Dùisg mo rùn is tuiginn leam
Tog do shùilean fada bhuat
Air trèan a Bhalloch, cuir am baile ri d' chùl
Is leanaidh sinn a' gheallaich.
A' seasamh air an rathad dol tuath
Do'n Eilean Sgiathanach air cuairt
Chì sinn oidhche air rathad a' Chaoil
'S na Cuiltheann anns a' mhadainn.
Cum a mach do shùil is èisd
'son cuibhlean luath an làraidh èisg
'S thèid sinn le ar n-òrdag na'r n-ùine fhèin
Nas fhaisge air an eilean.
Tha'n t-àm seo 'n bhliadhna neisd air tighinn
A bhith air ais 'san fhraoich a rithis 'se mo mhiann
Teas an fheasgair air mo dhruim
Is Sgurr a' Mhadadh Ruadh 'nam choinneamh
--oOo--
Wake up my love, let's go
Look towards a horizon
On a train to Balloch, leave the city behind
Let us follow the moon
Standing on the north road
Trying to make it to the Isle of Skye
We will see night fall on the road to Kyle
And the Cuillin in the morning
Keep your eyes open and listen
For the speedy wheels of the fish lorries
In our own time we will hitch-hike
Ever nearer to the island
This time of year has now, arrived
Being back on the moor again, is my desire
The afternoon heat falling on my back
And the Hill of The Red Fox in front of me
Bha mi raoir a' siubhal drathair
'S thàinig dealbh do mo làimh
Dealbh mo sheanmhair is mo sheanair
'S balach òg na shuidh' ri 'n taobh
'S iad ag obair aig na sguaban arbhair,
Shuidh mi g'an coimhead fad' na h-oidhch'
Thàinig cianalas na m' chridhe
'S thàinig cuideam na mo làimh
Uair eile gu bhith dhachaidh,
Uair eile gu bhi beò
Ruith mu'n cuairt na sguaban arbhair
Uair eile gu bhi òg
Chan e aois a tha mi sabaid
Chan e mo bheatha nach eil slàn
'S e bhith fuireach ann a' saoghal maide
Le chuid dhaoin' nach tuig mo chainnt
Dh'fhalbh mo sheanmhair is mo sheanair
Thuit na sguaban arbhair sìos
Dh'fhalbh mi gu saoghal eile
'S dh'fhalbh a' Ghàidhlig bho mo bheul
(Chorus)
--oOo--
Last night I was looking through a drawer
I came across a photograph
It was a photograph of my grandfather and grandmother
With a small boy by their side
They were working, making sheaves of corn
I sat looking into that photograph all night
A longing came into my heart
And a heaviness bore down upon me
It is not the ageing process that I am resisting
It is not that my life is unfulfilled
It is to realise that I am living in a wooden world
With people that can not understand my language
My grandfather and my grandmother have long gone
The sheaves of corn have fallen down
I have departed to another world
And Gaelic had disappeared from my mouth
Once more to be home
Once more to be alive
Running around the sheaves of corn
Once more to be young
There are few people who leave the islands,
who do not want to return.
