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When I am an old woman, I shall wear purple
Nuair atá mé i mo sheanbhean, caithfidh mé corcra
nWahr ah-tah may ih mo hun-WON, cah-fid may cor-cruh
with a red hat that doesn't go, and doesn't suit me.
Le hata dearg ní comhoiriúnach ar é, agus níl oireann é mé.
leh hat-uh darg nee coe-ih-ROO-nuhk ahr ay, ah-gus neel ih-ruhn ay may
And I shall spend my pension on brandy and summer gloves
Agus caithfidh mé mo phinsean ar branda 'is lámhainní samhraí
ah-gus cah-fid may mo fin-shun ahr brun-duh iss LAW-inn-EE saw-REE
and satin candles, and say we've no money for butter.
Agus coinnle sról, agus déarfaidh mé ní airgead ar im orainn.
ah-gus cin-leh srole, ah-gus DAYR-fud may nee ahr-ged ahr im or-inn
I shall sit down on the pavement when I am tired
Suífidh mé ar an cosán sráide nuair atá tuirse orm
SEE-fid may ahr ahn co-SAHN sRAW-deh nWahr ah-tah tihr-sheh or[m]
and gobble up samples in shops and press alarm bells
Agus íosfaidh samplaí i tsíopaí agus brúfaidh mé coinnle rabhadh
ah-gus EES-fud sum-PLEE ih TEE-pee ah-gus BROO-fud may cin-leh
and run my stick along the public railings
Agus aimseoidh mé mo mhaide ar ráillí tábhairne
ah-gus im-SHEE may mo wid-eh ahr REE-lee TAW-vihr-neh
and make up for the sobriety of my youth.
Agus cúiteoidh mé ar na staontacht orm i m'ógánach.
ah-gus COOT-id may ahr nah stun-tah[k]t orm ih MO-gaw-nuhk
I shall go out in my slippers in the rain
Gabhfaidh mé seachtrach i mo shlipéir in an báisteach
gaw-fid may shehk-truh[k] ih mo hlip-AYR in ahn BAWS-chehk
and pick the flowers in other people's gardens
Agus piocfaidh mé an bláthanna i gairdíní n-aos eile
ah-gus pic-fid may ahn BLAW-hunnuh ih gahr-DEE-nee nus eh-leh
and learn to spit.
Agus foghlaimeoidh mé le seile.
ah-gus fod-lum-idge may leh sheh-leh
You can wear terrible shirts and grow more fat
Caitheann tú léinte damanta agus atá mó blonag ort
cut-HUN too LAYN-cheh dum-ahn-tun ah-gus ah-tha mo blo-nug ort
and eat three pounds of sausages at a go
Agus itheann tú trí meáchan an ispíní tráth gach
ah-gus i-HUN too tree MAW-hun ahn ish-PEE-nee traw gah[k]
or only bread and pickles for a week
Dá arán amháin agus picilí ar aon seachtain
DAW uh-RAWN uh-WAHN ah-gus pic-il-EE ahr un shehk-CHUN
and hoard pens and pencils and beer nuts and things in boxes.
Agus taisceann tú cróite agus peanna luaidhe agus {{beer nuts}} agus rudaí in mboscaí.
ah-gus tus-CUN too cro-teh ah-gus pen-nuh luh-yeh ah-gus {{beer nuts}} ah-gus ruh-JEE in mosc-EE
But now we must have clothes that keep us dry
Ach anois taiscimid éadach go cuireann sé tur orainn
ah[k] an-is tish-CIMID ay-duhk go cih-run say ter or-inn
and pay our rent and not swear in the street
Agus íocaimid ár chíos agus ní mionnaímid i na sráid
ah-gus EEC-uh-mid ahr HEE-us ah-gus nee min-EE-mid ih nah srawd
and set a good example for the children.
Agus atáimid maithe do na pláiste.
ah-gus ah-TAW-mid maw-heh do nah PLAWSH-teh
We must have friends to dinner and read the papers.
Iarrfaimid ár gcairde do dinnéar agus léifimid an nuachtán.
uhr-fuh-mid ahr gir-deh do din-AYR ah-gus LAY-fih-mid ahn nuh[k]-TAWN
But maybe I ought to practice a little now?
Ach b’fhéidir, féadaim aon giota anois?
ahk BAY-der, fay-dum un get-uh an-is?
So people who know me are not too shocked and surprised
Ní geit agus iontas ar an duine d'aithnímid mé
nee get ah-gus in-taws ahr an din-neh dun-EEM-id may
When suddenly I am old, and start to wear purple.
Nuair atá mé i mo shean, agus go caithfidh mé corcra
nWahr ah-tah may ih mo hen, ah-gus go cah-fid may cor-cruh
There is a very terrible translation of the poem, would any of the more advanced Gaeilgeoirs like to fix it up?
~Adam.
