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." See also County Cork cleric and uilleann piper James Goodman's version under the title "Tá mo ghrádh dá mhealladh uaim," entered into volume 1 (p. 258) of his large mid-19th century music manuscript collection.
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.
