SHEÓL AM BÁTA

Sheòl am bàta fairis a-null

chorus:
E ho hì o hì o hu à
Hao ri rì na hoireann ho ro
E ho hì o hì o hu à

Sgiobadh oirr’ dh’fhearaibh mo rùn

Fear nam mìog-shùil meallach air stiùir

’S cairt na làimh ’s e dèanamh na shiùil

Sheòl am bàta fairis o thìr

Bha luchd oirre à nìtheanan daor

Do dh’òr dearg ’s do dh’airgead an rìgh

Tha mo leannan sa bhail’ ud thall

Rìgh, ma tha, nach tigeadh e nall?

O ’s ann riut a laighinn gu teann

O ’s ann bhuat a dh’èirinn gun mheang

Leabaidh rìomhach, cluasag fo’r ceann.


"This is a waulking song in the form of a love song to the skipper of a boat which carries a precious cargo of the king's gold and silver. The girl tells how she wishes she could sleep with the man she loves." (Tobar an Dualchais)
listen to Kate (Catríona) Mac Millan singing: http://tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/12976

This was a work song for "walking" or fulling tweed cloth. Listen to it at track 19 https://archive.org/details/GaelicSongsOfScotland-WomenAtWorkInTheWesternIsles/ Catriona MacMillan leading a chorus of women in a waulking (re-enactment).

Anne Coleman, who sang Sheòl am Bàta at the Mudcat anniversary singaround, is a member of group which does the luadh (aka waulking). See "Sgioba Luaidh Inbhirchluaidh" in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f63St4nZAr8