Uiseag Bheag Dhearg
(Little Red Lark)

A lullaby from the Isle of Man, is a Scottish Gaelic translation from the Manx Gaelic lullaby "Ushag Veg Ruy".

First published in Manx Ballads and Music, collected by A. W. Moore (1853-1909), 1896, pp. 42-43


The song is a dialogue between a child and a little bird. It tells of a little bird struggling to find a place to sleep. At first it sleeps badly in the bramble bush, then on the crest of a wave. Finally it finds a place to sleep well, safe between two leaves.
If it works well, the child will
be asleep before the end of the song.


Uiseag bheag dhearg na monadh duibh
Na monadh duibh, na monadh duibh
Uiseag bheag dhearg na monadh duibh
Cait do chaidil thu'n raoir 's an i?

Chaidil mi'n raoir air bharr an dris
Air bharr an dris, air bharr an dris
Chaidil mi'n raoir air bharr an dris
Ach o bha mo chadal cho sgith!

Chaidil mi'n raoir air bharr nan tonn
Air bharr nan tonn, air bharr nan tonn
Chaidil mi'n raoir air bharr nan tonn
Ach o bha mo chadal cho sgith!

Uiseag bheag dhearg nan sgiathan oir
Nan sgiathan oir, nan sgiathan oir
Uiseag bheag dhearg nan sgiathan oir
Cait an do chaidil thu'n raoir 's an i?

Chaidil mi'n raoir eadar da dhuilleig
Eadar da dhuilleig, eadar da dhuilleag
Chaidil mi'n raoir eadar da dhuilleig
Is o bha mo chadal cho seimh
Is o bha mo chadal cho seimh!



"Little Red Lark"

Little red lark from the black moor
The black moor, the black moor
Little red lark from the black moor
Where did you nest last night?

I slept last night on the bramble bush
On the bramble bush, on the bramble bush
I slept last night on the bramble bush
Oh my sleep was restless!

I slept last night on the ocean waves
On the ocean waves, on the ocean waves
I slept last night on the ocean waves
Oh my sleep was restless!

Little red lark with the golden wings
With the golden wings, with the golden wings
Little red lark with the golden wings
Where did you sleep last night?

I slept last night between two leaves
Between two leaves, between two leaves
I slept last night between two leaves
And oh my sleep was peaceful!
And oh my sleep was peaceful!



"Ushag Veg Ruy"
(Little Red Bird)


Ushag veg ruy ny moanee doo,
Ny moanee coo, ny moanee doo,
Ushag veg rny ny moanee doo,
C'raad chaddil oo riyr 'syn oie ?

Chaddil mish riyr er baare y dress,
Er baare y dress, er baare y dress,
Chaddil mish riyr er baare y dress, !
As ugh ! my cadley cha treih !

Chaddil mish riyr er baare y crouw,
Er baare y crouw, er baare y crouw,+1
Chaddil mish riyr er baare y crouw,
As ugh! my cadley cha treih !

Chaddil mish riyr er baare y thooane,
Er baare y thooane, er baare y thooane,
Chaddil mish riyr er baare y thooane,
As ugh! my cadley cha treih !

Chaddil mish riyr eddyr daa guillag,
Eddyr daa guillag, eddyr daa guillag,
Chaddil mish riyr eddyr daa guillag,
Myr yinnagh yn oikan eddyr daa lhuishag,
 As O ! my cadley cha kiune!
 

"Little Red Bird"

Little red bird of the black turf ground,
Of the black turf ground, of the black turf ground,
Little red bird of the black turf ground,
Where did you sleep last night ?

I slept last night on the top of the briar,
On the top of the briar, on the top of the briar,
I slept last night on the top of the briar,
And oh! what a wretched sleep !

I slept last night on the top of the bush,
On the top of the bush, on the top of the bush,
I slept last night on the top of the bush,
And oh! what a wretched sleep !

I slept last night on the ridge of the roof,
On the ridge of the roof, on the ridge of the roof,
I slept last night on the ridge of the roof,
And oh! what a wretched sleep !

I slept last night between two leaves,
Between two leaves, between two leaves,
I slept last night between two leaves,
As a babe 'twixt two blankets quite at ease,
And oh ! what a peaceful sleep !


thooane  = riblas, was used in the construction of a thatched roof as one of the ribs supporting the sods of earth inserted under the thatch. 

The little red lark/bird would most likely be a Robin.





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