Tha samhradh bliadhn' eile air tighinn
Ach cha thog mo ghrian an àrd
Mo chasan trom 's iad 'g iarraidh dhachaidh
'S m' inntinn dol mu 'n cuairt
Tha mi falainn, tha mi òg
Ach lag 's mi bàthadh gun do phòg
Cha chaidil mi gun till mi do mo ghràidh
Tillidh mi dhachaidh
Tillidh mi dhachaidh
Cha chaidil mi gun till mi do mo ghràidh
Bho àm gu àm bi mise a' coiseachd
N'am aonarachd sìos an t-sràid
Mi smuaineachadh air abhainn fhada
Tha laighe fad' bhon rathad
'S i gu bhi làn le bric a' snàmh
'S tachais daingeann na mo làimh
Cha chaidil mi gun till mi do mo ghràidh
Nuair a thuiteas oidhche orm
'S e 'n t-àm as miosa a th' ann
Mise laighe nam mo leabaidh
'S tusa 'nam mo cheann
Cha bhiodh an samhradh cheart cho doirbh
'S tu 'nad shìneadh ri mo thaobh
Cha chaidil mi gun till mi do mo ghràidh
--oOo--
The summer of another year has come
But my sun will not rise
My feet are tired, longing for home
My mind is wandering
I am healthy, I am young
But weakened and drowning without your kiss
I will not sleep until I return
From time to time I go walking
By myself down the street
And I am thinking about the long river
That lies far from the main road
Full to the brim with lively trout
And there is a keen itch in my hands
I will not sleep until I return
When night falls
It is the worst time of all
I am lying in my bed
You on my mind
The summer would not be as difficult
With you lying beside me
I will not sleep until I return
I will return
I will return
I will not sleep until I return
'S iomadh oidhche fhliuch is thioram
Sìde nan seachd sian
Gheibheadh Griogal dhomh-sa creagan
Ris an gabhainn dìon
Eudail mhòir do shluaigh an Domhainn
Dhòirt iad d' fhuil an dè,
'S chuir iad do cheann air stob daraich,
Tacan beag bho d' chrè
Obhan obhan obhan iri
Obhan iri o
Obhan obhan obhan iri
'S mòr mo mhulad 's mòr
B' annsa bhi le Griogal cridhe,
Teàrnadh chruidh le gleann,
Na le Baran Mòr na Dalach,
Sìoda geal mu m' cheann.
Obhan obhan obhan iri
Obhan iri o
Obhan obhan obhan iri
'S mòr mo mhulad 's mòr
Nuair bhios mnathan òg a' bhaile
Nochd 'nan cadal sèimh,
'S ann a bhios mise air bruaich do lice,
Bualadh mo dhà làimh
Obhan obhan obhan iri
Obhan iri o
Obhan obhan obhan iri
'S mòr mo mhulad 's mòr
--oOo--
Many a night both wet and dry
Weather of the seven elements
Gregor would find for me a rocky shelter
Where I would take refuge.
Great darling from the "Domhainn" folk
They let your blood yesterday
And they put your head on an oaken stake
Near where your body lay.
Obhan, Obhan, Obhan iri
Obhan iri O!
Obhan Obhan Obhan iri,
Great is my sorrow, great.
I would be glad to be with dear Gregor
Guarding cattle in the glen
Instead of with the big Baron "Dalach"
White silk around my head.
Obhan, Obhan, Obhan iri
Obhan iri O!
Obhan Obhan Obhan iri,
Great is my sorrow, great.
While the young wives of the town
Serenely sleep tonight
I will be at the edge of your gravestone
Beating my two hands.
Obhan, Obhan, Obhan iri
Obhan iri O!
Obhan Obhan Obhan iri,
Great is my sorrow, great.
Lyrics to Griogal Cridhe very kindly supplied by Carole Martin - see footnote.
Often it’s people that make places
and when someone special is not around any more
the place never quite seems to be the same
Nach neònach neisd a tha e
A bhi seòladh air ais a rithist
Cha bhi thusa mar a b' àbhaist
Na mo choinneamh air a chidh'
'S cha d' fhiach an teine oidhche
Gun do chòmhradh 's do ghàir
Chan fhaic mi thu a rithist
Ged tha an latha cho bòidheach
'S ged tha an t-àite cho brèagha
'S ged tha a' ghrian a' deàrrsadh
'S ged tha a' mhuir cho ciùin
'S ged tha mi mar an fhaoileag
Cho sona 's cho saor
Chan fhaic mi thu a rithist
Atharraichidh an t-saoghal
Mar a dh' atharraicheas an t-sìde
Aon latha tha a' ghlainne 'g èirigh
'S an ath latha tha i sìos
Chunnaic mi an t-uisge
'S chunnaic mi a' ghrian
