St Matthew's Guild
Clan MacAoidh
Costume • Dance • History • Introduction • Language
Song
Music was and still is very important to the Scots. Here are the lyrics to song you might hear us singing at Faire. Some of the songs are in Gaelic, hopefully the phonetics will be of use, and some of the songs are in English. All songs are used without permission and no copyright infringment was intended, credit is given if I know the source.
Islay Reaper's Song • Mile Marbhaisg Air a' Ghaol • Leis An Lurgainn • Brochan Lom • Fosgail an Dorus • Twa Sisters • John Barleycorn • Mairi's Wedding • Young Angus • Blackbird
A day in the corn field, I a-reaping,
Cuttin' my sheaf and it was not easy,
Ho ro, na ho ro ri o,
Hi ri, na ho ro eile,
Ho ro, na ho ro ri o
Up on the hilside I cut my sheaf
But cuttin' my knee 'twas ochone and sighin'
Ho ro, na ho ro ri o,
Hi ri, na ho ro eile,
Ho ro, na ho ro ri o
Up on the hilside, the lonely hillside,
Lookin' to see if my lover was comin'
Ho ro, na ho ro ri o,
Hi ri, na ho ro eile,
Ho ro, na ho ro ri o
Lookin' to see if my lover was comin',
The fair-checked boy with the comely ringlets
Ho ro, na ho ro ri o,
Hi ri, na ho ro eile,
Ho ro, na ho ro ri o
Snow-white seagull, little white segull,
Carry my greeting across to my true love
Ho ro, na ho ro ri o,
Hi ri, na ho ro eile,
Ho ro, na ho ro ri o
Gealic words and tune from Miss MacTavish, Islay
Translated and arranged by Marjory Kennedy-Fraser, Songs of the Hebrides, vol. II (1917)
English words adapted by Jean Redpath and Karen Fitch
| Gaelic | Phonetic | ||
| Mile marbhisg air a' ghaol O hi ri ri ri ri u Asam fhin a thug e chlaoidh O hi u a ho hug o O i u a ho i u, Hao ri u a ho hug o |
MEEL y@ MAR @ vah SHKARE a GHUHL O hee ree ree ree ree you AHS ahm HEE na HOOK eh CHLEE O hee you ah ho hook o O hee you ah ho hee you, Hoo ree you ah ho hook o |
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Asam fhin a thug e chlaoidh O hi ri ri ri ri u Sgoilt e mo chridhe 'nam chom O hi u a ho hug o O i u a ho i u, Hao ri u a ho hug o |
AHS ahm HEE na HOOK eh CHLEE O hee ree ree ree ree you SKOLT y@ MO chree Y@ nahm CHOWM O hee you ah ho hook o O hee you ah ho hee you, Hoo ree you ah ho hook o |
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Sgoilt e mo chridhe 'nam chom O hi ri ri ri ri u Dh'fhuasgail e falt far mo chinn O hi u a ho hug o O i u a ho i u, Hao ri u a ho hug o |
SKOLT y@ MO chree Y@ nahm CHOWM O hee ree ree ree ree you GHOO ahs K@l Y@ fahlt FAR mo CHEEN O hee you ah ho hook o O hee you ah ho hee you, Hoo ree you ah ho hook o |
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Dh'fhuasgail e falt far mo chinn O hi ri ri ri ri u Cha teid mi le gin san tir O hi u a ho hug o O i u a ho i u, Hao ri u a ho hug o |
GHOO ahs K@l Y@ fahlt FAR mo CHEEN O hee ree ree ree ree you HA tyedj MEE L@ KIN sun JEER O hee you ah ho hook o O hee you ah ho hee you, Hoo ree you ah ho hook o |
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Cha teid mi le gin san tir O hi ri ri ri ri u Gus an tig mo leannan fhin O hi u a ho hug o O i u a ho i u, Hao ri u a ho hug o |
HA tyedj MEE L@ KIN sun JEER O hee ree ree ree ree you GOOS un JIG mo L'YANN ahn HEEN O hee you ah ho hook o O hee you ah ho hee you, Hoo ree you ah ho hook o |
NOTE: "@" stands for the sound of the first a in "again", an indeterminate vowel sound.
"ch" is like the end of "loch", but in the back of the mouth rather than the throat.
Poetic translation:
A thousand curses on love
That from me sapped all my strenght away
Within my body broke my heart
Loosed the hair from off my head
To any in the land I will not go
'Til my own sweetheart comes back
More Literal translation:
A thousand death-shrouds on love
from myself which brought exhaustion
It split my heart in my chest
It loosened hair upon my head
I will not go with any in the land
Until comes my own sweetheart
A thousand death-shrouds used as an imprecation (compare English "Blast it!").
Gaelic words and tune obtained from a recording of the Scottish folk group Ossian. Similar versions are found in Campbell & Collinson, Hebridean Folksongs, vol. III ...(1981) and in Peter Kennedy, Folksongs of Britain and Ireland.
