A folk song in Yola

Yola was a Middle English language spoken mainly in the Wexford area of Western Ireland starting from the settlement of some English knights, monks and farmers there in 1169. The Wexford area was rural and isolated from the mainstream English court and literary society as well as being surrounded by Irish speakers so the variety of Middle English did not change much after the literary influences of Chaucer and Tyndall in the late 14th century other than adopting various Irish words. The name "Yola" translates as "Old" ie; "The Old Tongue". With a relatively limited population base Yola died out in the late 19th century, forced out by the process if emigration, poverty, lack of jobs, compulsory education with greater literacy in English or Irish as well as hostility from both English and Irish society. Luckily an extensive historical surveys was done before it died out. Reportedly it was spoken with a distinctive slurring pronouncation.

Two examples below with translations;

1.a)"A Yola Song" (in Yola)

"Fade teil thee zo lournagh, co Joane, zo knaggee?
Th' weithest all curcagh, wafur, an cornee.
Lidge w'ouse an a milagh, tis gaay an louthee:
Huck nigher; y'art scuddeen; fartoo zo hachee?

Well, gosp, c'hull be zeid; mot thee fartoo, an fade;
Ha deight ouse var gabble, tell ee zin go t'glade.
Ch'am a stouk, an a donel; wou'll leigh out ee dey.
Th' valler w'speen here, th' lass ee chourch-hey.

Yerstey w'had a baree, gist ing oor hoane,
Aar gentrize ware bibbern, aamzil cou no stoane.
Yith Muzleare had ba hole, t'was mee Tommeen,
At by mizluck was ee-pit t'drive in.

Joud an moud vrem earchee ete was ee Lough.
Zitch vaperreen, an shimmereen, fan ee-daf ee aar scoth!
Zitch blakeen, an blayeen, fan ee ball was ee-drowe!
Chote well aar aim was t'yie ouz n'eer a blowe.

Mot w'all aar boust, hi soon was ee-teight
At aar errone was var ameing 'ar 'ngish ee-height.
Zitch vezzeen, tarvizzeen, 'tell than w'ne'er zey.
Nore zichel ne'er well, nowe, nore ne'er mey."


b) "An Old Song" (translated)

"What ails you so melancholy, quoth John, so cross?
You seem all snappish, uneasy, and fretful.
Lie with us on the clover, 'tis fair and sheltered:
Come nearer; you're rubbing your back; why so ill tempered?

Well, gossip, it shall be told; you ask me what ails me, and for what;
You have put us in talk, till the sun goes to set.
I am a fool and a dunce; we'll idle out the day.
The more we spend here, the less in the churchyard.

Yesterday we had a goal just in our hand.
Their gentry were quaking, themselves could not stand.
If Good-for-little had been buried, it had been my Tommy,
Who by misluck was placed to drive in.

Throngs and crowds from each quarter were at the Lough;
Such vapouring and glittering when stript in their shirts!
Such bawling and shouting, when the ball was thrown!
I saw their intent was to give us ne'er a stroke.

But with all their bravado they were soon taught
That their errand was aiming to bring anguish upon them
Such driving, and struggling, 'till then we ne'er saw
Nor such never will, no, nor never may."


2.a) "The Weddeen of Ballymore" (a verse in Yola)
"A maide vrem a Bearlough,
Aneure vrem ee Barke,
Eshoethet own anoree
Nich th' hia thoras a Culpake."

b) "The Wedding of Ballymore" (in English)
"A maid from Bearlough,
Another from Bake,
Met one another
Nigh the tall thistles of Culpake."