Faclan | Lyrics

Bu mhath leinn taing mhòr a thoirt do gach boireannach eirmseach a tha air na h-òrain traidiseanta a th’ aca a thoirt seachad dhuinne: Iseabail T. NicDhòmhnaill, Ceana Chaimbeul, Maighread Stiùbhart, Rona Lightfoot agus Eilidh NicCoinnich. Bu mhath leinn cuideachd taing a thoirt do Shona NicCarmaig airson a taic ann a bhith ag eadar-theangachadh ‘An t-Seann Chladh Thall.’

We would like to give our thanks to all the incredible women in the Gaelic community who have shared their traditional songs and their knowledge with us throughout the making of this album: Ishbel T. MacDonald, Kenna Campbell, Margaret Stewart, Rona Lightfoot and Eilidh Mackenzie. We would also like to thank Shona Cormack for her help in translating ‘The Old Churchyard’.

Sian (2020)

1. A-Nochd A' Chiad Oidhche 'n Fhoghair

We came across this waulking song in the archives of the School of Scottish Studies, sung by Penny MacLellan (Peanaidh Aonghais ’ic Raghnaill or Peanaidh Mhòr) of Iochdar in South Uist. The title translates as ‘tonight the first night of autumn’, and the composer has been asked to guard the barn where she hears a hunting party. In the second half of the song, she tells of her love for the son of the weaveress and says she would trust him with her soul whilst at sea.

A-nochd a' chiad oidhche 'n Fhoghair

E ho hao ri rì ò ho ho

E ho hao ra rì o hì

O bho hì iù rù

Chuir iad mise dhan an t-sabhal

Ma chuir cha b’ ann gus a ghlèidheadh

Chuir iad na maoir as mo dhèidh

’S an-raoir a chuala mi ’n fhaghaid

Eadar Ceann a’ Bhàigh ’s an fhadhail

Dh’fhàg mi ’n-diugh is ghabh mi ’n roghainn

’S a bhith d’ òigear seòlta, seaghach

Òganach gun tòir na dhèidh

Tha mi fhìn is mac na bainich

Dol seachad rubha le gairm

Às do làimh ’s gun earbainn m’ anam

Anns a' mhuir ged bhiodh e doirbh.

2. Ach a Dhòmhnaill Òig Ghaolaich

This unusual waulking was collected by the famous South Uist bard Donald MacIntyre. Donald and his family were renowned for singing waulking songs. Like many waulking songs, this is a love song. The composer of the song longs for her love to go sailing past on his boat and says that if she could she would give him Uist, Mull and Knoydart.

Ach a Dhòmhnaill òig ghaolaich

O ho ro ho, hì rì iù

’S tu mo rùn dha na fearaibh

Hì rì rì ri ri ò hì

Hiùraibh oho hì ò

Hoireann oho hì rì iù

’S truagh nach fhaicinn do bhàta

Seòladh àrd air bhàrr mara

’S mo leannan ga stiùireadh

Lùb ùr a’ chùil chlannaich

Ach nam faighinn-s’ air m' òrdan

Bu leat mòran do dh'fhearainn

Bu leat Uibhist an Eòrna

But leat Muile nam fuar-bheann

Agus Cnòideart a’ bharraich

3. Na Gamhna Geala

This is a waulking song we were given by Ishbel T. MacDonald, who learned it from the singing of Ceit MacDonald (Bean Eairdsidh Raghnaill) – born and raised in Garryhallie, South Uist and the mother of Rona Lightfoot, the famous piper and singer. The song is split into four sections, but the significance of the section about the white stirks (na gamhna geala) is unclear.

’S muladach mi ’s mi air m’ aineoil

Hillean ò rò bha hò

’S mi leam fhìn san eilean mhara

E ho hao rì ri bhò, hogaibh ò

Hillean ò rò bha hò

’S na geòidh fhiadhaich a’ dol fairis

Faodaidh iad sin ’s a bhi fallain.

Chaidh na sealgairean gu baile

Tha mo shealgair donn fon talamh

Ann an lèine chaol an anairt

’N ciste chaoil ’s na saoir ga barradh

‘S e mo ghràdh na gamhna geala

Thèid na chrò ‘s nach òl am bainne

Thèid dhan tràigh ‘s nach geàrr an fheamainn

Thèid a dh’Èirinn ris a’ ghealaich

'S a thig às le aon seòl mara

Thèid a dh’Albainn ris a’ ghaillinn

O gur h-e mo rùn na gillean

Dh’iomaireas ràmh ’s a dh’èigheas iorram

’S a bheir i gu cala tioram

Gu acarsaid Chaluim Chille.

