Bi Falbh O'n Uinneig
(Go away from the window)

Not to be confused with the night visiting song "Go from my Window".

This traditional lullaby is a night visiting song whereby a woman is married and her husband is lying next to her, unbeknown to the approaching lover.
The woman conveys a warning to her lover to flee from his pursuers who are closing in on him. She tells him to move away from the window and not to return again and to go to his ship that will be leaving that evening.

Appears in:
The Gaelic bards and original poems, by Thomas Pattison (1828-1865), second edition, 1890, p 263 (poetic translation p 262).
This poem not published in the first edition of 1866.

The Gaelic Bards - BI FALBH O'N UINNEIG


BI FALBH O'N UINNEIG

Bi falbh o'n uinneig, fhir-ghaoil, fhir ghaoil
'Sna tig an nochd tuilleadh fhir-ghràidh, fhir-ghràidh,
Bi falbh o'n uinneig, fhir-ghaoil, fhir-ghaoil
'S na tig an nochd tuilleadh fhir-ghràidh, fhir-ghràidh,
Tha do long air an t-sàile 's i gun seoladair aice,
Tha do long air an t-sàile 's i gun seoladair aice,
Bi falbh o'n uinneig, fhir-ghaoil, fhir-ghaoil
'S na tig an nochd tuilleadh fhir-ghràidh, fhir-ghràidh.

Bi falbh o'n uinneig, fhir-ghaoil, fhir-ghaoil
'S na tig an nochd tuilleadh fhir-ghràidh, fhir-ghràidh,
Bi falbh o'n uinneig, fhir-ghaoil, fhir-ghaoil
'S na tig an nochd tuilleadh fhir-ghràidh, fhir-ghràidh,
Cuir umad do bhrògan tha'n toir a tigh'n cas ort
Cuir umad do bhrogan tha'n toir a tigh'n cas ort
Gur mise bhios bròiiach ma ni 'n toir so cuir as duit
Na tig an nochd tuilleadh fhir-ghràidh, fhir-ghràidh.

Bi falbh o'n uinneig, fhir-ghaoil, fhir-ghaoil
'S na tig an nochd tuilleadh fhir-ghràidh, fhir-ghràidh,
Bi falbh o'n uinneig, fhir-ghaoil, fhir-ghaoil
'S na tig an nochd tuilleadh fhir-ghràidh, fhir-ghràidh,
'Nuair a theid mi measg sloighe fear do bhoidhche cha'n fhaic mi
Tha faltan donn dualach air mo luaidh do na gaisgich
Gur mise bhios brònach ma ni 'n toir so cuir as duit
Na tig an nochd tuilleadh fhir-ghràidh, fhirghràidh.


Literal translation

Go away from the window my love, my love,
Come no more tonight my love, my love.
Go away from the window my love, my love,
Come no more tonight my love, my love.
Your ship is afloat with no sailor on it,
Your ship is afloat with no sailor on it,
Go away from the window my love, my love,
Come no more tonight my love, my love.
        
Go away from the window my love, my love,
Come no more tonight my love, my love.
Go away from the window my love, my love,
Come no more tonight my love, my love.
Put on your shoes the pursuers are coming close to you,
Put on your shoes the pursuers are coming close to you,
I will be grief-stricken if these pursuers kill you,
Come no more tonight my love, my love.
        
Go away from the window my love, my love,
Come no more tonight my love, my love.
Go away from the window my love, my love,
Come no more tonight my love, my love.
When I go among people, a man of your beauty I do not see,
Brown hair in tresses has my love, the hero,
I will be grief-stricken if these pursuers kill you,
Come no more tonight my love, my love.


Poetic translation - page 262

HASTE FROM THE WINDOW.

The words of this song are intended by the singer to convey a warning to her lover, one of the outlawed MacGregors, to flee from his enemies.

Haste, haste from the window, oh stay not, my love,
Fly swift as the breeze and delay not, my love.
Haste, haste from the window, oh stay not, my love,
Fly swift as the breeze and delay not, my love.
The pilotless ship is unmoored by the tide,
The breakers triumphant career o'er her side;
Haste, haste from the window, oh stay not, my love,
Fly swift as the breeze and delay not, my love.

Haste, haste from the window, oh stay not, my love,
Fly swift as the breeze and delay not, my love,
Haste, haste from the window, oh stay not, my love.
Fly swift as the breeze and delay not, my love.
Go quickly, but softly, for danger is near.
Oh woe, if a trace of thy footsteps appear;
Down, down by the grey copse, hide deep in its shade,
Lie hushed in the dell which the torrent has made.

Haste, haste from the window, oh stay not, my love,
Fly swift as the breeze and delay not, my love,
Haste, haste from the window, oh stay not, my love.
Fly swift as the breeze and delay not, my love.
The mist of the mountain shall wrap thee around,
Thy tread shall be lost in the cataract's sound.
Around thy light vessel the vexed waves chafe.
One bound o'er the wave and my lover is safe.