“Pretty girl milking her cow” is the English version of a traditional Irish Gaelic song entitled “Cailín Deas Cruíte na mBó“. A version erroneously attributed to the Irish poet Thomas Moore who actually used the same Irish melody for another song entitled “The valley before smiling” (“The Song of O’Ruark, Prince of Breffni”)
Emma Knott & David Miller
Pretty girl milking her cow
If the melody is traditionally considered a fairy song, the text is rather an irish pastoral love song (a courting song). Nowadays the lyrics appear a little laughable, but these songs were part of the “educational system” of the past, where the girls learned how to behave especially with noblemen who wandered the countryside in search of easy prey!
The stanzas contained in the English version are 6-8 instead of 4 as in Gaelic one: the gallant proposals of the young man are not accepted because the girl prefers to be free rather than to bond to a man, she will marry only when she will be rich. But he replies that money does not count becouse the time of love is that of youth.
The pastoral genre was also widespread among the “gentry”, but more like a playful form or “divertissement“.
I
It was on a fine summer’s morning
The birds sweetly tune on each bough
And as I walked out for my pleasure
I saw a maid milking a cow
II
Her voice was so enchanting, melodious
Left me quite unable to go
My heart, it was loaded with sorrow
For the pretty maid milking her cow
III
Then to her I made my advances
“Good morrow most beautiful maid
Your beauty my heart so entrances”
“Pray sir do not banter,” she said
IV
“I’m not such a rare precious jewel
That I should enamour you so
I am but a poor little milk girl,”
Says the pretty maid milking her cow
V
The Indies afford no such jewel
So bright, so transparently clear
I do not add things to my funeral
Consent but to know me my dear
VI
Oh, had I the Lamp of Aladdin(1)
Or the wealth that gold mines can bestow
I’d rather be poor in a cottage
With the pretty girl milking her cow.”
NOTE
1) the verse is also found in another song of the same genre entitled Lough Erne Shore
In this other version we come to know the reason for the girl’s refusal, a very “feminist” motif, the girl prefers independence rather than a life of submission to her husband (see marriage in the story here)
I
It being on a fine summer’s morning
As the birds sweetly tuned on each bough,
I heard a fair maid sing most charming
As she sat milking her cow
II
Her voice was enchanting melodious
Which left me scarce able to go
My heart it was soothed with solace
By the cailín deas crúite na mbó
III
I courteously did salute her
“Good morning, most amiable maid
I’m your captive slave for the future”
“Kind sir, do not banter,’ she said…
IV
I’m not such a precious rare jewel
That I should enamour you so
I am but a plain county girl
Says the cailín deas crúite na mbó”
V
“The Indies afford no such jewels
So precious, so transparent clear
Oh do not refuse me, my jewel
Consent now and love me, my dear
VI
For riches I care not a farthing
It’s your love that I want and no more
I’d rather live poor on the mountain
With my cailín deas crúite na mbó’”
VII
“I don’t understand what you mean, sir
I ne’er was a slave yet to love
For these feelings I have no desire
I pray your affection remove
VIII
To marry, I can assure you
That state I will not undergo
I’m prepared to live single and airy”
Says the cailín deas crúite na mbó…
Sources
http://ontanomagico.altervista.org/blanchebiche.htm
http://ontanomagico.altervista.org/curragh-kildare.html
https://terreceltiche.altervista.org/gruagach-mhara-a-gruagach-or-a-selkie/
http://www.celticlyricscorner.net/clannad/pretty.htm
https://musescore.com/mike_magatagan/scores/118434
https://thesession.org/tunes/1758
https://tunearch.org/wiki/Cail%C3%ADn_Deas_Cr%C3%BAidte_na_mB%C3%B3
http://mudcat.org/thread.cfm?threadid=6543
https://thegrammarofmatter.wordpress.com/till-the-cows-come-home-part-one-towards-a-natural-history-of-megaliths/
http://tairis-cr.blogspot.it/2015/11/oran-buaile-teiris-bho.html
Sometimes the song retains its Gaelic title even though the lyrics are in English
