This is a traditional song, one of the "tear your heart out" variety, about a young girl and her Wild Geese who's off to war.
I wish I was on yonder hill
'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill,
And every tear would turn a mill,
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
[chorus]
Siuil, siuil, siul a run,
Siuil go sochair agus siuil go ciuin
Siuil go doras agus ealaigh lion
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
I'll sell my rock, I'll sell my reel,
I'll sell my only spinning wheel,
To buy my love a sword of steel
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan.
[chorus]
I'll dye my petticoats, I'll dye them red,
And 'round the world I'll beg my bread,
Until my parents shall wish me dead,
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan.
[chorus]
But now my love has gone to France,
To try his fortune to advance;
If he e'er comes back, 'tis but a chance,
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
[chorus]
I wish, I wish, I wish in vain,
I wish I had my heart again,
And vainly think I'd not complain,
Is go dte tu mo mhuirnin slan
[chorus]
Translation :
Walk, walk, walk, O love,
Walk quickly to me, softly move;
Walk to the door, and away we'll flee,
And safe may my darling be.
I wish I was on yonder hill
'Tis there I'd sit and cry my fill,
And every tear would turn a mill,
Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn.
Chorus (in phonetic Gaelic)
Shule, shule, shule aroon,
Shule go succir agus, shule go kewn,
Shule go durrus oggus aylig lume,
Iss guh day thoo avorneen slawn.