Lyr Req: Caristiona

Subject: Lyr Req: Caristiona
From: GUEST,Tricia
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 09:59 AM

Does anyone have the correct lyrics for Caristiona which was sung by Calum Kennedy? I've got most but there are a couple of lines I am missing.
Thanks.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Caristiona
From: GUEST,999
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 07:56 PM

Is it possible the title is spelled Cairistiona?

Subject: Lyr Add: CARISTIONA (from Calum Kennedy)
From: Jim Dixon
Date: 01 Jan 13 - 10:46 PM

Here's my attempt at a transcription. Note that there are some lines that don't make sense, and therefore are probably wrong, but this is the best I can do for now.


CARISTIONA
As sung by Calum Kennedy on "Legends of Scotland" (2004)

1. Blow the wind west, Caristiona, homeward with me.
… of the sea,
Bringing solace to me.
Blow the wind west, Caristiona, homeward with me.

2. Long to return, Caristiona, home from the sea.
Just a touch of your hand
Waves a gold magic wand.
Blow the wind west, Caristiona, homeward with me.

3. Isles of the west, Caristiona, calling to me,
Calling over the breeze,
O'er the far distant seas.
Blow the wind west, Caristiona, homeward with me

4. Welcome awaits, Caristiona, for you and for me.
Our band of gold on the gleams,
Binding twilight with dreams.
Blow the wind west, Caristiona, homeward with me.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Caristiona
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Aug 14 - 07:23 PM

I think line 3 in verse 2 is "Waves a dawn magic wand".

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Caristiona
From: GUEST,GUEST
Date: 25 Aug 14 - 07:44 PM

If I had to come up with something for line 2 of verse 1, it'd be "altar Isle of the sea". Also, the last word of line 2 in verse 4 in gleam, not gleams.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Caristiona
From: LadyJean
Date: 25 Aug 14 - 11:35 PM

Could someone post it in Gaelic?

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Caristiona
From: GUEST,Mike Yates
Date: 26 Aug 14 - 04:46 AM

Fiona MacNeil of Barra once sang the following set of words:

Nach freagair thu, a Chairistiona?
E hó hi urúbhi,
Horó o hi hó roho,
E hó hi urúbhi.

Eagradh tu chuinninn fhin thu,
E hó hi urúbhi, etc.

Chi mi luingeas Caol lie,
E hó hi urúbhi, etc.

Translation:
Will you not answer, Cairistiona?
If you would answer, I would hear you.
I see ships on the Kyle of Islay
Coming to meet Cairistiona.
It is not to make a wedding,
But to put her in the low earth
Under the heavy sunken flagstones.

Subject: ADD: Caristiona
From: GUEST,#
Date: 26 Aug 14 - 06:45 AM

Clinere® Ear Cleaners

---

Cairistiona Unaccompanied.
I learned this beautiful Hebridean lament with its haunting tune from Maggie MacInnes’ singing on Cairistiona, a 1984 LP by George Jackson and Maggie MacInnes (Iona Records). Maggie sings the entire song in Scottish Gaelic, but English translations of the one-line verses are to be found online in Celtic Lyrics Corner, together with the chorus (in Gaelic).

Won’t you answer, Cairistiona?
CHORUS:
E ho hi (pronounced ‘hee’) hu ru bhi i
Ho ro o hi, ho ho ro ho
E ho hi hu ru bhi i.

VERSES:
If you’d answer, I would hear you
Ships I see in the sound of Islay
They are seeking Cairistiona
Not to make a wedding for her
In deep clay they’re going to lay her
To Glencoe I once did journey
The waves were high, and deep the channel
I cannot judge my leap in distance
And if I could, I would gain nothing
Cairistiona for me won’t be waiting.

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Caristiona
From: RunrigFan
Date: 13 Jun 24 - 09:28 PM

Nach freagair thu Chairistiona?        
Nam freagrahd gun cluinninn fhin thu        
Chi mi luingeas air Caol Ile        
'S iad ag iarraidh Cairistiona        
Chan ann gu banais a dheannamh        
Gus a cur's an talamh iseal
Turus a thug mi Ghleann Comhain        
'N fhairge trom 's an caolas domhain        
Chan fhaod mi mo leum a thomhas        
Ged a dh'fhaodadh cha dean mi gnothach        
Cha bhi Cairistiona romham

Sèist:        Chorus (after each verse):
E ho hi hu ru bhi i        

From the singing of Maggie MacInnes
Ho ro o hi ho ho ro ho        
E ho hi hu ru bhi i

Subject: RE: Lyr Req: Caristiona
From: RunrigFan
Date: 13 Jun 24 - 09:31 PM

Nach freagair thu Chairistiona        
Nam freagradh gun chluinninn fhìn thu        
Bha mi 'm bliadhna an Cùirt an Rìgh leat        
'S ged chanainn e, bha mi an trì ann        
Tighinn a dh 'iarraidh Chairistiona        
Chan ann gu pòsadh Mhic Rìgh leat        
Gus do chuir 'san talamh ìseal

From the singing of Tannas - Rù-Rà