Song from the Isle of Skye

Subject: Wrestling Song from the Isle of Skye
From: GUEST
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 03:51 PM

Just read in a book about Flora MacDonald that after a wrestling mach between her husband Allan MacDonald and one of the Martins, circa 1751, one of his cousins wrote a song about the fight which is still sung in the islands. Does anyone know the song?

Subject: RE: Song from the Isle of Skye
From: maeve
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 05:40 PM

'Ailein Duinn Nach Till Thu An Taobh Seo' would appear to fit your description, GUEST.

http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/3598/1/LuckyDip "Summary - This waulking song describes an incident in an encounter between the MacDonalds and the Martins of Trotternish."

"Transcribed by the School of Scottish Studies. 8 couplets sung plus choruses. According to tradition, brown-haired Allan in the song is Allan of Kingsburgh, who became famous as the husband of Flora MacDonald. He was wrestling one day with Martin of Bealach, and Martin managed to put MacDonald down on his back. Sometime later some of the MacDonalds met a group of the Martins in an inn, and a fight broke out as described in the song."

Subject: RE: Song from the Isle of Skye
From: maeve
Date: 24 Feb 13 - 06:23 PM

Another version found on the same website: http://www.tobarandualchais.co.uk/fullrecord/73041/1
"Summary - A woman's love song in which a girl is sad for her beloved, Ailean Donn. She has heard that he was involved in a fight in an alehouse and wishes that he would return."

The story description is the same as in my previous entry. The singer here is listed as Kate MacDonald, while the singer in the first link is listed as Annie Arnott.

On the other hand, the same site has entries for at other versions sung by other singers. Compare the summaries and singing here: Title - Sabaid eadar Màrtainn a' Bhealaich agus Ailean Dòmhnallach C...

here:
"Summary - A woman's love song for brown-haired Allan. The composer refers to a fight in an ale-house and she wishes she had been there to hit two or three of Allan's enemies."

and here, for starters: "Summary - This song laments the passing of brown-haired Allan. The composer tells of the tears she has shed and of the circumstances of his death."
"Item Notes - 12 verses; 13 refrains. Tradition tells us that this song was composed by a Skye woman, known as Beathag Mhòr, whose husband was killed in a public house brawl in Edinburgh."

I'd like to know the title and author of the book, GUEST. I'm just going to go listen to the wonderful songs!

Subject: RE: Song from the Isle of Skye
From: GUEST
Date: 25 Feb 13 - 06:53 AM

Hi thanks - THe book is Flora MacDonald The Most Loyal Rebel by Hugh Douglas. :)

Subject: Lyr Req: Ailein Duinn Nach Till Thu an Taobh-Seo
From: GUEST,Rory
Date: 21 Oct 21 - 11:25 PM

I cannot find the lyrics (and translation) to "Ailein Duinn Nach Till Thu an Taobh-Seo" recorded by Capercaillie on their 2013 album At The Heart Of It All


The song by Flora MacDonald (1722-1790) was composed for Allan MacDonald of Kingsburgh, Skye, who was married to Flora Macdonald.


"Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa" (Flora MacDonald's Love Song) is printed in: Songs of the Hebrides, Vol. 1 by Marjory Kennedy-Fraser and Kenneth Macleod, 1909, page 145-147.

But it appears only verse 5 is in the Capercaillie version.


1
Ailein duinn a luaidh 'sa thasgaidh
'Strom an sac a thair mo ghiulan
Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa.
Ho Ho fa li liu a
Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa.

2
Chatog fidheall e no clarsach
No piob ard nam feadan siubhlach
Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa.
Ho Ho fa li liu a
Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa.

3
Ailein duinn o'n dh'fhag thu'n cearnsa
Cha'n eil abhachd ann no ionntas
Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa.
Ho Ho fa li liu a
Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa.

4
'S beag mo shunnd ri muirn no manran
'S mi gach la fo phramh 'gad ionndrainn
Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa.
Ho Ho fa li liu a
Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa.

5
Ailein Ailein mo ghaol Ailein
Marcraich nan each seanga sunndach.
Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa.
Ho Ho fa li liu a
Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa.

6
Ailein duinn an leadain shoilleir
Shiubhlainn collie 's doire dluth leat.
Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa.
Ho Ho fa li liu o
Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa.

7
Ailein duinn a'bhroillich bhoidhich
'S miles learn do phog na siucar.
Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa.
Ho Ho fa li liu a
Ailein duinn nach till thu 'n taobhsa.

Subject: RE: Song from the Isle of Skye
From: Monique
Date: 22 Oct 21 - 03:35 AM

Sheet music on page 89 of The Celtik Fake Book in pdf.

Subject: RE: Song from the Isle of Skye
From: GUEST,Rory
Date: 22 Oct 21 - 04:42 AM

The five verses shown in The Celtic Fake Book are the same as those printed in Marjory Kennedy-Fraser's publication shown above.
They are not precisely the verses sung by Capercaillie.