teeisblue wrote:I really like the song "'Sí do mhaimeo" but I cant really figure out what the words are. I found the actual lyrics, and the English translation, but can anyone help me out phonetically? It's so fast I can't get it right. I found only one line phonetically 'translated' on a page. That person had it as 'shee doh mamoy,' but to me it sounds like the person singing it says 'shee doh amoy.'
I have no idea how to read actual Gaelic. The rules of pronounciation make no sense to my little American brain, har, har.
Anyway, I want to be able to sing along, even if I don't know the actual words, at least I'd sound like I do.
![big grin :D](./images/smilies/icon_biggrin_144.gif)
I can help you out, if you like.
First, bear in mind that words are going to be slurred together a bit more than I can show here. If you see a syllable here that you don't expect from the recording, that's why. Second, I'm not sure this is the exact version Altan does, though it's close.
The sound represented by"KH" is a gutteral sound, like the "ch" in "Bach" or "loch."
‘Sí do Mhaimeo í, ‘sí do Mhaimeo í
Shee duh wham-OH ee, shee duh wham-OH ee
‘
Sí do Mhaimeo í, cailleach an airgid
Shee duh wham-OH ee, KAL-yekh un AYR-ih-gid
‘Sí do Mhaimeo í, ó Bhaile Inis Mhóir í
Shee duh wham-OH ee, oh WALL-eh IN-ish wohr ee
‘S chuirfeadh sí cóistí ar bhóithre Cois Fharraige
SKHUR-oo shee KOSH-chee air WOHR-re kush AIR-uh-geh
Dá bhfeicfea’ an ‘steam’ ‘gabhail siar Tóin Ui Loin
Dah VECK-uh un "steam" goal sheer TOH-in ee lon
‘S na rothaí ‘gabhail timpeall siar ó na ceathrúnaí
Snuh ROW-ee goal CHIMP-ul sheer oh nuh KER-oon-nee
Chaithfeadh sí ‘n stiúir naoi n-uair’ ar a cúl
KHAY-oo shee un shtoor nee NOO-ir air uh kool
‘
S ní choinneadh sí siúl le cailleach an airgid
SNEE KHON-oo shee shool leh KAL-yekh un AIR-ih-gid
‘Measann tú ‘bpósfá, ‘measann tú ‘bpósfá
MASS-un too BOH-suh, MASS-un too BOH-suh
‘Measann tú ‘bpósfá’, cailleach an airgid?
MASS-un too BOH-suh, KAL-yekh un AIR-ih-gid?
Tá ‘s a’m nach ‘bpósfá’, tá ‘s a’m nach ‘bpósfá’
TAWSS um nokh BOH-suh, TAWSS um nokh BOH-suh
Mar tá sé ró-óg ‘us d’ólfadh sé ‘n t-airgead
Mar taw shay roh-ohg iss DOHL-oo shayn TAIR-ih-gid
‘S gairid go ‘bpósfaidh, ‘s gairid go ‘bpósfaidh
SGAIR-ihj guh BOHS-ee, SGAIR-ihj guh BOHS-ee
‘S gairid go ‘bpósfaidh, beirt ar a’ bhaile seo
SGAIR-ihj guh BOHS-ee, bayrch air uh WALL-eh shuh
‘S gairid go ‘bpósfaidh, ‘s gairid go ‘bpósfaidh
SGAIR-ihj guh BOHS-ee, SGAIR-ihj guh BOHS-ee
Séan Shéamais Mhóir agus Máire Ní Chathasaigh
Shawn HAY-mish Wohr UG-us MY-reh nee KHA-hus-ee
BTW, The title actually translates to "She's Your Granny," and the English title usually used for this is "The Hag With the Money." I've never heard it called "The Wealthy Widow."
Redwolf