Chi Mi Bhuam
(I See in the Distance)

Composed by John MacFadyen (1850-1935)
Poet from Mull.

Published in MacFadyen's book:
Sgeulaiche nan Caol: Original Gaelic readings, sketches, poems and songs, 1902, pp.253-255,
titled: "Chi mi Muile nam beann fuar" (I see Mull of the cold hills).

First published in Mac-Talla, No. 44, 29 April 1898, p 352.


The song is in praise of his island, and was composed while MacFadyen was on a voyage around the Isle of Mull.


"Chi mi Muile nam beann fuar"

1
Chi mi bhuam, fada bhuam
Chi mi bhuam ri muir-làin
Chi mi Muile nam beann fuar
Fada bhuam thar an t-sàil
Fada bhuam thar an t-sàil

2
Chi mi mullach nam beann mòr
Anns an òg mhadainn àidh
An t-aon as àirde dhiubh na 'n còrr
'S badan ceò air a bàrr
Fada bhuam thar an t-sàil

3
Chi mi Dubhairt, chi mi 'n tùr,
Chi mi smùdan no dhà.
Chi mi doireachan nan allt,
Spreidh nan gleann le 'n cuid àil.

4
Chi mi 'n Leitir taobh a' chaoil,
Dh'fhàs gun saothair nan làmh;
Chi mi 'ghucag air an fhraoch,
Chi mi 'n caorunn fo bhlàth.

5
Chi mi fior-uisge nam beann,
Tigh'nn 'na dheann leis gach màm;
Aird-nan-cros 'us Rudh'-nan-Gall,
'S bristeadh thonn air a thràigh.

6
Chi mi Treisinis na'n sonn,
Lunga thall, creagach, àrd;
Chi mi Calgairidh ri grèin,
'S boillsg' mar reul o'n Tràigh-bhàin.

7
Chi mi bràigh Leac-a-lìth,
Chi mi Dìnnseag 's a Gheairn';
Beul Loch Leamhain, Eilean I,
A ghaineamh mhìn ri muir-tràigh.

8
A' ghrian a' siaradh anns an speur,
Cuan 'na rèidhlean cho sèimh;
Rudh' Aird-Eallanais 'nar dèigh
'S cobhar brèid-gheal o 'sàil.

9
Chi mi 'n aitreabh, chi mi chruach,
Ris na chuallaich mi 'n t-àl;
'S gu bheil cagar ann am chluais
O gach bruaich, air na bhà.

10
Gu bheil cagar caidreamh binn,
'Thig a nìos 'n uair a's àill.
Ged tha fios agam 'us cìnnt,
Riums' nach tìll iad gu bràth.

11
Tir a' bharraich, tìr nan stuadh,
'S tric a luaidh ort na bàird;
Car mar char a rèir gach pong—
Thig gach rann dheth 'na àit'.

12
'N uair a thug mi riut mo chùl,
Rinn mi dùsgadh gu dàn;
'S dh' èirich m' fharmad ris a' bhrùid,
'Bhios mu d' stùcan a' tàmh.

13
Bidh mi 'sealltainn ris a' Chùirt,
'S bidh mi 'n dùrachd no dhà;
'S bidh mi 'g altrum tuille 's dùil,
Gu 'n tig cùisean na 's feàrr.




"I see Mull of the cold hills"

1
I see in the distance, far from me,
I see in the distance to the high tide,
I see Mull of the cold hills
Far from me across the sea,
Far from me across the sea.

2
I see the summit of the big hills
In the early morning's joy,
The highest one darkest of them all,
A patch of mist on its peak
Far from me across the sea.

3
I see Duart Castle, I see the tower,
I see a smoke plume or two.
I see the groves by the streams,
The glens bursting with young growth.

4
I see Leitir by the sound,
Growing without the hands of labor;
I see the bud on the heather,
I see the rowan tree in bloom.

5
I see the clear water of the hills,
Rushing down every hill;
Ardnacross and Rhuba-nan-Gall,
With waves breaking on the beach.

6
I see Treshnis Isles in the sun,
Lunga is there, rocky and high;
I see Calgary in the sun,
Shining like a star from the White Sands.

7
I see the braes of Leac-a-lìth,
I see Dink and Gheairn;
Mouth of Loch Leven, Isle of I,
Its fine sand by the sea.

8
The sun sets in the sky,
The sea is so calm;
Rubh Aird Alanais behind us,
The white sails aiding to heel.

9
I see a mansion, I see a haystack,
I hear the calves in the herd,
Like a whisper in the ear,
On every bank, there were cows.

10
With the whisper of a sweet friendship,
Come up when you want.
Though I know for sure,
We will never return.

11
The land of high tops, the land of waves,
The poets have often praised you;
Twisting and turning according to each point,
Each verse comes in its place.

12
When I turned my back on you,
I awoke to destiny;
And my envy rose to the brute,
The peaks around you will be at rest.

13
I will look to the Court,
And I shall have a wish or two;
And will nurture more than hoped,
That things will get better.



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