Ach chan fhaic sinn do leithid a rithist
--oOo--
Isn't it strange now
Sailing back here again
You will not be here as usual
Meeting me on the pier
Of what worth the night fire
Without your conversation and laughter
I'll not see you again
Although the day is beautiful
And although the place is at it's best
Although the sun is shining
Although the seas are calm
And although I am like the seagull
Carefree and unconcerned
I'll not see you again
The world will change
Just like the weather
One day the barometer is rising
The next day it is falling
And I have seen the rain
And I have seen the sun
But we'll never see the like of you again
Bho m' uinneag tràth
Beinn Tianabhaig ag èiridh suas
A' ghrian air a chùl
A' cur òr air a' bhàgh
Madainn bhlàth
Dealbh beò
Tha a' Chuiltheann gun cheò
'S chan eil sgòth air m' aire
Mi coiseachd mach tràth
Na bàtaichean 's a' Chamus Bàn
Ceò teas anns an fhraoich
Air an eilean uaine
Tha ghrian a' sìneadh sìos
Air sràidean Phortrìgh
'S ged tha mi cho sunndach
B' fheàrr gun robh mi fuireach
--oOo--
From my window early
Ben Ianabhaig is rising up
The sun behind it
Putting gold on the bay
Warm morning
Living picture
The Cuillins without mist
And there is not a cloud on my mind
I'm walking early
The boats and the Camus Ban
Warm mist in the heather
On the green island
The sun is shinning down
On the streets of Portree
And although I am so joyous
I would prefer I had remained
A look back to life as a boy in North Uist
'S b'fheàrr gun robh mi 'r ais a rithis
Coiseachd cas ruisgte air an tràigh
Le mo dhà làimh 'na mo phòcaid
'S i ri mo thaobh, Anna mo ghràidh
Bha sinn òg is bha sinn spòrsail
Cluichd le sòlas is le gàir
Air a' mhonadh 's air an locha
'S measg an arbhair anns a' bhathaich
'S nuair a thig e gu am feasgair
'G iarraidh crodh shuas air a' bheinn
'S dhèanamh dhachaidh air 'ar socair
Togail òrain 's togail ruinn
Bhiodh sinn sgìth nuair nochdadh oidhche
'G òl bainne fuar taobh teine blàth
'S bhiodh sinn gràineil dol dhan leabaidh
Ach a-màireach 'g èirigh tràth
--oOo--
I wish that I was back there again
Walking barefoot on the strand
My two hands in my pockets
And you by my side, Anne my love
We were young and full of joy
Playing with contentment and laughter
On the moor, on the loch
And amongst the corn in the barn
When it came to the late afternoon
Bringing the cattle in from the hill
Lingering on our way back home
Singing songs
We were tired when night fell
Drinking cold milk beside the warm fire
With no desire for sleep
And rising early the next morning
What will I do if I lose my horse?
A humerous Puirt-a-Beul from North Uist
Dè nì mi ma chaill mi 'n t-each
Ma chaill mi 'n t-each, horo mo chreach
Dè nì mi ma chaill mi 'n t-each
An t-each a thug mi a Bhallaidh
Dè nì mi ma chaill mi 'n t-each
A chionn gun robh a sheòrsa math
Dè nì mi ma chaill mi 'n t-each
'S nach fhaigh mi fear 'na h-àite
Thug mi dh' Àrd-a-Mhorain thu
Gu fìor airson do thoileachadh
'S ann thòisich thu ri conas rium
Nach toir thu dhomh buntàta
Thug mi do'n a fèille thu
'S a choin cha d' fhuair mi èisdeachd ort
'S ann thòisich iad ri Beurla rium
'S nach tuiginn fhèin ach Gàidhlig
--oOo--
What will I do if I lose the horse
If I lose the horse, horo, my goodness
What will I do if I lose the horse
The horse that I brought to Ballaidh
What will I do if I lose the horse
Because he was a good one
What will I do if I lose the horse
And don't find one in his place
I brought you to Ard-a-Morain
For your pleasure
Then you started to quarrel with me
That you didn't bring me potatoes
I took you to the (horse) fair (to sell you)
Because I couldn't get you to listen
Then they started speaking English to me
And I understood only Gaelic
Love is like a rose - beautiful, but there are thorns
Ged 's brèagha an ròs le dhuilleagan sìoda
Fàile cho cùbhraidh, cùbhraidh bho chridh'