4. Tha 'n Crodh Laoigh Air Aodann Corrabheinn

This is a pibroch song which mimics the sounds of the Great Highland Bagpipe. It states simply that some cattle are on the face of a steep hill, some are in the heather field and others are on ‘Eilean an Fhèidh’, the island of the deer. One of our first ever concerts as Sian was alongside Margaret Stewart, whom we heard singing this song to herself backstage, and we asked her to teach us it before the gig!

Tha ’n crodh laoigh air aodann corrabheinn

Uisg’ is gaoth air aodann corrabheinn.

Tha ’n crodh laoigh sa fhraoch aig Màiri

Aon adh deug is sia bàt' àrach.

Tha ’n crodh laoigh an eilean an fhèidh

Cù gan iomain ’s gille nan dèidh.

5. Chan Eil Mi Gun Nì Air M' Aire

Chan Eil Mi Gun Nì air m’ Aire, meaning I am not free from unhappy thoughts is another waulking song. This particular version comes from the singing of Flora MacNeil. The song praises Clanranald but also adds, “Though he put me out of my land.” The circumstances of the composition of the song are unclear.

Chan eil mi gun nì air m’ aire

Hò rò na hùilirinn ò ro

Gun neach ris an dèan mi gearain

Och hoirinn ò falbh oro seinn

M’ eudail air MacLeòid na Hearadh

’S e m’ eudail mòr Mac ’ic Ailein

Ged a chuir thu mi às t-fhearann

Chan e MacLeòid ’s mi na bhaile

B’ fheàrr dhut mi na Nic a’ Mhanaich

Na gin beò de shliochd a seanair

Comann lùbach, breugach, carach.

Rìgh gu dè ar n’adhbhar dhòmhsa?

Cha do bhrist mi fèill no Dòmhnach

Cha mhuth’ thug mi molt far mòintich

Cha do chuir mi caor’ air ròpa

Cha do rinn mi bristeadh pòsaidh

Falbhaidh mi ’s cha dèan mi fuireach

Air long bheir mi sgrìob do Mhuile

Naile, creicidh mi mo ghunna

Nì mi dhen stoc clàran chumain

Nì mi dhen ghleus dealgan muilinn

Chan eil mi gun nì air m’ aire.

6. Bha Mo Leannan Ann

Though little is known about the composer of this song, it is believed to have been composed for one of the MacDonalds of Knoydart. She says she will refuse jewels from any other men who come her way and will rather wait for him to return from battle, praising his abilities as a soldier.

Ged tha mi ’m ònar sna gleannaibh

Chan eil mo shunnd ris na fearaibh

Gun d’ thug mi mo bhòid ’s mo ghealladh

Nach dèanainn mo cheann a cheangal

Gus am faighinn fhèin ort sealladh

Mo cheist air sealgair na h-eala.

Bha mo leannan ann

Bha mo leannan bòidheach barail

Anns a’ bhail’ ud thall.

Cha dèan mi seudan a ghabhail

Ge b’ e cò thig am rathad

Tha mo dhùil ri d’ làimh-sa fhathast

Òganaich as deise gabhail

Fo d’ ghunna, fo d’ sgèith, fo d’ chlaidheamh

B’ ùr a’ choill an d’ fhàs an t-abhal.

Mo rùn mac na mnà Slèibhtich’

A chumadh ’s a dh’fhuaileadh lèine

Chuireadh a’ sìod air a’ phèarlainn

Bu mhòr m’ earbs’ as do làimh threubhaich

B’ fheàrr leam gun dèanainn beairt rèidh riut

’S cha dèan mi sin gu là m' euga.

Dhòmhnaill ’ic Nèill ’ic Iain Bhuidhe

Chaidh do shaothair ort am mutha

Dh’fhalbh a’ ghruagach dhonn na siubhal

Le fear àrd na gruaige duibhe

Dhìreadh ’s a thèarnadh a’ bhruthach

Chuireadh calpa ’n dèidh na spriuthar.

Mhoire, ’s e mo rùn an gille

Bha raoir an Eilean na Cille

Beul meachair a’ chòmhraidh mhilis

Ghabh mi mo chead dhìot sa linnidh

’S thug siud air mo shùilean sileadh

Guma slàn gun dèan thu tilleadh.

7. Thàinig An Gille Dubh Raoir don Bhaile Seo

This is a woman’s love song. A girl tells of the dark-haired young man who came to the district the previous evening and says that her stride is heavy since she was forsaken by her sweetheart. It is widely published that this song was composed by Elizabeth Ross (Lady D’ Oyly), however the Elizabeth Ross manuscript in the School of Scottish Studies names the composer as ‘Lady Rasay’. This could refer to Elizabeth's aunt, or more probably, an earlier Lady Raasay. We learnt this version/melody from the singing of Margaret MacKay on Tobar an Dualchais.

