This song was mentioned in the thread on the each-uisge/water-horse/kelpie song. I can also add an Irish language song on the same theme - next time I visit Mudcat./this transcription is from Ishbel MacAskill's album "Sioda". Ishbel hails from the Lewis, Western Isles, Scotland.

ORAN NA MAIGHDEANN-MHARA

A mach air bharr nan stuagh ri gaillinn
Fuachd is feannadh fad o thir
Bha mo ghaol dhut daonnan fallain
Ged is maighdeann-mhara mi

U-bha is na hoireann u bha
U-bha is na hoireann i
U-bha is na hoireann u bha
'S ann le foill a mheall thu mi

Chan eil mo chadal-sa ach luaineach
Nuair bhios buaireas air an t-sid
Bha mi'n raoir an Coire Bhreacain
Bidh mi nochd an Eilean I

Seall is faic an grunnd na fairge
Uamhan airgid 's oir gun dith
Lainnearachd chan fhaca suil e
Ann an cuirt no luchairt righ

THE MERMAID'S SONG

Out on the waves in a storm,
Desperate cold, and far from land
My love for you remained true
Although you were a mermaid.

U-bha is na hoireann u bha
U-bha is na hoireann i
U-bha is na hoireann u bha
You deceived me with your trickery.

My sleep is restless
When the weather is in turmoil
Last night I was in Corrievreckan
Tonight I will be on the Isle of Iona.

Look, behold the seabed
Silver caves and gold aplenty,
Glistening, and never seen
In a king's court or palace.

-I'm told 'Coire Bhreacainn' is a whirlpool in the north end of the Sound of Jura, between Jura and Scarba

HTML line breaks added. --JoeClone, 4-Jul-02.