I left my baby lying here,
Lying here, a-lying here,
I left my baby lying here
To go and gather (?)-o.

(here follows a chorus in Erse and a verse in Erse)

I heard the curlew crying far,
Crying far, a-crying far,
I heard the curlew crying far
But ne'er a sign of baby-o.

(chorus in Erse again).

I would love to have the missing bits, it's such a lovely, haunting song... Thanks in advance!

Mad Maudlin

An Còineachan

Fairy Lullaby

A FAIRY LULLABY (I LEFT MY DARLING LYING HERE)
(Translated by Lachlan MacBean from the traditional Scottish "An Còineachan.")

I left my darling lying here, a-lying here, a-lying here.
I left my darling lying here, to go and gather blaeberries.

I've found the wee brown otter's track, the otter's track, the otter's track.
I've found the wee brown otter's track, but ne'er a trace o' my baby, O!

I found the track of the swan on the lake, the swan on the lake, the swan on the lake.
I found the track of the swan on the lake, but not the track of baby, O!

I found the track of the yellow fawn, the yellow fawn, the yellow fawn.
I found the track of the yellow fawn, but could not trace my baby, O!

I found the trail of the mountain mist, the mountain mist, the mountain mist.
I found the trail of the mountain mist, but ne'er a trace of baby, O!

O! Hovan, Hovan Gorry og O, Gorry og, O, Gorry og
O, Hovan, Hovan Gorry og O, I've lost my darling baby, O!

AN CÓINEACHAN (THE FAIRY LULLABY)
(Traditional Scottish)

SÉIST Hò-bhan, hò-bhan, Goiridh òg O
Goiridh òg O, Goiridh òg O
Hò-bhan, hò-bhan, Goiridh òg O
Gu'n dh'fhalbh mo ghaoil 's gu'n dh'fhàg e mi.

1 Dh'fhàg mi'n seo 'na shìneadh e,
'Na shìneadh e, 'na shìneadh e;
Gu'n dh'fhàg mi'n seo 'na shìneadh e
'Nuair dh'fhalbh mi 'bhuain nam braoilegan.

2 O, shiubhail mi bheinn o cheann gu ceann,
Bho thaobh gu taobh, gu taobh nan allt.
O, shiubhail mi bheinn o cheann gu ceann,
Cha d'fhuair mi lorg mo chóineachan.

3 Fhuair mi lorg an dóbhrain duinn,
An dóbhrain duinn, an dóbhrain duinn,
Gu'n d'fhuair mi lorg an dóbhrain duinn;
'S cha d'fhuair mi lorg mo chóineachain!

4 Fhuair mi lorg na h-eal' air an t-snàmh,
Na h-eal' air an t-snàmh, 'na h-eal' air an t-snàmh
Gu'n d'fhuair mi lorg'na h-eal' air an t-snàmh;
'S cha d'fhuair mi lorg mo chóineachain!

5 Fhuair mi lorg na lach' air an lòn,
Na lach' air an lòn, na lach' air an lòn,
Fhuair mi lorg na h-eal' air an t-snàmh,
Cha d'fhuair mi lorg mo chóineachain!

6 Fhuair mi lorg an laoigh bhric dheirg,
An laoigh bhric dheirg, an laoigh bhric dheirg;
Gu'n d'fhuair mi lorg an laoigh bhric dheirg,
'S cha d'fhuair mi lorg mo chóineachain!

7 'S d'fhuair mi lorg 'na bà 'sa pholl,
Na bà 'sa pholl, na bà 'sa pholl,
Fhuair mi lorg na bà 'sa pholl,
Cha d'fhuair mi lorg mo chóineachain!

8 Fhuair mi lorg a' cheò 'sa 'bheinn,
A' cheò 'sa bheinn, a' cheò 'sa bheinn;
Ged fhuair mi lorg a' cheò 'sa bheinn;
Cha d'fhuair mi lorg mo chóineachain.

In the Forum:

Gaelic Lullaby  Includes incomplete English text later added to the DT as above; Gaelic text posted by George without translation; variant Gaelic text, with translation.

The tune for the DT text and George's is at Mudcat Midis; there are links to various midis in this thread:  Highland Fairy Lullaby