Thàinig an gille dubh raoir don bhaile so,

’S trom mo cheum on thrèig mo leannan mi,

Thàinig an gille dubh raoir don bhaile so.

Gur mis’ tha gu tinn le goirteas mo chinn,

’S ged rachainn don chill cha chluinn mo leannan mi.

Gur iomadh bean òg le sìoda agus sròl

A chunntadh le deòin mo chrò crodh-bainne dhuit.

Gur guirme do shùil na an dearcag fon driùchd

’S gur finealt do ghnùis na ùr-ròs mheanganan.

An gille dubh caol na laighe san fhraoch

’S a ghunna ri thaobh: b’ e an fhaodail fhalach e.

An gille gun fhoill sa bhaile bho raoir,

Nach tiugainn thu ’n choill san rinn mi gealladh riut?

A Cheit a’ chùil duinn, ghabh mise dhiot loinn;

Gun siubhlainn an oidhche tro choill a’ bharraich leat.

Mo bheannachd ad dhèidh ma dh’fhàg thu mi fhèin,

Ach guidheam cèile beusach banail dhuit.

Mo cheist air an òg à broillich Sìol Leòid:

Gur math thig an còta bòidheach eangach dhuit.

8. Bi Falbh on Uinneig

This traditional lullaby is known as a night visiting song or in Gaelic, ‘Caithris na h-Oidhche’. Night visiting was among an accepted part of courtship among the Gaels. However, in this particular song it is a different scenario altogether, as the woman is married and her husband is lying next to her, unbeknown to the approaching lover.

Bi falbh on uinneig fhir ghaoil, fhir ghaoil,

’S na tig a-nochd tuilleadh fhir ghràidh, fhir ghraidh,

Bi falbh on uinneig fhir ghaoil, fhir ghaoil,

’S na tig a-nochd tuilleadh fhir ghràidh, fhir ghràidh.

Tha do long air an t-sàile ’s i gun seòladair aice,

Bi falbh on uinneig fhir ghaoil, fhir ghaoil

’S na tig a-nochd tuilleadh fhir ghràidh, fhir ghràidh

Cuir umad do bhrògan tha ’n tòir a’ tigh’nn cas ort

Cuir umad do bhrògan tha ’n tòir a’ tigh’nn cas ort,

Gur mise bhios brònach ma nì ’n tòir seo cur às dhut

’S na tig a-nochd tuilleadh fhir ghràidh, fhir ghràidh.

Nuair thèid mi measg slòigh fear do bhòidhchead chan fhaic mi,

Tha faltan donn dualach air mo luaidh de na gaisgeach,

Cuir umad do bhrògan tha ’n tòir a’ tigh’nn cas ort,

’S na tig a-nochd tuilleadh fhir ghràidh, fhir ghràidh.

9. An t-Seann Chladh Thall

This song is slightly different to the rest of the album as it’s not a traditional Gaelic song. Old Churchyard is an old English folk song which was originally a hymn. It’s unclear just how old it is but we think the lyrics and melody translate well! Our thanks to Shona Cormack for help with the translation.

Thugainn còmhla riums’ dhan t-seann chladh thall,

Oir b’ eòl leam an t-sligh’ fon an fheur maoth, glas

Tha ar càirdean nan suain 's nan tàmh ann gu bràth,

Aithnichidh sinn ainmean san t-seann chladh thall

Na bithibh fo bhròn, tha an deuchainnean dèant’

’S ci’n fàth bhith gan caoidh 's nach bi dragh’ orr’ a-rithist?

Oir socair an cadal, ged fuar agus trom

A’ chluasag fo cheann san t-seann chladh thall

Is tha fhios g’ eil e faoin nuair a thig am bàs,

Bhith cagar bhriathran coibhneil do chridhe sgàint’

Is tha fhios gum bi aoibhneas ar beathannan caillt’

Nuair leanamaid ar càirdean dhan t-seann chladh thall

Nam bithinn nam thàmh fon chraoibh ud thall,

Na bithibh gam chaoidh ’s mi sìnte san fhonn

’S mi tha airsneulach, claoidhte, na cuiribh idir maill

Air an t-sìth tha ri faotainn san t-seann chladh thall

Na bithibh fo bhròn ’s mi deis’ a dhol ann,

Gu cala mòr a’ ghlòir far nach sruth deòir fann

’S cha bhi eagal orm siubhal don uaigneas ud thall

Far an d’ fhuair ar Tighearna a’ bhuaidh nach gann

’S mi beò ann an dòchas, air aon latha brèagha,

Gun làigh deò-grèin’ air a’ phrìosan sa chrèadh

Is dùisgidh na mairbh ri fonn Ghabriel

’S ri do ghuth-sa a Dhia san t-seann chladh thall.

