The Mudcat Café TM
Thread #171541   Message #4149173
Posted By: Felipa
03-Aug-22 - 06:25 PM
Thread Name: Lyr Add: Eilean Leodhais, Tìr nan Gaisgeach
Subject: Lyr Add: Eilean Leòdhais, Tìr nan Gaisgeach
https://www.bbc.co.uk/alba/oran/orain/eilean_leodhais_tir_nan_gaisgeach/

EILEAN LEÒDHAIS, TÌR NAN GAISCEACH - Alasdair M. MacNeacail ("Billy an Fhiosaich" 1870-1915)

Sèist [chorus] /

'N tèid thu leam, a rìbhinn mhaiseach,
'N tèid thu leam, a rìbhinn òg?
'N tèid thu leam, a rìbhinn uasal
Null air chuairt a dh'Eilean Leòdhais?


Eilean Leòdhais, tìr nan gaisgeach,
Tìr nan lasgar is nan sàr,
Càite am facas riamh no 'n cualas
Laoich air chuan thug orra bàrr?

Chì thu 'n t-àite san deach m' àrach
Mun do dh'fhàs mi gu bhith mòr,
Canaidh tu gur baile brèagha
Lionail, ann an Eilean Leòdhais.

Chì thu m' athair ann 's mo mhàthar,
Mo bhràithrean 's mo phiuthar òg,
'S gheibh thu iadsan tha dhomh càirdeach,
Crìdheil bàidheil, mar bu chòir.

Chì thu ann gach nì mar shaoilear,
'S le mo dhùrachd siud mar bha;
O, ma thèid thu leam a chaoidh ann,
Gheibh thu caoibhneas agus blàths.

rough translation

will you come with me, beautiful maiden
will you come with me young maiden
Will you come with me noble woman,
Over on a trip to the Isle of Lewis?

Lewis, the land of heroes
The land of the great and the brave
Where on the sea was their better ever seen or heard? [very approx]

You will see the place I spent my youth,
Where I grew to be big
You will say that Lionail in the Isle of Lewis is a beautiful town.

You will see my father and mother, my brothers and my young sister
and you will find those who are related to me
are hearty and cordial, as they ought to be

You will see everything as expected, and as I wish it was
oh, if you ever come there with me, you will get warmth and kindness

Recordings on youtube

Donald MacRae

spoken (good for learning pronunciation

Murdo John Na Mol

Alasdair, aka Billy, Mac Neacail was one of a family of seven children, five of whom spent time in North America. Billy himself went to Vermont at the age of 18,came back home circa 1901, and then went to Vancouver for a few years but once again returned to Lewis. He died in a car accident in 1915.