This is a traditional Irish song that I learned from my mentor, Mary McLaughlin, called An Mhaighdean Mhara. The song is a conversation between a mermaid and her daughter. The mermaid is married to a mortal man, and has taken a human form. She is trapped between the two worlds, torn between the love for her daughter and the desire to return to the sea.

An Mhaighdean Mhara Lyrics
Irish

Is cosúil gur mheath tú
Nó gur threig tú an greann.
Tá an sneachta go frasach
Fá bhéal na n-áitheann’
Do chúl buí daite
’S do bhéilín sámh,
Siúd chugaibh Maerí Shinidh
’S í ’ndiaidh ’n Éirne ’shnamh.

“A ’mháithrín dhílish,”
Dúirt Máire Bhán,
Fá bhruach a’ chladaigh
’S fá bhéal na trá,
Is maighdean mhara
Mo mháithrín ard
Siúd chugaibh Maerí Shinidh
’S í ’ndiaidh ’n Éirne ’shnamh.

Tá mise tuirseach
Agus beidh go lá,
Mo Mháire bhruinngheal,
’S mo Phádraig bán,
Ar bharr na dtonnta
’S fá bhéal na trá,”
Siúd chugaibh Maerí Chinidh
’S í ’ndiaidh ’n Éirne ’shnámh

Tá an oíche seo dorcha is tá an ghaoth i ndrochaird
Tá an tseisreach ina seasamh
is na spéartha go hard
Ach ar bharr na dtonnta
’S fá bhéal na trá,”
Siúd chugaibh Maerí Chinidh
’S í ’ndiaidh ’n Éirne ’shnámh

An Mhaighdean Mhara Lyrics
English translation

It’s likely you deteriorated
Or that you abandoned fun.
The snow is falling heavily
On the mouth of the ford.
Your yellow colored hair
And your quiet little mouth,
Here you have Mary Hinny
She’s just after swimming the Erne.

“Oh mother of mine,”
Said fair Mary,
“Under the bank of the stony beach
And under the mouth of the sandy beach,
My noble mother is
A mermaid (silkie),”
Here you have Mary Hinny

She’s just after swimming the Erne
“I am tired and I will be until the day,
My bright breasted Mary,
My fair Patrick,
On top of the waves
And under the mouth of the beach,”
Here you have Mary Hinny
She’s just after swimming the Erne

The night is dark and
the wind is at an ill height
The plough is standing up
And the skies are high
But On top of the waves
And under the mouth of the beach,”
Here you have Mary Hinny
She’s just after swimming the Erne