Lyr Add: Sheol am Bata Fairis a-null (Gaelic)

Subject: Lyr Add: Sheol am Bata Fairis a-null (Gaelic)
From: Felipa
Date: 07 Jun 21 - 08:24 PM

SHEÓL AM BÁTA

Sheòl am bàta fairis a-null

chorus:
E ho hì o hì o hu à
Hao ri rì na hoireann ho ro
E ho hì o hì o hu à

Sgiobadh oirr’ dh’fhearaibh mo rùn

Fear nam mìog-shùil meallach air stiùir

’S cairt na làimh ’s e dèanamh na shiùil

Sheòl am bàta fairis o thìr

Bha luchd oirre à nìtheanan daor

Do dh’òr dearg ’s do dh’airgead an rìgh

Tha mo leannan sa bhail’ ud thall

Rìgh, ma tha, nach tigeadh e nall?

O ’s ann riut a laighinn gu teann

O ’s ann bhuat a dh’èirinn gun mheang

Leabaidh rìomhach, cluasag fo’r ceann.


"This is a waulking song in the form of a love song to the skipper of a boat which carries a precious cargo of the king's gold and silver. The girl tells how she wishes she could sleep with the man she loves." (Tobar an Dualchais)
listen to Kate (Catríona) Mac Millan singing: http://tobarandualchais.co.uk/en/fullrecord/12976

This was a work song for "walking" or fulling tweed cloth. Listen to it at track 19 https://archive.org/details/GaelicSongsOfScotland-WomenAtWorkInTheWesternIsles/ Catriona MacMillan leading a chorus of women in a waulking (re-enactment).

Anne Coleman, who sang Sheòl am Bàta at the Mudcat anniversary singaround, is a member of group which does the luadh (aka waulking). See "Sgioba Luaidh Inbhirchluaidh" in action:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f63St4nZAr8

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sheol am Bata Fairis a-null (Gaelic)
From: Felipa
Date: 07 Jun 21 - 08:27 PM

translation, provided by Anne Coleman

he boat sailed over the ocean
In her crew, my darling men
The man with the winking eye at the helm
He had a map in his hand and was making sail
The boat sailed far from land
She was loaded with heaps of treasure
Of red gold and of the king's silver
Now my sweetheart is in the town over there
Though a King, won't he come over?
O it's with you to lie down tightly
O it's from you to rise without fail
From a beautiful bed, and a pillow under head.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sheol am Bata Fairis a-null (Gaelic)
From: pattyClink
Date: 07 Jun 21 - 10:29 PM

Wow, what a treasure is that video! Thank you Anne!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sheol am Bata Fairis a-null (Gaelic)
From: Felipa
Date: 08 Jun 21 - 01:51 PM

I have a few typos, left out the first "i" in Caitríona's name and the "T" at the beginning of the translation, which starts "The" not "he" - I expect readers can guess that. I left out the word "a" in "Anne Coleman is a member of a group ..." I think the Gaelic is okay.

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sheol am Bata Fairis a-null (Gaelic)
From: pattyClink
Date: 08 Jun 21 - 06:35 PM

whoops. Thanks for posting this Felipa!

Subject: RE: Lyr Add: Sheol am Bata Fairis a-null (Gaelic)
From: Felipa
Date: 08 Jun 21 - 09:04 PM

https://archive.org/details/GaelicSongsOfScotland-WomenAtWorkInTheWesternIsles/ gives the lead singer's name as
Catriona MacMillan. It's I who thinks the name should be spelled in the Gaelic way, Caitríona. According to notes from the group "Sian", "Kate" was also known as "Ceit Ruairidh" (pronounced fairly similarly to Kate Rory and meaning, Ceit child of Ruairidh). "Sian" perform a stylised version of Sheol am Báta. It sounds sweet, but so different from their source.