The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #170684 Message #4127767
Posted By: Felipa
01-Dec-21 - 09:07 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Carn Air A' Mhonadh (Duncan Johnson)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Càrn Air A' Mhonadh (Duncan Johnson)
The BBC site says the lyrics are by Donnchadh MacIain (1881-1947), but that would be Duncan Johnson in English. He was born and raised in Islay. Donnchadh left Islay in 1918 for the University of Glasgow where he worked in the Department of Natural Philosophy. Among his other lyrics are Bìrlinn Cholla Chiotaich, A' Bhanarach Chaoin, Am Bàta Rannach, and Bìrlinn Ghoraidh Chròbhain. A Bìrlinn is a type of boat, and Bàta also means boat.
A translation is also given on Art Cormack's album notes
Lift up the Arran man And we will leave Islay Lift him from the ground Angus, my dear one Lift up the Arran man And take him up from below Arran is in our sights Build up the cairn
Build the monument Every friend and faithful one Build the monument On the peak of Beinn Bhàin Build the monument On Islay soil Arran is in our sights Build up the cairn
Home to Arran Oh bear his corpse He who was worthy Of praise on the battlefield Reach the harbor And prepare the sailboat And she will carry Angus, my dear one, home