Two texts to this song appear in John Lore Campbell and Francis Collinson, _Hebridean Folksongs II: Waulking Songs from Barra, South Uist, Eriskay and Benbecula_, Oxford University Press (1977), p 134 and 136. The song was collected from Miss Mary Gillies (Mairi Mhicheil Nill) of Barra. A translation appears on facing pages 135 and 137. Here is the Gaelic text; it is likely that Capercaillie have used only part of it:

Alasdair mhic *ho ho* Cholla ghasda, *ho ho*
As do laimhs-sa *ho ho* dhearbainn tapachd *trom eile*

REFRAIN

Chaill eileadh i
Chall o ho ro
Chall eileadh i
Chall o ho ro
Challa na hao ri ri
Chall o ho ro o
Haghaidh o ho o, trom eileadh.

As do laimh-sa *ho ho* dh'earbainn tapachd, *ho ho*
Mharbhadh Tighearn' *ho ho* Ach' na Breac leat, *trom eile*

REFRAIN

Mharbhadh Tighearn' *ho ho* Ach' na Breac leat, *ho ho*
Thiolaigeadh e *ho ho* an oir an lochain *trom eile*
/tguikaugeadg em etc,
Ged 's beag mi fhin chuir me ploc air
'S chuir siod gruaim air Niall a Chaisteil
'Sdh'fhag e liondubh air a mhac-sa
'S bha Ni Lachlainn fhein 'ga bhasadh,
'S bha Nic Dhomhnaill 'n deidh a creachadh;
Cha b'iaonadh sin, b'fhiach a mac e
Dronncair, poiteir, seolt' air marcraichd,
Ceanndard an airm an tus a bhatail
Sheinneadh piob leat mhor air chnocan,
Dh'oladh fion leat dearg am portaibh.
Chuala mi 'n de sgeul nach b'ait liom
Glaschu bheag bhith 'na lasair,
'S Obair-eadhain an deidh a chreachadh, *trom eile*

NOTE this song is sung in a call and response pattern, with the chorus supplying the vocables syllables at the middle and end of each line, and alternating lines of the refrain with the soloist. The performance structure of the verse lines is AB, BC, CD, DE, EF etc. with the second line of one stanza moving up to become the first line in the next stanza. This style of performance made the song last longer, which made it suitable accompaniment for the long tiresome business of waulking (fulling) the tweed cloth.