[from Manx Ballads, 1896]

ARRANE Y SKEDDAN.  

SONG OF THE HERRING.

 

Shiuish ooilley eeasteyryn, neem's coontey chur diu
Mysh imbagh yn skeddan, ny s'pooie cha row rieau;
T'ain palchey dy argid cour arroo as feill,
Foast praaseyn as skeddan, she ad nyn ard reill.

Tra harrish t'an imbagh, chalhisagh shin plaiynt,
Agh booise y chur dasyn, ta freayll shin ayns slaynt
Slane-voylley chur da son e vannaght hooin wass,
T'ati skeddan ersooyl dys y cheayn vooar by-yiass.

Ayns shen goaill e aash, va kiarrit da rieau,
Ny ribbaghyn-vaaish s'bey choontey v'eh jeu;
Ayns shen ceau e hraa, derrey cheet yn nah viein,
Er dreeym Bal-ny-howe, yiow mayd eisht e 'sy lieen.

Ayns fliughys dy mennick, as mennick neesht feayr,
Foast prowal as cuirr, shinney shin chur-myner,
Tra ta caslys vie goll; as yn eeast cheet er-ash,
Chelleeragh ta'n dooan roit soil y vock-ghlass..

Te shilley vondeishagh goaill prowal vie stiagh,
As s'eunyssagh y laa dy chreck yn eeast magh
Dy chreck eh dy gennal rish kionneyder vie,
Goaill jough les'h airane, as craa-laue ben-y-thie.

Lesh cappan dy yough as greini veg dy ce,
Nee mayd beaghey cha souyr as eirinee ayns shee;
Lhig dooin giu dy chreeoil dys y cheshaght ain hene,
Mastey deiney shin s'gennal, fud immanee yn lieen.

Nish.jerrey y choyrt er ny ta mee er ghra,
D'row palchey dy skeddan ec Mannin dy braa;
Freill, freill dooin yn vannaght, O Fer-croo yn theihll,
As lhig da ny Manninee lesh booise fosley nyn meeal.

 

All ye fishermen, I will tell unto you
'Bout the herring season, ne'er was there nicer
We have heaps of money to get corn and meat,
Yet priddhas* and herrings, they are our chief food.

When the season is o'er, we should not complain,
But thanks give unto Him who keeps us in health;
All praise give to him for his blessings below,
The herring is gone to the great southern sea.

There having its rest, as it was intended,
Of the death snares taking but little account;
There it passes its time, until the next year,
Off Bal-ny-howe, we shall get it in the net.

Full often in the wet, often too in the cold,
Yet proving and casting, we are glad to see,
When it looks likely;t and the fish comes in sight,
Straightway is the hook set out for the hake.

'Tis a profitable sight taking good proof+
And more pleasant the day to sell the fish out;
To sell it cheerfully to a good buyer,
With drink and with song, and greeting the hostess.

With a cup of beer and a morsel to eat,
We shall live as safely as the farmers in peace;
Let us heartily drink to our own company,
Among.men we're most cheerful, though following the net.

Now to put an end unto what I have said,
May plenty of herring be in Mann for aye;
Keep for us the blessing, O world's Creator,
And let the Manx people with thanks open their mouths.

* Potatoes.
+ The appearance of the sea when a shoal of fish is close by is here referred to.


 

Back index next


Any comments, errors or omissions gratefully received The Editor
HTML Transcription © F.Coakley , 2000