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Lyr Add: Carn Air A' Mhonadh (Duncan Johnson)

01 Dec 21 - 05:38 PM (#4127762)
Subject: Lyr Add: Càrn Air A' Mhonadh (Duncan Johnson)
From: RunrigFan

Togaibh an t-Arannach 's fàgamaid Ìle,
Togaibh on talamh e, Aonghas, mo ghràdh-sa,
Togaibh an t-Arannach 's leigibh a sìos e,
Arainn 's an t-sealladh dhuinn, togaibh an càrn!

Togaibh an carragh, gach caraid is dìleas,
Togaibh an carragh air mullach Bheinn Bhàin,
Togaibh an carragh air talamh nan Ìleach,
Arainn 's an t-sealladh dhuinn, togaibh an càrn.

Coma leibh caisealan astair a' ghiùlain,
Coma leibh allaban mhonadh is chòir.
Togaibh gu h-ealamh on talamh an diùlach
'S dhachaigh do dh'Arainn thoiribh an sàr.


from Arhur Cormack Nuiar Bha Mi Òg

lyrics from pdf

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0247/5213/files/Songwords_Arthur_Cormack_Nuair_Bha_Mi_Og.pdf



Dhachaigh do dh'Arainn, o dèanaibh a ghiùlan,
Esan bha airidh air cliù anns a' bhlàr;
Ruigibh an cala is greasaibh an iùbhrach,
'S rachadh i thairis le Aonghas, mo ghràdh


01 Dec 21 - 05:42 PM (#4127763)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Càrn Air A' Mhonadh (Duncan Johnson)
From: RunrigFan

the tune at end sounds like Thogail nam Bo

https://open.spotify.com/track/6QjuyaY1RxoaLjJDIoXlyH?si=8892c2a4c0384f8f


01 Dec 21 - 05:43 PM (#4127764)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Càrn Air A' Mhonadh (Duncan Johnson)
From: RunrigFan

https://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/oran/orain/carn_air_a_mhonadh/


01 Dec 21 - 09:07 PM (#4127767)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Càrn Air A' Mhonadh (Duncan Johnson)
From: Felipa

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

=====
I wonder who the song was about, assuming Angus was an actual person?
---
here is a recording, in Gaelic, by Iain Hyslop https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mXNjG8OuK2I


01 Dec 21 - 09:13 PM (#4127768)
Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Càrn Air A' Mhonadh (Duncan Johnson)
From: Felipa

There's even a Scots version
https://electricscotland.com/poetry/doggerel403.htm

The Cairn Oan The Meer

Lyrics composed by John Henderson on the 20th of June, 2011,
based on the story told in the Gaelic song, "Carn Air A'mhonadh",
and the music written by Duncan Johnstone for it.

Please big up the moniment aa freens an aa faithfu;
Please big up the moniment hich oan Beinn Bhàin.
Please big up the moniment oan bluidy Islay;
Syne we wull win Arran, sae big up the cairn.

Chorus:
Heist up the Arran man, syne we'll lea Islay.


Heist up ma Angus fae faar he wis slain.
Ay! Heist up the Arran man, tak him aneth;
Inch-Arran I'm sichtin, sae big up the cairn.

Pleese cairry ma gudeman's corp freens ow'r tae Arran;
He focht aye wi honour oan the meers o' Beinn Bhàin.
Please gang noo tae the hairbour an git redd the sailboat;
Seen she wull cairry ma dear Angus hame.

Chorus:
Ay! Heist up the Arran man, syne we'll lea Islay.
Ay! Heist up ma Angus fae faar he wis slain.
Ay! Heist up the Arran man, tak him aneth;
Inch-Arran I'm sichtin, sae big up the cairn.