The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #66911   Message #1114002
Posted By: GUEST,Philippa
11-Feb-04 - 09:29 AM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Cadal Chan Fhaigh Mi (Scot. Gaelic)
Subject: Lyr Add: Cadal Chan Fhaigh Mi (Scot. Gaelic)
"Cadal Cha Dèan Mi" or "Cadal Chan Fhaigh Mi" (Sleep I Will Not Get), a song mentioned at the <Aye waukin o thread, is found on many websites already.

Words (as published in Eilean Fraoch) will be found at Alltan Dubh. You can click to hear the melody as you view the lyrics.
Another set of lyrics, with translation, is to be found at Donal MacDonald's song pages

You can hear a soundbite of Sileas (Mary MacMaster and Patsy Seddon) from the album "Delighted with harps". The lyrics as sung by Sileasare on line as well.
I have heard Sileas before and found the clársach (harp) playing powerful, but I find the treatment of this song - from the fragment I heard - too ethereal for my taste.

I prefer the singing of Iseabail Nic Asgaill (Ishbel MacAskill). Her recording of Cadal cha déan mi is on "Leódhas mo ghràdh" Lapwing Records, 1987.    Hear her singing a verse at BBC Scotland traditional music awards.

Other recordings include also Flora MacNeill, "Craobh nan Ubhal", Temple Records, 1994 and on < a href=http://www.folktrax.freeserve.co.uk/menus/cassprogs/191.htm>Folktraks recording from Barra, 1961 and Wendy Stewart with Ceolbeg,"Ceolbeg 5", Greentrax

words and translation from http://w3.laval.com/~donaldm.songs.htm

CADAL CHA DEAN MI

Cadal cha dèan mi,
Sùgradh cha dean mise;
'Nochd cha'n fhaigh mi tàmh,
'S gun mo ghràdh a tighinn.

Cha b'ann dubh no ruadh
A bha luaidh mo chridhe,
'S ann a bha thu bàn,
àilleagan nan gillean.

Sgriobhadair le pheann,
Leabhradair nan duilleag,
Maraiche nan tonn,
Chuireadh long gu siubhal.

Dhìrich mi cnoc àrd,
Fhuair mi àite suidhe,
Timchioll Rudha Stòir
Far an seòl na luingean.

Bhuail i air an tràigh
Far am fàs an duileasg,
Leum thu mach a ghràidh
Is shàbhail thu iad uile.

Bha mi 'n uiridh slàn -
Tha mi 'm bliadhna briste -
Am bàta air an tràigh
'S i na mìle bioran.

SLEEP COMES NOT TO ME

Sleep comes not to me,
And I am far from gay
Tonight I won't find peace
For my sweetheart comes not to me.

It was not dark nor red of hair
That my darling was
He was blonde and fair
The Jewel of all youth.

Writer with his pen
Author of the pages
Mariner of the high seas
He could speed a ship to sailing.

I climbed a high hill
And found a place to sit
Round the Point of Storr
Where sail by the big ships.

She struck upon the beach
Where the dulce grows,
You leaped out my darling
And saved each man there with you.

Last year I was healthy
But this year I am broken
My love's ship is on the shore
In a thousand pieces.

Version from Síleas

CADAL CHAN FHAIGH MI
Cadal chan fhaigh mi, sùgradh cha dèan mise,
Nochd chan fhaigh mi 'n tàmh, 's gun thu ghràidh a' tighinn.

H-uile h-oidhch' tha mi smaoineachadh gun tig thu
Gu mo leabaidh fhìn, 's aonaranach mise.

Cha b'ann dubh no ruadh a bha luaidh mo chridhe,
'S ann a bha e bàn, àilleagan nan gillean.

'S tu bu ghruime sùil, 's tu bu dùbailt cridhe,
'S tu bu bhinne cainnt, ris na rinn mi bruidhinn.

Chuala mise sgeul a thug deur bho m' chridhe,
Thu bhi falbh a-null 's gun do dhùil ri tilleadh.

Sgrìobhadair le peann, leughadair na duilleig,
Maraiche nan tonn, chuireadh long fo h-uidheam.

CADAL CHAN FHAIGH MI

Cadal chan fhaigh mi
Sùgradh cha dèan mise
Nochd chan fhaigh mi tàmh
'S gun thu ghràidh a' tighinn
   
H-uile h-oidhche
Tha mi smaoineachadh gun tig thu
Gu mo leabaidh bhlàth
'S aonaranach mise
   
Cha b'ann dubh no ruadh
A bha luaidh mo chridhe
'Sann a bha e bàn
àilleagan nan gillean
   
'S tu bu ghuirme sùil
'S tu bu dùbailt cridhe
'S tu bu bhinne cainnt
Ris na rinn mi bruidhinn
   
Sgriobhadair le pheann
Leughadair nan duilleig
Maraiche nan tonn
Chuireadh long gu fo h-uidheam
   
Chuala mise sgeul
A thug deur bho'm chridhe
Thu bhi falbh a null
'S gun do dhùil ri tilleadh

translation
I can get no sleep
I cannot make merry
Tonight I can get no rest
Since you are not coming, love

Every night
I think that you will come
To my warm bed
I am desolate (alone)

Not black nor red-haired
Was the love of my heart
He had fair hair
Handsomest of lads

You had the bluest eyes
You had the kindest heart
You had the most melodious voice
I ever conversed with.

Writer with pen
Reader of pages
Sailor of the waves
Who would rig a boat

I heard a rumour
That drew a tear from my heart
You were going far away
And not expected to return