Lyrics and translation Shaun Davey - The Pilgrim

The Pilgrim

In regsa, a Rí inna rún
íar coimse Clúm ocus céol
Mo brogad for mara múr
Mo chúl do thochar frim éol?

In mbia I mbochtai isin chath
Tre rath in Ríg, rí cen meth
Cen míad mór, cen charpat cloth,
Cen ór cen argat cen ech?

Cen ól medrach mesetha druing,
Cen tuaith truim, cen teglach torm,
Cen brasscíath, cen aile n-arm,
Cen chúach, cen chuirm is cen chorn?

Cen éitiud min mass ar súil,
Cen chlúim nád cara nach naíb,
Acht barrán beithe fo búaid
Fo chuilche chráuid frim dá thaíb?

In timg'r celebrad cóir
D'innsi móir mace Míled múaid?
Indom tairbear fo Christ cuing
Ria techt tar tuinn Mara Ruaid?

In tiurr mo láim do cach crécht
For brú tuinne tinnbi bá; rc?
In fuicé; b oc mara mú; r
Slicht mo da glú; n isin trá; cht?

In toicéb mo churchán cíar
ós oicén uchtlethan án?
In reg, a Rí ríchid réil
As mo thoil féin for in sál?

Imba sessach, imba seng,
Imba tressach tuirme glonn,
A Christ, in cuingéna frimm,
Ó thí co techt tar linn lonn

The Pilgrim

In the name of the God of Mysteries,
I beg assistance of Columba and his music
May my foot tread on the ocean wall
May my back be turned on the paths that I know?

If I go to battle in poverty
Under the protection of the King, the King without default,
Without great property, without a triumphal chariot,
Without gold, without silver, without horses?

Without the cheering of a multitude of friends,
Without a heavy host, without a fierce retinue,
Without a bronze shield, without a glittering sword
Without a cloak, without ale, without food?

Without food, drink, or rest for my eye,
Without feather bed, friend or kinsman,
Save a birch sapling under victory
A hazel wand, to support my steps?

If thou wouldst grant a proper reward
For my great journey, O Son of Mil?
To bring me under the protection of Christ
Before crossing the waves of the Red Sea?

If I stretch out my hand to every creature
On the brink of the tumultuous wave?
If I leave beneath the great sea waves
The path of both my knees on the strand?

If my dark-brown boat shall come
Over the broad-breasted ocean?
In the name of the King of the starry heavens,
With my own will, over the sea?

Sing briefly, sing sweetly,
Sing powerfully, sing shrilly,
O Christ, when thou hearest my prayer,
From the time that I come over the expanse of the sea.