A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow

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A Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow (Cailin Deas ag Crúite na mBo — Irish-Gaelic Title) is a traditional 18th Century Irish Ballad attributed to Thomas Moore (1770-1852),^[1]. Originally sung in Irish-Gaelic the song was popular through the early 20th century. It received a revival when an updated swing version sung by Irish-American singer/actress Judy Garland was featured in the 1940 film Little Nellie Kelly. The updated version is true to the original musical air and incorporated original lyrics by MGM Musical Director Roger Edens ,^[2] and featured Garland singing the song to George Murphy using some of the original Gaelic lyrics in the first chorus which was true to the traditional air before moving into an up-tempo swing version typical of the era.

The song was released as the B side of the more popular Garland song It's A Great Day for the Irish by Decca records in 1940. It became a popular song for Irish-Americans during St Patrick's Day celebrations. It remained a popular number for Garland ^[3], throughout her career and most notably she sang it live in its original Irish language version in July 1951 at her Theatre Royal concerts in Dublin Ireland^[4]. A Dublin review stated: "Remember the song she sang in "Nellie Kelly" - "The Pretty Girl Milking Her Cow." Judy is providing herself with the Irish version - "Cailin Deas Cruidte na mBo" while in Ireland" [1].^[vague] Later in 1951, she included the song in her first record breaking appearance at New York's Palace Theatre although this time reverting to the new version that combined both English and Irish language lyrics. The song is also featured on "Garland at the Grove" on Capital Records recorded live in 1959 at the Coconut Grove in Hollywood. Singers and groups including Bing Crosby, Ruby Murray, Carmel Quinn, Clannad, The Fureys, Blackthorn Ceilidh Band and The Chieftains, among others have recorded the song in either its original or updated form or a combination of both.

Contents 1 Traditional Lyrics 2 Irish-Gaelic Lyrics 3 Judy Garland Lyrics 4 References

[edit] Traditional Lyrics

It was on a fine summers morning,

The birds sweetly tuned on each bough,

And as I walked out for my pleasure,

I saw a pretty girl milking her cow;

Her voice so enchanting, melodious,

Left me quite unable to go,

My heart it was loaded with sorrow,

For cailín deas crúite na mbó.

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;

"I'm not such a rare precious jewel,

That I should enamour you so,

I am but a poor little milk girl,"

Says cailín deas crúite na mbó.

[edit] Irish-Gaelic Lyrics

Tá blian nó níos mó 'gam ag éisteacht

Le cogar doilíosach mo mheoin,

Ó casadh liom grá geal mo chléibhe

Tráthnóna brea gréine san fhómhar.

Bhí an bhó bhainne chumhra ag géimneach

Is na h-éanlaith go meidhreach ag ceol,

Is ar bhruach an tsruthán ar leathaobh dhom

Bhí cailín deas crúite na mbó.

Tá a súile mar lonradh na gréine,

Ag scaipeadh trí spéartha gan cheo,

's is deirge a grua ná na caora

Ar lasadh measc craobha na gcnó,

Tá a béilin níos dílse na sméara,

's is gile ná leamhnacht a snó,

Níl ógbhean níos deise san saol seo

Ná cailín deas crúite na mbó.

[edit] Judy Garland Lyrics

T'was on a bright morning in summer,

When I first heard his voice speakin' low,

As he said to a colleen beside him,

"Who's that pretty girl milking her cow?",

Augh many times often ye met me ,

And told me that I should be ,

Your darling, macushla,

Alana mavourneen, asuilish machree……,

Pretty girl, pretty girl,

With no on there to show her how ,

The pret, pret, pretty girl is now,

Milking her cow ,

I have not the manners or graces,

Of the girls in the world where ye move ,

And I have not their beautiful faces ,

But oh, I've a heart that can love ,

And if it please ye, I'll dress me in satin ,

With jewels, jewels in me brow ,

But augh, don't be after forgettin' ,

Your pretty girl milking her cow,

Pretty girl, pretty cow,

I'm sure this song would have never been wrote ,

If the pretty girl hadda been milking her goat,

But the goat wasn't feeling well anyhow,

So the pretty girl was milking her cow.,

Her cow, her cow... ,

La, la, la, la, la, la... ,

La, la, la la, la, la, la La, la, la, la

A pretty girl milking her cow!

(The English translation of the Irish-Gaelic lyrics; macushla, alana mavourneen, a suilish machree, in the Garland version is "Dear or Beloved Child of my heart")

[edit] References