Annotation:I Wish the Shepherd's Pet Was Mine
X:1 T:As truagh gan peata an mhaoir agam T:I wish the shepherd’s pet were mine M:2/4 L:1/8 R:Air Q:"Allegro" B:Petrie – “Ancient Music of Ireland vol. 1” (1855, pp. 42-43) Z:AK/Fiddler’s Companion K:Eb (B/c/)|(d/B/).B/.c/ (d/e/f/)>.d|g/e/f/d/ e/f/g/>e/|(d/B/).B/.c/ d/e/f/d/|ge/f/d/ e(f/e/)| (d/B/).B/.c/ (d/e/f/)d/|g/e/f/d/ e/f/g/e/|(d/B/).B/.c/ d/e/f/d/|g/e/f/d/ e(f/d/)| B(A/F/) (G/E/).F/.D/|E/(F/4G/4) A/B/ d/e/f/d/|B(A/F/) (G/E/F/D/)|EF/4G/4 A/B/ Be/d/| B(A/F/) (G/E/)(F/D/)|E/(F/4G/4) .A/.B/ d/>e/f/d/|.B(A/F/) (G/E/)(F/D/)|.E/(F/4G/4) .A/.B/ [FB]-!fermata![Ee]||
I WISH THE SHEPHERD'S PET WAS MINE (As truagh gan peata an mhaoir agam). Irish, Air (2/4 time). E Flat Major. Standard tuning (fiddle). One part. Petrie notes: "The musical reader will perceive that this melody has very much the character of a reel tune, and, with its time quickened, it is used as such in the county of Clare."
Petrie's translation of the Irish lyrics goes:
I wish the shepherd's pet were mine,
I wish the shepherd's pet were mine,
I wish the shepherd's pet were mine,
And her pretty little white sheep.
And oh! I hail, I hail thee,
And the love of my heart for ever thou art,
And oh! I hail, I 'hail thee,
Thou little pet of thy mother.
I wish that scores of kine were mine,
I wish that scores of kine were mine,
I wish that scores of kine were mine,
And Katey from her mother.
And oh! I hail, I hail thee,
And the love of my heart for ever thou art,
And oh I hail, I hail thee,
Thou fair pet of thy mother.
