hBhí mise's mo bhean bheag lá gabháil a' bóthar Myself and my wife were walking the highway
'S oró grá mo chroí Is oro gra mo chree
Is cé chásfaidh díºinn ach Gruagach an óir bhuí And whom should we meet but the Golden Haired Groogach
Cuach mo lon dubh buí Cooach mo Lon Du Bui
D'fhiafair sí domhsa an 'íon domh an óigbhean He asked me to say if my wife was my daughter
'S oró grá mo chroí Is oro gra mo chree
A's díºirt mé féin gurb í mo bhean phósta í I answered him truly she was my life partner
Cuach mo lon dubh buí Cooach mo Lon Du Bui
d'Tabharfaidh tíº domhsa choíche go deo í? Will you give her to me for life and for ever?
'S oró grá mo chroí Is oro gra mo chree
Muna ndéanfaidh tíº sin liom dhéanfaidh mé' cóir leat And if you refuse me I'm likely to harm you
Cuach mo lon dubh buí Cooach mo Lon Du Bui
Gabh thusa 'na mullaí 'gus mise 'na móinte You go the highways and I'll go go the byways
'S oró grá mo chroí Is oro gra mo chree
'S ca bith fear a leanfaidh sí bíodh sí go deo aige And whoever she follows can claim her for ever
Cuach mo lon dubh buí Cooach mo Lon Du Bui
Chuaigh seisean 'na mullaí 'gus mise 'na móinte He went the highways and I went the byways
'S oró grá mo chroí Is oro gra mo chree
'Gus lean sí an Gruagach, b'aige a bhí ' óige So she followed the Groogach as he was the younger
Cuach mo lon dubh buí Cooach mo Lon Du Bui
D'fhill mé 'na bhaile go buartha cráite I returned to my home dejected and broken
'S oró grá mo chroí Is oro gra mo chree
'Gus shuigh mé síos ar mo leabaidh trí ráithe For three quarters I lay down alone and forlorn
Cuach mo lon dubh buí Cooach mo Lon Du Bui
D'fhan sí amuigh aige bliain is trí ráithe She stayed with the Groogach for a year and three quarters
'S oró grá mo chroí Is oro gra mo chree
Agus tháinig sí 'na bhaile, mo Mhallaí gan áire And then she returned, a disgraced and shamed "molly"
Cuach mo lon dubh buí Cooach mo Lon Du Bui
A ghiolla adaí istigh caidé mar atá tíº? Oh, servant in yonder how well are you feeling?
'S oró grá mo chroí Is oro gra mo chree
Mar is olc le mo charaid is maith liom mo ámhaid In spite of my friends I still like my enemies
Cuach mo lon dubh buí Cooach mo Lon Du Bui
Caidé a dhéanfá dá bhfaighinnse bás uait? What would you do if in death I should leave you?
'S oró grá mo chroí Is oro gra mo chree
Chuirfinn ort cónair dara na gcíºig gclár With five oaken boards I'd make a coffin to suit you
Cuach mo lon dubh buí Cooach mo Lon Du Bui
Cuach inniu agus cuach amárach A hug today and a hug tomorrow
'S oró grá mo chroí Is oro gra mo chree
'Gus cuach bheag eile achan lá go ceann ráithe And another wee hug everday through the season
Cuach mo lon dubh buí Cooach mo Lon Du Bui