lyrics and translation

translations

Chorus: Ò ì og ì ò A Mhòrag 's na horò gheallaidh Ò ì og ì ò

O little Sarah of the lovely locks, I would buy you a comb.

O little Sarah of the curled tresses, I often think of you with affection.

I am out sailing on the great ship with no way to return home.

Do you remember the night we were on board the white sailed ship on the surface of the sea.

That was the night we were driven off course by the sea that rose in billows.

It's a pity that I wasn't in the coffin of narrow boards,

Since I saw the candles blazing at your wedding banquet.

When you went on the hunt, heavy your procession from the village.

With your slender barrelled gun, powder, attendant and bounding dog.

You would kill the rutting brown stag, leaving him breathless and choked on his blood.

I would not permit you to go to the sheep pen for fear you would soil you clothing.

I would not permit you to go to the goat pen, or to milk the cows at springtime.

I am on the backside of the high mountains. My mother can't hear my complaint.

O Little Sarah, daughter of the MacLeod chief for whom I would spill blood.

O little Sarah from the land of the MacLeods, I would drink your toast notwithstanding.

A popular milling song on Cape Breton's North Shore and in the Framboise, Catalone area. Its chorus's strong beat and melody are complimented by numerous verses that present images of seafaring, the hunt, romance and lost love. Mòrag was a code name for Prince Charles during the Jacobite Uprisings. Songs set to this air were composed by the famous Gaelic Bard Alastair mac Mhaighstir Alastair and Donnchadh Bàn. Verses here were selected from taped renditions sung on the North Shore, most notably that of the late Tomaidh Peigi Thòmais (Tommy Peggy MacDonald). Recorded settings of A Mhòrag 's na hò ro gheallaidh appear on Tocher's Òrain le Carstìona Sheadha and B&R Enterprises A Tribute to the North Shore Gaelic Singers. & this one

A MHÒRAG 'S NA HORO GHEALLAIDH Milling Song

Ó ì og ì ò,
A Mhòrag 's na ho rò gheallaidh,
Ó ì og ì ò.

A Mhòrag bheag a' chùil riomhaich,
Dheanainn-sa do chìr a cheannach.

A Mhòrag bheag a' chùil dualaich,
'S tric do luaidh a' tighinn air m'aire.

Little Morag of the curling tresses,
Often your love comes to mind.

Mis' amuigh air luing a' seòladh,
'S mi gun dòigh air tighinn gu baile.

Me, out on the ship sailing,
Without a way to return home.

An cuimhne leat an oidhch' a bha sinn,
'S a' luing bhàin air bhàrr na mara.

An oidhche sin a chaidh ar fuadach,
Thànaig a' mhuir mhór 'na gleannaibh.

'S truagh a Righ nach ann a bha mi,
'N ciste-laigh nam bòrdan tana.

Bhon a chunna mi na coinnlean,
A' gabhail araoir air do bhanais.

Nuair dheidheadh tu amach a dh'fhia'chadh,
Bu throm do thriall bhon a' bhaile.

Le d'ghunna leathann 's le d'fhùdar,
Le do ghille 's cù 'na dheannamh.

Leagadh tu 'n damh donn a' bhùirein,
'S fhuil 'ga thùcadh 's e gun anail.

Cha leiginn thu chrò nan caorach,
Air eagal d'aodach a shalach.

Cha leiginn thu chrò nan gobhar,
No bhleoghainn a' chruidh as t-earrach.

Mi air chùl nam beanntan àrda,
Cha chluinn mo mhàthair mo ghearain.

A Mhòrag bheag nighean an Leòdaich,
Airson a dheanainn dòrtadh faladh.

A Mhòrag bheag à tìr nan Leòdach,
Dh'òlainn do dheoch-slàint' a dh'aindheoin.