I was listening to a variation of this song today on RnaG it starts at 18.06 http://www.rte.ie/radio/utils/radioplayer/rteradioweb.html#!rii=17%3A10485021%3A1747%3A03%2D11%2D2015%3A

I went to look up the lyrics and found this translation , either this is the weirdest song most nonsensical song ever written in Irish or someone ran it through the Google Translate http://songsinirish.com/p/si-oakum-a-phriosuin-lyrics.html

I am not 100% sure on the Lyrics on the RnaG version , but I think they are as follows, please correct where ye see fit.

1. Molaim sú an ghráin eorna
go deo deo 'gus a choíche
Nach mairg nach mbíonn tóir
ar Rí Seoirse ar a dhéanamh
Seán Ford a bheith ina ghiúistis,
is chomhairleodh na daoine
Mar is chuir mise ag foghlaim
le ócam a spíonadh

agus ramsa dideldoram
'sé ócam an phríosúin
Go bhfága sú an ghráin eorna
na hÓglaigh dá spíonadh

2. Muise(?) osclaíodh d(h)om sa stór
a raibh ócam thar maoil ann
agus thug mé lán mo ghabhlach liom,
mo dhóthain go ceann míosa,
Is nach mise a bhain gáire
as an ngarda a bhí i mo thimpeall
Nuair a d'fhiafraigh mé den cheannfort
cé air ar fhás an fianach

agus randa dideloram
'sé ócam an phríosúin
Go bhfága sú an ghráin eorna
na hÓglaigh dá spíonadh


3.Is nach mise a bhíonn go tuirseach ag tochas is ag spíonadh,
Is mé ag obair don eochróir a bhfuil eochair aige is míle,
Ó agus d’osclódh sé doirse agus glasannaí na hÉireann,
Is chuirfeadh chan na tincéirí is na stiléirí i ngéibheann.

agus randa dideloram
'sé ócam an phríosúin
Go bhfága sú an ghráin eorna
na hÓglaigh dá spíonadh

4. Tá fataí agus prátaí i ngairdín an phríosúin,
Is neart(?) le na lánadh le fáil ón nGarda Síochán'*,
'S go bhfuil crann torthaí ag fás ann, airní agus spíonáin,
Siúd é thríd an arm é máistir na híocaíocht.

*Cant quite make out this line , the lyrics written online are "Daoine le haghaidh iad a lánadh le fáil ón nGarda Síochán'"

As for the Translation, I had a stab at it , anyone care to correct it

1.I praise the spirits distilled from Barley
for ever and ever and forever (he seems a big fan)
Is it not woeful that King George wishes it not made
Sean Ford being the judge it is he who'd advise the people
For it was him that sent me to learn to pick/tease the Oakum

agus ramsa dideldoram
Its Prison Oakum
That the spirits distilled from Barley
will have the youg men picking

2.Indeed the store was opened for me
(and) it was overflowing with ocam
I took a crotch full of it
enough for a month
Wasnt great fun had of me
by the gaurds that were about me
When I asked the commander
who the (something*) grew on.

* refering to the Oakum, but cant find that word.

3.And amn't I constantly tired with the scratching and the plucking
Working for the keyholder(jailer) who has a thousand and one keys at him.
And he could open the doors and locks of Ireland
And we would only send the tinkers and poitín makers to jail

4.There are spuds and Potatoes in the prison garden
There is plenty to be had to fill the Gaurds
And there is fruit trees growing there, Blackberrys and Gooseberrys ???
*Cant quite get the last line

_________________
Bíonn rudaí maithe mall

The translation looks about right.


If it's like that with a capital Ó then it probably refers to the IRA not just any young lads.



Nach mairg nach mbeadh tóir ar Rí Seoirse ar a dhéanamh

Isn’t it unfortunate that king Charles wouldn't be keen on making it.



Fianach is fur. (Standard spelling- fionnadh )

He made the guard around him laugh when he asked who had [all this] fur growing on him.

I'm assuming the guards in the prison had Irish and understood the joke but the warden only had English.



ag lánadh fataí:
When potatoes start growing, sprouts coming up, you have to cover them again with soil, because if the growing potatoes are exposed to the sun they will go green and ruined.
The guards provided the prisoners to do that work.

Siúd é thríd an arm é máistir na híocaíocht:
I'm not sure what the "arm" refers to there. It can mean armed people, or the weapons, or tools.
I think it may refer to tools here as he is in the garden. But he could be meaning the guards. Or it could be something figurative. I''m only guessing.
Máistir na híocaíochta - paymaster

Woops my bad, I have a habit of sticking capitals where none belong.

I understand a lot of the words in the last verse, but the meaning is still eluding me.

_________________
Bíonn rudaí maithe mall