Na buain e ri d' mhairean oir nì e do mhealladh
Tha dubhan geur puinnsein, geur puinnsein fo sgèith
Chreid mi na briathran, a h-uile nì riamh dheth
Gur brèagha 's gur cùbhraidh, cùbhraidh am blàth
Bhuain mi am flùran, mar Adhamh an ùbhlan
'S leònadh mo chridhe, mo chridhe gu bràth
Tha mi nis a crìonadh is m' inntinn air phianadh
'S mo shùilean a sìor, sìor shileadh dheur
'S ged 's tric rinn mi gàire, tha sinn nis air an fhaire
'S mo chridhe briste brùite, briste brùite gu leir
Ged 's brèagha an ròs le dhuilleagan sìoda
Fàile cho cùbhraidh, cùbhraidh bho chridh'
Na buain e ri d' mhairean oir nì e do mhealladh
Tha dubhan geur puinnsein, geur puinnsein fo sgèith
--oOo--
Although the rose is beautiful with leaves like silk
With an enticing aroma, enticing from its heart
Don't ever pick it, or it will deceive you
For there are bitter, poisonous barbs beneath the surface
I believed every word, every single word
So plausible and completely beguiling
I plucked the flower as Adam plucked the apple
And my heart has been wounded, wounded completely
I am now withering, my mind tormented
My eyes continuously shedding tears
Although I have often laughed, we are now watchful
And my heart has been completely broken
Chì mi 'n geamhradh anns a' ghaoith
Chaneil an sneachd' fada bhuainn
Sgòthan dorch' 's na craobhan rùisgte
Tha an oidhche nochd fuar
Shaoilinn fhèin gur ann an dè
Bha teas an t-samhraidh 'gar leaghadh
Fad an fheasgair air an dùn
'S tu laighe leisg ri mo thaobh
'S iomadh oidhch' a rinn sinn suiridhe
'S iomadh oidhch' a rinn sinn gàir
'S iomadh oidhch' a bhithinn a' smuaintinn
Gum bitheadh tu còmhla rium gu bràth
Chan fhan a' ghrian fad na bliadhna
Cha sheas an uair mar a tha i
Dh' fhalbh thusa dhan a' cheò
'S dh' fhàg thu mi le mo gheamhradh
'S iomadh oidhch' a rinn sinn suiridhe
'S iomadh oidhch' a rinn sinn gàir
'S iomadh oidhch' a bhithinn a' smuaintinn
Gum bitheadh tu còmhla rium gu bràth
Gum bitheadh tu còmhla rium gu bràth
Gum bitheadh tu còmhla rium gu bràth
Gum bitheadh tu còmhla rium gu bràth
--oOo--
I see the winter in the wind
The snow is not far from us
Dark clouds and the trees losing leaf
The night is cold
So often it feels that it was only yesterday
The summer heat melted us
All evening long out on the Dun
And you lying lazy by my side
Many nights we loved
Many nights we laughed
Many times I thought
That you would have stayed forever
But the sun never shines all year
Time will not stay as it once was
You left for the city
Leaving me to my winter
Many nights we loved
Many nights we laughed
Many times I thought
That you would have stayed forever
That you would have stayed forever
That you would have stayed forever
That you would have stayed forever
Tha na geòidh ag éirigh bhon a mhachair
Tha na h-uain a ruith 's leum air cùl na h-achadh
Ach tha thusa neisd na d' chall 's a' bhaile
Ach na fairich gu bràth nad aonrachd ann
Cum ur cum ur cum ur n'aire
Air an iar 's air an àite a dh' fhàg sibh
'S cuimhnich cuimhnich gu robh agaibh
Dualchas àraid agus luachmhor ann
Tha na solais oidhche neisd na d' choinneamh
Tha d' ghealach neisd gach dath 's gach seòrsa
Ach na coimhead ach le aon sùil orra
Gu 'm fàg iad mealltach dall thu
Cum ur cum ur cum ur n'aire
Air an iar 's air an àite a dh' fhàg sibh
'S cuimhnich cuimhnich gu robh agaibh
Dualchas àraid agus luachmhor ann
--oOo--
The geese are rising from the machair
The lambs are running and jumping at the back of the fields
And you are now lost in the city
But never feel alone there
The lights are now behind you
Your moon is now many types and colours
But look at them with one eye only
They can deceive you to blindness.
Keep, keep, keep your attention
On the west and on the place that you left behind
Remember, remember that you experienced
A unique culture of great worth
(Chorus)