As noted by Guest above


"Cumha Cheap Breatuinn" (Lament for Cape Breton)
Song written ca. 1903 by
Alexander the Ridge MacDonald (1823-1904)


Alexander the Ridge was born in Mabou, Cape Breton Island, and after emigrating to the South River on the Mainland, he composed many poems about the land he left. He did this when he was an old man on a trip to George's Point. It appears to have been a fine summer's day, with a fine view of the coasts of some parts of Inverness-shire.

Alexander the Ridge MacDonald (1823-1904) was also a Gaelic poet, although of a different style to his father Allan the Ridge MacDonald. His "Cumhna Cheap Breatuinn" (Lament for Cape Breton) on the air "Chi Mi Bhuam Fada Bhuam" is widely known and loved to this day.


"Cumha Cheap Breatuinn"


Chì mi bhuam, fada bhuam,
Chì mi bhuam, ri muir làin;
Chì mi Ceap Breatuinn mo luaidh
Fada bhuam, thar an t-sàil.

1
Chì mi Créiginis nan craobh,
Le cuid aonaichean àrd;
'S an Rubh' Fada tha ri taobh
Gheibhte maoin ann 's barr.

2
Bha na Glaisrich ann gun èis,
Bheireadh feum as an fhàl;
Bha iad modhail, bha iad gleusd ',
Bha iad speiseil' nan ghaths.

3
Chì mi Siùdaig nam fear cruaidh,
Chì mi Bruaich nam fear àrd,
Bha Clann Sheumais ann ri uair
Laoich a bhuanaicheadh ??blàr.

4
Bha iad fearail, bha iad friun,
'S iad gun eucoir 'n an cail;
Ach nuair chasadh iad gu streup
'S iad nach geilleadh do namh.

5
Chì mi Sestico nan tùr,
'S am bheil bùthan' us sràid;
Chì mi Màbu air a 'cùl–
B' i sid dùthaich mo ghràidh.

6
'S e na thug mi dhi de m' rùn
Rinn mo dhusgadh gu dan,
'S gu bheil m' fharmad ris gach gnuis
Tha mu bru'ichibh a tamh.

7
Gu bheil togradh ann am inntinn
Bhi leibh mar a bha,
Ged tha fios agam 'us cinnt
Ribh nach till mi gu bràth.

8
Chì mi cladach Mèinn a 'Ghuail,
' S am bidh buar agus gràn;
'S Rubh' an t-Seallaidh fad mu thuath,
Creagach, fuar agus àrd.

9
Tha mi ruith gu ceann mo réis,
'S mi fo èislean gach there;
Sguiridh mi 's cha' n eil mi réidh,
'S cha' n eil feum ann am dhàn.

10
Nis bho 'n tha mi air bheag stàth,
Leam a b'àill, nuair nach beò,
Mi bhi còmhla ri m' chàirdean,
Ann am Màbu fo 'n fhoid.




"Lamentation for Cape Breton"
(A rough translation)


I see far, far from me,
I see at high tide
I see Cape Breton, my love,
Far from me, across the sea.

1
I see Creignish of the forests
With its high pastures
And Cape Long on its coast
With prosperity and crops.

2
The Glaswegians were there without fail, The blood would be used;
They were polite, they were smart,
They were special in their sting.

3
I see Judic strong men
I see Braes tall men
Once the Sheumais Clan lived there
Heroes who would win battles

4
They were manly, they were brave,
They were without fault;
But when they turned to strife
They would not surrender to your enemy.

5
I see Chestico from the towers
There are shops and a main street
I can see Mabou in the background
This is the country I loved

6
What I gave her was my love
That woke me up loudly,
And that my envy is on every face
It is about the banks that rest.

7
It is a desire in my mind
To be with you as you were
Though I know for sure
I will never return

8
I see Mine-du-Charbon beach
Where there are cattle and cereals
And Cap-Vue (Sight Point) to the north
Rocky, cold, and high

9
I am coming to the end of my time on earth
I am discouraged every day
I will even end that I am sad:
It's useless, my song

10
Because I am now weak
When I no longer live
I would like to be with my friends
Buried under the grass of Mabou



The first stanza (chorus) of both texts from MacDonald and MacFadyen are almost identical.
Verse 6 (MacDonald) is similar to verse 12 (MacFadyen).
Verse 7 (MacDonald) is similar to verse 10 (MacFadyen).


Alexander the Ridge MacDonald was an old man when he composed this song, not long before he died in 1904.
He appeared to have borrowed a few lines from Macfadyen's song.



A few sources have cited Allan the Ridge MacDonald as author. This is in error.
Cannot find any source for this version of the song "Cumha Cheap Breatuinn" supposedly attributed to Allan the Ridge MacDonald. ca. 1850.
No reference at all for 1800s.
No mention in publications by Rev. A MacLean Sinclair.
No mention in the book Allan the Ridge MacDonald, by Effie Rankin, 2005, A compilation and translation of the known Gaelic songs of Allan the Ridge.


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