaim litir chuici [moill] gan inti ach cúpla líne gearr
agus fulaingím pianta ’n bháis [moill] faoi mhíle