The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #59163   Message #940743
Posted By: Jim McLean
26-Apr-03 - 01:25 PM
Thread Name: Origins: The Highland Fairy Lullaby
Subject: Folklore: The Highland Fairy Lullaby
I noticed there are various threads concerning this song with Gaelic and English translations but the chorus is always the same, either in Galic or phonetic spelling. I haven't been able to read all the messages so forgive me if this has already been covered. It concerns a gaelic poem for children called Ainmdidhean agus meanbh-chreutairean (Animals and little creatures). I will just type the relevant lines:

Abraidh an t-each "i homh, homh",
Ach goiridh mo choileachan fhéin "gog-gog-gaog"

As these are the supposed sounds made by animals, could this be the 'nonsense' meaning of the chorus, sung to a child?
Jim McLean