https://soundcloud.com/esa-blomberg/armaan-luo-carrickfergus-trad-suom-eb-2024?si=814c50b9a49b4b01aac14edaedc19497&utm_source=clipboard&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=social_sharing

Originally an Irish folk song, named after the town of Carrickfergus in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. The Clancy Brothers' 1964 album includes this title. A somewhat differing version was released under the name "The Kerry Boatman" by Dominic Behan in 1965.
I translated the lyrics into Finnish as close as possible to the original.
Below are my translation of my lyrics in Finnish back to English. If you compare them to the original lyrics, you may find them faithful to the original one.
In my version I sing and play guitars and the mandolin solo. I produced this at my home with Band in a Box and Reaper.

Armaan luo (Carrickfergus) suom. Esa Blomberg 2024

Jos kerran pääsen kotimaahan armaan luo.
Yhden ees päivän siellä viettää saan.
Ylitse uisin meren aavan myrskyisen.
Vaikka vain päivän siellä viettää vaan.
Meri rannaton ylitse on uimaton
Siivetön mä oon, lentoon kelvoton.
Lautturin uljaan, soutamaan jos löytäisin
mä silloin luo armaan vihdoin pääsisin.

Vieraalta maalta mä kultaa niin etsinkin
armaalle sitten mä ne veisinkin.
Vain arvotonta rihkamaa mä saaliks' sain.
Koiratkin nauraa, saa mun haudallain.
Laulu vaan ei soi, kurkkuni kun kuiva on.
Ryypyn jos mä saan, mua taas laulattaa.
Päiväni lienee tuhlatut jo turhuuteen.
Hyvästi neitoset, mä jo hautaan meen.

To My Darling One (Carrickfergus) Translation Esa Blomberg 2025

If I ever get to my homeland, to my darling one.
Even if I could spend just one day there.
I would swim across the open, stormy sea.
Even if I could only spend one day there.
The sea is shoreless, unswimmable
I am wingless, unfit for flight.
A brave ferryman, if I could find to row,
then I would finally reach my darling one.

I searched for gold in foreign lands
to take it to my darling one.
But I only caught worthless junk for my prey.
Even the dogs will laugh at my grave.
The song just doesn't sound, when my throat is dry.
A drink if I get, it'll make me sing again.
My days must have been wasted in vain
Goodbye, girls, I'm going to my grave.



***** Song Summary *************
Key=A , Tempo 120, Length (m:s)=3:34
Style is _AIRTRIO.STY (Air with Piano, Bass, and Guitar)
MelodyCustom Synth is 079 - Tin Whistle, Low, Celtic Folk [SN0704]
RealTracks used:
RealTracks in style: ~~2488:Bass, Acoustic, Bowed Held Ev 110
RealTracks in style: 2870:Piano, Acoustic, Rhythm CelticAirDave Ev 085

Last edited by Brno; 08/16/25 10:36 AM.