10. Teann Null, Fuirich Thall

A set of puirt à beul, or mouth music, used for dancing to. The first two puirt we learned from Eilidh Mackenzie, a strathspey about a man called Duncan who has lost his shoes, and an usually structured reel about churning butter. The last puirt we learned from Rona Lightfoot and, as always when it comes to Rona, it’s full of fun. The first line means ‘come close, stay over there; stay far, far away from me’!

Tha dìth nam bròg air Donnchadh Dubh

Tha dìth nam bròg air Donnchadh còir

Tha dìth nam bròg air Donnchadh Dubh

’S chan fhaigh e nall gam iarraidh

Tha dìth nam bròg air Donnchadh Dubh

Tha dìth nam bròg air Donnchadh còir

Tha dìth nam bròg air Donnchadh Dubh

’S chan fhaigh e nall gam iarraidh

Cha tig e’n-diugh gam iarraidh-sa

Cha tig e’n-diugh neo ’n-dè neo ’n-diugh

Cha tig e’n-diugh gam iarraidh-sa

’S gun bhrògan air an truaghan

Ach ma tig latha na Bliadhn’ Ùr

Gun tèid air chùil de m’ thuarasdail

Na gheibh Donnchadh brògan ùr

Leis ‘m fhaod e thighinn gam iarraidh

Gun tig gun dàil mo Dhonnchadh-sa

Gun tig gun dàil thar tìr is sàil

Gun tig gun dàil mo Dhonnchadh-sa

Le bhrògan ùr gam iarraidh.

–

ìm, bàn, bò, chailleach, chuir thu crogan dubh air teallach

Ìm, bàn, bò, chailleach, na dèan tiugh is na dèan tana,

Ìm, bàn, bò, chailleach, na cuir air ach beagan ìme,

Ìm, bàn, bò, chailleach, chuir thu crogan dubh air teallach

—

Teann null, fuirich thall,

Fuirich fada, fada bhuam,

eann null, fuirich thall,

Fuirich fada, fada bhuam,

eann null, fuirich thall,

Fuirich fada, fada bhuam,

B’ annsa leams’ an gille donn

Air a bheil na dadachan.

Carson a shuidhinn-sa ri taobh

Bodachan a throidseadh rium?

Carson a shuidhinn-sa ri taobh

Bodachan a throidseadh rium?

Carson a shuidhinn-sa ri taobh

Bodachan a throidseadh rium?

B’ annsa leams’ an gille donn

Air a bheil na dadachan.

11. Air Fàir An Là

If you can’t tell already, we are partial to a good waulking song and this song is one of the first we learnt as a group. The title means “At break of day” and the song may have originally been a rowing song as it describes going to Dunvegan (Isle of Skye) to collect a boat. It was composed by the great bard Màiri Nighean Alasdair Ruaidh (c.1615-c.1707). She is said to have been buried face-down, the Norse method for burying witches, at her own request, in her home village of Rodel, Harris.

Air fàir an là o ho!

O hao ri rì o ho!

Siuth’dhaibh, siuth’daibh, a mhnathan,

E ho hiri iù o ho.

Luaidheabh athaiseach leam,

Ma thèid mi air m’ adhart,

Nì mi tadhal san Dùn,

Far ‘eil Ruairidh mac Iain,

Mac athar mo rùin,

Feuch a faigh sinn a’ bhirlinn,

No am faod i toirt dhuinn,

Sinn an-seo nar ceathrar,

Duine bharrachd air triùir.

Cha b’ uilear dhuinn ochdnar

Chuireadh a’ bhirlinn air stiùir

’S e gheibh sinn an coite,

’S i bu choltaiche rinn.

12. Sheòl Am Bàta

Our thanks to Eilidh Mackenzie for this beautiful song, a staple in our setlist since our very first concert together. It is an adaption of a waulking song as sung by Kate MacMillan (Ceit Ruairidh) of Torlum, Benbecula. The composer tells of her love for the skipper of a boat which carries precious cargo. She says at the end that she wishes she could sleep close to him, in a fine bed with pillows beneath their heads.

Sheòl am bàta fairis a-null

E ho hì o hì o hu à

Hao ri rì na hoireann ho ro

E ho hì o hì o hu à

Sgiobadh oirr’ dh’fhearaibh mo rùn

Fear nam mìog-shùil meallach air stiùir

’S cairt na làimh ’s e dèanamh na shiùil

Sheòl am bàta fairis o thìr

Bha luchd oirre à nìtheanan daor

Do dh’òr dearg ’s do dh’airgead an rìgh

Tha mo leannan sa bhail’ ud thall

Rìgh, ma tha, nach tigeadh e nall?

O ’s ann riut a laighinn gu teann

O ’s ann bhuat a dh’èirinn gun mheang

Leabaidh rìomhach, cluasag fo’r ceann.

Faclan | Lyrics

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