Leis An Lurgainn
A Boat Song
With the oars, men, o hi
to the oars then, o ho
In the gray dusk of eve
O'er the wave let us go
On the ocean, o hi
Waves in motion, o ho
Naught but clouds could we see
O'er the blue sea below
Islay looming, o hi
In the gloaming, o ho
Our ship's compass set we
And our lights we did show
Skipper bellows, o hi
to his fellows, o ho
Steady! courage take ye
Though a tempest should blow
Look a-head, mates, o hi
Without dread, mates, o ho
Hardy men of the sea
Every danger must know
Crowd her sails on, o hi
And though gales come, o ho
Light as seagull will she
O'er the heaving waves go
Billows lashing, o hi
Waters crashing, o ho
Yet victorious we'll be
For we've stout hearts on board
From A. Moffat, Minstrelsy of the Scottish Highlands.
Translated from the Gaelic by Malcom Mac Farlane, adapted by Karen Fitch.
| Gaelic | Phonetic | ||
| Verse 1 | Verse 1 | ||
| O brochan lom tana lom brochan lom is sughain | O brochen lowm tahna lowm brochen lowm 's sooan | ||
| Brochan lom tana lom brochan lom is sughain | Brochen lowm tahna lowm brochen lowm 's sooan | ||
| O brochan lom tana lom brochan lom is sughain | O brochen lowm tahna lowm brochen lowm 's sooan | ||
| Brochan lom se tana lom se brochan lom is sughain | Brochen lowm shay tahna lowm shay brochen lowm 's sooan | ||
| Chorus | Chorus | ||
| Brochan tana tana tana brochan lom sughain | Brochen tahna tahna tahna brochen lowm 's sooan | ||
| Brochan tana tana tana brochan lom sughain | Brochen tahna tahna tahna brochen lowm 's sooan | ||
| Brochan tana tana tana brochan lom sughain | Brochen tahna tahna tahna brochen lowm 's sooan | ||
| Brochan lom se tana lom se brochan lom is sughain | Brochen lowm shay tahna lowm shay brochen lowm 's sooan | ||
| Verse 2 | Verse 2 | ||
| O thugaibh aran do na gillean leis a bhrochan sugain | O hookeev ahran doe na geelyan lesh a vrochan sooan | ||
| O thugaibh aran do na gillean leis a bhrochan sugain | O hookeev ahran doe na geelyan lesh a vrochan sooan | ||
| O thugaibh aran do na gillean leis a bhrochan sugain | O hookeev ahran doe na geelyan lesh a vrochan sooan | ||
| Brochan lom se tana lom se brochan lom is sughain | Brochen lowm shay tahna lowm shay brochen lowm 's sooan | ||
| Verse 3 | Verse 3 | ||
| Seo an rud a gheibhaemaid o nighean Gobha 'n duine | Show an root a yuhveh meatch o neean goan doonya | ||
| Seo an rud a gheibhaemaid o nighean Gobha 'n duine | Show an root a yuhveh meatch o neean goan doonya | ||
| Seo an rud a gheibhaemaid o nighean Gobha 'n duine | Show an root a yuhveh meatch o neean goan doonya | ||
| Brochan lom se tana lom se brochan lom is sughain | Brochen lowm shay tahna lowm shay brochen lowm 's sooan |
NOTE: Each verse and each chorus is music for one full step of the Highland Fling. To sing mouth music for a 4 step fling, sing lines 3 and 4 of the first verse as an introduction, then verse 1, chorus, verse 2 chorus. For a 6 step fling add verse 3 and chorus.
Now there were twa sisters, side by side
Sing I dum, sing I day
Oh there were twa sisters, side by side
The boys abound for me
Oh there were twa sisters side by side
The eldest for young Johnny cried
I'll be true unto my love, if you'll be true to me
Oh Johnny bought the youngest a beaver hat
Sing I dum, sing I day
Oh Johnny bought the youngest a beaver hat
The boys abound for me
Oh Johnny bought the youngest a beaver hat
The eldest dinna think much of that
I'll be true unto my love, if you'll be true to me
Oh Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring
Sing I dum, sing I day
Oh Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring
The boys abound for me
Oh Johnny bought the youngest a gay gold ring
He nar' bought the eldest a single thing
I'll be true unto my love, if you'll be true to me
One day they were walking by the stoney brim
Sing I dum, sing I day
One day they were walking by the stoney brim
The boys abound for me
One day they were walking by the stoney brim
The eldest pushed the young one in
I'll be true unto my love, if you'll be true to me
Oh sister, oh sister give me thy hand
Sing I dum, sing I day
Oh sister, oh sister give me thy hand
The boys abound for me
Oh sister, oh sister give me thy hand
And you'll have Johnny and all his land
I'll be true unto my love, if you'll be true to me
Oh sister I'll no' give you my hand
Sing I dum, sing I day
Oh sister I'll no' give you my hand
The boys abound for me
Oh sister I'll no' give you my hand
And I'll have Johnny and all his land
I'll be true unto my love, if you'll be true to me
So awa' she sank and awa' she swam
Sing I dum, sing I day
So awa' she sank and awa' she swam
The boys abound for me
So awa' she sank and awa' she swam
Until she reached the miller's dam
I'll be true unto my love, if you'll be true to me
The miller he took her gay gold ring
Sing I dum, sing I day
The miller he took her gay gold ring
The boys abound for me
The miller he took her gay gold ring
And then he pushe her in again
I'll be true unto my love, if you'll be true to me
Oh the miller he hung on the mountain head
Sing I dum, sing I day
