Turn Ye to Me
Originally titled: "The Sea Mew"
By John Wilson (1785-1854)
Published in Alexander Campbell's "Albyn's Anthology", 1816, p.54
The one line refrain "Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn ye to me", is taken from the refrain "Ho ro Mhairi dhu' ! tionndaidh rium" in the song titled "Ho ro Mhairi dhu". The remaining text of both songs are different.
THE stars are all burning chearily, chearily,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
The sea-mew is mourning drearily, drearily,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
High up is his home, on the cliff's naked breast,
But warm is her plumage that blesseth his nest !
The ice-winds ne'er blow there,
And soft falls the snow there,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
Oh ! once smiled my dwelling chearily, chearily,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
Tho' wild waves were swelling drearily, drearily,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
In the rock-girdled bay, as I anchored my skiff,
A sweet voice would sing from the top of the cliff ;
E'er the last notes were over,
She sprang to her lover, oh !
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
The desert is sounding drearily, drearily,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
But the red deer is bounding chearily, chearily,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
Away' to his lair in the forest so deep.
Where his hind with her fair fawns is lying asleep,
On green mossy pillow,
Like summer sea-billow,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
Oh ! green rose our shealing, cheerily, chearily,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
Thro' trees half concealing, dreamily, dreamily,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
At night, like a deer thro' the forest I flew,
Till I saw the tall smoke-wreathe in heav'n so blue,
On the soft tender lawn there,
My sweet hind and fawn there,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
To his nest, thro' winds roaring drearily, drearily,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
The sea mew is soaring chearily, chearily,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
He sits in that nest by his love's downy breast !
But where is the bosom so oft I have prest ?
Her plumes torn and dim, oh !
And hush'd that sweet hymn, oh !
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
The wild-deer is flying chearily, chearily,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
His hind he sees lying drearily, drearily,
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
In fondness the fair creature lifts up her head !
But where hath my hind and her little ones fled ?
Hark hark ! what deep sighing!
In the dell they are dying ' oh !
Ho ro Mhairi dhu', turn to me !
"Ho ro Mhairi dhu"
a) Published in Alexander Campbell's "Albyn's Anthology", 1816, p.54 (first stanza, 9 lines).
b) Published in Keith Norman MacDonald's
"The Gesto Collection of Highland Music", 1895, p.19 (Two stanzas)
Cha dean mi car feum ma threigis mo leannan mi ;
Ho ro Mhairi dhu' ! tionndaidh rium !
A bhean a chul dualaich, 'sna cuachacan camlacach ;
Ho ro Mhairi dhu' ! tionndaidh rium !
'Sa Mhairi na dig a' tu thaitnidh tu rium,
'Sa Mhairi na dig a' tu thaitnidh tu rium;
'Sa Mhairi na dig a' tu,
B'e de bheath' a-gainn tu ;
Ho ro Mhairi dhu' ! tionndaidh rium !
Nuair theid thu ’Dhuneidin se luchd heurla ’bheir aire dhuit;
Ho ro Mhairi dhu' ! tionndaidh rium !
Bithidh croitaichean ard g' an carnadh air anairt dhuit;
Ho ro Mhairi dhu' ! tionndaidh rium !
a) The above stanza is the only one the EDITOR [Alexander Campbell] took down from the singing of MISSES ANNE and JANET McLEOD of Gesto, Skye. The Melody is supposed to be ancient—the verses were composed to MRS McPHERSON of Ostaig, by a female maniac, sereral years ago, who sung it, it is said, in so sweetly wild a manner, as to thrill the listner with pleasing terror.
Literal translation
I will do no good if my sweetheart forsakes me;
Ho ro Mhairi dhu '! turn to me!
His curly-backed wife, in the crooked curls;
Ho ro Mhairi dhu '! turn to me!
Mary you do not like me,
Mary does not like me;
Mary does not,
What a life you lacked;
Ho ro Mhairi dhu '! turn to me!
When you go to Dunedin, the English will pay attention to you;
Ho ro Mhairi dhu '! turn to me!
High crofts will be heaped on you linen;
Ho ro Mhairi dhu '! turn to me!
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