The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #10577   Message #387740
Posted By: George Seto - af221@chebucto.ns.ca
01-Feb-01 - 04:34 PM
Thread Name: Origin: Fhir a Bhata/Fear A Bhata (Scots Gaelic)
Subject: RE: Lyric request: Fear a Bhata (gaelic)
It is reasonable for a translation, and it seems singable, which is difficult to do in a straight translation.

The Gaelic is "flowery" and full of imagery. You can probably use it.

HOWEVER, if you would, please pas out the information that it was written by Jane Finlayson of Tong, Isle of Lewis,in the late 18th century. Sometime after she wrote the song, she did marry her young fisherman, a Donald MacRae of Uig.

Now, let's see.

1st verse for example

Often I am looking from high on the hill
The sight left me, man of the boat
Will you come today, or will you come tomorrow
And will you come anyway, that sorrow is on me.

So, it's reasonable, the translation in the DT.