The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #38974   Message #550882
Posted By: weepiper
15-Sep-01 - 02:46 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Bothan Airigh Am Braigh Rainneach
Subject: Bothan Airigh Am Braigh Rainneach
BOTHAN AIRIGH AM BRAIGH RAINNEACH (traditional, Scottish Gaelic)
Couldn't find this on the database so thought I'd add it as it's one of my favourites, you can hear it on Cathy Anne MacPhee's cd 'Chi Mi'n Gheamhradh' (I see Winter). Will attempt translation at the end for those interested.
Gur e m'anam is m'eudail
chaidh an de do Ghleann Garadh
Fear na gruaig mar an t-or
is na poig air bhlas meala

Refrain:
O hi o o hu o
o hi o o hu o
hi, ri ri o hu eile
o hi, ri ri ri o gheallaibh o

'S tu as fhearr do'n tig deise
de na sheasadh air thalamh
's tu as fhearr do'n tig culaidh
de na chunna mi dh'fhearaibh

'S tu as fhearr do'n tig osan
's brog shocrach nam bariall
cota Lunnainneach dubh-ghorm
's bidh cruinnean ga cheaannach

'S nuair a ruigeadh tu 'n fheill
se mo ghearr sa thig dhachaigh
thig mo chrios a Dun Eideann
's mo bhreid a Dun Chailleann

Cuim am biomaid gun eudal
agus spreidh aig na Gallaibh?
gheibh sinn crodh as a'Mhaorainn
agus caoraich a Gallaibh

S'ann a bhios sinn gan arach
air airigh 'm Braigh Rainneach
ann am bothan an t-sugraidh
's gur e bu dunadh dha barrach.

Forgive me if I cock up the translation, some of it's a bit archaic, but here goes:

My love, my darling
went to Glen Garry yesterday
the man with hair like gold
and kisses that taste of honey

(refrain is mostly vocables)

You suit your outfit best
of any who stand on earth
and you carry off that suit the best
of anyone I've ever seen

and you suit your hose the best
and the shiny buckled shoes
a blue-black London coat
and it'll be crowns that buy it [eg it's expensive!]

When you arrive at the fair
My things shall come home [with you]:
my hood will come from Edinburgh
and my braid from Dunkeld

Why should we be without treasures
when the lowlanders have so much?
We'll get cattle from Moray
and sheep from Sutherland

And there we will live without shame
on a sheiling on Brae Rannoch
in the bothy of lovemaking
closed with a door of brushwood.