Sheila would have a lovely man
If she married me
I'd kill the trout on the tide
And the rabbit on the dune as well
I wouldn't ask her for a horse or sheep
Or gold or silver
Because I'd prefer to have her as my wife
Than any king's daughter that lives
Sheila's mother has no compassion
And not much feeling either
She has a big purse filled
Looking for a man with land
She doesn't care if he's tall or short
Of fair or dark complexion
Straight or crooked
As long as he has sheep or cows
That's not how my sheila thinks
She'd rather me than any other
Because I'd merrily play my pipes
And do a lively dance for her
I'd sow the seeds
And reap them as well
And when I'd get home I wouldn't
But converse lightly with my love
My deal is set with Sheila
And nothing in Ireland will break it
Without depending on her mother and family
She'd be better off
I'll marry her this month
And pay the priest well
And I wouldn't stay in this country
But roam happily around from here on
Translation:
Sheila would have a lovely man If she married me I'd kill the trout on the tide And the rabbit on the dune as well I wouldn't ask her for a horse or sheep Or gold or silver Because I'd prefer to have her as my wife Than any king's daughter that lives
Sheila's mother has no compassion And not much feeling either She has a big purse filled Looking for a man with land She doesn't care if he's tall or short Of fair or dark complexion Straight or crooked As long as he has sheep or cows
That's not how my sheila thinks She'd rather me than any other Because I'd merrily play my pipes And do a lively dance for her I'd sow the seeds And reap them as well And when I'd get home I wouldn't But converse lightly with my love
My deal is set with Sheila And nothing in Ireland will break it Without depending on her mother and family She'd be better off I'll marry her this month And pay the priest well And I wouldn't stay in this country But roam happily around from here on