Oh the miller he hung on the mountain head
The boys abound for me
Oh the miller he hung on the mountain head
The eldest sister was boiled in lead
I'll be true unto my love, if you'll be true to me
Step we gaily on we go
Heel for heel and toe for toe
Arm in arm and on we go
All for Mairi's weding
Over hillways up and down
Myrtle green and bracken brown
Past the sheiling through the town
All for sake of Mairi
Plenty herring, plenty meal
Plenty peat tae fill her creel
Plenty bonny bairns as weel
That's the toast for Mairi
Cheeks as bright as rowans are
Brighter far than any star
Fairest of them all by far
Is my darling Mairi
Over hillways up and down
Myrtle green and bracken brown
Past the sheiling through the town
All for sake of Mairi
Now Angus was a happy man, for soon he would be wed
He'd found a brisk and bonnie lass to take him to his bed
But happier still his mother was that he had found a wife
For truth be told, she often feared to be stuck with him for life
It's a fine thing, a bonnie thing, the grandest e'er seen
Truth be told, she often feared to be stuck with him for life
In honor of the grand affair that wedding day would be
She set abo't ta weave a kilt the finest e'er seen
And on the night before the wedding when the kilt was finally done
She called young angus o'er and she tried it on her son
It's a fine thing, a bonnie thing, the grandest e'er seen
She called young angus o'er and she tried it on her son
She wound the kilt abo't him and she wound and wound and wound
and when she finished winding it was still eight yards to long
Oh, nair fear me bonnie boy, we'll simply cut it off
And ta your blushing bride we will give the extra cloth
It's a fine thing, a bonnie thing, the grandest e'er seen
And ta your blushing bride we will give the extra cloth
Well Angus was so pleased, you know, his heart it swelled with pride
He felt that he must rush right out and show it to his bride
Twas raining so he grabbed a cloak to sheild him on the moor
But in his haste ta be awa' his kilt slammed in the door
It's a fine thing, a bonnie thing, the grandest e'er seen
Yes, in his haste ta be awa' his kilt slammed in the door
Well angus was in such a rush to show off for his bride
He never really noticed that he'd left his kilt behind
He knocked upon her door, cried let me in I pray
I've something that you've got ta see before our wedding day
It's a fine thing, a bonnie thing, the grandest e'er seen
I've something that you've got ta see before our wedding day
Well Bridget lets him in, you know, but says you canna stay
For I've got ta get me beauty sleep before our wedding day
I'll only be a moment love, but it's so grand my dear
You've really got ta see what I'm a hiding under here
It's a fine thing, a bonnie thing, the grandest e'er seen
You've really got ta see what I'm a hiding under here
Now when the cloak was thrown aside and Angus stood quite bare
we must admit she was impressed and tried hard not to stare
Oh, love I'll nair see finer though far and far I roam
Why lass he cries that's nothing I've got eight more yards at home
It's a fine thing, a bonnie thing, the grandest e'er seen
Why lass he cries that's nothing I've got eight more yards at home
Oh, love I'll nair see finer though far and far I roam
Why lass he cries that's nothing I've got eight more yards at home
I am a young maiden, my story is sad
Once I was courted by a brave sailor lad
He courted me fairly by night and by day
Now he's gone and he's left me to sail far away
Oh if I were a blackbird, could whistle and sing
I'd follow the vessel my true love sails in
And in the top rigging I'd there make my nest
And I'd flutter my wings o'er his lily white breast
Or if I were a scholar, could handle a pen
A secret love letter to my true love I'd send
I'd tell of my sorrow, my greif and my pain
since he's gone and he's leaved me in youn flowery glen
He sailed on the ocean, his fortune to seek
I miss his caress and his kiss on my cheek
He returned and i told him my love was still warm
But he turned away lightly and great was his scorn
Oh if I were a blackbird, could whistle and sing
I'd follow the vessel my true love sails in
And in the top rigging I'd there make my nest
And I'd flutter my wings o'er his lily white breast
He promised to take me to donnybrook Faire
And to buy me red ribbons for to bind up my hair
He'd take me and make me his own loving bride
Now he sails in the morning, he sails with the tide
My parents they chide me, they will not agree
Saying me and my false love married will never be
Ah but the them depribe me, let them do what they will
While there's breath in my body, he's the one I love still
Oh if I were a blackbird, could whistle and sing
I'd follow the vessel my true love sails in
And in the top rigging I'd there make my nest
And I'd flutter my wings o'er his lily white breast
Islay Reaper's Song
• Mile Marbhaisg Air a' Ghaol
• Leis An Lurgainn
• Brochan Lom
• Fosgail an Dorus
• Twa Sisters
• John Barleycorn
• Mairi's Wedding
• Young Angus
• Blackbird
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