Ciamer a tha U Alice,
This song was written by Murdo MacLean from Achiltibuie, in North West Scotland. He went out to Billings, Montanna and wrote the song in Gaelic around 1910.
Many men from that area known as Coigach (the five fields) went out to Montanna at the turn of the century to find work, working with sheep. This small wave of immigration continued right up untill
the 50's.
The song was found in Montanna by Dave Wilkie of the band, Cowboy Celtic. He advertised in the North west of Scotland for anyone knowing anything about it. Tom and Val Bryan had moved to this area and were active in collecting and promoting gaelic song. They actually had a tape recording of an old Coigach lady, Mrs Sandie Fraser, singing the very song.
I was not too long before Dave and the band made a visit to Scotland and decided to get a local Skye gaelic singer, Arthur Cormack, to record the song on the bands 2nd album.
See info at this clickey http://www.cowboyceltic.com/
Dave and the band members have now become regular visitors to these shores and are firm friends with many of us here.
Just to complete the whole circle, Dave and the band, in their latest album, recorded a song of mine which was written for Tom and Val Bryan when they decided to come home to Scotland from Indiana.
If you want more info and words of old Murdo's great song, "Mo Shoraidh Leis a' Choigich" please PM me.
Slainte
Andy