I can't answer the question definitely, but the subject matter would seem to make it something from quite long ago. These lyrics and notes are from Anne Lorne Gillies' book 'Songs of Gaelic Scotland,' and her comment that the provenance has been lost would imply that it is fairly old.


Thoir mo shoraidh thar Ghunaigh

Hug óireann o ró hu bha hó,
mo nighean donn bhóidheach,
hug óireann ó ro hú bha hó.

Thoir mo shoraidh thar Ghunaigh
gu Muile nam mór-bheann,

Bear my farewell across Gunna Sound
to Mull of the high mountains,

Hug óireann o ró hu bha hó . . .

far an cluinnear a' chuthag
air gach bruthaich ro Bhealltainn.

where the cuckoo is heard
on every brae before Beltane

Hug óireann o ró hu bha hó . . .

Chi mi 'm báta 's i tighinn,
is Iain ga seóladh.

I see the boat coming
With John steering her.

Hug óireann o ró hu bha hó . . .

Cúm dlreach í, Iain,
cúm tioram í, Dhómhnaill.

Keep her steady, lain,
keep her dry, Donald.

Hug óireann o ró hu bha hó . . .

'S i an ciste chaoil chumhaing
air a dúnadh 's a gróbadh.

She lies in a narrow coffin
closed over and sealed.

Hug óireann o ró hu bha hó . . .

'S truagh nach robh mi san fhiabhras
mun do chuir mi riamh d' eólas.

I wish I had succumbed to the fever
before I ever made your acquaintance.

Hug óireann o ró hú bha hó . . .


This is another rowing song in which the boat carries a coffin. On this occasion it holds the
sweetheart of the song's anonymous composer, who is so distraught at her death that he wishes he had
never laid eyes on her.

Again, it has a very beautiful melody and an easily mastered refrain of meaningless vocables.
I learned the song from the singing of Flora MacNeil, who in turn learned it from Donald MacPherson
of Barra, who had heard it in Mull. Perhaps because of this roundabout provenance the identities of
the lovers and the details of their circumstances have, at least as far as I know, been lost. It is
published in Orain nan Gaidheal, vol. 3, and in An Comunn Gaidhealach’s Mod publication, Cdisirean
Oigridh (1989).