Home by Barna

Traditional. Verses three and four by Teresa Doyle

 

In Scarlateglen there lived a lass

And every morning after mass

She would go and take a glass

Before going home by Barna

 

We won't go home along the road

For fear that we might tax the rogue

We won't go home along the road

We'll go home by Barna

 

We won't go home across the fields

The big thorn needles will stick in our heels

We won't go home across the fields

We'll go home by Barna

 

We won't go home the milk boreen

The night is bright we might be seen

We won't go home the milk boreen

We'll go home by Barna

 

We won't go home along the bay

The tinkers' camp is on the way

We won't go home along the bay

We'll go home by Barna

 

We won't go home along the main

The swoogh is sure to rise again

We won't go home along the main

We'll go home by Barna

 

We won't go home along the shore

For fear we hear the banshee roar

We won't go home along the shore

We'll go home by Barna

 

We won't go home along the strand

We might disturb the fairy band

We won't go home along the strand

We'll go home by Barna

 

Milk boreen - cow path

Swoogh - a host of departed souls that transport people from one place to another

Tinkers - the travelling folk in Ireland

Banshee - a fairy woman who wails near the home of someone soon to depart this ilfe.